Development of Early Christianity in Rome

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Development of Early Christianity in Rome

• 19 September 2005

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Introduction

• 3 talks this Fall on Christianity in Rome
• Roman Christianity in Time of Martyrs
• Roman Christianity after Constantine
• Roman Catholic Church During the Baroque
• Motivation is TCC Pilgrimage in January
• Trying to bring the pilgrimage to broader
  community

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Outline

• From Jerusalem to Rome
• Religion in Roman Life
• First Century Christian Confrontations in Rome
• Among Jews in Rome
• Emperors Nero and Domitian
• Roman Bishop (aka the Pope)
• Roman Martyrs and the catacombs
• Why do we call ourselves Roman Catholic?

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From Jerusalem to Rome

• Jesus, the apostles and the first members of the
  Christian community were all Jews almost all
  Jews from the Roman province of Palestine (Judea,
  Galilee, Samaria)
• Missionary zeal led the apostles, especially
  Peter and Paul to evangelize Jews outside of
  Palestine
• In so doing, they also evangelized Gentiles

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First Century Judaism
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Luke-Acts

• Tells the story of how Christianity spread from
  Jerusalem (more precisely, the Temple) to Rome
• Starts with Zechariah in Temple
• Ends with Paul preaching in Rome
• Gives the history of Pauls missionary journeys
  (and Peters)
• Describes Council of Jerusalem which settles
  the Gentile question
• Did you have to be a good Jew to be a Christian?
• Paul, Peter, James the Brother of the Lord

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Pauls Letter to Romans

• Longest and theologically his most important
  letter
• Most carefully thought-out and systematic
• A letter which introduces Paul to the Christian
  community in Rome
• Addresses the theology of Judaism and
  Christianity and relation to each other
• The Christians in Rome before Paul
• Jews living in Rome
• Associated with James and Peter
• Perhaps a bit suspicious of Paul

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Christian-Jews and non-Christian Jews in First
Century Rome

• During reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54)
• In 50 AD Claudius expels all Jews from Rome
• According to Seutonius,
• since the Jews were continually making
  disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he
  Emperor Claudius expelled them from Rome. Life
  of Claudius xxv.4

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Christians and Jews in Rome

• Jews allowed back into Rome after Claudius dies,
  stepson Nero (Emperor 54-68) becomes Emperor
• Jews in Rome who believe in Christ are becoming
  increasingly distinct from Jews who do not
• Great Fire in Rome
• First Roman-Jewish War in Palestine 66-73
  destruction of Temple in 70
• Increased number of Gentiles joining Christianity

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Nero and Great Fire

• In an era of megalomaniacs, Nero was the head of
  the class
• Wanted to build a huge home for himself (Domus
  Aurea, Golden House)
• He may, or may not, have actually set the fire,
  but certainly used its aftermath to greatly
  expand his person home
• Romans, up in arms, force Nero to place blame
  somewhere he settles on Christians
• Persecution limited to Christians in Rome
• Probably Paul and Peter died during this
• Reputed to have used some Christians for living
  torches
• Contemporary historian, Tacitus (no friend of
  Christians), condemns Nero for this
• Early burial place for Christians Vatican Hill

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Map of Ancient Rome
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After Nero

• After Nero is murdered, Vespasian, his general in
  Palestine, becomes Emperor
• Vespasian destroys much of the Domus Aureus, and
  establishes peace
• Builds the Coliseum on part of grounds of Domus
  Aurea
• His son, Domitian, however is more like Nero
• Domitian is paranoid and harbors broad suspicions
  of almost everyone including Christians
• Book of Revelation may be referring to
  persecution fo both Nero and Domitain
• Domitian is murdered in 98

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Life of Early Roman Christians

• Most Christians were Greek-speaking foreigners
  (non-Roman citizens)
• But then, this describes the majority of the
  population of 1st and 2nd C Rome
• Christians lived in the area of Rome where most
  foreigners lived in large apartment buildings
• A few highly placed Roman officials were converts
• Christians organized themselves into
  associations
• Bishops, elders, deacons (Late 1st C)
• Important Christian School in Rome (2nd C)

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Bishop of Rome

• Starts with Peter, then Linus, Cletus, Clement
• We have two letters that Clement wrote to the
  Corinthians
• Written c. 97
• Written in response to a request by Corinthians
• Clear indication of importance of Roman Church
• Clement is associated with the Basilica of San
  Clemente
• St. Clement died a martyr during Domitians
  persecutions

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Martyrdom

• Sporadic and local
• In 250 and 303 there were Empire-wide
  persecutions, during period of economic and
  political unrest
• Usually focused on church leadership
• Roman authorities usually gave every opportunity
  for accused Christians to recant
• Non-Roman citizens convicted of being Christians
  were condemned to death
• Mines, ship rowers, entertainment in arenas
• Bishop Ignatius of Antioch, d. in Rome (probably
  Coliseum) c. 110
• Roman citizens convicted of being Christian were
  beheaded (Paul)
• Romans loved watching blood sports
• Gladiators
• Animal fights
• Mock sea battles
• Gruesome death of convicts

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Martyrs and the Christian Community

• Christians considered martyrs the heroes of the
  faith
• Martyr is Greek for witness
• Did not have to die to be a martyr
• Martyrs popularly believed to be able to forgive
  sins
• Burial place of martyrs places of great homage

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Catacombs

• Built into volcanic rock that surrounds Rome
• Used as burial site for many groups, not just
  Christians
• Some of the earliest Christian art is found in
  catacombs

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Excavations Under St. Peters

• Racecourse and small arena in area of Vatican
  Hill
• St. Peter martyred and buried in catacombs there
• Recently excavated
• Burial place for pagans, Christians, Jews
• Located under the Basilica

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So Why Are We Roman Catholic

• Rome a particular place
• Catholic Greek for universal, world-wide
• Roman reflects
• importance of bishops in line of succession from
  Apostles most especially Bishop of Rome
• Our Church order, discipline, liturgy centered in
  Rome
• Catholic because faith is open to all everywhere

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Next Month

• Constantine
• Early Byzantine Rome
• Medieval Rome