Disciples, Martyrs & Witnesses Stage 4 Revised RE Curriculum Professional Development Day Disciples, Martyrs & Witnesses

Christ on Witnessing Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Christ on Persecution John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you …”

Sts Peter & Paul on Persecution 1 Pet. 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” 2 Tim. 3:12 “Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Life of the Early Christians Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Three-fold structure in the life of the Church

The Bishop was Central St Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Trallians (c. AD 110) 2:2 “It is necessary, therefore, – and such is your practice – that you do nothing without the bishop, and that you be subject also to the presbytery, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope, in whom we shall be found, if we live in him. It is necessary also that the deacons, the dispensers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, be in every way pleasing to all men. For they are not the deacons of food and drink, but servants of the Church of God.”

The Eucharist was Central St Justin Martyr, First Apology (c. AD 155) 67 “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the country gather together to one place and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended bread and wine are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying, Amen; and there is a distribution to each and a participation of that over which thanks have been given and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.”

Spread of the Apostles

St Paul’s Journeys

Spread of Christianity

The ‘five-fold’ attack General public (popular calumnies) Hardships and Challenges The ‘five-fold’ attack The Roman State Philosophers General public (popular calumnies) Gnosticism Jewish Opposition

Legal Status of Christianity Nero AD 64-67 Trajan AD 111-112 “There is no fixed rule that will apply to all cases. Do not search for the Christians. If they are accused and convicted, they are to be punished. Nevertheless, the one who denies that he is a Christian, and proves it by his act—by making supplication to our gods—can be pardoned in return for his repentance. This is true even if suspected in the past. Anonymous accusations ought not to be admitted in any proceedings. They are of most evil precedent, and they are not in accord with our age.” Decius AD 250-251

Early Life and Conversion Case Study: St Justin Martyr Early Life and Conversion Philosophical School Apology I & II Dialogue with Trypho Trial and Death

Diocletian Persecution The End of Persecution Constantine Early Life St Helena Diocletian Persecution Rise to Power Milvian Bridge Edict of Milan

Disciples, Martyrs & Witnesses Stage 4 Revised RE Curriculum Disciples, Martyrs & Witnesses