[공동연구원 갑] : “Church History of Lactantius “Deaths of Persecutors” Idea Created by Godly Perspective of Lactantius and Its Background Research”(장신논단 45-1(2013,3), 37-62)
Through a candidly titled book “Deaths of Persecutors”, Lactantius viv ...
[공동연구원 갑] : “Church History of Lactantius “Deaths of Persecutors” Idea Created by Godly Perspective of Lactantius and Its Background Research”(장신논단 45-1(2013,3), 37-62)
Through a candidly titled book “Deaths of Persecutors”, Lactantius vividly reports the historical events of Diocletian’s persecution, expounds the final days of main culprits of persecution, and apologetically attempts to “reveal historical ca...
Through a candidly titled book “Deaths of Persecutors”, Lactantius vividly reports the historical events of Diocletian’s persecution, expounds the final days of main culprits of persecution, and apologetically attempts to “reveal historical case” of God’s victory. He does not see the source and purpose of persecution as religious issue, a conflict between Rome and Church. He expresses that persecution is a manifestation of ‘inhumane brutality’. Believing ‘God as one’ and arguing that ‘Deaths of Persecutors’ is the revealed historical case, Lactantius ultimately in his book expounds the theodicy that “God exists, and he establishes justice”. This book expressing that persecution is a manifestation of ‘inhumane brutality’ shows that ‘he has human centered theology’ according to established research and his interpretation of other documents were not incorrect.
Differently from his other works, this book does not show theoretical background at all but enumerates ‘historical events’. That means it is a simple ‘Church history’. Lactantius’ document should be considered as Church history, because of his adaptation of book recorded by Eusebius who wrote the first Church historical document, his style, and based on details. As a faithful believer of God, he expresses that “history” is an “example” of God’s existence and providence, thus clarifying that Church history does not reveal people. In order to express the triumph of God he presents the “defeated people”, not “praiseworthy people”. Therefore, Eusebios writes ‘vita Constantini’ and ‘laus of him’, but Lactantius doesn"t praise anyone. Revealing his faith and theology, “Death of Persecutors” shows God in history. It is the first document to demonstrate a descriptive example of Church history.
[공동연구원 을] : “A Study of Reorganization of the Social and Religious Time in the Roman Empire through Legislation of Christian Feasts by the Theodosian Code” (韓國敎會史學會誌 第34輯(2013), 77-114).
This study is designed to demonstrate reorganization of the social and religious time in the later Roman empire through legislation of Christian feasts by the Theodosian Code. It first examines the social rhythm of Roman society in the middle of the 4th century with recourse to the Codex-Calendar of 354. Then it proceeds to demonstrate how the imperial laws in the fourth and fifth centuries had changed traditional Roman time into Christian time. The legislation of Sundays/Lord`s days as feriae publicae introduced weekly holidays into Roman society. Subsequent laws designated Christian feasts such as Easter, Epiphany, and Christmas as public holidays, while they abolished feriae connected with pagan gods, thereby making them workdays. Creation of many imperial anniversaries may be understood as a process of modifying a pagan Roman society into a Christian one. Reorganization of the social time can also be seen in imperial legislationwhich prohibited spectacles on Christian feast days. Many imperial laws which abrogated pagan cults and superstitions and strove to preserve and keep spectacles demonstrate secularization of public entertainment. Furthurmore, prohibition of spectacles, even those linked to imperial anniversaries, on Christian feast days as well as conceptual distinction between "time for prayer" and "time for entertainment" displays a process of separation between religion and festivals. Other imperial laws emphasized humanitarian concerns on Christian feasts. They demanded Easter amnesty, prohibition of tortures during Lenten seasons, and visitation of prisoners on every Sunday. This study corroborates that the process of Christianization of the later Roman empire included reorganization of the social and religious time through imperial legislation.
[공동연구원 병] : “Understanding of Political Theology by Eusebius
as Father of Church History”(신학논단 71(2013년 3월), 365-397).
It is not easy for researchers to find information about the life of Eusebius (240-338 or 340A.D.) who is called “the father of church history,” because he himself concealed his own personality in all his books as if on purpose. Therefore, there are some arguments about him as a historian. Negatively, the first group, which historian Gibbon belongs to, criticizes the place of Eusebius in the understanding of history and concludes that he was just a theologian who flattered Constantine and grasped for the highest political authority.
Positively, the second group, which Lightfoot belongs to, who wrote
a biography of Eusebius, very brillantly admits that the historical records by Eusebius have objective truths and can be received as real observations of historical facts. Also, Lightfoot observes that Eusebius tried to develop the historical starting point and procedures of Christian history as a certain eyewitness. In the middle line of judgement of Eusebius there are a lot of scholars, such as Everett Ferguson, Michael Bauman and Martin I. Klauber.
These scholars are choosing positive or negative understandings case by case through study. But this third direction has to acknowledge that Eusebius' endeavour to write history is correct, taking the clean evidence of the persecution and victory of Christianity. In such various directions for understanding Eusebius' history, we can come to some conclusions on his attitude to describe history. First, he was a very wise historian to start the view of history that the “Lord is victorious,” and he delivered this understanding to St. Augustine in the next generation.
