08-04-2006, 03:11 PM
"There weren't as much martyrs as some people belive. The whole martyrship cult didn't exist at all untill the 3rd and 4th century... "
I agree with this. outside of nero's persecution and Domitian, it was relatively sporadic and quiet. There were certain places where the local authorities did kill christians. Eusebius has some interesting things on this. One story is about the soldier who sought the advice from a bishop and what to do during a persecution. He went on and became a martyr.
One thing that many christians fail to recongnize is the 'smallness' of the movement for a long long time. It first was simply recognized as a jewish cult especially prior to 70 AD. When the temple was destroyed, christianity no longer revolved around the jewish christian dynasty and the temple system. Jerusalem ceased to be the citadel of christian authority. This historical fact is highly dismissed by most fundamentalists, especially dispensationalists. It really became the religion of gentiles due in no small part to the prior missionary work of Paul.
You also see the anti semitic thought creep into the writings of the early church fathers after the first century.
It started small then caught on with the slave population and rapidly changed the undercurrent of society. Constantine saw the tide growing more and more towards christianity and latched onto it.
No one can really know if he was a 'genuine' christian or not but without his actions, there might not have been a christianity as we know it today.
I agree with this. outside of nero's persecution and Domitian, it was relatively sporadic and quiet. There were certain places where the local authorities did kill christians. Eusebius has some interesting things on this. One story is about the soldier who sought the advice from a bishop and what to do during a persecution. He went on and became a martyr.
One thing that many christians fail to recongnize is the 'smallness' of the movement for a long long time. It first was simply recognized as a jewish cult especially prior to 70 AD. When the temple was destroyed, christianity no longer revolved around the jewish christian dynasty and the temple system. Jerusalem ceased to be the citadel of christian authority. This historical fact is highly dismissed by most fundamentalists, especially dispensationalists. It really became the religion of gentiles due in no small part to the prior missionary work of Paul.
You also see the anti semitic thought creep into the writings of the early church fathers after the first century.
It started small then caught on with the slave population and rapidly changed the undercurrent of society. Constantine saw the tide growing more and more towards christianity and latched onto it.
No one can really know if he was a 'genuine' christian or not but without his actions, there might not have been a christianity as we know it today.
Dan Tharp
Sicarii Sam distant cousin to Yosemite Sam. I\'ve iced a few politicos and a good number of gauls and brits. Have dagger will travel !!
hock: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt="hock:" title="Shocked" />hock:
Sicarii Sam distant cousin to Yosemite Sam. I\'ve iced a few politicos and a good number of gauls and brits. Have dagger will travel !!
hock: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt="hock:" title="Shocked" />hock:
