1. The Apostolic Fathers, the Apologists, and Centers of Early Christianity (ca. 90-250)

2. Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, Centers
What were the concerns of the apostolic fathers?
What were some of the criticisms made against Christians? How did they respond?
How can we compare/contrast the major centers of the early Church?

3. The Historical Context
Rome during 2nd Century
Empire at its zenith
Constant frontier warfare
“Good Emperors”

4. The Historical Context

5. The Historical Context
Third-Century Anarchy ( )
Empire on brink of destruction
Multiple emperors!
War!
Poor economy
Natural disasters
Capture of Valerian (r ) by Persians

6. The Apostolic Fathers The Apostolic Fathers (ca. 50-150)
Had access to apostles and/or apostles’ first disciples
Apostolic fathers and/or their writings:
Clement of Rome
Didache
Ignatius of Antioch
Polycarp of Smyrna
Papias of Hierapolis
Epistle of Barnabas
Shepherd of Hermas
Sometimes found in NT canons!

7. The Apostolic Fathers Emerging Tripartite Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
Bishops
Presbyters
Deacons

8. The Apostolic Fathers Clement of Rome
(Presbyter-) Bishop of Rome (r. ca )
1 Clement (ca. 96)
Letter of Roman church to Corinthian church
Drew heavily on OT
Cited pagan examples
Phoenix
Roman army
Trinitarian formulas

9. The Apostolic Fathers Didache
Origins in late 1st/early 2nd centuries, possibly Egypt
Provides liturgical instructions
Baptism
Fasting and prayer
Eucharist and communal meals
Provides manual of discipline
How to distinguish false prophet
Ministry of bishops, deacons
Preparation for the end of the world

10. The Apostolic Fathers Ignatius of Antioch († ca. 110)
Bishop of Antioch
Dubbed “God-inspired”
Arrested  Rome

11. The Apostolic Fathers

12. The Apostolic Fathers Ignatius’s Writings 7 Letters Themes addressed
False doctrines threatening unity
Christology
Episcopal authority
“Catholic” Church
Do not interfere in martyrdom!

13. The Apostolic Fathers Polycarp of Smyrna (ca. 70-156) Bishop of Smyrna
Disciple of John
Executed at age 86
Epistle to the Philippians
Offered pastoral advice
Demonstrated knowledge of NT
Opposed heresy

14. The Apostolic Fathers Papias of Hierapolis (ca. 70-155)
Bishop of Hierapolis
Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord
5 books  fragments survive!
Collected, reported on apostolic recollections of Christ’s teachings
Provides insight into Gospels of Mark, Matthew

15. The Apostolic Fathers Epistle of Barnabas Ascribed to Barnabas of NT
Alexandrian origins (ca. 135)
Explores relationship between OT and NT
Jews got it all wrong!
Christians are heirs of God’s covenant!
OT points to Christ
Jews err by interpreting Law “literally” rather than “figuratively”

16. The Apostolic Fathers Shepherd of Hermas
Hermas (1st/2nd cents.): prophet of the Roman church
Shepherd
Concern: what to do about post-baptismal sins, those who apostasized due to persecution?
Structure
5 visions: exhortation to penance and steadfastness in face of persecution
12 commandments: summary of duties of Christians
10 parables: bring together teachings of visions and commandments

17. The Apostolic Fathers
Questions?

18. The Apologists The Apologists Apologia: defense of one’s opinions
Apologists “defended” Christian faith against early critics
Their Context
Apostles now long gone
Romans suspicious of Christianity
To Jews: “heresy!”
Persecution

19. The Apologists Rumors about Christians Atheism! Incest! Cannibalism!
Worship a “crucified ass”!
Worship sexual organs of their priests!
Graffiti in Rome

20. The Apologists Celsus Early pagan critic of Christianity
Second-century figure in Syria/Palestine
Wrote The True Word (ca. 180)

21. The Apologists Celsus’s Criticisms Jesus (AC I, 28, 32)
Son of a poor Jewish adulteress and Pantera
Poor servant in Egypt, learned magic there
Back to Palestine  magic
Lied about his virgin birth
Made himself out to be a god
Christianity (AC III, 44)
For the foolish, unlearned, ignorant
They gain over the weak-minded

22. The Apologists Celsus’s Criticisms Incarnation (AC IV, 14)
Immortal, unchangeable God cannot become mortal, changeable
Resurrection of the body (AC V, 18)
Ridiculous!

