Lecture 5: Ministry from Jesus Christ Dr. Ann T. Orlando 24 Feb 2017

Outline Key texts from New Testament: Matthew and John Cyprian of Carthage Early controversies Importance of See of Rome Assignments

Matthew and John Most Church Fathers placed greatest emphasis on Gospels of Matthew and John Both were understood as immediate followers of Jesus Luke and Mark were understood to be disciples of Paul and Peter, respectively Matthew and John were most often used liturgically More extensive commentaries on these two Gospels

Importance of Apostolic Succession 2nd C evidence found in works already read in Patristics Ignatius of Antioch, letters to various cities Irenaeus, Prescription Against Heretics Importance of Rome

Letters in Antiquity Private (grammaton/litterae) See Gregory Nazianzus Letter 51 “To Nicoboulos” Such letters should be brief, clear, and graceful Private-Public (epistole/epistula) Letter of instruction (I Clement) Scholarly treatise (Origen On Prayer) Letter from heaven (Book of Revelation) Official Synodal letters Festal letters Papal decree (usually a respondum)

Decian Persecutions First Empire-wide persecutions promulgated by Emperor Decius, 250 Political instability within Empire Increased threats from Persia and Northern barbarians Required that everyone offer sacrifice for the Empire; Required that everyone show their libellus (little book) or certificate to prove that they offered sacrifice Required that Christians hand over their sacred books to be burned Anyone who did not comply was condemned to death as a traitor

St. Cyprian Teacher of Rhetoric before his conversion c. 248 Almost immediately, he was elected bishop of Carthage Tertullian was a major influence on him During Decian persecutions, he fled Carthage, but remained in contact with the Church there Martyred in persecutions of Valerian, 257 (as was Novation) St. Cyprian will be a major influence on the greatest of Western theologians: Augustine

Cyprian’s Works De Lapsi (Concerning the Lapsed) Written 251 Supported Cornelius (over Novation) as Bishop of Rome Specified types of lapsed and length of repentance required for each. Example: those who lapsed under torture had least time of repentance De catholicae ecclesiai unitate (On the Unity of the Catholic Church) Written in 251 in support of Cornelius Key is Chapter 4 on primacy of Peter, although there are 2 versions of this chapter Letters 81 survive from third century

Novation Roman priest, opposed election of Pope Cornelius in 251 Thought Cornelius too lax in re-admitting lapsed (lapsi) Christians back into Church Set himself up as a rival Pope, drawing support from around Empire, especially from Montanists Driving force opposing Novation: St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

St. Cyprian and Re-Baptism As noted above, Cyprian accepted lapsed into the Church with appropriate penance However, he did not recognize the validity of Baptism by heretics or schismatics This put him in conflict with Pope Stephen; the Roman Church seems to have always recognized Baptism by anyone as long as water and the Trinitarian formula were used Cyprian thought the orthodoxy and validity of the minister was important in administering the sacrament Note, Cyprian also opposed the forgiveness of sins by martyrs (libelli martyrum) for the same reason: the validity of the minister Cyprian, and many others, wanted Christians Baptized by heretics to be re-Baptized (see Letter 74 Against Stephen) Pope St. Stephen prevailed

Cyprian and Relation of Deacons to Bishop Letter 3 Emphasis on deacons as subservient to bishops Argument in part based on selection of apostles (and therefore subsequent bishops) by Christ But Apostles (bishops) chose deacons Bishop can depose or excommunicate an ‘unruly’ deacon

Augustine Letter 53, written 398 Peter as first in order of bishops Type of ‘synodal’ letter from multiple bishops in North Africa Written to instruct a Donatist priest and encourage unity with Catholic Church Peter as first in order of bishops Gives line of succession to his present day Importance of Scripture

Origen: Levites and Melchizedek Revisited Commentary on John’s Gospel Book I gives an introduction Begins with who alone (Christ) is a priest according to Melchizedek, and who according to Aaron What is a gospel Importance of John’s Gospel

Assignments Cyprian of Carthage, Letter 51: “To Cornelius” _____Letter 63: “To Cecil” _____On the Unity of the Catholic Church, available at https://www.ewtn.com/library/sources/unity. txt _____ Letter 3: “To Rogatian” on Deacons Augustine, ”Letter 53” Origen, Commentary on John’s Gospel, I.1-14 Prepare Paper #5