REL 1350 - The Christian Heritage - Exam 1 Review
Know the dates and be able to describe three periods of persecution: 1) Neronian 2) Informal 3) Deciant 4)"The Great Persecution"
1) Neronian - (64-68) Response to the Great Fire of Rome Confined to the city of Rome It ended when Nero committed suicide in 68 2) Informal - (68-250) After Nero died, Christians were not intentionally persecuted. Although Christianity remained technically illegal, you were not guaranteed to be persecuted for it 3) Deciant - (250-303) The decline of Roman power quickly In 250, Emperor Decius decreed that all inhabitants except the Jews must sacrifice to the Roman Gods. You got a receipt for doing it; you could be executed if you did not have one. 4) "The Great Persecution" - (303-313) Intentional empire-wide persecution by one of the best emperors, Diocletian. It only ended when Constantine, the first Christian emperor, came to power.
Date of Council of Nicaea
325 AD
Describe Nero's reign as emperor
54-68 He was among the worst emperors due to his luxury, laziness, and cruelty. Began the first state persecution of Christians in 64 to blame them for the Great Fire of Ro,e Committed suicide in 68 rather than being deposed in a coup.
Define: Apostle, Apostolic Succession, and Canonization
Apostle: Authoritative figures in early Christianity after Jesus' death. Most were former disciples of Jesus. Apostolic Succession: In the same way the apostles preserved the memory of Jesus, the churches preserved the memory of the apostles. The churches the apostles preached at remembered their teachings and deemed it authoritative. Over time, the apostolic churches would unite and create authoritative ideas about Christianity. Canonization: Deeming texts created by the apostles or gospel writers authoritative in early Christianity to create a basis for the New Testament of God.
What date did Jesus's Ministry Begin?
Around 29 AD
What was the political context for the editing of the Torah?
Athenians sponsor a rebellion in Egypt. This scares Persia since the Athenians started a small offensive. The Persians then sent Ezra back to solidify and vitalize control of the region (Yehud)
Describe when and why Nicaea became important in theological controversy
Becomes important in the 350s after Constantius becomes full emperor and pushes his beliefs of "three beings" versus the homoousians "one being." Used this Nicaea Creed as evidence of Constantine's support and the "one being" idea's legitimacy.
Describe w/ Dates: Beginning, Hinge Point, and Fall of the Western Empire
Beginning - 378 when the Goths destroyed the Romans at Adrianople Hinge Point - Vandals conquered North Africa in the 430s. Cut off Food Supply to the Roman Empire. Fall of the Western Empire - Final Roman emperor Romulus Augustulus deposed in 476. Odoacer claims kingdom of Italy.
Describe Ephrem's bio w/date
Bio - Named after tribe. 4th century Christian. Typically considered most important Syriac Theologian. Writes Poetry and Music. Worked with a "Singles" ministry - who took on a celibate vow even as regular individual.
Describe the "conversion" of Constantine
Constantine looks up at the sun and sees a sign super imposed on the sun, saying "Chi Rho" (First letters of Christ) and then heard the words, "In this sign, conquer" This wasn't his direct conversion, as he played both sides. Later he would become more explicitly Christian and be baptized on his death bed.
Who was Cyrus the Great, and why does the Bible call him a "Messiah?"
Cyrus was the first king of Persia to establish the Persian empire. He brought the Judeans back from exile and proclaimed that Yahweh sent him to return them home.
Describe: Cyrus, Alexander, Pompey, and Herod
Cyrus: First and Greatest King of Persia, reinstituted many nations through peace, claiming divine instruction. Favored in memory by almost all Alexander: Greatest conqueror in history. He conquered the entire Persian empire in about a decade. His death led to the Hellenistic period. Pompey: Roman General campaigning in the region recruited by the two brothers in the Hasmonean civil war. Greatest general of Rome who would eventually make Judea a client kingdom of Rome. Herod: The client king of Judah was appointed by the Roman Senate in 37 BC. The last Client king of Rome who orchestrated the genocide of the babies out of fear.
Describe Leo's Meeting w/Atilla, w/significance and date
Date - 452 Significance - Convinces Atilla the Hun to not sack Rome. Symbol of rise of the Pope (bishop of Rome) in prestige and power.
Describe w/ date: Edict of Milan
Date: 313 Proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire.
