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Social Expansion of Christianity - Coggle Diagram
Social Expansion of Christianity
Government and Imperial Circles
1st century= Christians in Caesar's household
Emperor Domitian persecuted prominent Romans for atheism + Jewish sympathies <- probably a refernce to Christians (AD 81-96)
Titus Flavius Clemens (a consul in AD 81-96) = executed + wife Flavia Domitilla = exiled <- regarded as Christian martyrs by 4th century
Callistus (Bishop of Rome) once a slave of Carpophorus -> Christian in the household of Emperor Commodus (AD 180- 192)
Irenaeus + Tertullian = both aware of Christians in the Royal palace
Irenaeus + Tertullian were both aware of Christians in the Royal palace
Upper Class
Sermons written in 4th and 5th centuries reflect a largely upper class audience
Before the conversion of Constatine there were at least 10 leading aristocrats in the Christian Church
3rd century= senators and equestrians suffered for their faith
Early Christian literature= there was a sizeable numer of Christians in the top 2% of society
In response to Celsus Tatian (Christian apologist) said 'Not only go the
rich
among us pursue our philosophy, but the poor enjoy instruction gratuitously'
Titus Flavius Clemes, a consul in AD95 was executed + his wife, Flavia Domitilla was executed -> regarded as Christian martyrs by the 4th century
Conversion of Constatine
4th century
Until his conversion this religon mainly attracted many lower and middle class people
Once Christianity became the established religon of the Roman Empire many social elites joined the Church
Lower and middle class
Rural peasants only attended urban churches on special holy days
Late 2nd century Celsus (Pagan opponent) exaggerated that converts to Christianity were women, children, claves + fools
Rural peasants would attend urban churches on special holy days
Callistus, bishop of Rome, was once a slave of Carpophorus-> Christian in the household of Emperor Commodus
Christianity= more inclusive than other religons
Cut across all class + economic boundaries
Appealed to those from all levels of society
Jesus was seen as the champion o fthe poor + socially marginalised (attracted higher society also)
In Christ there was a religious equality which overrode; social, class, racial and gender distictions
'There is niether Jew nor Greks, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus' Paul- Galatian 3:28