RELG 330 - History of Christianity
Course Notes
Chapter 4
Page 44 - Justin Martyr - see p.33 and the notes for Chapter 3, and p.66 and the notes for chapter 6.
Page 44 - Clement of Alexandria - see p.36 and the notes for Chapter 3
Page 44 - Origen - see p.37 and the notes for Chapter 3, also p.47, 61, and 71
Page 47 - Quadratus was an early bishop of the church at Athens. He is believed to have been a direct disciple of the Apostles. Quadratus is honored as the first Christian Apologist. He wrote an "Apology" for Christianity, to be given to the Emperor Hadrian on the occasion of Hadrian's visit to Athens, ca.125.
Page 47 - Aristides - see p.72. Aristides of Athens was a contemporary of Quadratus. He also wrote an "Apology" for Christianity, to be given to the Emperor Hadrian. Copies of the text and early translations of it have survived until today.
page 47 - Athenagoras of Athens (ca.133–ca.190) was a Greek philosopher who became a Christian and wrote treatises presenting Christianity to his contemporaries. He moved to Alexandria to teach at the Christian academy there.
Page 47 - Theophilus of Antioch (ca.115?-181), was born into a pagan family, and became a Christian after he studied the Scriptures. Besides his apologetic works he wrote one of the earliest commentaries on the Gospels. He was bishop of Antioch from 168 until his death in 181.
Page 48 - Gregory the Wonderworker (Gregory Thaumaturgus) (ca.213-270) was born into a pagan family in Pontus (Asia Minor). As a teenager he and his brother met Origen in Caesarea, were attracted to Christianity, and became Origen's students (231-ca.239). The brothers returned to Pontus, and Gregory was appointed as bishop of Neocaesarea. The 'miracles' attributed to him include many healings, the casting out of demons, and supernatural protection of the Church under the Decian persecution. He was a writer and evangelist - it is reported that when he first became bishop of Neocaesarea, there were only 17 Christians in the town; by the time he died there were only 17 pagans left in the town.
Page 48 - Gregory the Illuminator (ca.257-331) was the son of an Armenia prince. His father was executed for attempting to assassinate the King Khosrov II of the Parthians, and the whole family except for Gregory were killed in reprisal. The child Gregory was taken to safety in Caesaria of Cappadocia, where he was handed into the care of the Christian community. Gregory was brought up as a Christian, and when he became an adult he decided to return to Armenia as an evangelist, to atone for his father's crimes. By that time Khosrov II's son had become King Tiridates III (the Great). Tiridates threw Gregory into a pit with snakes and kept him there for twelve years. In 301 Tiridates III suddenly become insane. In response to a vision by Tiridates' sister, Gregory was pulled out of the pit, cleaned up, and taken to Tiridates. Gregory prayed for Tiridates, who was restored to sanity and begged for forgiveness. Gregory spent the night in prayer for the Armenians, then called them together with the King and challenged them to turn to God and listen to his teachings. As a result, Tiridates and his people became Christians, Gregory was made Bishop of Armenia, and Armenia became the first country to be officially "Christian". Gregory and Tiridates traveled to Rome to meet the Emperor Constantine and bishop Eusebius, and the two kings signed an alliance as Christians.
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