Social and political climate...
Posted by James Bennett (jimb) on 6/13/06
Aphrahat is writing from the Sasanid Empire, modern day Iran or ancient Persia, during the reign of Shapur II (309-379 CE). He is also writing 25 years after the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and 12 years after the first Council of Nicea. Thus, the Roman Empire, which before this time had persecuted Christianity, now embraced this religion.
The Sasanid Empire on the other hand, had tolerated Christianity during this early period. Despite the fact that Shapur had built a strong state-church based upon Zoroastrianism, it wasn't until 344 CE that the Christians were persecuted in Persia, at least to any extent. It is commonly presumed that persecution in the Sasanid Empire began precisely because Shapur believed that the Christians might have an affinity to a neighboring Empire in which their religion was not only sanctioned, but preferred and that he felt they were a threat. Whether this was true or not, there must have been some other reason or event that spurred him onto a persecution that did not begin until 32 years after Constantine converted to Christianity. What that event or circumstance might have been is now likely lost to historians, but it does seem interesting that it was in 337 CE that Aphrahat wrote Demonstration V titled On War. It is in On War that Aphrahat interprets parts of the Book of Daniel as prophecy for his day and predicts that Christ's kingdom, represented by the Christian Roman Empire, would triumph over the Sasanid Empire. Could it be that this was the event that spurred Shapur to a reign of persecution that was eventually so great that the Church in Persia quit electing Bishops because obtaining that office was a quick road to death?
It was also after the persecutions of 344 CE began that accusations or criticisms of the Christians and their practices came from the Jewish community in Persia. Many scholars say that Aphrahat's apologetical writings were in response to these criticisms and may have been primarily directed at Christians who were turning to Judaism (whether they had been converts from Judaism or from other religions) in response to the persecutions that Christians felt and that the Jewish people did not.
And so this is the background: Demonstrations I-X were written in 336/7 CE before the Church was persecuted in the Sasanid Empire and after Christianity became the defacto religion of the Roman Empire, it was also after diplomatic relations failed between Rome and Persia and on the eve of an expected war between the two empires. Demonstrations XI-XXIII were written in 344/5 CE after the persecutions and accusations/criticisms began and the Christian Church was begining to feel the effects of persecution.
Now, I would like to bring about some of my thoughts upon Aphrahats words. This will be done in a random order but in a somewhat formal format. I'll writeup the context from Aphrahat's writings and some of my reactions to a specific idea of Aphrahat along with his Scriptural references to support his position. In a later post, after reading comments and reactions, I'll expand upon what I said and on comments posted. At that same time, I'll probably introduce the next topic.
The Sasanid Empire on the other hand, had tolerated Christianity during this early period. Despite the fact that Shapur had built a strong state-church based upon Zoroastrianism, it wasn't until 344 CE that the Christians were persecuted in Persia, at least to any extent. It is commonly presumed that persecution in the Sasanid Empire began precisely because Shapur believed that the Christians might have an affinity to a neighboring Empire in which their religion was not only sanctioned, but preferred and that he felt they were a threat. Whether this was true or not, there must have been some other reason or event that spurred him onto a persecution that did not begin until 32 years after Constantine converted to Christianity. What that event or circumstance might have been is now likely lost to historians, but it does seem interesting that it was in 337 CE that Aphrahat wrote Demonstration V titled On War. It is in On War that Aphrahat interprets parts of the Book of Daniel as prophecy for his day and predicts that Christ's kingdom, represented by the Christian Roman Empire, would triumph over the Sasanid Empire. Could it be that this was the event that spurred Shapur to a reign of persecution that was eventually so great that the Church in Persia quit electing Bishops because obtaining that office was a quick road to death?
It was also after the persecutions of 344 CE began that accusations or criticisms of the Christians and their practices came from the Jewish community in Persia. Many scholars say that Aphrahat's apologetical writings were in response to these criticisms and may have been primarily directed at Christians who were turning to Judaism (whether they had been converts from Judaism or from other religions) in response to the persecutions that Christians felt and that the Jewish people did not.
And so this is the background: Demonstrations I-X were written in 336/7 CE before the Church was persecuted in the Sasanid Empire and after Christianity became the defacto religion of the Roman Empire, it was also after diplomatic relations failed between Rome and Persia and on the eve of an expected war between the two empires. Demonstrations XI-XXIII were written in 344/5 CE after the persecutions and accusations/criticisms began and the Christian Church was begining to feel the effects of persecution.
Now, I would like to bring about some of my thoughts upon Aphrahats words. This will be done in a random order but in a somewhat formal format. I'll writeup the context from Aphrahat's writings and some of my reactions to a specific idea of Aphrahat along with his Scriptural references to support his position. In a later post, after reading comments and reactions, I'll expand upon what I said and on comments posted. At that same time, I'll probably introduce the next topic.
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