Grew
out of Judaism, much as Buddhism grew out of Hinduism and Islam out of
Christianity and Judaism. All leading
founders of Christianity Jews: Jesus,
Peter, Paul, first 12 apostles, etc.
Messiah: “Anointed One.” Kings anointed in OT, others given special task by Yahweh. Done also to current British monarch during
coronation 50 years ago.
One
coming (Jewish view) vs. two comings (Christian view).
Alternative
Jewish solution: 2 Messiahs. Messiah ben Joseph pierced by Armius,
followed by tribulation.
Messiah-Menahem ben Ami-el, appears to remnant of Israel. With Elijah, resurrects Messiah ben Joseph,
then all the dead.
In
Dead Sea Scrolls—Messiah once described:
“He will be great over the earth . . . All will worship him. . . . He
shall be called great and He will be designated by his name. He will be called “son of God” and they will
call Him “son of the Most High.” . . . His kingdom will be an eternal kingdom,
and all his paths in truth and uprightness . . . the sword shall cease from the
land and all the provinces shall pay him homage. He is a great God of gods.”
Aramaic apocalypse.
Zech. 9:9 vs. Dan. 7:13-14?
Talmud
(Sanhedrin 98a): “If they are worthy,
he will come with the clouds of heaven; if they are unworthy, he will come
“poor and riding on a donkey.”
Jesus: His identity argued about more than His
message historically. Incarnation
issue. God turned into flesh in order
to redeem humanity from death caused by sin by dying Himself.
Zaleucus
and the theory of redemption story (King of Greek colony in Italy put out one
of own eyes to save son from total blindness, losing just one eye then): The issue of “why” God had to die issue.
Paul: “Basic theory”—Romans 3:19-4:15
“Apostle
to Gentiles” when Peter “Apostle to Jews.”
“Standard
synagogue sermon? Acts 13:16-41 vs.
Acts 17, I Cor. 9:19+ on honesty issue
Gentiles
and circumcision. Peter in Acts 10:28,
34.
Showdown
in Jerusalem-c. 49 A.D.—circumcision not required for gentile converts. Problem of overcoming racial/ethnic
prejudice.
Crucial
for making Christianity a universal religion:
Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11. Place for
women, unlike Mithraism, Christianity’s great third century rival. Gibbon:
“The Jewish religion was admirably fitted for defence, but it was never
designed for conquest.”
Arius: Since monas indivisible and immutable
(unchangeable), and God can’t be divided, son must be separate, and caused by
Him. Duas, demiurge of Timaeus,
in-between, created to create universe issue.
God can’t be more than one person then.
God can’t communicate His substance.
Platonic, pagan thinking. Greek
philosophical influence, not turning back to Judaism in his view of God.
Jehovah’s
Witnesses: Why issue not merely
theoretical, arcane—importance depends on if believe in NT or not.
LOGOS: “Word,” “statement,” “motive,” “speech,”
“reason,” etc.
Philo,
Jewish scholar of 1st century Alexandria in Egypt, influenced by
Greek thought. Philo used “logos”
loosely, Plato’s ideal world, mind of god, and a Principle subordinate to God,
mediators between God and man (including angels, Moses, Abraham).
John’s
use more primitive, basic—E.R. Goodenough.
British scholar T.W. Manson:
Tendency to speak of God’s attributes as having separate existence. (Apocalyptic books, Wisdom of Solomon and
Eccls. 24:1-23).
Wisdom
is personified.
Isaiah
55:11 “Word of God” personified.
“Memra”
(wisdom); Prov. 8’s “wisdom.”
Both
Philo and John use OT, but Philo mixes OT and Stoicism, and John uses OT
concept about Jesus.
Council
of Nicea (325 A.D.): “Homoousios” (same
being), consubstantial, vs. “homoiousios,” of like being. Creed, p. 274. 300+ bishops present.
Eusebius
of Nicomedia: Blunders, puts forth
blunt statement of Arian position, heatedly rejected by majority. Others, pro-monarchist, others in middle,
not decisive initially.
Barbarians
invading Rome often Arians, except for Clovis and Franks (France).
