Martyrs

Question 1

Trajan’s response

Answer 1

• acknowledge Pliny’s adherence to procedure and emphasizes the absence of universal rules (individual case analysis)
• prohibits actively seeking out Christians
• suggests a degree of tolerance for the faith, as long as it remains passive
• He advocates for investigation only upon formal accusations
• Guilty Christians are to be punished

Question 2

Pliny’s torture

Answer 2

• describes their practices as harmless and ethical, emphasizing their early morning hymn-singing to Christ
• Christians to present themselves as law-abiding citizens
• decision to torture two female deacons to extract information reflects the brutality of Roman persecution

Question 3

Christianity as superstitio

Answer 3

Superstitio meant a free citizen’s forgetting his dignity by throwing himself into the servitude of deities conceived of as tyrants

Question 4

Constantine and the Edict of Milan

Answer 4

• 313 AD
• Constantine legalized Christianity

Question 5

martyrs

Answer 5

those who are persecuted, suffer, and (often) die—usually publicly—because they (often) spread and (always) refuse to renounce the Word of God

Question 6

Your cruelty is our glory

Answer 6

• Tertullian’s words
• asserts that Christians are not intimidated by torture and death
• Christians challenge his authority
• suffering endured for their faith only strengthens their resolve and brings them closer to God

Question 7

What’s the matter with the emprire

Answer 7

Because of the empire’s massive size and continuous influx of provincial/local influences, cultural differences between the multitude of peoples—free and subject—are creating deep schisms that lead to a lack of unity and purpose.

Question 8

Solution to Rome’s problem

Answer 8

• compulsory, legislated return to traditional, socially-valued Roman virtues, practices, and ideals
• Diocletian as “restorer” of “rightful Roman worldview”

Question 9

Apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla

Answer 9

• Paul converts Thecla to christianity before she is supposed to marry
• Her mother said to burn her because she doesn’t want to marry anymore
• sending a message to all women

Question 10

Perpetua’s first vision

Answer 10

• she has to climb a ladder with many weapons on it and a dragon at the bottom
• series of visions she experiences before her martyrdom

Question 11

what happened to Perpetua and Felicitas

Answer 11

• young noblewomen, was arrested along with several others for refusing to renounce their Christian faith
• imprisoned and sentenced to death
• martyr

Question 12

Imitatio Christi and Victory

Answer 12

• Perpetua and Felicitas are described as joyful and cheerful, suggesting their acceptance of their fate and their belief in the afterlife
• trembling with overwhelming joy of knowing they are about to be reunited with God
• recent childbirth and subsequent readiness to face the beasts further symbolizes the triumph of faith over death and the enduring legacy of martyrdom

Question 13

Perpetua and Felicitas’ martyrdom

Answer 13

• courage and devotion to Christ, chosen by God for a specific purpose: to glorify his name
• urged to “magnify, honor, and worship” Christ’s glory by learning from these new examples of faith