RelStud 535 Varieties of Christianity Spring 1991 Survey Oriented Primary/Secondary Ancient Sources: Book of Acts (New Testament) Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 1-4 Collections of Ancient Primary Sources: (see also the larger collections in Ante-Nicene Fathers, Ancient Christian Writers, and similar series) New Testament Anthology (any version) Apocryphal New Testament Anthology (James or Hennecke) Apostolic Fathers Anthology (Lake/Loeb, Grant, Sparks, etc.) New Eusebius Anthology (Stevenson) Nag Hammadi Library (Robinson) Modern Secondary Syntheses (recommended as examples): Tyson, Joseph. The NT and Early Christianity. Koester, Helmut. Introduction to the NT (2 vols). Harnack, Adolph von. Mission and Expansion of Early Christianity Bauer, Walter (etc.). Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earliest Christianity Anthologies of Secondary Treatments (recommended for guidance): Jewish Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Judaica Hastings Dictionary of Christ & the Gospels Hastings Dictionary of the Apostolic Church Dictionary of Christian Biography (Smith-Wace) Focus Questions, by the week = class meeting 1. Getting Oriented to the Sources Identify four different collections of early Christian Literature and be able to give at least one in-depth example from each. [Suggestion: look at tables of contents of Primary Source Collections] 2. Getting Oriented to the Participants Identify four different sub-groups within early Christianity and be able to describe in some detail at least one representative of each sub-group. [Suggestion: work from tables of contents of Secondary Syntheses, with help from Secondary Anthologies as necessary] 3. Getting Oriented to the Significant Events Identify four different key events that helped shape the development of early Christianity and conjecture how that development might have been affected if each event had not occurred. [Suggestion: look for turning points suggested by the organization of the Secondary Syntheses] 4. Getting Oriented to the Onlookers and Opponents Identify four types of non-Christian contemporaries in that early period and describe each position vis-a-vis Christianity. [Suggestion: pay special attention to "backgrounds" treatments in the Secondary Syntheses, and follow up in the Secondary Anthologies] 4b. Same for four individuals. 5. Concepts of "Messiah/Christ" in Relation to Joshua/Jesus Identify four different models of "messianic" expectation present in the pre-Christian world and show how each did or did not become associated with Jesus/Joshua. [Suggestions: consider such passages as GJohn 4.1-42, GMk 12 and parallels in GMt 21-22 and GLk 20, Rom 1.1-4, Heb 6-7, GHebs fragment --, AscIsa --, GLk 7.1-35 and parallels in GMt 11] 6. Joshua/Jesus as Revealer Identify four different ways in which Joshua/Jesus is depicted as a "revealer" of special material to his disciples (pay attention to chronological and geographical/physical issues as well as to audience and content). [Suggestions: compare the approaches in such sources as Paul (Gal 1.16, 2 Cor 12), GThom (and "Q"), GJohn, Rev 1-3, EpApostles (see 2 Pet 1.16-18), Dialogue of the Savior (NH), Sophia of Jesus Christ (NH), Montanus] 7. Joshua/Jesus as Representative/Intermediary Identify four different ways in which Joshua/Jesus is depicted as an "intermediary" between humans and the divine (pay attention to what is at stake in his filling such a role). [Suggestions: explore such passages as 1 Cor 15, Rom 5-8, Gal 3; Phlp 2.1-13; 1 Tim 1.12-2.7, 2 Tim 2.8-13, Tit 2.11-14; 1 Pet 1; 1 Jn 1.5-2.17; Heb 2, 5, 7.20-8.13, 12.1-11; GJn 1.1-18, 6.35-65, 17; ApcrJn start (NH -- and other materials mentioned above under #6); 1 Clem 36; 2 Clem 3-4] 8. Joshua/Jesus as Possesor of Special Powers (Miracle/Magic) Identify four distinguishable types of extraordinary actions performed by Joshua/Jesus on his surrounding world, and name two other such "miracle workers" from the same period, excluding his own followers. [Suggestions: compare various stories in the synoptic gospels and in GJohn, look for claims regarding any "compeditors"; check encyclopedia articles on (ancient) magic, miracle, healing, etc.] 9. Institutionalizing the Apocalyptic Impetus Explore the use and meanings in early Christian writings of such terms as "kingdom of God/Heavens," "parousia," "second coming" or "return" of Christ, "last days/times," and the like. [Suggestions: use a concordance for NT and Apostolic Fathers; look at 1 Cor 7; 1 Thess 5; GMark 8.34-9.1 (and parallels); 2 Pet 3; 1 Tim 4; Heb 1; Rev 22; Didache 16; 2 Clem 17; Diognetus 5] 10. Patterns of Authority and Structure Identify four different existing institutions in the early Christian period that influenced Christian language and perceptions about authority, directly or indirectly. [Suggestions: consider models from Political, Economic, Religious, Social, Intellectual (academic), and Aesthetic spheres -- note the useful mnemnotic acronym PERSIA; for some specific passages, see 1 Cor 12, Eph 4-6 (Col 3.18-4.6), Heb 8.1-10.25, GJn 18.33-38, 1 Clem 40-43, Ign Smyr 8-9, Did 11-15, Hermas Par/Sim 9 (browse)] 11. Patterns of Liturgy/Cult Identify four, and be prepared to discuss the background of at least one, different early Christian community practices. [Suggestions: 1 Cor 5, 8-11, Rom 6.1-11, Did 6-10, Pliny to Trajan, James 5.13-20, Justin Apol 61-67, GPhil [NH] 64-71] 12. Patterns of Study, Connectedness, Rationalization Early Christians imitated, adapted and created various arguments in defense and/or explanation of their positions. What patterns and principles of interpretation and presentation are present in the following examples: Rom 9-11, GMt 1-2, 5.17-48, Rev 13 (compare 4 Ezra [2 Esdras] 11-12), 1 Clem 7-12, Barn 7-8, 9-10, 18-20, Did 3, Justin Dial 1-7, Origin of World [NH] (start). 13. Patterns of Social Involvement and/or Withdrawal In what ways, and for what reasons, did early Christians attempt to distance themselves from the world in which they found themselves and in what ways did they acknowledge and affirm it? [Suggestions: Gal 5-6.10, 1 Cor 7, Rom 13, 1 Tim 4-6, Heb 13, 1 Pet 1-4, 1 Jn 4-5, Rev 22.6-21, 2 Clem 5-7, Diognetus 5-6; see also Marcion, "encratism"] 14. Synthetic Overview Identify at least four varieties of early Christianity represented in the sources examined for the course; try to choose varieties sufficiently different from each other that they probably would have argued (or did argue) strongly against each other. [Suggestion: review all the relevant materials and imagine how each position would relate to the others.]