History of Christianity 3: Age of the Martyrs

In this video, we take a look at the Church of the third century, learning about the rise of Christian scholars like Origen Adamantius in Alexandria, Egypt, the terrible persecutions of Christians under Roman emperors like Decius, and the rise of Christian monasticism in the Egyptian deserts, largely thanks to the devotion of one man: St. Anthony the Great.

Suggested Reading:
"Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew" - Bart D. Ehrman
"Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into the New Testament" - Bart D. Ehrman
"From Jesus to Christianity: How Four Generations of Visionaries & Storytellers Created the New Testament and Christian Faith" - L. Michael White
"Heretics for Armchair Theologians" - Justo L. González & Catherine Gunsalus González
"The Story of Christianity: An Illustrated History of 2000 Years of the Christian Faith" - David Bentley Hart
"Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol iii: Latin Christianity: Its Founder, Tertullian; I. Apologetic, II. Anti-Marcion, III. Ethical"
"Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol iv: The Fathers of the Third Century; Tertullian IV. More Ethical Writings, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen"
"Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol v: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian"
"Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol vi: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Methodius, Arnobius"
"Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol ix: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Testament of Abraham, Epistles of Clement, Origen, Miscellaneous Works"
"History of the Church" - Eusebius of Caesarea, translated by G.A. Williamson
"From Memory to History: Using Oral Sources in Local Historical Research" - Barbara Allen & Lynwood Montell
"Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations" - Martin Goodman
"Early Christian Doctrines" - J.N.D. Kelly
"The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation" - Justo L. González
"How We Got the Bible" - Neil R. Lightfoot
"The Faith of the Early Fathers, volume 1" - William A. Jurgens (ed)
"Whose Bible Is It? A Short History of the Scriptures" - Jaroslav Pelikan
"The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine; Volume 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition" - Jaroslav Pelikan
"Early Christian Attitudes Toward Images" - Steven Bigham
"The Nag Hammadi Library" - James M. Robinson (ed)
"The Inner Kingdom: Collected Works, vol i" - Metropolitan Kallistos Ware

Suggested Primary Sources:
"History of the Church" - Eusebius
"Life of St. Anthony the Great" - St. Athanasius of Alexandria
Didascalia
Pistis Sophia (Gnostic)
"Refutation of All Heresies" - St. Hippolytus of Rome
"De Lapsis" - St. Cyprian of Carthage
"De Unitate Ecclesiae" - St. Cyprian of Carthage
"Concerning the Trinity" - Novatian
"Declaration of Faith" - St. Gregory Thaumaturgus
"Against the Sabellians" - St. Dionysius
various writings of Tertullian of Carthage and Origen Adamantius

Category:

Education

Tags:

• history
• christianity
• early
• church
• martyrdom
• persecution
• origen
• alexandria
• adamantius
• saint
• anthony
• great
• monk
• monasticism
• egypt
• thebaid
• paul
• hermit
• decius
• diocletian
• orthodox
• catholic
• historical
• roman
• empire
• emperor
• cyprian
• carthage
• jesus
• eusebius
• serapion
• antioch
• rome
• greek

[taliesin939939]

I disagree with you in a number of ways.. but respectfully so as a fellow seeker. you mentioned how the gnostics were influenced by platonism. but so was the early church. the concept of the Prime Mover influenced the christians just as it did the faylasufs of islam. to precepts of greek philosophy as well as of christ as the Logos, Reason, or Word. furthermore, how do you know the "orthodoxy" had it right simply due to apostolic succession? people will still evolved their own ideas.

[taliesin939939]

@taliesin939939 for example.. st paul of tarsus had his own philosophy which might differ from that of later ignasius. do you really think augustine's concept of the trinity is the same as that jesus would mention? and what of the pagan festivals of christmas and pagan practices absorbed into christianity? you mention tertullian and justin martyr. they mention pre-christian pagan motiffs. some of which can be found in De Prescriptionae Hereticorum.

[davidpwithun]

@taliesin939939 No, I don't think Augustine's concept of the Trinity was the same as what was taught by Christ; Augustine had a unique view of the Trinity that differed significantly from earlier conceptions and even contemporary and later Eastern understandings. As for Christmas, your contention is incorrect; I wrote an article on that topic back in December -- you can view it at my website if you wish. Finally, you are misuing Tertullian and Justin Martyr here; I suggest you read them in full.

[davidpwithun]

@taliesin939939 What you say is partially correct, but partially incorrect as well. The early Christians certainly drew upon Greek philosophy for their terminology and thinking; Greek philosophy was, after all, not a "thing apart" but an integral aspect of the Greek language, culture, and worldview. They did not however, alter the contents of the Apostolic teaching to bring it in line with Greek philosophy; the Gnostics, the Arians, and the Origenists, however, did do this.

[taliesin939939]

@davidpwithun so you dont think the concept of the Prime Mover had any influence upon the doctrines? we are both seekers of truth and have different views. you have blogs and i am published on over 30 different websites. the point is.. some pagan gods became saints. for example.. saint brigit. and the winter soltice and spring equinox. the concept of god-eating or communion is found in other religions, as is trinities. i will tell you my theory of religion: Universal Themes. its what i notice

[davidpwithun]

@taliesin939939 Alright, this is the point in the conversation where I call it quits. Keep reading, keep seeking. Thanks for the short conversation.

[MushroomedAnymore]

Oh Origin was too Gnostic for you, and you call Origin "in error". This is absurd. If one cannot apply philosophy, doubt, process, inner exploration to a Spirituality then it is weak and merely the minion of a power system enslaving the sheepish and naive who would inevitably support it. Mediocrity is not Mystic!

[TheGenuineChristian]

Rest in peace Saint Arius.

[Slavko961234]

Orthodoxy is the only true faith. Catholics and Lutherans need to realize this. As for Mormons, Calvinists, etc. I don't even consider them Christians.

[onewhocomesdown]

You actually have a picture of a Serbian Orthodox Church in my home state Montana! I was blessed to see this. Especially because Orthodoxy is relatively unheard of in Montana as well as much of the West. Thank you for your videos! Lord have mercy! :)

[taliesin939939]

@davidpwithun i dont see why you dont want to discuss these things. i imagine its rare to meet someone of a similar interest. but very well. the same goes for you.

[taliesin939939]

@davidpwithun Well then if Christian theologians and intellectuals evolve their own concepts and philosophies and if the concepts and theology evolve by these men.. then i dont understand why apostolic succession is so important for the orthodox dogma as opposed to heretics. the very fact that the gospels disagree. it seems like religious monopoly. im sure many disciples had their own views. i dont think im misusing justin or tertullian. i have also wrote articles on christmas.