Ivy-League-Level Insights into Ancient Christianities Without the Price Tag!

Rome inherited a world shaped by Alexander the Great (d. 323 BCE). It was a world full of various ethnic groups, thus, a world full of gods. These two introductory lectures will establish the historical and cultural context for our topic, tracing the ways that pagans and Jews interacted especially within the Empire’s fundamental religious institution, the ancient city.

Rome inherited a world shaped by Alexander the Great (d. 323 BCE). It was a world full of various ethnic groups, thus, a world full of gods. These two introductory lectures will establish the historical and cultural context for our topic, tracing the ways that pagans and Jews interacted especially within the Empire’s fundamental religious institution, the ancient city.

We begin our historical journey with the figure of Jesus of Nazareth and the movement that formed around him. We will explore the transition from the historical Jesus to the Christ of faith, examining the earliest Gospel accounts. Then, we turn to Paul, the "Pagans' Apostle," to understand his pivotal role in spreading this Jewish message to the Gentile world and the theological foundations he laid for the nascent church.

We begin our historical journey with the figure of Jesus of Nazareth and the movement that formed around him. We will explore the transition from the historical Jesus to the Christ of faith, examining the earliest Gospel accounts. Then, we turn to Paul, the "Pagans' Apostle," to understand his pivotal role in spreading this Jewish message to the Gentile world and the theological foundations he laid for the nascent church.

As the movement grew, early Christians grappled with their relationship to the Jewish scriptures and the nature of God. We will examine the radical ideas of Marcion, who proposed a complete break from the "Old Testament" God, and the Gnostic teachers like Valentinus and Ptolemy, who envisioned a higher, spiritual reality beyond the creator of this world. These controversies were crucial in spurring the formation of the New Testament canon and orthodox theology.

As the movement grew, early Christians grappled with their relationship to the Jewish scriptures and the nature of God. We will examine the radical ideas of Marcion, who proposed a complete break from the "Old Testament" God, and the Gnostic teachers like Valentinus and Ptolemy, who envisioned a higher, spiritual reality beyond the creator of this world. These controversies were crucial in spurring the formation of the New Testament canon and orthodox theology.

Defining "orthodoxy" often meant defining what it was not. We will study Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho to see how early Christians constructed their identity in opposition to Judaism, claiming the title of the "True Israel." We will also look at Irenaeus of Lyons, who cataloged and refuted various "heresies," establishing the concepts of apostolic succession and the rule of faith as safeguards for the emerging catholic tradition.

Defining "orthodoxy" often meant defining what it was not. We will study Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho to see how early Christians constructed their identity in opposition to Judaism, claiming the title of the "True Israel." We will also look at Irenaeus of Lyons, who cataloged and refuted various "heresies," establishing the concepts of apostolic succession and the rule of faith as safeguards for the emerging catholic tradition.

The early church was a community fueled by charismatic power and the expectation of the end times. We will explore the role of prophecy and the apocalyptic worldview that permeated early Christian thought. Furthermore, we will examine the phenomenon of martyrdom, reading the moving accounts of Perpetua and Felicitas, to understand how the willingness to die for the faith became a powerful tool for identity formation and resistance against the Roman state.

The early church was a community fueled by charismatic power and the expectation of the end times. We will explore the role of prophecy and the apocalyptic worldview that permeated early Christian thought. Furthermore, we will examine the phenomenon of martyrdom, reading the moving accounts of Perpetua and Felicitas, to understand how the willingness to die for the faith became a powerful tool for identity formation and resistance against the Roman state.

How did early Christians view the physical body? We will investigate the rise of asceticism, from Paul's teachings on celibacy to the radical renunciation of family and society found in the Acts of Paul and Thecla and the early monastic movement. We will discuss how the discipline of the body became a path to spiritual perfection and how these practices offered new roles and agencies, particularly for women, within the church.

How did early Christians view the physical body? We will investigate the rise of asceticism, from Paul's teachings on celibacy to the radical renunciation of family and society found in the Acts of Paul and Thecla and the early monastic movement. We will discuss how the discipline of the body became a path to spiritual perfection and how these practices offered new roles and agencies, particularly for women, within the church.

The conversion of the Emperor Constantine marked a seismic shift in the history of Christianity. We will trace the transformation of a persecuted sect into an imperial religion, examining the political and theological consequences of this alliance. We will also discuss the "Arian" controversy, the Council of Nicaea, and the brief pagan revival under Julian the Apostate, analyzing how the church adapted to its new status as a pillar of Roman power.

The conversion of the Emperor Constantine marked a seismic shift in the history of Christianity. We will trace the transformation of a persecuted sect into an imperial religion, examining the political and theological consequences of this alliance. We will also discuss the "Arian" controversy, the Council of Nicaea, and the brief pagan revival under Julian the Apostate, analyzing how the church adapted to its new status as a pillar of Roman power.