Chapter 3-5 Flashcards
Ignatius, bishop of Antioch
Protector of a city from teachings that might lead his flock astray. His letters are some of the very early pieces of Christian literature.
Ebionites
People who continued the tradition of Jewish Christianity, who kept the law and saw no contradiction between their profession of Jesus as Messiah and continuing identification with Judaism.
Docetism
Proposed very different picture of Jesus. Material humanity was the scandal. Greek word meaning “to seem”, claimed that Christ’s humanity was more apparent than real. Believed that spiritual was higher than material. Passion was merely an appearance.
Bishop as the center of the Church
Presiding at the Eucharist. Position became elevated with Ignatius. Bishops became the icon, or representative of God.
Irenaeus
Another Bishop, from Lyons (France).
Gnosticism
A phenomenon that was concerned about knowledge that could provide release for human suffering. The key to understanding the present physical world was to know that that it was not real
Demiurge
Creator god.
Catholic
Christianity of most modern Christian groups. It was found everywhere. A person who belongs to the universal Christian church.
Apostolic
Strong traditions linked to the apostles. Relating to the Apostles.
Marcion
A writer, early Christian theologian whom preached that God send Jesus Christ who was an entirely new God, distinct from the vengeful God of Israel who had created the world.
Apocrypha
The hidden books, the late Greek works that the Jewish Rabbis exluded
The Muratorian Canon
The first books that bears a similarity to the Christian canon. It listed the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Pauline letters, and the rest of the present New Testament, with omission of Hebrews, James, and the two letters attributed to Peter. The list included the Sheperd of Hermas, a popular work.
Criteria for Canonicity
First criterion of canonicity was apostolicity, if it was believed to be from an apostle, it had authority. Secondly, catholicity, was a given writing found in all parts of Christian community? Third, antiquity, works thought to be created after the apostolic age were excluded. Finally, orthodoxy, works that were in accord with the inherited church found favor.
The Apostolic Tradition & the Institutionalization of the Church
A text that probably originated in the church of Rome in early third century. Outlines several religious activities.
Montanism
Claimed the charismatic power that seemed to have abandoned the rest of the church. Took the name from Montanus, described as “newly baptized” Christian
Bishop of Rome
Successor of Peter in the Christian community. Victor summarily excommunicated all who continued to follow older way of dating Easter in the calendar.
Rome & the West
The church was beginning to take much more shape, with doctrines and an actual structure to go off of.
- Incarnation
The belief that in Jesus, God entered the world.
- The Christian concept of love.
Love was such a basic concept of many of God’s actions. God gave the world a son out of love, endured the cross because of love, etc. Love shaped the treatment of others. Love was the law of life. Living life with as much love towards God, neighbors, etc.
- Organization of the Christian church (ecclesia)
A unique organization. In connection with fellow believers throughout the empire. Fellowship crossed class boundaries. Wealthy Christians worshipped among all types of classes. The gap between free and slaves was not so major here.
- Sense of equality and charity
Charitable acts, not a thing of pride for the wealthy Christians. Acts of humility, in imitation of their savior who humbled himself to take on human flesh.
- The nature of the ecclesial community provided important roles for women.
Their place in ministry was questioned, but their place in the community was central. Large number of wealthy women. Deaconess, assited in baptism and also ministered to other women. Office of the widowed, because most marriages were between older men and young girls.
- Christianity as a tightly knit fellowship with strong fixed boundaries between inside and outside.
It was constructed that way. Christian community demanded great discipline, and those guilty were dealt with accordingly.
- Christian confidence in Last Things.
Christians did not see death as either annihilation or merely a shadow realm. The departed were asleep waiting for resurrection. Christian burial grounds were called commentaries. Resurrections hope took away much of the death scandals.