Roman
attitude on Christians: Acts 18:12-15,
Acts 19:23-34-41. Wouldn’t
worship Caesar/emperor as god.
Pliny
the Younger, governor of Pontus and Bithyna, Asia Minor, letter to Emperor
Trajan (A.D. 110). Had executed so many
men and women, wanted to know if should kill all, or just certain ones. Said found temples neglected and
deserted. Trajan: Don’t hunt them down; If accused and
convicted, punish them, except if will worship our gods then, let him go
regardless of prior suspicions. Easy to
escape death—but had to commit idolatry to do so.
Marcus
Aurelius: allowed persecutions, done
partially to satisfy masses by scapegoating.
Polycarp,
bishop of Smyrna, killed then.
Proconsul: “consider yourself
and have pity on your great age.
Reproach Christ and I will release you.” Polycarp: “Eighty-six
years I have served Him, and He never once wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King, who saved
me?” Threatened with wild beasts, fire,
Polycarp replied, “What are you waiting for?
Do whatever you please.” To be
burned at stake, sword put into him when fire didn’t burn him.
Later
190-200 A.D., upper class starts to convert, not just a religion of slaves, the
poor among gentiles anymore. Mithraism,
little for oppressed in its teachings.
Decius
(250-1 A.D.): Targeted Christian
leaders, wanted uniformity, all to do same allegiance to the state.
Diocletian
(303-313 A.D. attack, cf. Rev. 2:10), with Ceasar Galerius: All churches to be destroyed, all Christians
to be dismissed from government service, eastern provinces, arrested clergy,
make them sacrifice to state, then (304 A.D.), applied same policy to
laymembers. Maximinus II enforced
it. Galerius—while dying—pulls back
some, 311 A.D.
Gibbon:
I. Mutually exclusive nature of the truth. Acts 12:4; John 14:6 vs. pagan tolerance,
all roads lead to God mentality.
Delivered
from national/ethnic emphasis of Jews.
II. Cicero, uncertainty in philosophy over
eternal life, immortality of soul.
Admitted his own arguments for immortality only really persuaded him
when directly mentally considering arguments in favor of it.
Epicureans: Denied future life altogether, flesh made up
of atoms, dispersed.
Wish
father of belief: Dislike idea own
minds would have an end, be like animals.
Third
century A.D. Life in empire bad, turns
people away from this world.
III.
Miracles—visions, tongues, casting out demons, healings, resurrection of dead,
etc.
Gibbons’
moderate skepticism—not clear when ceased.
I
Cor. 15:12-19: Christianity interesting
in tying religion to historical events, like Judaism and Islam, but unlike
Hinduism and Buddhism.
IV. High moral standards, unlike later medieval
church, in early church. Two
reasons: 1. Repentance for past sins, 2. Uphold public image and respect for
group one is part of. Sin embarrassing
to church. Help and watch each other to
avoid sin, try to stop persecution since small group, and a few individuals can
badly damage its reputation among others.
Could
be very rigid—Like monks, lacking balance on avoiding pleasure per se. Tertullian—could honestly say few Christians
executed but for religion.
Condemnations
of colorful clothing, elegant furniture, large mansion [also prideful]; wigs,
feather-filled pillows, white bread, foreign wines, warm baths, shaving the
beard. Rigid on view of sex even within
marriage: thought Adam w/o falling
would always be a virgin. Marriage
tolerated, not extolled, celibacy promoted; second marriages, even for widows,
banned. Refused to be in army or civil
administration.
V. A state within a state, even eventually
organized itself along Roman lines. Leo
I (440-61 A.D.), Papacy organized church using Roman units of government (Diocese
= province, etc.)
Pontifex
Maximus: title taken from Roman
religion. A “separate society.” Bishops, presbyters/elders,
laity—hierarchical model. Top bishops
of large cities argued for own authority:
Rome, Constantinople (Patriarch), Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem. Synods—meetings of groups of bishops—start
in Greece, Asia in later 2nd century. Would decreee canons (laws) on controversies at regular
assemblies. Groups of provincial
bishops meeting elsewhere formed.