Domitian and the early fathers of the church
Article
Article Title | Domitian and the early fathers of the church |
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ERA Journal ID | 7343 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | |
Author | Harmes, Marcus |
Journal Title | Journal of the Australian Early Medieval Association |
Journal Citation | 5, pp. 35-54 |
Number of Pages | 20 |
Year | 2009 |
Place of Publication | Melbourne, Australia |
ISSN | 1449-9320 |
Abstract | This paper interprets the tradition of persecution of Christians by the emperor Domitian (reigned 81-96CE), as narrated and interpreted by fathers of the church including Melito of Sardis, Tertullian, Clement of Rome and Eusebius. This paper argues that the portrayal of Domitian in Christian sources relates to the integration of the church with Roman civil authorities. Study of this persecution reveals that members of the early church showed their willingness to obey civil authorities. Historians have long pointed out that Domitian provided an example of a 'bad' emperor which encouraged Christians’ obedience to emperors who did not persecute Christians. This paper takes this point further, suggesting that patristic sources not only distinguished between good and bad emperors, but made good emperors out of bad ones, insisting on conversions and |
Keywords | Domitian (Emperor of Rome AD81-96); christianity; early church; fathers of the church; Roman history |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 430308. European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman) |
430305. Classical Greek and Roman history | |
500401. Christian studies | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Queensland |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q0y86/domitian-and-the-early-fathers-of-the-church
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