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

2. 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."

3. 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 …”

4. 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.”

5. 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

6. 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.”

7. 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.”

8. Spread of the Apostles

9. St Paul’s Journeys

10. Spread of Christianity

11. 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

12. Legal Status of Christianity
Nero AD 64-67
Trajan AD
“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

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

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

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