College 7

Question 1

Wat weet je van Jezus?

Answer 1

 Born ca. 6 BCE
 A Jew
 Twelve disciples
 Message: Kingdom of God is approaching
 Ethical appeal
 Regarded (by himself?) as Messiah
 Crucified by the Romans as a rabble-rouser (ca. 30 CE)
 12 disciples -> 12 apostles
 Christianity becomes a missionary religion

Question 2

Paul of tarsus

Answer 2

Paulus was een leider in het vroege christendom en speelde een centrale rol in de vroege ontwikkeling en verspreiding van het christendom in de gebieden rondom de Middellandse Zee, in het bijzonder in Klein-Azië en Griekenland.

Question 3

Christianity in the West

Answer 3

 Christianity spreads throughout the Western Roman Empire
 Romans persecute Christianity b/c refusal to participate in traditional religious (and political) cults
 Some Christians seek refuge in Persia
 Constantine the Great (in power 306-337)
 Decisive battle against Maxentius near Rome (312)
 Edict of Milan (313)
 Edict of Thessalonica (380)

Question 4

Christianity in the East

Answer 4

 Spread of Christianity via Jewish diaspora
 Almost always following existing trade routes
 Thomas -> India (->China??)
 Gospel of Thomas (1st/2nd cent.)
 Infancy Gospel of Thomas (early 2nd cent.)
 Acts of Thomas (200-250 CE)
 Thomas = Judas Didymus Thomas (“The Twin”)

Question 5

Christianity in India

Answer 5

 Historically reliable?
 Evidence for an Indian king named “Gundaphar”:
 1834: coins dating to 1st century CE found near Kabul (Afghanistan)
 Reign: 19-55 CE, in Iran, Afghanistan, and areas of north-western India
 Much more trade between India and Roman Empire than previously thought
 First of Thomas’s converts: Jewish girl in the king’s court

 Clear evidence for Christians in India from 4th cent. CE
 Marco Polo claims to have seen tomb of Thomas (1293)
 75% of Thomas Christians today in Kerala

Question 6

Christianity in Merchant Cities

Answer 6

 In addition to sea routes, also land routes
 Jerusalem -> Antioch -> Edessa (Urfa in Turkey)
 Addai/Thaddai/Thaddeus, disciple of Thomas, first brings Christian message to Edessa
 Legend: Correspondence between King Abghar
and Jesus → King Abgar was converted by Thaddeus
 “Jews educated in the Law and the prophets
who traded in silk” – Teaching of Addai (4e eeuw)
 Leader after death Thaddeus: Aggai “a producer of silk clothing” – Teaching of Addai (4e eeuw)
 Historically: arrival of Christianity mid-2nd cent.

Question 7

Christianity in Armenia

Answer 7

 Church tradition: Thaddeus goes to Armenia
 Armenia becomes the world’s first Christian nation
in 301-314
 Church of St. Thaddai – built in 68 // 1319
Church of St. Thaddai (built in 68 // 1319)

Question 8

Wat weet je nog meer van Cristianity in Merchant Cities?

Answer 8

 Edessa (and Ctesiphon) -> Bactria (Afghanistan) already in the second century
 Dura-Europos: oldest Christian church building (ca. 233- 256