Describe the Tetrarchy and Constantius Chlorus' role in it
Divided the Roman empire's rule into four positions. 2 Augusti and 2 Ceasers - Assisted in governing the empire - To prevent future coups Constantius Chlorus - First Caesar of the West (293-305) Augustus of the West (305-306) Died in York, England 306 Father of Constantine the Great
Describe the early growth of Christianity and its effect on the administrative structure of the religion.*****
Early Christianity likely spread due to the diasporic Jewish community. Once Christians became too numerous, they decided to have many churches. The city's bishop was the leader of all of these churches together. These bishops became the guardians of Apostolic Tradition and, therefore, the office of bishop became the object of "Apostolic Succession"
Describe Ebionism, Docetism, Gnosticism, Marcionism
Ebionism - A group of Jewish Christians who thought Jesus was essentially just a person. Jesus was a prophet possessed by the angel of the Hebrew Bible, not divine. Jesus became significant at baptism when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Docetism - Maybe based on Greco-Roman thought in which gods sometimes masquerade as humans. Early "docetic" texts are often simply over-zealous attempts to emphasize Jesus' divinity, so much so that his real humanity is denied. Gnosticism - Based on the metaphysical speculations of Plato. Physical is evil, Spirit is good. A lesser god made the physical world. Salvation comes through esoteric knowledge. Marcionism - Rejected Old Testament and some of the New. "Jesus only" religion, without the connection to Judaism.
How did the mainstream church respond to each of these: Ebionism, Docetism, Gnosticism, Marcionism
Ebionism - Jesus was born of a (virgin). Rejected. Docetism - Jesus was (born) of a virgin. Rejected. Gnosticism - No, the physical world is good; an evil god does not create it. Rejected. Marcionism - Condemned in Rome in 144. Rejected.
Date the Exodus, David, Northern Exile, Southern Exile, and Southern Return
Exodus: 1250 David: 1000 Northern Exile: 722 Southern Exile: 587 Southern Return: 538
What was Axum and why did it become regionally powerful?
Formerly the Kingdom of Damot. Kingdom controlling the trade point between Rome and the Indians at the head of the Red Sea near Yemen and Ethiopia.
locate Roman Syria on a map
Found it --->
Date the founding of Constantinople and When Constatine Died
Founding - 324 AD Death - 337 AD
What was the pontifex Maximus?
Head of the pontiffs. A powerful figure who controlled the state religion. Modern day equivalent - Pope
What did Messiah initially mean?
It meant anointed one in the Hebrew bible, chosen by God for a task.
Describe the role of King Ezana and Eygptian Christianity in the conversion of Ethiopia.
King Ezana: Ruled Axum from 320-360. Was a pagan that converted to Christianity mid-reign. Received Missionaries from Egypt. Begins the conversion of Ethiopia to Christianity. Credits Christ and Trinity in writings and coins Ethiopian Church (like Egyptian) rejects Chalcedon (451) Relations between Egyptian and Ethiopian Church remain close
Describe the Syriac Cultural milieux and language, especially their relationship to Jesus
Language - Syriac/Aramaic Cultural Milieux - Same ways of thinking, speech, patterns as that of the Historical Jesus.
What does "planet" mean and what was their function in Roman religion?
Means wanderer. The seven "lights" in the sky seem to wander around in the sky. These were the Gods in Roman Religion. Jupiter was the brightest so it was the chief God.
Put these events in order: Persian, Greek, Independent, Roman
Persian: 450 BC Greek: 322 BC Independent: 141 BC Roman: 63 BC
Describe the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist.
Personal - According to Luke they are Cousins Professional - John the Baptist starts a religious revival movement and Jesus joins this movement. After Jesus joins Johns revival, he begins his own mission.
Who were Pliny and Trajan, and what was their correspondence about?
Pliny - Governor of a province in Asia Minor, found and persecuted a small group of Christians. Trajan - Emperor of Rome who assisted Pliny and his confusion on what to do with Christians in the future Corresponded about what to do with Christians The result was: Do not seek them out but persecute them if they are publicly given to the state.
Who were Romulus and Numa and what did each give Rome?
Romulus - One of the founders of Rome and First King of Rome. Gives them an Army. Their first legion. Created the Senate to bring together the dispersed people Numa - Second King of Rome. Religion and Society to organize the military zealots of Rome.
Describe the class dynamics of the conversion of Ethiopia
Rural populations were likely the last to convert These farmers and lower classes tended towards nature dependent religions while the upper classes were more inclined towards a monotheism like Christianity.
When and by Whom was Orthodox Christianity made the only legal religion in Rome
Theodosius in 380
Describe Donatism and how it was dealt with.
Those who handed over the scriptures to be burnt during the Diocletianic persecution were condemned as "traditores" Are the Sacraments of repentant "traditores" still valid? Council of Arles (314) decided against Donatists, Constantine enforced the decision after an appeal by the Donatists.
Recognize and define "homoousios" and "homoian"
homoousios - the same being Homoians - Believe that Jesus is "like" God
