Transcript Religion in the Roman Empire

Religion in the Roman
Empire
Religion in the Roman Empire
How can we describe religion in the
Roman Empire?
 Comparisons and contrasts between
Judaism and Christianity?

Greco-Roman Religion
 Traditional Religion
 Initially “animistic”
 Then anthropomorphic
gods
 State-run priesthoods
 Pontifex maximus
 Vestal Virgins
Vestal Virgins
Greco-Roman Religion
The Pantheon (AD 118-125), Rome
Greco-Roman Religion
Greco-Roman Religion
 Mystery Religions
 Popular!
 Attractive
 Communion with deity
 Ethical guidance
 Spiritual equality
 Examples
 Cult of Isis
 Mithraism
Greco-Roman Religion
 Emperor Worship
 Some emperors
deified after death
 Imperial cult
established
 Foundations during
reign of Augusts
Cult statue of Augustus (early 1st cent.)
Greco-Roman Religion
 Questions?
Second-Temple Judaism
 Second-Temple Judaism
 Persian king allowed Jews to return to Palestine
(539 BC)
 Constructed second Temple (536-515 BC)
Second-Temple Judaism
 Roman Occupation
of Palestine
 Jews had been ruled
by priest-kings, after
expulsion of Greeks
 Romans invaded 63
BC  ended Jewish
independence
 Judaism a religio licita
Second-Temple Judaism
The Second Temple (“Herod’s Temple”)
Second-Temple Judaism
 First-Century Jewish Religion
 Diversity
 Apocalyptic
 MESSIANIC EXPECTATION
 Messiah (“Anointed one”)
 Some Jews longed for deliverance from
Romans
 “Messiahs” crushed
Second-Temple Judaism
 Jesus of Nazareth
(ca. 6 BC – ca. AD 30)
 Itinerant rabbi
 Twelve apostles
 Preached coming
“Kingdom of God”
 Criticized religious
authorities
 Miracle worker?
 Presented as Messiah in
earliest sources
Second-Temple Judaism
Second-Temple Judaism
 What Became of
Jesus?
 Religious leaders
infuriated, fearful
 Tried, executed 
sentenced to death by
Pilate
 Movement lived on
 Resurrected?
 Apostles stole body?
Second-Temple Judaism
Second-Temple Judaism
 The Fate of the Jews
 Jewish War
(66-70)  Jerusalem
captured, Temple
destroyed
 Bar Kochba Revolt
(132-35)  Jews lost
their state
Second-Temple Judaism
 Questions?
Early Christianity
 The Apostolic Church
 Under leadership of
apostles
 Based in Jerusalem
 Preached “GOSPEL”
 Early focus: Jews
Pentecost
Early Christianity
 Paul of Tarsus
(d. ca. 64)
 Pharisee  Christian
 Brought Gospel to
“Gentiles”
 Three missionary
journeys
 Epistles
Early Christianity
 The Sacraments
 BAPTISM: rite of initiation
 EUCHARIST: sacred meal of bread and wine
Early Christianity
 Persecution
 MARTYRS:
“witnesses”
 Why persecution?
 Seen as distinct from
Judaism
 Refused to worship
emperor
 “Great Persecution”
(early 4th cent.)
Blandina the Martyr (2nd cent.)
Early Christianity
 Constantine the Great (r.
306-337)
Constantine
 Converted to Christianity
(ca. 312)
 Edict of Milan (313):
toleration for Christians
 First Christian emperor
 Launched Christianization
of empire
 Lavished wealth upon
Church
 Church now privileged
Labarum
Early Christianity
Basilica of St. Peter (324), Rome
Early Christianity
 Arian Controversy
 Jesus Christ: creature, or God?
 COUNCIL OF NICAEA (325
 Convened by Constantine
 Christ of same “essence” as God the Father
 Arians revived, almost defeated “orthodox” cause
 Arianism condemned (381)
Early Christianity
 Augustine of Hippo
(354-430)
 Church father
 Famous convert
 Prolific writer
 Confessions
 City of God
 Highly influential
theologian
Augustine of Hippo
Early Christianity
 Questions?
Religion in the Roman Empire
How can we describe religion in the
Roman Empire?
 Comparisons and contrasts between
Judaism and Christianity?
