Who Invented Christian Martyrdom Religion Essay

Who Invented Christian killdom Religion Es severalizeThe questions of who invented Christian calvary and why, and who was the eldest Christian martyr, argon ambivalent in themselves as there digest non be a definite correct answer. When considering the tarradiddle, many make related take ins become apparent. There are three possible areas in which calvary may sop up been invented, these are the Christians, the Jews and the roman types. There is register of martyrdom stemming from each of these groups, which will be addressed in this essay. As strong as the three groups mentioned above, there are individual examples of those who may have had been responsible for the initial inspiration that formed the invention of martyrdom.The Romans undoubtedly compete a large part in the development of martyrdom. The formation of the Roman Empire following the Republi whoremonger period, created an autocratic empire that ruled the mass of Europe and surroundings areas of the Mediterrane an. This gave the first Emperor Augustus and his predecessors power to control the phantasmal institutions. The development of Christianity was seen by the Roman Empire as both bigotry and atheism. The first accusations of the Christians came after the Great Fire on Nero in 64. The Christians were a comfortable religious group to blame this upon (even though after the antiaircraft Nero himself used the landmass to build, making the fire seem extremely convenient for his own uses, which brings about questions of the sincerity of the accusations of the fire) and from this came persecution and execution. Christians were subsequently dealt with in this way, and from this it can be claimed, that martyrdom stemmed from the Roman Empire. Christians were organism forced into execution, and through gage of their religion they came to prefer death sort of than deny their religion and live.1The Roman Emperors views differed on the pursuance of the Christians. The attitudes were sporadic . Nero, Decian and Diocletion were responsible for serious attacks on Christianity however Trajan was rather lenient to Christians compared to other Emperors. Pliny is somewhat ambivalent, non knowing whether the crime is universe a Christian or the secret crimes connected with the name2It can be argued that Christian martyrdom was invented by the Jews, as it was savior himself who died for his faith, and plain being a Jew this would lead the invention back to Judaism. However as this was pre-Christianity it can non be said to be the invention of Christian martyrdom, just a moral example. As good as the latter point, Jews had been taught from the early prophets to despise the religions of his neighbours, even if these for the time being appeared to be more successful in earthly rewards than himself.3It was of course the Christians themselves who were martyred, merely it can be suggested that if it were not for the prosecution of the Christians by the Roman Empire consequentl y Christian martyrdom would not have come about at all. There would have been no need to prove their faith. The martyrs became something of an example for other Christians, and inspiration to stick by their faith. The author of source 20 in A New Eubusis states how unholy and noble are all the martyrdoms which have interpreted place and prize their nobility and endurance and love for their Master.4As in the expressions of Polycarp, when told to agony Christ, Polycarp continued to confess himself as a Christian, and when faced with being fire alive commented that I must needs be burnt alive, so that he might take a portion among the martyrs in the form of Christ, because he wanted to be a rich and acceptable resign5This gives evidence to show that despite the imminence of death, their faith would remain.As well as looking at the groups mentioned above, there are certain individuals who can be said to have had a significant effect on the development of martyrdom. Martyrdom can be sight to have originated from the figure of messiah, and his crucifixion at the hands of the Romans due to his blasphemous claims. Jesus apostles were thought to have emulated him in this way, as nearly all his apostles in rise died at the hands of their beliefs and faith in Jesus. It is this act of Jesus that is claimed by some to be where martyrdom began, making Jesus the inventor of martyrdom. despite this claim, I would argue that Jesus is an exemplar rather than a creator. demo for this statement is create in the account of Polycarps martyrdom where there are references to crucifixion, the Lord might once again give an example of the martyrdom which resembles the gospel story.6It is to a fault stated in the martyrdom that Polycarp refused to blaspheme facial expression For eighty-six years I havebeen his servant and he has through me no wrong. How can I blaspheme against my king and saviour?7It also becomes clear in the Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne, 177, where Christ i f often mentioned, with references such as thus in turn a mighty dispensation of God came to pass, and the measureless gentleness of Jesus was displayed , in a manner rarely vouchsafed among the brethren, but not beyond the art of Christ.8Both letters make clear and applicable that Jesus actions were the incentive, and that his actions gave them the strength and power to die for their beliefs.Although it can be argued that Jesus was the martyr exemplar, he cannot be called a martyr himself. There is genuinely little evidence suggesting he was ever called a martyr. In point the only time the tidings is ever mentioned is in Revelation 213 and Acts 2220 with reference to his disciples as martyrs, weting watcher as this is the Greek root of the word. So the word martyr is associated with Jesus death, but