Material Evidence for Early Christian Groups during the First Two Centuries C.E.
William Tabbernee
Number of quotes: 13
Book ID: 455 Page: 291
Section: 2C
PJ Note: This is an internet article https://www.academia.edu/27317349/Material_Evidence_for_Early_Christian_Groups_during_the_First_Two_Centuries_C_E.Some of the earliest uses of the actual word “Christian” or “Christians” on tombstones also come from Phrygia. One of these, from Hierapolis (Pamukkale), reads: “For Ammia and Asklepios. The (coffin is that) of Christians” (IMont 10). This inscription, carved on the side of a sarcophagus lid, definitely pre-dates the year 212 and may be as early as ca. 170 to 180.{19}
Quote ID: 8951
Time Periods: 2
Book ID: 455 Page: 292
Section: 2C
The earliest dated Phrygian inscription containing the word “Christian” discovered thus far is IMont 17. It bears the date 327 (Sullan era), i.e., 242/3 C.E., as well as a Latin cross (which appears to be contemporary rather than added later).{22}
Quote ID: 8952
Time Periods: 24
Book ID: 455 Page: 293
Section: 2C
Another possible candidate for the earliest extant inscription comes from the Via Latina in Rome, now in the Capitoline Museum (Nuovo Catalogo Epigraphico [NCE] 156 = Eig. 9).{27} A solid case can be made on paleographical grounds for dating this inscription to the Antonine period (138-192 C.E.)
Quote ID: 8953
Time Periods: 2
Book ID: 455 Page: 293
Section: 2C
Other likely Valentinian inscriptions have survived from the same general location (CIG 4.9595a;IMont75). The first of these, the tombstone of Flavia Sophe, may be as early as the late second century, although it may also belong to the third century.{31}
Quote ID: 8954
Time Periods: 23
Book ID: 455 Page: 294
Section: 2C
Ca. 180-200 is also the earliest we can date distinctively Christian art, symbols, and inscriptions in the Roman catacombs,{32} including the well-known [GREEK] acrostic.{33}
Quote ID: 8955
Time Periods: 23
Book ID: 455 Page: 295
Section: 2C
Another Roman graffito from ca. 200 or slightly later mocks a Christian named Alexamenos for allegedly worshipping a crucified donkey as his god (see Fig. 12). The charge was a common one (cf. Minucius Felix, Oct. 9.3; Tertullian, Apol. 16.12).
Quote ID: 8956
Time Periods: 23
Book ID: 455 Page: 295
Section: 2C
Apart from Rome and Phrygia, there are few, if any, indisputably Christian inscriptions which can be securely dated prior to the year 200.
Quote ID: 8957
Time Periods: 23
Book ID: 455 Page: 296
Section: 2C
Some inscriptions or graffiti, such as the famous rotas/sator palindrome (see Fig. 13), discovered (among other places) at Pompeii, clearly belong to the first two centuries of the Common Era, but their connection with Christianity is not assured.{43} Another example is a (possibly) first-century C.E. bowl, found in Alexandria’s harbor. It is inscribed with the phrase [GREEK], but the second word need have no connection at all with “Christ,” as Chrestos was not an unusual name.{44}
Quote ID: 8958
Time Periods: 12
Book ID: 455 Page: 298/299
Section: 2E3
The earliest archaeologically attested Christian house-church able to be dated accurately thus far is the famous one at Dura-Europos, which was built as a dwelling in ca. 231/2 and adapted for Christian liturgical use some years before 256, when the building was destroyed.{57} Sometime during the middle of the third century a room in a house underneath what is now the Church of Saints John and Paul in Rome was also adopted for Christian use,{58} but how early in the century that occurred is unclear.
Quote ID: 8960
Time Periods: 3
Book ID: 455 Page: 299
Section: 2E3
Purpose-built “churches” were generally not constructed until the Constantinian era, although a stone and mud-brick basilica-style building, dated ca. 290, in Aqaba (ancient Aila) may be the “oldest known church actually constructed for a Christian congregation”{60} of which parts still survive.
Quote ID: 8961
Time Periods: 3
Book ID: 455 Page: 299
Section: 2C,2E3
Even for Jerusalem, Judaea, Galilee and the whole of Syria Palaestina―the area where Christianity originated—indisputably Christian material evidence from the first two centuries simply does not exist.
Quote ID: 8962
Time Periods: 12
Book ID: 455 Page: 301
Section: 2C,2E7
In the meantime we need to recognize that very few likely Christian artifacts able to be dated prior to 180 have survived and that the Christian nature of anything earlier than the beginning of the Antonine period (ca. 138) remains highly controversial….
Quote ID: 8964
Time Periods: 1234
Book ID: 455 Page: 301
Section: 1A
“In the meantime we need to recognize that very few likely Christian artifacts able to be dated prior to 180 have survived and that the Christian nature of anything earlier than the beginning of the Antonine period (ca. 138) remains highly controversial….
Quote ID: 9884
Time Periods: 12
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