Chapter 11: Saints in our history – the first thousand years

Lesson 1: Apostles and Martyrs

12 Apostles Apostle means “one who is sent.” The term disciples refers to followers of someone. The Twelve Apostles went on various missionary journeys. The Acts of the Apostles focuses on two Apostles in particular: St. Peter St. Paul

St. Peter Had two names – his original name = Simon, his name given by Jesus = Peter Peter in Greek is petros = rock Head of the Apostles and leader of the early Church Bishop of Rome and first pope Died in Rome in the 60s during the reign of Emperor Nero (traditionally crucified upside-down)

St. Paul Had two names: Saul (Jewish name) and Paul (Roman name) Apostle to the Gentiles – converted to Christianity after being “knocked off his high horse” established churches throughout the Mediterranean world, especially in Asia Minor Died in Rome in the 60s during the reign of Emperor Nero (traditionally beheaded, since crucifixion was for non-citizens)

Neronian Persecution Emperor Nero reigned during the 60s Big fire in Rome in 64 A.D., Nero blamed the Christians when he might have started it Probably the “first beast” mentioned in the Book of Revelation, referred to in code by “666”

Domitian Persecution According to Church Historian Eusebius, Emperor Domitian began a persecution of Jews and Christians. Domitian might be the “second beast” mentioned by John in the Book of Revelation (Revelation is usually dated to his reign)

Why Would Romans Persecute Christians? Christianity was “new” – Romans respected things being old, so Judaism received more respect Christians spoke about having another king and kingdom The Christian savior had been executed as an enemy of the Roman state Romans mistakenly thought Christians were engaging in cannibalism (e.g. the Eucharist), incest (e.g. calling each other “brother” and “sister” in Christ)

Apostolic Fathers Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch Polycarp of Smyrna Papias of Hierapolis Didache Shepherd of Hermas

Apostolic Fathers

St. Clement of Rome Taught by St. Peter and St. Paul 4th Bishop of Rome (4th Pope) after St. Peter, St. Linus, and St. Anacletus (Cletus for short) In 96 A.D., wrote a letter to the Church of Corinth Attempted to end the schism in Corinth (the Corinthians had rebelled and kicked out their presbyters) Martyred

St. Ignatius of Antioch Taught by St. John the Apostle Bishop of Antioch (3rd, after St. Peter and St. Evodius) Wrote 7 epistles, or letters Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Philadelphians, Romans, Smyrnaens, Polycarp First to call the Church “catholic” (Greek katholicos = universal) Emphasized the role of each church’s bishop Martyred

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Docetism (Type of Gnosticism) Gnosticism was an early heresy which taught that the physical world was evil and the spiritual world was good. One group of the Gnostics, the Docetists, believed Jesus had no physical body He appeared to have a body, like a hologram St. Ignatius wrote against them One of his arguments against them was that they denied the Real Presence – they refused to confess that the Eucharist was Christ’s flesh

Judaziers As early as Acts 15, people in Church that insist that Christians be just like Jews Ignatius of Antioch wrote in his letter to the Magnesians against those who insisted Christians worship on Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath Day)

St. Polycarp of Smyrna Taught by St. John the Apostle Teacher of St. Irenaeus of Lyons Bishop of Smyrna Wrote letter to the Church of Philadelphia Warns against apostasy Martyred

St. Papias of Hierapolis (60-130 A.D.) Taught by St. John the Apostle Bishop of Hierapolis First to refer, by name, to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark (he wrote that Mark based his Gospel on Peter’s preaching)

Didache (90s or 150s A.D.) Didache means “teaching” AKA “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” Baptism Eucharist Moral teaching Church structure

Shepherd of Hermas (90s or 150s A.D.) Contains 5 visions given to Hermas, a former slave

St. Justin Martyr Former pagan and philosopher Early Christian apologist in Rome, ran his own school Apology = Greek apologia = “a defense” Two main works: First Apology and Dialogue with Trypho

Works First Apology Dialogue with Trypho Written to the Roman emperor, defending Christianity as rational (Christians aren’t crazy or atheists) and saying Christians can be good citizens Claimed that Greek philosophers were, in a sense, Christians without knowing it Dialogue with Trypho Tried to convince Trypho, a Jew, to convert to Christianity

