Early Christianity

Terms: Judea Christ mystery religions Isis bishops / episkopoi / overseers apostolic succession Montanists Gnostics martyrdom

Terms: Tertullian orthodoxy Fathers of the Church Doctrine of the Trinity Arius, Arians Constantine Council of Nicea, Nicene Creed

Terms: asceticism St. Antony coenobitic monks Pope; Bishop of Rome Gregory the Great Ambrose Jerome Augustine; City of God

Questions: How must the historian approach the canonical texts of the Bible? How did Jesus' approach to self-sacrifice and worship differ from that of other religious traditions? What was the first major decision that faced Jesus' followers? How was it resolved? The earliest Christians fully expected the second coming and end of time to occur soon. How did they adapt when it became increasingly clear that life would continue for an indefinite period? How did women's roles and participation in leadership change over time?

Questions: Why did the Roman authorities persecute Christians? How did Christianity alter the balance of more traditional religions between belief and behavior? How did Christianity change once it was accepted at the highest levels of Roman authority? In what ways did life in a monastery compare with the otium of an aristocratic family? What was the attitude of Christians toward pagan classical culture?

Question to Ponder: What was the reason for the historian Edward Gibbon's evaluation of Christianity? How might he have used the Book of Matthew and/or John's Book of Revelation to make his case? Why does Berger believe he may have had a point? What do you think?

Matthew 3-9:32 How does the author of the Book of Matthew relate Jesus' career and thought to the Hebrew Bible? to the Hebrew law? What evidence is there in this source of tension between Jesus and the larger Jewish community of his time? Between him and the Jewish authorities? What seems to be the nature of that tension? What values did Jesus promote in the Book of Matthew? How do they compare to the values of pagan Roman religion?

Book of Revelation Compare and contrast this source with the Book of Matthew. Which seems more concerned with Jesus' and the Christians' relations with the Jewsih community? With Roman society? How might you explain the contrasts? What evidence does this source present for Christians' expectations about the end of the world?

St. Perpetua How does this source demonstrate a rupture between Christian and traditional Roman values? How might this source explain why Christianity appealed to women?