Western Civilization 1003 from Prehistory to 1650
Dr. Edrene S. McKay  Online-History.org  (479) 855-6836
EARLY CHRISTIANITY
BIRTH OF
CHRISTIANITY
During the Late Roman Empire, classical values gave way to Christianity. The new
religion evolved from an obscure Jewish sect to a distinct international religion that
transformed the Greek humanist tradition.
Moral Commitment
Universal Love
New World Order
Christianity emerged in a context of social/sectarian division among Palestinian Jews. A
Jew by birth and outlook, Jesus developed teachings that drew upon and responded to the
ideals represented by the major sects. His message of individual MORAL
COMMITMENT and UNIVERSAL LOVE opposed the legalism and ritualism of the
aristocratic Saducees. His active ministry and vision of a NEW WORLD ORDER drew
upon Pharisee prophetic ideals, Essene eschatology, and Zealot messianism. His message
was radical enough to alienate many powerful Jews and provoke the Romans into executing
him as a subversive.
UNIVERSAL
RELIGION
Paul’s Contribution:
Resurrected Savior
By mythologizing his death and resurrection, Jesus' followers began the process of
transforming his Jewish vision into a distinct church. The most active of these followers
was the Apostle PAUL, whose thought drew Christianity away from Judaism. By
presenting Jesus as the RESURRECTED SAVIOR and by preaching individual MORAL
TRANSFORMATION, Paul formulated a UNIVERSAL RELIGION that appealed to Jews
and Gentiles alike. Further, by claiming that Jesus' message SUPERSEDED MOSAIC
LAW, Paul attracted non-Jewish converts who recoiled from many Jewish practices.
Moral Transformation
Above Mosaic Law
APPEAL OF
CHIRSTIANITY
Message of Hope
Institutional
Community
Christianity spread steadily in the Late Roman cultural climate. Already dissatisfied with
Hellenic rationalism, many people were turning to mystery cults, mystical philosophy, and
magic for moral guidance and salvation. Christianity offered such people a powerful
MESSAGE OF HOPE and a strong INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY more personally
fulfilling than the Roman world state. Roman universalism and its infrastructure benefited
Christianity, enabling it to spread throughout the Empire. Women and members of various
underclasses were among the first converts, but during the early periods of official
persecution, many of the powerful converted as well, impressed by Christians' courage
under duress. Though Christianity rejected many Roman values, it ultimately won official
tolerance and was later adopted as the state religion.
Cities
Bishops
Bishop of Rome
Monasticism
Emulating Roman administration, the church built a powerful institutional structure. Like
the Empire, the church made CITIES its administrative centers. These were led by
BISHOPS, with the BISHOP OF ROME claiming primacy over all others. Initially loose
collections of individuals following their own spiritual paths, MONASTIC ORDERS
became similarly structured. The Rule of Benedict set the standard of western
monasticism, eliminating the eccentricity of the eastern form by establishing strict
guidelines for how monks were to live, work, and pray.
SOCIAL VALUES
Accepted War,
Accommodated
Slavery,
Subordinated
Women,
Strict Sexual
Standards
As the faith and its institutions grew, Christianity defined its place in society. Although
Jesus preached nonviolence, later Christian thinkers argued that WAR COULD BE JUST.
Early Christianity also ACCOMMODATED SLAVERY, adopted traditional Jewish
SUBORDINATION OF WOMEN, and maintained STRICT SEXUAL STANDARDS.
Even as Christianity built itself on many Jewish ideas and values, it developed a pernicious
hostility toward Judaism. Built upon old resentments and myths propagated by some
theologians, this hostility caused Christians both to lash out at Jews and to view them as
misguided cousins who would one day see the truth.
