Heirs of Roman persecution : : studies on a Christian and para-Christian discourse in late antiquity / / edited by Éric Fournier and Wendy Mayer.

• Author: Mayer, Wendy
• TeilnehmendeR: Fournier, Éric, 1975-; Mayer, Wendy, 1960-
• Place / Publishing House: Abingdon, Oxon ;, New York : : Routledge,, 2020.
• Year of Publication: 2019; 2020
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (363 pages)

"The subject of this book is the discourse of persecution used by Christians in Late Antiquity (c. 300-700 CE). Through a series of detailed case studies covering the full chronological and geographical span of the period, it investigates how the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity changed the way that Christians and para-Christians perceived the hostile treatments they received, either by fellow Christians or by people of other religions. A closely related second goal of this volume is to encourage scholars to think more precisely about the terminological difficulties related to the study of persecution. Indeed, despite sustained interest in the subject, few scholars have sought to distinguish between such closely related concepts as punishment, coercion, physical violence, and persecution. Often, these terms are used interchangeably. While there are no easy answers, an emphatic conclusion of the studies assembled in this volume is that "persecution" was a malleable rhetorical label in late antique discourse, whose meaning shifted depending on the viewpoint of the authors who used it. This leads to our third objective: to analyze the role and function played by rhetoric and polemic in late antique claims to be persecuted. Late antique Christian writers who cast their present as a repetition of past persecutions often aimed to attack the legitimacy of the dominant Christian faction through a process of othering. This discourse also expressed a polarizing worldview in order to strengthen the group identity of the writers' community in the midst of ideological conflicts and to encourage steadfastness against the temptation to collaborate with the other side"-- Provided by publisher.

Table of Contents

Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; Foreword; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Contributors; Chapter 1 The Christian discourse of persecution in Late Antiquity: An introduction; Persecutions of and between Christians: Changing definitions of a phenomenon; The present volume; Notes; Bibliography; Part I The later Roman Empire of the fourth and fifth centuries; Chapter 2 Breaking the apocalyptic frame: Persecution and the rise of Constantine; The apocalyptic frame; The legality of Christian assembly in the late third century

Diocletian's backlash against urban ChristianityConstantine's weakness and need for urban patronage; Significance; Notes; Bibliography; Chapter 3 Begrudging the honor: Julian and Christian martyrdom; Notes; Bibliography; Chapter 4 A misunderstood emperor?: Valens as a persecuting ruler in late antique literature; Introduction; In his brother's shadow; Valens and traditional imperial policies; Tyrants and persecutors; The topos of a misled ruler; Basil of Caesarea and Valens; New Julian and friend of pagans; Adrianople and divine vengeance; Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography

Chapter 5 Theologies under persecution: Gregory of Nazianzus and the Syntagmation of AetiusFraming the Syntagmation: Context and Aetius's preface; Gregory's Or. 29 on the Neo-Arian logos eisagogikos: A reassessment; Aetius and Gregory on their persecutors: Polemic in perspective; To bind and loose; Conclusion: Gregory's audience and the legacy of the Syntagmation; Notes; Bibliography; Chapter 6 For their own good: Augustine and the rhetoric of beneficial persecution; Donatism and the power of persecution; The quality of forensic rhetoric; Epistula 185 and the issue of quality

The role of scriptural exemplaConclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Chapter 7 In the footsteps of the Apostles of Light: Persecution and the Manichaean discourse of suffering; Introduction; Manichaeans and their claims on Christian heritage; Roman legislation against Manichaeans; Trials and tribulations: The Manichaean discourse of suffering; Religious maltreatment in the Kellis papyri; Conclusion; Abbreviations and translations; Notes; Bibliography; Part II Post-Roman kingdoms of the Western Mediterranean (fifth to seventh centuries)

Chapter 8 "To collect gold from hidden caves": Victor of Vita and the Vandal "persecution" of heretical barbarians in late antique North AfricaRhetorical devices; Intertextuality; Evidence of persecution; Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Chapter 9 "You have made common cause with their persecutors": Gelasius, the language of persecution, and the Acacian Schism; The language of persecution in the letters of Gelasius and his predecessors; Audience and context; Notes; Bibliography; Chapter 10 Everyone but the kings: The rhetoric of (non-)persecution in Gregory of Tours' Histories