Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture

I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian

“What then has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What does the academy to do with the church? What have heretics to do with Christians?...Away with those who produce a Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic Christianity. We have no need of speculation after [we have] Jesus Christ, nor of inquisitiveness after [we have] the gospel!” - Tertullian

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria

“For not only for the Hebrews and those subject to the law...is it right to become a Jew, but also a Greek for the Greeks, that we may gain all [cf. 1 Cor. 9:20-21]... (He continues:) All of us who use our eyes consider what encounters them. But some look for one reason, others for another. For example, the cook and the shepherd do not consider the sheep alike. For the former scrutinizes whether it is fat; the latter looks into the quality of its breeding. If someone needs food, let him milk the sheep. Let him shear the wool if he needs clothing. In this way, let me benefit from the fruit of Greek erudition.” - Clement of Alexandria

“What then has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What does the academy to do with the church? What have heretics to do with Christians?...Away with those who produce a Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic Christianity. We have no need of speculation after [we have] Jesus Christ, nor of inquisitiveness after [we have] the gospel!” - Tertullian “For not only for the Hebrews and those subject to the law...is it right to become a Jew, but also a Greek for the Greeks, that we may gain all [cf. 1 Cor. 9:20-21]... (He continues:) All of us who use our eyes consider what encounters them. But some look for one reason, others for another. For example, the cook and the shepherd do not consider the sheep alike. For the former scrutinizes whether it is fat; the latter looks into the quality of its breeding. If someone needs food, let him milk the sheep. Let him shear the wool if he needs clothing. In this way, let me benefit from the fruit of Greek erudition.” - Clement of Alexandria

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine

Bust of Emperor Diocletian ( )

Diocletian’s Palace in Split (modern-day Croatia)

A New Era: Emperor Constantine

The Milvian Bridge, Rome

What did he see?

Constantine’s Vision in Later Imagination

The Arch of Constantine

Coin of Constantine with dedication to "The Unconquerable Sun" on reverse

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome”

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome” III. Christianity and Culture After Constantine

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome” III. Christianity and Culture After Constantine A. Mutual Influences

Basilicas: A New use for an old form Outline of Old St. Peter's

Outline of Basilica in Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity

Interior of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

Images of the "Good Shepherd" Fresco in the catacomb of Marcellinus (left); Peter, an ivory figure (right)

Christ as the Good Shepherd (Rome, Catacomb of San Callisto, crypt of Lucina)

From Beardless Shepherd to Majestic Ruler Bust of Christ (Rome, Catacomb of Comodilla)

Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome” III. Christianity and Culture After Constantine A. Mutual Influences B. The Importance of Neo-platonic Philosophy