RELS118: Introduction to the New Testament Christianity in the Second Century For this exercise, choose a character for

yourself. Were back in 140 CE, and there are a number of people around. There are a) Roman officials, like the governor Pliny; b) Pauline Christians of an orthodox bent; c) ordinary Roman pagans; e) Jews. Imagine that youre part of one of these groups. Once youve chosen your character, meet with your other like-minded colleagues. You have a problem: its called Christianity in Rome. What do you do? Gather your thoughts about what you perceive as the problem, and how you plan to argue your position. Some Fragments/Quotes from Christian sources (to make you think): 1. As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings! Then Jesus asked him, Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down. 2. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours in the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.but woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Who to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. 3. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? But Jesus perceived their craftiness and said to them, Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear? They said The Emperors. He said to them, Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperors and to God the things that are Gods. 4. If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own, but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you. 5. To the married I give this command not I but the Lord that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not divorce his wife. 6. Therefore my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols 7. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God, as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave 8. If with Christ you died to the elemental laws that govern the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations Do not handle; Do not taste; Do not touch? All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. 9. Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all who would be converted to Him.

10. You, together with your offspring, are from the Primeval Father; from Above, out of the imperishable Light, their souls are come. Thus the Authorities cannot approach them because of the Spirit of Truth within them; and all who become acquainted with this way exist deathless in the midst of dying Mankind. 11. Jesus said, The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house he drew his sword and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether his hand could carry through. Then he slew the powerful man. 12. The disciples said to him, Your brothers and your mother are standing outside. He said to them, Those here who do the will of my Father are my brothers and my mother. It is they who will enter the Kingdom of my Father. 13. And the Snake, the Instructor, said, With death you (pl.) shall not die; for it was out of jealousy that he said this to you (pl.). Rather, your (pl.) eyes shall open and you (pl.) shall come to be like gods, recognizing evil and good.