The Dual Legacy of Greek and Roman Thought in Early Christianity
Although Greek and Roman thought contributed to the development of the Christian Church, they also infiltrated and corrupted Christian thought for many centuries. This problem was particularly noticeable in the early centuries of Christianity when Christianity was still a young religion and had yet to establish itself as a state religion. Greek and Roman thought significantly influenced the development of the Christian Church, but distortions and the emergence of heresies accompanied this process. This continued until Theodosius I could eliminate most of these heresies by supporting Nicene Christianity, which allowed the Christian Church to maintain its integrity.
Greek Philosophy and the Rise of Heresies
Greek thought played an important role in shaping Christian tradition, as the Greeks created many philosophical and scientific theories to develop Christian doctrine. Some of these theories came to contradict the fundamental teachings of Christianity, which eventually led to the emergence of heresies (Stanton 54). For example, Arianism is a heresy that arose from some Christians attempting to reconcile the teachings of Christianity and Greek philosophy, which conflicted with the doctrine of the Trinity.
Roman Governance and the Centralization of the Church
Roman thought also played a role in the development of the Christian Church, but it also had its negative consequences. Christianity emerged in the Roman Empire when Greco-Roman culture was at its peak. Initially, it was unrecognized and even persecuted, but when Constantine the Great became emperor, he changed this situation and adopted Christianity as the state religion. This led to many new problems and challenges for the Church as it had to adapt to the new conditions.
The Roman Empire was organized and centralized, which inspired Christian leaders to create the same organizational structure for the Church. However, this also led to the church hierarchy becoming more similar to the administrative apparatus of the Roman Empire than to a community of believers. This led to the centralization of church power, ultimately leading to the Reformation.
Cultural Exchange: Art, Architecture, and Language
However, despite these negative aspects, the Christian Church used many of the technologies and ideas of the Greeks and Romans to develop its culture and art. For example, Roman engineers and builders were hired to construct many of the first Christian churches, and Greek philosophers and scientists contributed to the creation of Christian theology. One example of the influence of Greek thought on Christianity is Plato’s philosophy (Markos 87). Plato’s works contain the idea of the eternal soul, which became the basis for Christianity’s doctrine of the soul’s immortality. Furthermore, Platonism influenced the formation of early Christian theology, including the works of Augustine of Hippo.
However, it should be noted that not all of the influences of Greek and Roman thought were negative. Some of their ideas were important for developing Christian ethics and morality, such as justice and equality before the law. Moreover, Greeks and Romans also contributed to the development of Christian culture and art. Many of their ideas and technologies were used to create magnificent cathedrals and temples and to create works of art such as sculptures and frescoes.
Another example is Greek culture. Many images and symbols used in Christianity were borrowed from the Greeks. For example, the image of the lamb, which symbolizes Jesus Christ, can be found in many ancient Greek images. It is also important to note that the Greeks and Romans were essential in preserving and spreading the Christian text (Stanton 80). Many early Christian texts were written in Greek and Latin, which were widely spoken in the Roman Empire. Thanks to this, Christianity spread quickly throughout the empire, and many of these texts survived.
In addition, other historical circumstances influenced the development of the Christian Church. For example, Greco-Roman public buildings were used to build Christian temples, which contributed to the spread of the new religion. Greco-Roman philosophical ideas also continued to influence Christian thought even after eliminating heresies. For example, Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism were integrated into Christian philosophy and theology, leading to the development of medieval scholasticism.
Theodosius I and the Institutional Triumph of Christianity
Despite this, Greek and Roman thought left their mark on Christianity, which was largely negative. This imprint manifested in the fact that many Christian teachings became more dogmatic, and the Church became more centralized. This led to religious conflicts and disputes that lasted for decades.
However, this changed when Theodosius I issued his decree in 380 AD, recognizing Christianity as the Roman Empire’s official religion (Kurtz 216). Theodosius I was an essential figure in the history of the Christian Church who significantly impacted its development and consolidation. He became the ruler of the Roman Empire in 379 AD and, as a Christian, made many efforts to strengthen the position of the Church and eliminate heresies.
He also issued a series of laws that directed the Church towards a more unified and organized structure. For example, he issued a decree that made the Bible mandatory for all churches in the Roman Empire and placed it on the same level as the Nicene Creed. This gave the Christian Church a unified theological foundation for preserving its unity and integrity. Theodosius I knew that conflicts and divisions among Christian organizations might have negative political and societal repercussions (Kurtz 218). Therefore, he took a series of measures to eliminate these divisions and ensure the unity of faith.
One of his most critical measures was to support the Nicene Creed, which became the Roman Empire’s official religion. Theodosius I recognized the Nicene Creed as official and took measures to support its spread. He prohibited cults that contradicted this faith and the spread of heresies (Spielvogel 95). He also established that all worship services must be conducted in Greek, which became a significant problem for those who did not speak this language.
However, this measure contributed to the unification of the Christian community and strengthened the ties between its members. Although Theodosius I was able to eliminate many heresies and create a more unified Christian community, his measures also sparked criticism and dissatisfaction (Kurtz 221). Many critics accused him of violence, coercion, and forcing people to accept a particular faith. Some also believed that his decisions weakened freedom of conscience and intellectual diversity within the Church.
All these actions led to Christianity becoming increasingly recognized and respected, and by the end of the fourth century, Christianity had become the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. Theodosius I made Christianity a part of Roman society by this decree, which helped the Christian Church grow and flourish. Roman and Greek thought became not an obstacle but, on the contrary, the foundation of Christian culture and tradition.
However, it should be noted that Greek and Roman cultures were not simply passive influences on Christianity but also underwent changes due to the influence of the new religion. For example, early Christian thinkers such as Clement of Alexandria and Origen used Greek philosophical concepts to explain and interpret Christian doctrine. Thus, Greek thought influenced and interacted with Christianity, forming a new theological tradition. On the other hand, the influence of Christianity on Roman culture was more evident and dramatic. The Roman Empire was primarily pagan, and Christianity was little known and met with skepticism by Roman rulers for a long time.
Nevertheless, Christianity continued to spread, and by the end of the 4th century, it had become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire (Spielvogel 100). This led to many Roman traditions and rituals being changed or rejected in the Christian context. For example, the celebration of Christmas, Easter, and other Christian holidays replaced pagan festivals such as Saturnalia and Lupercalia.
Works Cited
Kurtz, Johann. The History of Church: All 3 Volumes. E-Artnow, 2020.
Markos, Louis. From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith. InterVarsity Press, 2021.
Stanton, Greg. Unity and Disunity in Greek and Christian Thought Under the Roman Peace. Mohr Siebeck, 2021.
Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization: Volume I: To 1715. Cengage Learning, 2022.