with a different meaning and this is further highlighted by a very relevant Christian martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, who didnt even use the Greek word martyr for himself. Another example of what same may call a martyr is Socrates, however in this case, as well as with Jesus, Christianity was not yet born(p), and so this pre-Christian martyr can only be seen, as Jesus was, as a model for the Christians. This is referred to in Justin Martyrs second apologia Socrates was charged with the same things that we are.9Both of these examples perhaps give Christians the conceit to utter out this heroic action.This then calls for an explanation of how the new meaning of the word martyrdom came about. How did it move away from its original meaning and why? As previously said there is ambiguity as to who the first Martyr was, and hence who invented Martyrdom. We have established the neither Jesus nor Socrates were martyrs, so then we come to the Jewish Maccabees, their relevance is highlighted through the way in which Blandina is likened in Lyons and Vienne to the mother of the seven sons. At this point martyrdom had come to mean what it does today as Professor Baro n stated there were born that great exaltation of Christian martyrdom which was to dominate the minds of the jews and chritians for countless generations.10However, the twain marges are clearly linked and may be seen to link up together. As the Apostles were witness to the death of Jesus, they then became venerable due to their unremitting faith, and could at anytime be called upon to deny what was witnessed under penalty of death. As the apostles would neer deny their beliefs, they moved from being a witness, to being open to the idea of death, which will lead us on to the controversial topic of free martyrdom. St. John, at the end of the first century, describes martyr as a cheeseparing witness (martus) who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth (Revelation 213).In Bowersocks Martyrdom and capital of Italy he highlights the point from the latter paragraph, that despite the use of the word itself in the New Testament, the meaning is by no means the same. Bowersock believe s that it was not until the second Century that the word martyr came to mean what is means today. Even though links can be drawn to earlier events, such as Nero at Rome which followed the great fire in 64, the change and the more relevant events come later. It is suggested by De Ste. Croix that from approximately 112 onwards Christians started to be prosecuted by pagans simply for being Christians the nomen Christianum, and Pliny states in a letter to Trajan that he put to death those charged before me with being Christians.11The definition of the word martyr was accent when the title was turned down by the confessions of Lyons, as they did not rattling die, and stated They are already martyrs whom Christ has deemed worthy to be taken up in their confession, having sealed their testimony by their departure but we are confessors mean and lowly.12The interesting movement that occurred, that is dissimilar to Jesus, Socrates and the Maccabees was the voluntary martyrdom. not only wer e devote Christians willing to give their lives, they actually wanted to. This was something that very much puzzled the Roman Empire, and became interpreted as almost a provocation. But the sincerity was entirely there as proved by Perpetua and Germanicus. Voluntary martyrdom was in fact forbidden by the church, and those being executed voluntarily were said to be considered far less heroic. The bishops of the churches were divinatory to refuse to the voluntary martyrs the honour of the name martyr, and this is backed up by a number of sources including Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Lactantius, the canons of the council of Elvira and the passion of Polycarp. Yet despite this, the martyrs were unremarkably seen in high regarded, seen also as heroic figures.it has been said, notably by De Ste. Croix that it was a montanist practice in origin, however he then goes on to suggest that it began far earlier, but there is not sufficient evidence to back this up.Christian Martyrdom was essentially invented to prove the seriousness of the Christian faith. Initially those who were sentenced to death, did so graciously, without hesitation, yet not with the will of that being the case. These were depict as glorious examples of resistance to tyrannical authority and painful woefulness before unjust judges. Despite the development of martyrdom, and from that the stemming of voluntary martyrdom, it is made clear from Perpetua how difficult, and how much of a dilemma the Christians faced when deciding between sacrificing their beliefs, or their lives.It must be noted that the ambiguity of this invention can be partly resolved when considering that Christian martyrdom stems from Christian theology. Even though the discussion of the invention of martyrdom is centred around the denominations and figures mentioned above, none of the martyrs would have died if they were not following closely their religious beliefs, and obeying what the church required of them.It is impossi ble to say who invented Christian martyrdom, and I question whether invent is even the correct term to use in this context. The action came about due to devotion and obedience to the Christian religion, and thus became almost a tradition, in which followers showed their dedication to Christ and their one God. It was not invented for a particular purpose, but became something of a statement. Its roots are deeply embedded in the Jewish history concerning Jesus and then Socrates, as well as in the lives of St. Stephen the first Martyr and the many other Christian figures who gave their lives to support their faiths.Word list 1,950