9/8/16 Flashcards
What are the meta-categories of “External Opposition to Christianity”?
I. Popular Antagonism
II. Intellectual Assaults (resulting in Christian Writing
III. Physical Persecution
What are the three categories of “Popular Antagonism”?
A. Religious (Charges brought against Christians)
B. Social Implications of Ethical Principles
C. Economic (see Acts 19:25-27)
What are the various charges brought against Christians as a result of “Religious Antagonism”?
- Atheism
- Immorality
- Cannibalism
- Magic and sorcery
What “Ethical Principles” caused social antagonism towards Christians?
- Opposition to infanticide and abortion
- Opposition to gladiatorial games
- Criticism of the profligacy and ornamentation of upper classes [cf. 1 Peter 2:11, 12; 3: 3, 4; 4:1-5]
What four types of “Christian Writings” resulted from the “Intellectual Assaults” against Christianity?
- Edificatory (Mainly the apostolic fathers. Meant for distribution inside the church.)
- Polemical (Designed to refute heresy in the church., See Irenaeus)
- Apologetics (Designed to defend against intellectual attacks from the outside,
- Systematic Exposition (Synthesizing the previous three sections, see Origin)
What are the five “Types of Apologetic Literature”?
- Philosophical apologetics
- Psychological apologetics (reflections on the internal spiritual nature of the soul.)
- Epistemological apologetics (arguing with ways we come to knowledge)
- Historical apologetics
- Bibliological apologetics (arguing on the basis of the existence of the Bible)
Who are the three examples of opponents to the apologists
- Celsus - late second century known from his True Doctrine which is quoted in large portions in Origen’s Against Celsus;
- Porphyry (233 - 304) - A neo-Platonist, he wrote lives of Plotinus and Pythagoras;
- Crescens: Opponent of Justin Martyr
What are the four “Doctrines which presented problems to the world views of the day”?
- Unity and goodness of spirit and matter, creation and providence
- rationality of incarnation
- resurrection
- The recent appearance of Christianity (i.e. “Novelty”)
What are the names of the Second Century Apologists?
- Quadratus
- Aristides
- Justin Martyr
- Apollinaris of Hierapolis
- Melito of Sardis
- Athenagoras of Athens
- Tatian
- Theophilus of Antioch
What five arguments did the Apologists use?
- (Christians deserved) Just treatment
- Explain charges (popular misunderstandings)
- Describe practices of Christians (against false accusations)
- Explain Christian belief
- Unveil paganism
• Pagan religion
• Pagan philosophy
What were the two results of the intellectual assults
- Christianity showed itself a defensible world view
2. They became a solidifying factor in the recognition of a cannon of Scripture.
In what four ways was Christianity a defensible worldview?
(4 C’s)
a) Coherence (internal consistency)
b) Cogency (correspondence: what we observe the Christian faith teaching clearly corresponds with what can be observed about the world)
c) Comprehensiveness (does it deal with a sufficient number of things in reality)
d) Clarity
What are the five reasons behind “Physical Persecution”?
- Religio illicita
- Universality
- Hated by influential class
- Seditious and rebellious (union of poorer classes)
- Natural calamities
What are the six periods of “Early Persecution”?
- Jewish Persecution [1 Thess 2:13-16]
- Nero
- Domitian (81-96)
- Trajan (98-117) [Ignatius of Antioch]
- Antoninus Pius (138-161) [Polycarp]
- Marcus Aurelius (161-180) [Justin, Martyrs of Lyons]
What were the three “Empire-wide Persecutions”?
- Decian Persecution (249-251)
- Valerian Persecution (253-259)
- Diocletian Persecution (284-305)