23. The Apologists Objectives of the Apologists
Draft petitions for toleration and justice
Refute false rumors
Respond to criticisms
Demonstrate “antiquity” of Christianity
How to dialogue with pagans?
Convince and convert

24. The Apologists Justin (ca. 100-165) From Palestine
Originally pagan intellectual
Converted to “true philosophy”
“The Philosopher”
Teacher in Rome
Executed

25. The Apologists Justin the Apologist I Apology 2 Apology
Dialogue with Trypho the Jew

26. The Apologists Justin and Pagan Philosophy Begin with Logos
Rational principle of universe
Pre-existent Christ of John
All knowledge is product of Logos
Philosophers who had lived reasonably can be called “Christians”
But knew Logos only partially; knew only fragments of “truth”
Now Logos known entirely by Christians
Plato knew, used prophets of OT

27. The Apologists Dialogue with Trypho
Trypho is representative of Jewish criticisms of Christianity
Who can really keep the Gospels’ teachings?!
You all claim to be so great and pious!
No Sabbath?! No festivals?! No circumcision?!
Your hope is in a CRUCIFIED man!!
Justin’s response
“Types” and “figures” of Christ
Messianic prophecies

28. The Apologists
Questions?

29. Centers of Early Christianity

30. Centers of Early Christianity
Alexandria, Egypt
Founded by Alexander the Great (331 BC)
2nd city of Roman Empire
Cosmopolitan
Commercial center
Numerous attractions

31. Centers of Early Christianity
Religion in Alexandria
Many religions!
Syncretism
Christianity brought by Mark?
Mark the Evangelist

32. Centers of Early Christianity
St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice

33. Centers of Early Christianity
Clement of Alexandria (ca. 215)
Teacher, exegete (ca. 180)
Goals
Provide “deeper” knowledge
Urge pagans to consider Christianity
Position on philosophy
Given to lead Greeks to Christ
Poets, thinkers were like Israel’s prophets

34. Centers of Early Christianity
Origen ( )
Teacher in Alexandria
Founded new school of higher studies  celebrity!
Prolific writer!
Bible scholar
Allegorical/spiritual interpretations
Hexapla

35. Centers of Early Christianity

36. Centers of Early Christianity
Origen the Heretic?
Subordination of Son to Father
Eternal world
Pre-existence, reincarnation of souls
Salvation of Devil

37. Centers of Early Christianity
Antioch, Syria
3rd city of Roman Empire
Numerous attractions
Not an intellectual center

38. Centers of Early Christianity
Christianity in Antioch
Brought during apostolic times
Disciples first called “Christians” there (Acts 11:26)
Early episcopate
Center of eastern Christianity after fall of Jerusalem

39. Centers of Early Christianity
North Africa
Had been center of Carthaginian Empire
Major city: Carthage
Center for exports
Christianity
Origins unclear
Center of Latin Christian thought
Carthage

40. Centers of Early Christianity
Tertullian (ca )
Probably lawyer
Rigorous moralist  Montanist (ca. 207)
First major Latin-Christian writer
Apologetics
Heresy
Moral issues

41. Centers of Early Christianity
Tertullian’s Thought
Opposition to philosophy
Source of heresy!
“What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What between heretics and Christians?...Away with all attempts to produce a mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition!” (Prescription against Heretics, chapter 7)
Trinitarian thought
Trinitas
Father, Son, Holy Spirit share one substance (substantia), although three persons (personae)

42. Centers of Early Christianity
Cyprian of Carthage
(d. 258)
Convert
Rhetorician
Bishop of Carthage (r. 248/9-258)

43. Centers of Early Christianity
Cyprian’s Thought: The Episcopate
Center of ecclesiastical unity
Through apostolic succession, all bishops share apostolic authority
“Federated episcopacy”
Each bishop should govern diocese autonomously
Should listed to other bishops, obey councils
Bishop of Rome enjoys “priority” among bishops, no jurisdiction beyond his see

44. Centers of Early Christianity
Rome
Capital
Economic and intellectual center
Many attractions

45. Centers of Early Christianity
The Forum

46. Centers of Early Christianity
The Markets of Trajan

47. Centers of Early Christianity
Christianity in Rome
Brought during apostolic times
Associated with Peter and Paul
Ruled by collegial presbyters, or 1 bishop?

48. Centers of Early Christianity
Questions?

49. Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, Centers
What were the concerns of the apostolic fathers?
What were some of the criticisms made against Christians? How did they respond?
How can we compare/contrast the major centers of the early Church?

50. Primary Source Ignatius’s Epistle to the Ephesians
What was the occasion of his writing to Ephesian Christians?
What was the point of the letter?
What can we glean from this document about Ignatius’s Christology?
What do we know about his ecclesiology, and understanding of the role of the bishop?

51. Primary Source Justin’s First Apology To whom was it written?
What was the goal?
What is the tone of the document?
How did Justin aim to refute criticisms against Christians?
How did he argue for Christianity’s antiquity and veracity?