Lesson Overview 1.Models of Christ and Culture 2.Culture of ancient Rome 3.Culture of Christianity 4.Christ against Culture 5.Legalization of Christianity

Models of Christ and Culture What is Culture? (Pg. 35) – Created by Humans (in a given context) – Ways of doing things – Belongs in the Public domain – Arises from traditions – Function as rules or norms Based upon the research of American Anthropologist Clyde Kluckohn

Culture of Early Christianity Apologetics Unity Apostolic Succession Eucharist Baptism Heretics and schisms Lapsi (Lapsed ones) Petrine primacy Epicopate in general

Church Fathers Clement of Rome (? – 101) Ignatius of Antioch (50-107) Irenaeus ( ) Tertullian ( ) Origen ( )

St. Clement of Rome Letter to Corinth 96 CE Schism developed Elders are direct successors of apostles Validates their authority

Ignatius of Antioch Martyrdom Denounced schisms and heresies Advocated for Church’s Episcopacy Incarnation, Passion, Death, Resurrection Coined the term “Roman Catholic”

Nature of Jesus Human? God? Demi-God? God = Unlimited being in every sense (Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresences, Omnibenevolent) Modalism Docetism Tertullian Rejects both

Irenaeus of Lyons Interested in Sotiriology Why does the death of Jesus save us? Save us from What? Why was such a gruesome death necessary? Answer: Saved through Christ, from the Devil Irenaeus’ theology would have an impact on the 20 th Writer C.S. Lewis when he wrote his children’s book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Origen How do we comprehend Jesus? Joining of two separate entities Divine Word and Human Flesh Infusion Problems with this theory

Pax Romana Peace of Rome Emperor Augustus had established peace Meant safe travels

Roman Infrastructure Mediterranean under Roman occupation Roads, mail system, ships, travel routes Hellenistic culture meant Greek common language

Persecution Initially, came from local Shift to regional governments Nero Seen as problematic, Christians would not acknowledge the divinity of the Roman Emperor

Emperor Decius First Empire-wide persecution of Christians Decius attributed Empire’s misfortunes to Christianity Since Christianity called for ultimate allegiance to Christ, seen as dissident

Christ Against Culture Tertullian and Apostles Roman Culture Emperor = Lord Pantheon of gods Favour to “Roman State” Foster Virtue Christian Culture Jesus = Lord One God Favour weakest members of society Foster Virtue

Legalization of Christianity Civil War (Constantine against Maxentius) Edict of Milan 313 Toleration and integration of Christ and State Good or Bad?