Judaism & Rome
o Diaspora: Jewish emigration across Med.
o Roman control from 1st c. BC
o Partial autonomy (hands-off policy)
o Official tolerance vs. private prejudice
o Jewish War, AD 66-70

Judaic traits in Christianity
o Exclusivity ("no other gods but me")
o Centrality of scripture (& interpretation)
o Expectation of Messiah

From Christ to Christianity
o Successors (disciples -> apostles)

St. Paul (d. AD 64)
o Converson on road to Damascus
o Bringing Christianity to gentiles
o Disputes over observance of Jewish Law
(circumcision, prohibition of pork etc.)

Doctrinal Development

Formation of New Testament (NT)
o Gospels
o Revelations (c. 90 AD?)
o Basic NT canon accepted by c. 200?
o Apocryphal texts (e.g. Shepherd of Hermas, Gospel of Thomas)

Scriptural Interpretation
o Allegorical interpretation of scripture
[Philo (d. after 40 AD): Jewish allegory]
Origen (184/5-254/5): Christian exegesis
o Typology: OT prefigures Christ

Apologetic Literature
o Tertullian (c. 160-c. 240), Apology
o Minucius Felix (fl. c. 200), Octavius

From Cult to Church

Early Christian Communities
o Decentralized urban cells
o Appeal to margins (women, slaves)?
o Collective worship, meals
o Charity & social aid
o Burial places: e.g. catacombs at Rome

Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
o Growth of formal offices (deacon etc.)
o Role of bishops, e.g. Cyprian (c. 200-258)

Doctrinal Divisions
o Montanists: charismatic possession
o Marcionites: accept part of NT only

Christianity & Rome

Non-confrontation ("render unto Caesar")

Galatians 3:28
 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Christians at Rome
o Riots under Claudius led by "Chrestus"
o Christians as scapegoats in fire (64)
o ?Domitian as persecutor (90)

Provincial Persecution
o Pliny & Christians in Bithynia (111/113)
o Martyrdom of Polycarp, Smyrna (155/6)
o Martyrs of Lyons, Gaul (177)
o St. Perpetua & others in Carthage (203)