Chapters 10 - 14 Flashcards
What did pagan do to Christians in hard times?
In 64 A.D., Rome burned and Christians were rounded up and killed.
Who started the first systematic persecution?
Emperor Decius
Martyrs
Witnesses, people willing to die for their faith
Repent
Metanoiete–>convert–>”change mind”
What does water symbolize?
Cleansing and giving life
What are catechumens?
The people preparing for baptism
What does “lapse” mean?
It means slip
What does pagan religion lack?
Substance and strong beliefs
Kyrios is what?
Lord. Kyrios is a title used only for God.
Docetism
Jesus is God, but only appeared human
Adoptionism
Jesus was a man who so identified with God the Father, “adopted” him
Arianism
Idea of Arius the priest: Jesus is above humans but below God
Trinity
1 God, 3 persons in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Grace is what?
Gift, favor, God’s love at work within enabling us to do what we can’t do on our own
What did Augustine write?
City of God
Providence is what?
Pro-videns–> “God overseeing”
What are the two different understandings of religion and life?
1) Pagans went to use God to control the world.
2) Christians want to use the world to get closer to God
Pagan religion was what?
It was “Useful”. Pagans were suspicious of any religions that expressed enthusiasm about their god(s).
Write out six lines from Nicene creed beginning with “God from God”
“God from God, light from light, true God from true God; begotten, not made; of one substance with the Father; through him, all things were made.”
What does providence mean? How did Seneca answer the question about why God lets people suffer, and how Augustine answered the same question.
Providence = pro-videns = “God overseeing”. God lets people suffer because she says the world is orderly, so there must be an orderer. Seneca said god(s) is like a stern, loving parent who lets harsh things happen to us. But Seneca also believed that Fate ruled even God. Augustine said God allows us to suffer, but God watches over and God’s grace is with us. And this life is not all there is. Then there are two different understandings of religion: A) Pagans want to use God to control the world. B) Christians want to use the world to get closer with God.
Christians look beyond this world but work in the world to follow its laws.
Use Pliny’s letter to show how Pliny’s actions follow from his understanding of religion, just as the Christians actions (being killed) come out of their understanding of religion
Pliny was just following the letter of the law in persecuting Christians. Pagans believed everyone needed to pray to their gods to get what blessings. They saw religion as a business transaction, and the Christians were messing up their transaction, so they needed to be dealt with.Christians’ actions came out of their religion because they believed there was an afterlife with God, so they were willing to die to become closer to God because that was their entire earthly goal.
