APOLOGETICS AND EVANGELISM

POLEMIC EVANGELISTIC METHODS

Legend for Cells

a1. Answering the questions of others   Lk 12:14-17

h1. Debate and argument in witnessing Acts 18:28

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

a2. Using questions Mk 12:35-37; Lk 6:33-34,38,41,42,46

h2. Do no throw pearls before swine Mt 7:6

I = Implied this is true or opposite is false

a3. Showing misconceptions/contradictions Gal 2:14

h3. Call other beliefs delusion/madness 2 Th 2:11

N = Implied since accepted Nicene Creed

a4. Ps 110 can only refer to Christ Mt 22:44; Acts 1:34-35

h4. Apologetic use of Plato’s Timaeus -

m = Mixed: some agree, others did not

a5. Nature witnesses to God Ps 19; Rom 1:18-20

h5. Apologetic use of Jupiter’s tomb ~Tt1:12

P = partial,

a6. Appeal to science -

h6. Pointing out adulteries of Greek gods -

a7. First Cause (cosmological arg.) (partial) Isa 43:10-

h7. Humor in witnessing  Acts 26:29

- = no reference found (so far)

a8. Only one is supreme Isa 40:13,14,25

h8. Harsh rebuke in witnessing Mt 23:33; Gal 1:6-9

X = Disagree

a9. Appeal to historians  Josh 10:13; 2 Sam 1:18

h9. Calling people names. Mt 23:25,33; Lk3:7; Jn8:55

blank = not researched yet

a10. Morality vs. evil in other religions Lev 20:2-5

h10. Ridicule and sarcasm in witnessing 1 Ki 18:27

Writer totals include W’s & I’s but not P’s

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

a1

a2

a3

a4

a5

a6

a7

a8

a9

a10

h1

h2

h3

h4

h5

h6

h7

h8

h9

h10

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

50 & 95/96

est. 500K Christians. Labeled atheists; killed for refusing to worship emperor/idols

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

16 ¼

97/98

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Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

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Trajan persecutes Christians

107-117

Answered Pliny the Younger’s letter. Christians not sought after but killed if found

Didache (=Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

4 ¾

before 125

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Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

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Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

1/8

126

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Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

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Hadrian persecutes Christians

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture, and he persecuted both Jewish & Christian people

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

135

Christians persecuted in Israel because they would not join Bar Cochba’s revolt.

Letter of Barnabas

12 ½

100-150

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p52, p104. p87 have 5, 5, & 4 verses (Jn, Mt, Philemon)

-138,100-150

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p46 Chester Beatty II - 1,680 verses (70%) Paul + Heb

100-150

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2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

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Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

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Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

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“Presbyters” (Papias?)

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-150

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Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols except P

62

-150

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Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

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Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

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Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

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Gnostic heresies become widespread

c.170-

Gnostics believed Creator was evil/foolish, rejected Old Test., mixed in paganism.

Tatian+his Diatessaron.Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

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Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

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p66 Bodmer II Papyrii - 817 verses (92%) of John

c.125-175

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p4, p64/p67 Lk 1:58-59,etc. Mt 26:7-8,etc. 95 verses

c.150-175

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p90 Jn 18:36-19:7 (11 verses)

c.175

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Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

162/166-180

Aurelius was a Stoic philosopher. Persecution mainly in Gaul ended when he died

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

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Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

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Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

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177, 160-180

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Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

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Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-180

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Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

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180

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Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

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Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

265½+

-188-

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Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

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Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs -died 180 A.D.

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180-202

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Maximus of Jerusalem -wrote on origin of evil

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185-196

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Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

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196

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p32 (=P. Rylands 5) Titus 1:1-15; 2:3-8 (21 verses)

150-200

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Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

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Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

c.200-257-

Also called Patripassians, they believed Father, Son, & Spirit were one person.

Persecution of Septimus Severus

202

est. 2M Christians. A Christian helped him when ill, but didn’t repeal existing laws

Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas

7

c.201/205

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First known martyrs in Britain

209

Alban, Julius, and Aaron were formerly thought killed in 304/5 A.D.

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

1/3

200-210

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Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

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Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

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Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

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p75 Lk 3:18-22; etc. Jn 1:1-11:45,etc. 1,166 verses

175-225

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p45 Chester Beatty I – 833 verses (4 gospels + Acts)

200-225

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p30 1 Th 4:12-13,16-17 etc. 2 Th 1:1-2 etc. 25 verses

ca.225

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Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

734

198-220

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Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

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Theodotus the probable Montanist

7 ¾

ca.240

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Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria (heretical)

11 ½

154-224/232

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Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2 ¾

c.232

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Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God’s Son)

2 ¼

before 236

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Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

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Maximim Thrax persecutes Christians

235-238

First empire-wide persecution, but only of clergy. It stopped when he was killed.

Instructions of Commodianus

16

c.240

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Julius Africanus (undisputed writings)

9

232-245

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p13 Heb 2:14-5:5;10:8-22;10:29-11:13;etc. 114 verses

225-250

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Alexander of Cappadocia (Clem. A’.s pupil)

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233-251

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Origen (heterodox teacher)

622

225-254

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Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus

250-251 - 253

1st Christian schism. Can fallen Christians return, or doomed forever –Novatian

Novatian (his schism lasted over 200 years)

38 ½

250/254-257

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Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

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Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

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Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250 ¾ 

c.246-258

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Roman church leaders (ltr 2,29,30)

1+4 ¾

250-251

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Lucian et al. (letters 16, 21)

7/8

250-251

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Caldonius to Cyprian (letter 18)

3/8

250-251

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Celerinus to Lucian (letter 20)

1 ¼