Church State Relations Flashcards
Authentic accounts of martyrdom from the second century come in what three literary forms?
Letters- by churches that describe the accompanying events and martyrdoms of those in their number
Passions- that narrate the last days and death of the martyrs
Acts- recount their trials before the authorities
Rather than seeking out martyrdom, what is the example that the author of The Martyrdom of Polycarp (perhaps the earliest martyrdom account) gives for how a Christian should respond during persecution?
The Martyrdom of Polycarp- retired from city to avoid death…. When captured confessed his faith firmly and endured his trial and execution with dignity and courage.
The persecution at Lyons (contemporary France) in the 2nd c. is considered exceptional. Why?
Firsthand account (letters) of the rage of the populace that resulted in exceedingly brutal experiences for the Christians Large numbers of martyrs, the Roman citizens being beheaded and the rest condemned to the wild beast contests in the arena.
Before death, what did soon-to-be martyrs prefer to be called?
Confessors
What is unique about the Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas?
Incorporates 2 writings from martyrs themselves and 1 of these is diary of Perpetua- one of the few women authors known from ancient church
Perpetua was a catechumen
Perpetua’s father was beaten at court when he brought her son to plead with her- She still said she was a Christian
Felicitas was pregnant and thought she would not be martyred with the others
What does the Greek word “martyr” mean?
Witness
Which book of the Bible uses the word “martyr” most similarly to the way that 2nd c. Christians used the word?
Revelations
Did the Church affirm or deny that forgiveness of sins was given to unbaptized (“catechumens”) martyrs?
Affirmed their forgiveness; Perpetua was a catchumen
According to Ferguson, during which years did the Church experience its first relatively long reprieve from persecution?
211-250
The reign of which emperor marks the change from local, sporadic persecutions to an “empire-wide assault on Christianity?” What event, during his reign, sparked a revival of ancient Roman customs?
250-251 CE.- Decius- 1st empire wide attack- began as result of celebration of the 1000th anniversary of traditional founding of Rome.
Who did Decius arrest first? What order did he issue? What did one need to obtain in order to be exempt from persecution?
Higher Clergy- arrested first
Issued order to sacrifice to the gods of the empire
One needed to obtain a certificate in order to be exempt from persecution
What term did the North African church use to refer to Christians who had capitulated and sacrificed to the Roman gods during the Decian persecution?
Lapsi- “the lapsed”
In Cyprian’s day, what three steps did a person who had lapsed need to take to reconcile with the church? What are specific examples of how these three steps would look in the daily life of a church?
1-The performance of works of penance: praying, fasting, lamenting & weeping, wearing sackcloth, observing vigils, giving alms, and all while being excluded from
2-Eucharist
3- Confession in the presence of the Church
4- Reconciliation by a laying on of hands of bishop and clergy and by prayer
What distinguished the two crises in which Cyprian participated in Carthage and in Rome regarding the lapsi in the wake of the Decian Persecution?
x
What four edicts were issued during Diocletian’s “Great Persecution,” and when did it begin?
303CE
4 edicts issued during “Great Persecution”
1- Christian buildings were to be leveled, 2- scriptures were burned, and 3- anyone appearing in a court of law had to sacrifice, as did anyone when challenged to do so.
Governors were ordered to arrest and imprison bishops
Bishops could be released if they sacrificed
Sacrifice to the gods was made obligatory to everyone
