Expanding the faith

How did a small Jewish movement become an empire-wide faith within three centuries? Candidates weigh the religious and political factors behind the growth of the Early Church.

Paradoxically, martyrdom fuelled expansion. The specification names three examples:

• Blandina, a slave girl martyred at Lyons;
• Justin (Justin Martyr); and
• Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna.

The witness of martyrs, whose Greek name martys means 'witness', became a powerful testimony to the faith.

Persecution

The causes and effects of persecution changed over time:

• First two centuries — local and sporadic, under Nero, Domitian, Trajan (see Pliny's Letter to Trajan) and Marcus Aurelius; and
• Later persecutions — empire-wide and systematic, under Decius and Diocletian.

Pliny, a Roman governor, wrote to the Emperor Trajan asking how to deal with Christians — a key piece of external evidence for how the state viewed the Church.

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Developing belief and practice: baptism

The doctrine and practice of baptism grew from its origins in the New Testament. The specification tracks its development through five early witnesses:

• the Didache (an early church manual);
• Justin Martyr;
• Hippolytus;
• Tertullian; and
• Cyprian.

The Eucharist

The Eucharist likewise developed from its New Testament origins. Candidates trace its doctrine and practice through the same set of writers — the Didache, Justin, Hippolytus, Tertullian and Cyprian — noting how understanding of the sacrament deepened across the period.

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Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius of Antioch was one of the Apostolic Fathers. On his journey to martyrdom in Rome he wrote seven letters — to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Philadelphians, Romans, Smyrnaeans, Trallians and to Polycarp.

Their key themes are:

• unity and obedience to the bishop;
• opposition to heresy and to the Judaisers; and
• the glory of martyrdom.

Who was who?

Tap a figure, then tap the group they belong to in the Early Church.

Justin Martyr

Justin Martyr represents the apologists — thinkers who defended the faith to a hostile, educated world. His writings are:

• the First Apology;
• the Second Apology; and
• the Dialogue with Trypho the Jew.

His arguments are political, moral, philosophical and theological — showing Christianity to be reasonable, virtuous and the fulfilment of truth.

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The Church and the State: Constantine

The final theme examines the relationship between Church and state through the Emperor Constantine:

• events leading to his 'conversion' (the quotation marks flag the scholarly debate over how genuine or political it was);
• his subsequent religious policies; and
• the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) — the point at which the unit closes.

Under Constantine the Church moved from a persecuted minority to an imperially favoured institution — a transformation candidates should critically evaluate.

Figure and contribution

Match each figure to their contribution in the Early Church.

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The big ideas to know

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