Three New Additions To My Desk
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion. I missed the perfect opportunity to say, “and they’re in a row, too!” Silly goose.
Finished Reading: Chapters 15-16, “Progress of the Christian Religion” of Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Edward Gibbon published his multi volume work, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” in 1776. This particular reading focused on Volume 1, Chapters 15-16, “Progress of the Christian Religion”, From 258-313 AD.
Gibbon reports on the miraculous powers of the early church, but concludes by virtue of his status as historian that he has no opinion on the subject opinion. This non-opinion is underscored by his curious claim that miracles ceased when man embraced reason, that it “is not sufficiently prepared to sustain the visible action of the Deity.”
Gibbon provides insight as to why Christians and their message was ill-received by what seemed to be a tolerant and permissive pagan culture. Religions like Judaism were part of national identity and Christianity was a sect, radicals who separated themselves from society. The pagans “were astonished that the Christians should abandon the temples of those ancient heroes . . . in order to choose for the exclusive object of their religious worship and obscure teacher who . . . had fallen a sacrifice either to the malice of his own countrymen, or to the jealousy of the Roman government.” Anyone with questionable, even criminal backgrounds, were accepted and this made no sense to the pagans who viewed their amassing as threatening, sinister. Gossip concerning bloody human sacrifice did not make them any more endearing.
Some notable actions regarding Roman persecution of Christians. Emperor Trajan invoked two rules: while magistrates were directed to punish the legally convicted, they were prohibited from asking if they were Christians; and, magistrates were forbidden to take action based on anonymous information and gossip. Anyone imputed to be Christian must be accompanied by evidence. False accusers received capital punishment.
One could escape persecution by voluntarily moving to another district; give a public defense denying accusations of being a Christian; purchase a certificate of good standing issued by provincial governors; renounce the faith. The range of persecution included involuntary relocation or loss of property by fire, to extreme punishment and execution.
Popular posts from this blog
“Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?”
July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions (half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures, and the other half for “open questions”; that is, people could ask anything). For the next few weeks, I will be sharing the questions that were asked of me, and my answers—and believe me when I say these people really know how to think! Question from Kenya #1: “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” [“ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) was the basis of the student’s question]. Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, wors
A Sonnet
“My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, Wherewith whole shoals of martyrs once did burn, Besides their other flames? Doth poetry Wear Venus' livery? only serve her turn? Why are not sonnets made of thee? and lays Upon thine altar burnt? Cannot thy love Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove Outstrip their Cupid easily in flight? Or, since thy ways are deep, and still the fame, Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name! Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose Than that, which one day, worms may chance refuse. Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink; for, as the Deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy Majesty: Each cloud distills thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use. Roses and lilies speak thee; and to make A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abuse Why should I women's eyes for crystal take? Such poor invention burns in their low mind Wh
Finished Reading: Samuel Johnson
Finished reading Samuel Johnson’s insulting carefully crafted letter to Lord Chesterfield in 1755. Commonly called “literature's ‘declaration of independence’” Johnson quietly rails his patron for his help that came seven years too late. Johnson published his Dictionary without Chesterfield, paving the way for writers to publish without patronage. Chesterfield prized the letter. The most caustic line of the letter is: “The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.” Why was it so insulting? It should have remained in Latin.