Second Century Middle Flashcards
Did the government distinguish Christians from Jews in the book of Acts?
No
Was the religion of the Jews legally recognized by the (Roman) government during the time of the book of Acts?
Yes
What ‘background for (the) later unfavorable treatment’ of Christians does Ferguson see in Acts?
The Jews sometimes stirred up trouble, Christian preaching often created wider disturbances (something those in authority always disliked) and Christian teaching threatened pagan society.
Nero charged and punished Christians for the fire in Rome (AD 64), on what account did Nero’s officials take actions against them?
The officials took actions on account of “the name” that is, for being Christians.
Who continued ‘the policy that made Christians punishable “for the name,”’ thereby following ‘a precedent found in the treatment of Druids, participants in the Bacchanalia, and occasionally worshippers of Isis and Jews?
Trajan
How did Hadrian (117-38) respond to popular tumults?
He sought to regularize proceedings to the law courts, in effect reaffirming the policies of Trajan.
Explain the significance (to Christians) of what seems to have been a general edict issued during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-80)?
Due to the Parthian War, pressure from Germans on the Danube frontier, and an outbreak of the plague caused the prosecution of Christians worsened after not sacrificing to the Roman gods.
What were aroused following the revolt led by Avidius Cassius in 175?
Marcus Aurelius toured the east in 176.
When did ‘authorities and others (take) unfavorable notice’ of Christians?
When Christians refused to perform acts of loyalty such as being commanded to burn incense or acknowledge Caesar as lord
What were the ‘three other charges’ to which ‘Christian Apologists repeatedly responded’?
atheism, cannibalism and incest
In the ancient world ‘an atheist was someone who did not observe’ what?
The traditional religious practices, regardless of what faith he professed.
Why did Christians remain aloof by removing themselves ‘from the normal activities of society’?
They remained aloof because almost all aspects- athletics, entertainment, political affairs, and many commercial transactions- were permeated with idolatry.
Identify the three ‘factors must be kept in mind in understanding the causes of persecution’.
• Christians got off on the wrong foot as far as the Roman authorities were concerned.
• Christians could not engage in the accepted expressions of political loyalty, so they appeared as a threat to the Roman state.
• The popular animosity aroused by the aloofness and secretiveness of Christians, and the civil disturbances their presence often caused, were part of the background to persecution.
o The worship of JC- a man who was crucified by the Roman gov’t was a continual slap in the face
What ‘three distinct classes’ did Pliny find ‘among those against whom accusations had been brought’?
- Those who confessed they were Christians and remained steadfast in the confession- these he ordered for execution, or if they were Roman citizens, ordered them to be sent to Rome.
- Those who denied they had ever been Christians- these he released, since they recited a prayer to the gods and offered incense and wine to a statue of the emperor, “Things which those who are really Christians cannot be made to do,” and so a reasonable test to determine who was a Christian and who would prove loyal to Rome.
- Those who apostatized, those who had been Christians but had ceased to be such (a few of these apostatized twenty years ago- that is, under Domitian) and proved it by worshipping the emperor’s statue and the gods and cursing Christ- from them Pliny learned what he knew of Christianity, nothing really dangerous, only “a perverse and extravagant superstition.”
Pliny, the governor of Bythynia, asked Trajan for guidance with regard to the judicial questions surrounding Christians. What were the three responses Trajan gave Pliny?
- Christians were not to be sought out, but if accused and convicted they were to be punished. This may sound contradictory but was according to normal Roman legal procedure. Rome did not have a public prosecutor, and the legal system was set in motion by an individual making a formal charge before a magistrate.
- No anonymous accusations were to be received. An accuser had to act in the proper judicial manner by coming forward in his own person.
- The deniers were toe be pardoned; punishment was, therefore, on the basis of the “name.” Christian Apologists argued strongly against this procedure, but the course of Roman legal action had been set.
