The Roman World Flashcards
What is Epicureanism?
It is the philosophy that says pleasure is the ultimate goal of life. Epicureanism says there is no afterlife
What is Stoicism?
Stoicism says everything is predetermined and virtue is what matters most. They are compared to the Pharisees.
What is Cynicism?
Cynicism says that simplicity and poverty should be embraced. There is this acceptance of shame, and emphasis on radical authenticity and independence. Self interest and distrust of others.
What is Pythagoreanism?
Pythagoreanism says that Success is equal to harmony in life
Intellectually, the pursuit of intelligence is equal to the reasoning process
What is Platonism?
Platonism says that the material world is a shadow of an ideal. It focuses on free will, immortality of the human soul, and that the goal of life is preserving the purity of the soul
What is Gnosticism?
Gnosticism says that anything material is evil. It is considered to be syncretistic, which means it mixes with any religion.
What are the 2 views of Gnosticism?
view 1: most popular; liberate the spirit from flesh by renouncing body
view 2: spirit is already free so bodily excess won’t hurt the spirit
What is Gnostic Christianity?
Christ brings secret knowledge
Who were the primary Roman rulers important to our understanding of the NT era?
Ceasar Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero
What is the theory of limited good?
There was only so much good/honor to go around; when one person gained honor, someone else lost it
What was the economic social structure of Imperial Rome?
Inequality
Agriculture was the basis of the economy
Patronage system
Describe the patron-client relationship and the impact on early development of Christian theology
Friendship was based on the exchange of favors
Patrons provided money and power to clients
Discuss the pivotal social value in the NT world, and its counter-partner
Honor and shame
Honor is purity and moral goodness, if you are poor or have something bad happen to you its because you lack honor
What is Pax Romana, and what were the positives and negatives for the Jewish people?
Peace of Rome; peace existed within the Roman Empire and was a period of prosperity
Positives: free flowing trade and travel; spread of christianity
Negatives: Rome was able to focus on social unrest with Jewish communities and suppress revolts/ Nero purged Rome
Symbolic representation of early Christian church?
Ichthus: Greek Acrostic; fish
Chi(X)-Rho(P): First two letters of Christ in Greek
Anchor: Reference to Hebrews “anchor for the soul”
