Chapters 10 - 14

Question 1

What did pagan do to Christians in hard times?

Answer 1

In 64 A.D., Rome burned and Christians were rounded up and killed.

Question 2

Who started the first systematic persecution?

Answer 2

Emperor Decius

Question 3

Martyrs

Answer 3

Witnesses, people willing to die for their faith

Question 4

Repent

Answer 4

Metanoiete–>convert–>”change mind”

Question 5

What does water symbolize?

Answer 5

Cleansing and giving life

Question 6

What are catechumens?

Answer 6

The people preparing for baptism

Question 7

What does “lapse” mean?

Answer 7

It means slip

Question 8

What does pagan religion lack?

Answer 8

Substance and strong beliefs

Question 9

Kyrios is what?

Answer 9

Lord. Kyrios is a title used only for God.

Question 10

Docetism

Answer 10

Jesus is God, but only appeared human

Question 11

Adoptionism

Answer 11

Jesus was a man who so identified with God the Father, “adopted” him

Question 12

Arianism

Answer 12

Idea of Arius the priest: Jesus is above humans but below God

Question 13

Trinity

Answer 13

1 God, 3 persons in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Question 14

Grace is what?

Answer 14

Gift, favor, God’s love at work within enabling us to do what we can’t do on our own

Question 15

What did Augustine write?

Answer 15

City of God

Question 16

Providence is what?

Answer 16

Pro-videns–> “God overseeing”

Question 17

What are the two different understandings of religion and life?

Answer 17

1) Pagans went to use God to control the world.

2) Christians want to use the world to get closer to God

Question 18

Pagan religion was what?

Answer 18

It was “Useful”. Pagans were suspicious of any religions that expressed enthusiasm about their god(s).

Question 19

Write out six lines from Nicene creed beginning with “God from God”

Answer 19

“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.”

Question 20

What does providence mean? How did Seneca answer the question about why God lets people suffer, and how Augustine answered the same question.

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

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

Answer 21

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.