THEOLOGICAL
CONTROVERSY
Christian Scripture provoked theological debate that, in turn, occasioned the Hellenization
of Christian thought. With different emphases, the synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of
John present Jesus' core message, with the remaining texts providing the first layer of
ADMINISTRATIVE
STRUCTURE
Early Christianity
Church Councils
Greek Philosophy
Augustine: Reason
Guided by Faith
EARLY
CHRISTIAN ART
Purpose: Spiritual
Devotion, Symbols,
Themes: Old
Testament Stories,
Pagan Mythology,
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commentary and elaboration. Because these texts involve discrepancies, differences of
interpretation arose that led to THEOLOGICAL CONFLICT. Major controversies over
Christ's divine nature were resolved at the COUNCILS OF NICAEA AND
CHALCEDON. These debates were argued in the language of GREEK PHILOSOPHY,
reflecting an influence as old as John's Gospel that identifies Jesus with the Logos of
Stoicism. Although some early Christian thinkers feared the influence of pagan
philosophy, most adopted Greek philosophical concepts to argue with intelligent
nonbelievers and to build the faith into systematic theology. The most important
contributor to this Hellenization process was AUGUSTINE, whose THE CITY OF GOD
presented a grim yet philosophically sophisticated account of human destiny. Though
Augustine used the concepts and methods of Hellenic philosophy in that work, he broke
with the central tenet of Greek humanism by arguing that reason must be guided by faith if
one is to attain true wisdom.
EARLY CHRISTIAN ART also turned from secular rationalism. Rather than try to render
nature accurately or cultivate beauty for its own sake, Christian artists took up the already
debased forms and techniques of classical art and adapted them for the purposes of
SPIRITUAL DEVOTION. Early Christians developed a vocabulary of symbols that
enabled them to communicate with each other without arousing the suspicions of Roman
authorities. Artists adopted these SYMBOLS to express abstract theological ideas, also
disguising Christian meaning by employing familiar Roman scenes. Artists also drew upon
OLD TESTAMENT STORIES and PAGAN MYTHOLOGY, interpreting these
allegorically within a Christian framework.
Under Constantine:
Basilica Style
Mosaics
As Christianity won toleration, its art no longer needed to be small and secretive, tucked
away in catacombs for use in covert worship. Under Constantine, artists used more
obvious Christian symbols and architects began to develop distinct styles for churches.
Constantine encouraged the BASILICA STYLE that eventually assumed the shape of the
Latin cross. The more Greek-influenced centralized form developed as well, particularly in
the Byzantine empire and areas under its influence. MOSAICS became the most
distinctive early Christian form. Their flat, highly decorative style enabled artists to
represent religious scenes without violating the ban on idols.
THEOCENTRIC
WORLD VIEW
Valued Individual in
Religious Context,
Divine Community
Christianity introduced an entirely NEW WORLD VIEW to the classical world. Greek
humanism emphasized the individual and his rational search for the good life on earth.
Christianity valued the INDIVIDUAL as well but placed that value in a RELIGIOUS
CONTEXT. Without God, the reasoning individual cannot achieve salvation. Further,
unlike Greek humanism, Christianity formulated a living and compassionate God,
developed a conception of history infused with meaning, and offered a vision of DIVINE
COMMUNITY open to all who love and obey God. The triumph of the theocentric view
marked the end of antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages.
Adapted from Humanities in the Western Tradition by Marvin Perry
ONLINE
RESOURCES
For more information on early Christianity, explore one or more of the following online
resources:
From Jesus to Christ: Jesus’ Many Faces
Website connected with the AETN series on Early Christianity.
Early Christianity
Places early Christianity in its historical context.
Christianity Flowchart
Diagram of Christianity through the ages, showing the divisions between East and West
and Catholic and Protestant. Be sure to click on “Early Christianity.”
Early Christianity
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
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Drawing on the resources you have had an opportunity to explore (textbook, course
documents, online resources, library resources), answer one or more of the following
questions:
What were the four social/sectarian parties within Judaism during Jesus' life? How
did Jesus' teachings reflect or oppose the ideas held by these parties?
What message did Jesus preach? How did Jesus' followers transform his teachings
from a branch of Judaism into a distinct faith? What role did the Apostle Paul play
in this transformation?
What did Christianity offer that traditional Greco-Roman ideas and values could
not? What did Christianity borrow from Greco-Roman thought and from competing
religions?
How did the early church hierarchy develop? What did this hierarchy borrow from
Roman administration? How did Christian monasticism evolve into a more
hierarchical institution?
How did early Christianity both challenge and adapt to Greco-Roman society? What
conventional attitudes did Christianity adopt and justify through its doctrine?
What are the New Testament Scriptures? What doctrinal controversies rose from the
interpretation of those texts? How were those controversies resolved?
What principles do classical humanism and Christianity share? How does
Christianity represent a fundamental break with humanism?