Arguments Christians can not only be good Roman citizens, but can be the best citizens – Christ said give to Caesar what is Caesar’s – Ch. 17 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm Christianity is rational and agrees in certain areas with the smartest of the ancient philosophers Christians should be judged as individuals, not as a group Where Christianity parallels pagan beliefs, the pagans copied Christianity due to demonic influence

St. Irenaeus of Lyons Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul (Lyons in modern France) Taught by St. Polycarp who was taught by St. John Wrote a massive work called Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies) Argued against Gnosticism Used Scripture and Tradition, particularly apostolic succession First Christian author to refer by name to all four of the canonical Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Arguments Churches founded by the Apostles were Catholic and all taught the same doctrines – NOT Gnostic doctrines The Church of Rome taught orthodox Christian doctrine, not Gnosticism, and all of the churches had to agree with her Gnostics taught secret knowledge to a select few and could not trace it back to the Apostles in any reliable way Gnostics misinterpreted Scripture, could not take it at face value Used books outside of Scripture which did not trace back to the Apostles Didn’t use ALL of the correct books Altered the text of the Bible to agree with their beliefs (e.g. Marcion) http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm

Origen of Alexandria Taught by Clement of Alexandria Patristics scholar J.N.D. Kelly says, "It has been fashionable to distinguish different schools of patristic exegesis, notably the Alexandrian with its bias towards allegory, and the Antiochene with its passion for literalism." Taught by Clement of Alexandria Was a master of biblical interpretation Often found meanings in the text beyond the merely literal NOT a Saint, and usually not counted as a Church Fathers. Why?

Why is He Not a Father Nor Saint? He believed in: 1) preexistence of souls 2) final apokatastasis – universalism, belief that everyone (even the devil and the demons) will go to heaven

Tertullian of Carthage Church writer from North Africa Wrote against Modalists First writer to use the term trinity in Latin (trinitas) So influential he became known as father of Latin Christianity Influenced later African writers like Cyprian, Augustine, etc.

Why is He Not a Father Nor a Saint? Tertullian became convinced that those who committed adultery (or any type of fornication), murder, or idolatry should not be readmitted into the Church after penance Joined the Montanists

Montanism 2nd century heresy in which a man named Montanus claimed to be a prophet and speak directly for the Holy Spirit He had two prophetesses who assisted him Insisted on no repentance and reconciliation in this life for baptized people who committed serious sin

Adoptionism 2nd and 3rd century heresy Adoptionists believed that Jesus was not always God’s Son He became God’s son at his baptism Argued against by Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, etc. What about Christ being called “only-begotten” by God in John 3:16?

St. Hippolytus of Rome Father in the late 2nd to early 3rd century Taught by St. Irenaeus Wrote Refutation of All Heresies – catalogued different heresies and argued against them Angry when Pope Callistus said priests would absolve serious sinners

Antipope First antipope – had himself elected as a rival pope in Rome Not the true pope, was Reconciled with the true pope prior to his martyrdom I am pope.

Novatianism Began in the 250s Novatian was a Roman theologian Strict – no absolution for serious sinners Mad at Pope Cornelius

Antipope SECOND antipope – had himself elected as a rival pope in Rome Not the true pope, Cornelius was Was opposed by St. Cyprian of Carthage I am pope.

Decian Persecution Emperor Decius began persecuting Christians in the 250s – widespread ALL inhabitants of the empire had to offer sacrifice to the emperor and provide a document for proof Most Christians viewed this as an act of idolatry, so: 1) Some were martyred 2) Some gave in, and had to repent afterwards

St. Cyprian of Carthage Bishop of Carthage, main church of the western North African church Had to deal with lapsed Christians rejoining the Church Insisted on them performing strict penance before resuming communion Wrote about necessity of being united to the “chair of Peter” Martyred

Tension Believed (wrongly) that heretic converts should be rebaptized; Pope Stephen said they should have hands laid on them after penance Both reconciled with each other when they were about to be martyred

Diocletian Persecution Persecution of Christians in about 303 Christians treated brutally Required to sacrifice or die