1. 1 Christian Traditions Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. GSTR 220-B Western Traditions I Berea College Fall 2004

2. 2 THE IMPERIAL CONTEXT OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY Following assassination of Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE), “dictator for life,” Rome becomes an empire ruled by Octavian (63 BCE-14 CE) and his successors As Augustus (Revered One), Octavian is regarded as Son of God (Apollo) Under early emperors, Pax Romana (Roman Peace) quiets conflicts, brings prosperity, and expands Roman power throughout world

3. 3 Greatest Extent of Roman Empire, c. 117 CE

4. 4 LIFE UNDER THE EMPERORS Unlike the Republican era, women enjoy many economic freedoms, but are forbidden to hold office, can be killed by their husbands if adulterous, and usually do not receive educations Politicians are exiled or executed at whim of emperors, leading to decline of interest in public service Slaves work at all levels of society and represent approximately 1/3 of Roman subjects Dominant value: pietas (dutiful performance of social and spiritual obligations) Roman religion: 1. Polytheistic – Greek and Roman deities seen as interchangeable; amalgamated into one pantheon 2. Pluralistic – religious diversity generally tolerated, unless seen as threat to stability of state 3. Patriotic – religious activity intended to secure blessings of gods for the state 4. Patriarchal – organized around male authorities (pontiff, priest; paterfamilias, male head of household)

5. 5 NEW RELIGIONS IN AN OLD WORLD As empire grows less stable after 200 CE, more Romans question traditional religion “Mystery religions” become popular: 1. Feature miracle-performing founders 2. Offer secret knowledge 3. Promise individual salvation and eternal life 4. Develop religious activities independent of family and state 5. Focus on savior deities who die and come back to life 6. Often connected with “exotic” cultures of Near East

6. 6 JESUS OF NAZARETH (4 BCE-29 CE?) Born poor in Roman- occupied Palestine Becomes a wandering rabbi who heals and teaches Hebrew scriptures Teaches necessity of moral perfection, casual attitude toward ritual purity, “blessedness” of society’s outcasts, and nonviolence as best means of resolving social conflicts Executed by Romans Identified as resurrected Messiah (Greek translation: Christos) by his followers

7. 7 WHO IS JESUS? … God’s “suffering servant” who bears the sins of Israel (Isaiah 55:6) … … God himself, incarnated “in the form of a slave” (Philippians 2:6-7) … … “Raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20) and “ascended” to God (John 20:17) … These images of Jesus gradually become known as “orthodox” (right-believing) Other early Christians hold different views of Jesus as… … Teacher of secret knowledge (Greek gnosis) that only the initiated can understand (Gospel of Thomas 70)… … The new god who has come to sweep away Jewish tradition, including the Hebrew Bible and the Jewish God who made this corrupt material world (Gospel of Marcion 6:17-42) … Such“heterodox” (differently- believing) views compete with “orthodox” views for several centuries

8. 8 THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS Within three hundred years of Jesus’ execution, Christianity’s status changes from obscure Jewish sect to persecuted Gentile faith to official Roman religion: 313: Emperor Constantine (274?- 337) ends persecution of Christianity and embraces faith 395: Emperor Theodosius I (346- 395) establishes orthodox Christianity as empire’s sole faith Christian institutions model themselves on imperial structures, complete with Pontifex Maximus (High Priest) based in Rome Collapse of Western Roman Empire in 476 leaves Western Europe sparsely populated, poor, and vulnerable to invasions Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, ruled from Constantinople (modern Istanbul), endures in spite of territorial losses to Islamic forces “Christendom” (Christian West) loosely unified by rule of Germanic kings and increasingly powerful Pope (Bishop of Rome)

9. 9 WHY DID CHRISTIANITY SUCCEED? Roman persecution was sporadic, allowing Christianity to become publicly acceptable in some areas Unlike paganism, Christianity encouraged prosyletization and conversion, and seemed simpler and more unified Christianity offered strong, egalitarian, humane community in a mass society driven by class distinctions and peppered with cruelty and violence

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