According to St. Augustine, the providence of God in history rules over every situation. Also in this direction, Eusebius helped him dynamically. Second, Eusebius explains the people who appear in his historical events very concretely without any doubt, although he doesn't reveal himself well. For example, comparing the meaning of history between Constantine and Jesus Christ, he made a specific and logical explanation that Constantine is a symbolic figure of Jesus Christ. In other words, Constantine is reckoned a kind of clear appearance of logos, Third, his viewpoint of eschatology stands upon the realized eschatology direction according to the above claim.
Fourth, his endeavour shows in history the identification of Christianity. He saw the continuity between the Old Testament and New Testament against Gnostic thought introducing the teaching of salvation history. Finally, when he was going to write the personal history of Constantine, he didn't go in a routine and naive direction to obey his authority with blind loyalty. Standing on the teaching of the Alexandrian school, he described that the philosophy of Christianity is superior to Hellenistic political philosophy, because the teaching of Chritianity based on the incarnation in which God is revealing Himself and the teaching of the Bible is deeper than Platonic philosophy including the philosophy of Neo-platonism in the results of God's inspiration. It is just the position of Eusebius. Therefore, positive interpretation of Eusebius is more important to understand the history of early Christianity.
[공동연구원 정] - 논문 1: "5th Century Christianity’s Attitude on the State in North Africa : Based on Augustine’s Response to the Riot at Calama in 408" (『한국기독교 신학논총 88』(2013, 07), 59~84).
In this article I attempt to provide guidance to the church for constructing a religious response to the issues of church and state by observing Augustine’s response to the riot in the city of Calama, A.D. 408. I have shown that Augustine sought a balance between Christian piety and municipal politics that usefully supplemented the supportive roles played by pagan philosophy and religion by encouraging social reconciliation and civic virtue for the peace and unity of Roman empire.
First of all I examine letters between Augustine and Nectarius who corresponded with each other regarding the riot at Calama. Augustine was presented as a representative of the church and Nectarius as a representative of the Roman aristocracy based on philosophy and pagan culture. While from the view of pagan philosophy, civil service earns celestial rewards, Augustine insists that personal penance is a prerequisite of municipal order and social reconciliation. Pagan philosophy appeals for amnesty for assailants, so that they can return to being diligent citizens with civic piety and dutiful obedience, thus finally joining the celestial city. However for Augustine civic virtue is insufficient for heaven. He prefers to punish them in order to redeem their souls rather than bring relief to the citizen. For Augustine, to achieve the “social good,” municipal order for society must begin with genuine repentance. The spiritual arts such as selfexamination, confession, prayer for pardon, forgiveness of others are the essence of civic virtue and the heart of patriotism. Personal penance eventually brings municipal order and social reconciliation.
Augustine as one of the greatest church fathers remains even today an intellectual power. The reason for this unique position is that through the ages his contributions to theology, philosophy, and practical ministries have been enormous. In dealing with the issue of the Christian’s position toward politics, Augustine’s teaching for his congregation can influence the church today. Especially within the Korean church milieu where demonstrations and labor strikes occur in many places from time to time, the church can gain advice about how to cope with politics.
[공동연구원 정] - 논문 2: “ Chrysostom's Theological Perspective on 'Just War'”(『한국기독교 신학논총 88』(2013, 07), 59~84).
“Just War” theory can be seen as an effort of the church to understand the situation of why war never ceases throughout the world and ages, and to determine the ethical teaching about war. This article will show that the Orthodox Christian faith`s views regarding “Just War” has been developed on the Just-War theory of John Chrysostom. In 2003 the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I identified two views on war (including any kind of violence). One is that war is justifiable as an armed defense against oppression and violence; the other that war is never permissible because war and violence are never means used by God in order to achieve a good result. We see the coherence of the modern Orthodox position on war through Chrysostom in the fourth century and then Constantine-Cyril in the ninth century. In his treatise, On the Priesthood, Chrysostom suggests an ethical distinction between the actions of the clergy and the actions of the laity. The hierarchy between the priest and laity is the foundation of Chrysostom`s faith and deeds. Since the priests are responsible for the doctrinal and spiritual state of the church, they are required to give uncompromising obedience to Christ`s teaching. However, the ethics for the laity are not that strict. His drawing of a sharp line between the priests and laity was extended to the just-war theory. For Chrysostom, priest or monks are prohibited to participate in any form of violence no matter what. But for the laity, it is forgivable in certain situations. An explanation of the yes and no sides of just-war theory is found in Constantine-Cyril, who understands Jesus` commandments within a hierarchal matrix. For him, John 15:13 is the pinnacle of all other commandments. While Jesus` mandate requiring nonviolence in Matt 5:38-44 is very important to follow, John 15:13 is telling about the greatest love the Christians can ever practice. In this verse, a Christian`s participation in war against injustice is justifiable. One step beyond that, Cyril states that safeguarding one`s neighbors and sacred persons is a duty for Christian soldiers. And those soldiers` death on the battle field is as praiseworthy as a martyr`s. Constantine-Cyril`s view on war is legacy of Chrysostom in the ninth century. In conclusion, the position of the Orthodox Church about war has two aspects. Chrysostom`s two aspects of yes and no in participating in war and violence laid the foundation of the medieval and modern Orthodox position of Just- War.