Religion in the Roman Empire

How can we describe religion in the Roman Empire? How can we describe religion in the Roman Empire? Comparisons and contrasts between Judaism and Christianity? Comparisons and contrasts between Judaism and Christianity?

Greco-Roman Religion Vestal Virgins  Traditional Religion  Initially “animistic”  Then anthropomorphic gods  State-run priesthoods  Pontifex maximus  Vestal Virgins

Greco-Roman Religion The Pantheon (AD ), Rome

Greco-Roman Religion

 Mystery Religions  Popular!  Attractive  Communion with deity  Ethical guidance  Spiritual equality  Examples  Cult of Isis  Mithraism

Greco-Roman Religion  Emperor Worship  Some emperors deified after death  Imperial cult established  Foundations during reign of Augusts Cult statue of Augustus (early 1 st cent.)

Greco-Roman Religion  Questions?

Second-Temple Judaism  Second-Temple Judaism  Persian king allowed Jews to return to Palestine (539 BC) after deportation  Constructed second Temple ( BC)

Second-Temple Judaism  Roman Occupation of Palestine  Jews had been ruled by priest-kings, after expulsion of Greeks  Romans invaded 63 BC  ended Jewish independence  Judaism a religio licita

Second-Temple Judaism The Second Temple (“Herod’s Temple”)

Second-Temple Judaism  First-Century Jewish Religion  Diversity  Apocalyptic  Messianic Expectation  Messiah (“Anointed one”)  Some Jews longed for deliverance from Romans  “Messiahs” crushed

Second-Temple Judaism  Jesus of Nazareth (ca. 6 BC – ca. AD 30)  Itinerant rabbi  Twelve apostles  Preached coming “Kingdom of God”  Criticized religious authorities  Miracle worker?  Presented as Messiah in earliest sources

Second-Temple Judaism

 What Became of Jesus?  Religious leaders infuriated, fearful  Tried, executed  sentenced to death by Pilate  Movement lived on  Resurrected?  Apostles stole body?

Second-Temple Judaism

 The Fate of the Jews  Jewish War (66-70)  Jerusalem captured, Temple destroyed  Bar Kochba Revolt (132-35)  Jews lost their state

Second-Temple Judaism  Questions?

Early Christianity  The Apostolic Church  Under leadership of apostles  Based in Jerusalem  Preached “gospel”  Early focus: Jews Pentecost

Early Christianity  Paul of Tarsus ( d. ca. 64)  Pharisee  Christian  Brought gospel to “Gentiles”  Three missionary journeys  Epistles

Early Christianity  The Sacraments  Baptism: rite of initiation  Eucharist: sacred meal of bread and wine

Early Christianity Santa Maria Nascente, Milan

Early Christianity Paleochristian Baptistery beneath Milan Cathedral

Early Christianity  Persecution  Martyrs: “witnesses”  Why persecution?  Seen as distinct from Judaism  Refused to worship emperor  “Great Persecution” (early 4 th cent.) Blandina the Martyr (2 nd cent.)

Early Christianity  Constantine the Great (r )  Converted to Christianity (ca. 312)  Edict of Milan (313): toleration for Christians  First Christian emperor  Launched Christianization of empire  Lavished wealth upon Church  Church now privileged Constantine Labarum

Early Christianity Basilica of St. Peter (324), Rome

Early Christianity  Gnosticism  Beliefs  Creation is bad, made by evil god  Salvation through gnosis  Salvation is of soul only, from body and matter  Catholic Response  Creation is good, made by good God  Salvation of body  resurrection

Early Christianity  Arian Controversy  Jesus Christ: creature, or God?  Council of Nicaea (325)  Convened by Constantine  Christ of same “essence” as God the Father  Arians revived, almost defeated “orthodox” cause  Arianism condemned (381)

Early Christianity  “Nicene Creed” (381)  “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the Right Hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead. Whose kingdom shall have no end.  And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver-of-Life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And [we believe] in one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, [and] we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

Early Christianity  Augustine of Hippo ( )  Church father  Famous convert  Prolific writer  Confessions  City of God  Highly influential theologian Augustine of Hippo

Early Christianity  Questions?

Religion in the Roman Empire How can we describe religion in the Roman Empire? How can we describe religion in the Roman Empire? Comparisons and contrasts between Judaism and Christianity? Comparisons and contrasts between Judaism and Christianity?

Primary Source  The Gospel of Mark  Who was St. Mark?  How can we best describe the nature of a New Testament gospel?  How does the Gospel begin? Did that surprise you?  How can we best describe Mark’s Jesus?  What elements of Jesus’ ministry did Mark recount? (Teachings? deeds? miracles?)  How do we see Mark presenting Jesus as “Messiah” here?  According to Mark, why was Jesus executed?  How does the gospel end? Did that surprise you?

Primary Source

Early Christianity St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice

Early Christianity

Primary Source  The Gospel of Judas  How can we describe the narrative and teaching here?  To whom does Jesus reveal the message of salvation? Should that surprise us?  How can we contrast the Jesus here with Mark’s?  How can we contrast the condition of these two texts?

Primary Source  “The Persecution and Martyrdoms of Lyon in 177”  What kind of source?  Who were the central Christian figures described here? What happened to them?  How might the purposeful destruction of their bodies (after their deaths) relate to early Christian theology?