Defending and Defining the Faith: An Introduction to Early Christian Apologetic Literature

Description

In Early Christian Apologetics, D.H. Williams offers a comprehensive presentation of Christian apologetic literature from the second to the fifth century, considering each writer within the intellectual context of the day. Williams argues that most apologies were not directed at a pagan readership. In most cases, he says, ancient apologetics had a double object: to instruct the Christian and to persuade weak Christians or non-Christians who were sympathetic to Christian claims. Traditionally, scholars of apologetics have focused on the context of persecution in the pre-Constantinian period. By following the links in the intellectual trajectory up though the early fifth century, Williams prompts deeper reflection on the process of Christian self-definition in late antiquity. Taken cumulatively, he finds, apologetic literature was in fact integral to the formation of the Christian identity in the Roman world. Defending and Defining the Faith: An Introduction to Early Christian Apologetic Literature D. H. Williams Print ISBN-13: 9780190620509 Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: July 2020 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780190620509.001.0001 Introduction Narrowing Definition Titles of Apologies (p.13) Premodern Apologia Pagans and Paganism Limitations Notes: Matters of Definition and Qualification: An Elementary Review Legalities of Defense Jewish Hellenism Apology as a Genre Specifying Apologetic Who Was the Intended Audience? A Written Culture of the Word Means of Dissemination Notes: The Roman World of Early Christianity Religio and Pietas Theologia fabularis, theologia naturalis, and theologia civilis Pagan Space and Time (p.57) The Philosophical Side of Polytheism Daimones (p.62) Excursus: Pagan Monotheism? Notes: The Construction of Christian Self-Definition Clash and Similarity of Cultures Who Is the Oldest (Most Authentic)? Old Covenant/New Covenant (p.75) The Oldest New Christian Era The Sine Qua Non (p.78) General Strategy of Anti-Pagan Apologetic Arguments Notes: Persecution and the Ambiguity of Roman Law The Great Fire of Rome The Severity of Atheism Plinius Caecilius Secundus: The Model of Romanitas Pliny Meets the Christians Trajan’s Response Religio vs. Superstitio Cannibalism and Incestuous Behavior The Power of Slander Popularity of Infamy The Legal Standing of the Christians Notes: Earliest Christian Responses Christian Growth (p.115) Quadratus Magic, Miracles, and Wonders (p.118) Christian Rebuttal Aristides (p.122) Aristides’s Apology An Apology? (p.127) Preaching of Peter (p.131) To Diognetus—An Apology? (p.133) In Sum Notes: Christian Faith and Intellectual Culture Justin the Martyr The True Works of Justin How Many Apologies? Intended Readership Philosophy Demons vs. Daimones (p.150) God and his Logos The Rescript of the Emperor Hadrian Melito of Sardis “New Decrees”? Melito’s Apology Apolinaris of Hierapolis Notes: Hellenized Antagonism toward Hellenism Tatian Tatian and Pagan Philosophy A Notable Antagonist (p.169) Some Problems Rome and Beyond Notes on Apologetic Arguments Centerpiece of the Oration (p.177) Authority in the Oration Beyond Tatian and the Second Century Another Oration to the Greeks Christians and Higher Learning Notes: Philosophy as Protagonist Athenagoras of Athens Readership (p.186) Argumentation (p.189) Platonism (p.191) Demons Biblical Texts Logos as Uncreated and Eternal Flagitia (p.197) Theophilus of Antioch Purpose and Content Marcionsim Book I (p.203) Book II (p.204) Inconsistency and Contradiction Scriptural Authority and Exegesis The Logos And Wisdom Authority of Morality and Antiquity Notes: Brilliant Diatribe Tertullian of Carthage Heights of Apologetic Christians in a Pagan World On the Games On Idolatry First Steps of Apologetic A Pugilist with a Pen Book of Documentation Apologeticus adversus Gentes Response to the Charges (p.229) The Christian Contrast (p.231) Rome and Obviating Her Gods Inverting History (p.234) Theology of History De Testimonia Animae Tertullian the Martyr Notes: Apology as Dialogue and Appeal Minucius Felix, Octavius (p.245) The Debate Begins Caecilius Presents His Case Octavius Responds The Case for Providence The Gods, Rome, and Demons Judgment and the Resurrection Cyprian the Bishop Martyr That the Idols Are Not Gods (p.258) Who is the True God? On the Aging of the World Divine Judgment The Christian Response Notes: Clash of the Giants Origen and Celsus Polemical Shifts More of Celsus’s Grievances Universality and Antiquity of the True Doctrine Against Celsus God and Word of God Interpreting Scripture Notes: North African Apologetics Arnobius (of Sicca) Date and Occasion Why Do the Pagans Hate the Christians? (p.292) Change and Antiquity Arnobius’s Knowledge of Christian Theology The God of Arnobius Allegorization Atheism Again Lactantius God’s Avenging of the Persecutors Why Write the Divine Institutes? Persecution Applied Finding Justice (p.312) The Christian God The Way of the Christian Faith (p.315) Incarnation Sources (p.318) The Earliest Christian “Summa”? Notes: Apologist Par Excellence General Elementary Introduction: An Apologia? Prophetic Extracts Reply to Hierocles (Contra Hieroclem) The Demonstration of the Gospel Primary Readership Purpose Arguments Embracing the Hebrews Eusebius’s Apologetic Contributions The Appearing of the Word, or Divine Manifestation (p.343) Description At the Center Notes: Apologetic as Exhortation Pseudo-Justin: “Cohortatio ad Graecos” Other Known and Unknown Issues Structure Ancient Authority Plato Prophetic Preparation In Sum Athanasius of Alexandria Against the Pagans/On the Incarnation of the Word “Lover of Christ” Purpose (p.363) On His Incarnation Opponents The End of an Era Notes: The Unexpected Pagan Emperor Conversion to Paganism (p.374) More Against the Christians (p.379) Christians Respond Cyril of Alexandria, Against Julian Trinity in the Old Testament (p.384) Refuting Julian the Exegete Incarnation as Specific Revelation (p.387) Marcarius the Magnesian Contest over Exegesis Last Things Theological Illumination To Conclude Notes: Cities in Conflict Ambrose of Milan (p.399) Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (p.401) Enter Ambrose (p.406) Augustine of Hippo Regius A Mixed Multitude Books 1–10 (p.412) Augustine’s Responses Part I (p.415) Part II (p.417) The Uncreated Word Notes: Fifth-Century Anti-Pagan Polemic Expressions (p.422) Addressing Catastrophes Medicine for the Causes of Paganism Maladies Cured On Practical Virtue Notes: