Hippolytus, Gaius and the Alogi in Second and Third Century Rome
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Emanuela Prinzivalli
Abstract
In recent decades, research has repeatedly revisited Hippolytus, Gaius, and the Alogi, emphasizing the obscurities in the sources and multiplying hypotheses. This essay aims to present the issue without overlooking the difficulties, but avoiding the improper practice of building one hypothesis on top of another. The body of evidence at our disposal confirms that in Rome, during the last decades of the second century and up to the beginning of the third, there was a debate concerning the authority of the Gospel of John and the Apocalypse. It is highly likely that among the protagonists of the discussions were Irenaeus, Gaius, and Hippolytus, and that Gaius criticized the Apocalypse and the Gospel of John. This was an internal debate within the church, where all participants remained within orthodoxy. It was only later sources, unaware of the earlier historical context, that accused the opponents of the Johannine writings, primarily Gaius, of heresy.
Abstract
In recent decades, research has repeatedly revisited Hippolytus, Gaius, and the Alogi, emphasizing the obscurities in the sources and multiplying hypotheses. This essay aims to present the issue without overlooking the difficulties, but avoiding the improper practice of building one hypothesis on top of another. The body of evidence at our disposal confirms that in Rome, during the last decades of the second century and up to the beginning of the third, there was a debate concerning the authority of the Gospel of John and the Apocalypse. It is highly likely that among the protagonists of the discussions were Irenaeus, Gaius, and Hippolytus, and that Gaius criticized the Apocalypse and the Gospel of John. This was an internal debate within the church, where all participants remained within orthodoxy. It was only later sources, unaware of the earlier historical context, that accused the opponents of the Johannine writings, primarily Gaius, of heresy.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Abbreviations
- Introduction 1
- Rome in the New Testament: Early Traces of the Significance of the urbs in Christian History 5
- The Weak and the Strong in Rom 14:1–15:13 33
- A First Step Towards Reading 1 Clement in its Roman Context: Re-assessing the Patristic Evidence on the Date and Authorship of the Letter 53
- The Shepherd of Hermas in Its Roman Context: A Fresh Look at the First Three Visions 99
- The Relationship between the Writings of the New Testament and the Roman Empire 119
- The Application of the Lex Iulia de collegiis in the Early Imperial Context: Remarks for New Testament Exegesis 153
- The Mystery of the Woman or the Mystery of the Beast? Looking for Rome in the Book of Revelation 201
- Jews and Christians in First Century Rome: Fragmentary Evidence 215
- The Cult-Sites of Peter and Paul at Rome in the First Centuries of Christianity: From the Written Sources to the Monumental Remains 237
- Four “Prophecies from the Event” (vaticinia ex eventu): On Paul, Peter, and Rome 267
- Encounters of Christian Faith and Philosophy in Second and Third Century Rome 281
- The Impact of Cerdo, Marcion and Gnostic Teachers on Roman Christianity in the Second and Third Centuries 313
- Justin Martyr and Tatian the Syrian in their Roman Context 343
- Hippolytus, Gaius and the Alogi in Second and Third Century Rome 363
- List of Contributors
- Index of Ancient Sources
- Index of Names and Subjects
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Abbreviations
- Introduction 1
- Rome in the New Testament: Early Traces of the Significance of the urbs in Christian History 5
- The Weak and the Strong in Rom 14:1–15:13 33
- A First Step Towards Reading 1 Clement in its Roman Context: Re-assessing the Patristic Evidence on the Date and Authorship of the Letter 53
- The Shepherd of Hermas in Its Roman Context: A Fresh Look at the First Three Visions 99
- The Relationship between the Writings of the New Testament and the Roman Empire 119
- The Application of the Lex Iulia de collegiis in the Early Imperial Context: Remarks for New Testament Exegesis 153
- The Mystery of the Woman or the Mystery of the Beast? Looking for Rome in the Book of Revelation 201
- Jews and Christians in First Century Rome: Fragmentary Evidence 215
- The Cult-Sites of Peter and Paul at Rome in the First Centuries of Christianity: From the Written Sources to the Monumental Remains 237
- Four “Prophecies from the Event” (vaticinia ex eventu): On Paul, Peter, and Rome 267
- Encounters of Christian Faith and Philosophy in Second and Third Century Rome 281
- The Impact of Cerdo, Marcion and Gnostic Teachers on Roman Christianity in the Second and Third Centuries 313
- Justin Martyr and Tatian the Syrian in their Roman Context 343
- Hippolytus, Gaius and the Alogi in Second and Third Century Rome 363
- List of Contributors
- Index of Ancient Sources
- Index of Names and Subjects