Development of Early Christianity
in Rome
19 September 2005
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19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Introduction
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3 talks this Fall on Christianity in Rome
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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
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Outline
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From Jerusalem to Rome
Religion in Roman Life
First Century Christian Confrontations in Rome
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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?
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
From Jerusalem to Rome
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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
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
First Century Judaism
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19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Luke-Acts
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Tells the story of how Christianity spread from
Jerusalem (more precisely, the Temple) to Rome
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Gives the history of Paul’s missionary journeys (and
Peter’s)
Describes ‘Council of Jerusalem’ which settles the
‘Gentile’ question
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Starts with Zechariah in Temple
Ends with Paul preaching in Rome
Did you have to be a good Jew to be a Christian?
Paul, Peter, James the Brother of the Lord
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Early Christianity in Rome
Paul’s Letter to Romans
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Longest and theologically his most important letter
Most carefully thought-out and ‘systematic’
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The Christians in Rome before Paul
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A letter which introduces Paul to the Christian community in
Rome
Addresses the theology of Judaism and Christianity and
relation to each other
Jews living in Rome
Associated with James and Peter
Perhaps a bit suspicious of Paul
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Christian-Jews and non-Christian Jews
in First Century Rome
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During reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54)
In 50 AD Claudius expels all Jews from
Rome
According to Seutonius,
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“since the Jews were continually making
disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he
[Emperor Claudius] expelled them from Rome.”
Life of Claudius xxv.4
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Christians and Jews in Rome
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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
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Great Fire in Rome
First Roman-Jewish War in Palestine; 66-73; destruction of
Temple in 70
Increased number of Gentiles joining Christianity
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Nero and Great Fire
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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
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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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Early Christianity in Rome
Map of Ancient Rome
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Early Christianity in Rome
After Nero
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After Nero is murdered, Vespasian, his
general in Palestine, becomes Emperor
Vespasian destroys much of the Domus
Aureus, and establishes peace
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His son, Domitian, however is more like
Nero
Domitian is paranoid and harbors broad
suspicions of almost everyone; including
Christians
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Builds the Coliseum on part of grounds of
Domus Aurea
Book of Revelation may be referring to
persecution fo both Nero and Domitain
Domitian is murdered in 98
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Life of Early Roman Christians
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Most Christians were Greek-speaking foreigners
(non-Roman citizens)
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Christians organized themselves into ‘associations’
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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
Bishops, elders, deacons (Late 1st C)
Important Christian School in Rome (2nd C)
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Early Christianity in Rome
Bishop of Rome
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Starts with Peter, then Linus,
Cletus, Clement
We have two letters that Clement
wrote to the Corinthians
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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
Domitian’s persecutions
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Martyrdom
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Sporadic and local
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Non-Roman citizens convicted of being Christians were condemned to
death
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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
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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
Gladiators
Animal fights
Mock sea battles
Gruesome death of convicts
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Early Christianity in Rome
Martyrs and the Christian Community
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Christians considered martyrs the heroes of
the faith
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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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Early Christianity in Rome
Catacombs
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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
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Excavations Under St. Peter’s
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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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Early Christianity in Rome
So Why Are We Roman Catholic
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Rome: a particular place
Catholic: Greek for universal, world-wide
Roman reflects
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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
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome
Next Month
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20
Constantine
Early Byzantine Rome
Medieval Rome
19 September 2005
Early Christianity in Rome