28953 - Ancient Christian Literature (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the ending of the courses, the student will be acquainted of the literary production processes in ancient Christianity between I and VIII centuries, starting from the authors and their writings, in relation with classical literatures and with the 'Fortleben' in Middle Ages and modern times.

Course contents

Justin's First Apology: a fundamental text in the history of the relationship between Christianity and Greco-Roman culture.

Born in Flavia Neapolis in the beginning of second century,  and long active in Rome, Justin is a figure of enormous prominence in the history of ancient Christian literature, and in particular of 'apologetics'. This particular literary sphere represents the attempt, on the Christian side, to give itself a cultural identity in the face of those who, from the beginning of this religious movement, were the most lively opponents: the Greek-Roman polytheism, on the one hand, and Judaism on the other. With the first, Justin argued in the two Apologies left to us; with the second, in the Dialogue with Trypho, which is the account - true or fictitious - of the controversy with a Jewish master. Justin died a martyr under Marcus Aurelius, and the Acts remain of the trial that led to his condemnation.
The course program will be structured as follows:
1st part (10 hours):
- Justin Martyr: biographical lines, cultural training, works;
- the historical context: the development of the Christian movement in Palestine, Asia Minor and Rome in the second century;
- brief history of the apologetic genre, from the second to the fourth century; issues and topology of apologetics .;
2nd part (20 hours):
- literary structure, philosophical and theological contents of Justin's First Apology;
- reading, translation of the Greek text, commentary on Justin's First Apology (15 hours)

Readings/Bibliography

1) Texts:

– (Reference edition of Justin's First Apology, with introduction, italian translation and commentary): Ch. Munier – M.B. Artioli (a c. di), Giustino, Apologie per i cristiani, Sources Chrétiennes-Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna 2011;

other editions:

G. Rauschen, S. Iustini Apologiae duae, Bonn 1911 [Florilegium Patristicum, 2], pp. 8-115 (greek text, latin translation; will be uploaded among the teaching materials);

E.G. Goodspeed (ed.), Die ältesten Apologeten, Göttingen, Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, 1914, pp. 24-77 (greek text only; will be uploaded among the teaching materials);

Ch. Munier (a c. di), Justin, Apologie pour les chrétiens, Paris, Cerf, 2006 [Sources Chrétiennes, 507] (greek text, french translation);

A. Wartelle (a c. di), Saint Justin, Apologies, Paris, Études Augustiniennes, 1987 (greek text, french translation);

D. Minns – P. Parvis (a c. di), Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, Apologies, Oxford, OUP, 2009 (greek text, english translation, with rich introduction and commentary);

2) Studies:

Introduction to Justin Martyr, chosen by the student:

• A. Puech, Les Apologistes grecs du IIe siècle de notre ère, Paris, Hachette, 1912, pp. 46-147 (verrà caricato tra i materiali didattici);
• M. Pellegrino, Gli apologeti greci del II secolo, Roma, AVE, 1947, pp. 40-9 (verrà caricato tra i materiali didattici);
• B. Pouderon, Les Apologistes grecs du II^e siècle, Paris, Cerf, 2005, pp. 131-171 (verrà caricato tra i materiali didattici);
• S. Parvis – P. Foster, Introduction, in Idd. (a c. di), Justin Martyr and his Worlds, Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2007, pp. 1-12.38-52.115-127; (verrà caricato tra i materiali didattici);

Teaching methods

Lectures; use of bibliographic and electronic databases.

Assessment methods

a) The students who attend lessons will be able to read and translate Justin Martyr's First Apology in the original Greek text (required for students of Classics). With the help of a commentary (see Bibliography, [1], Texts), of an Introduzione generale (see Bibliography, [2], Studies), they will be able to comment the text of Justin Martyr's First Apology from an historical, philosophical, and theological point of view.

b) The students who cannot attend lessons will study the same program as the students who attend lessons; they will substitute lesson notes with three essays by choice from the following (which will be uploaded in the didactic material):

– B. Bagatti, S. Giustino e la sua patria, "Augustinianum" 19 (1979) 319-31;

– T.D. Barnes, Legislation Against the Christians, "Journal of Roman Studies 58 (1968) 32-50;

– H. Chadwick, Justin Martyr's Defence of Christianity, "Bulletin of the John Rylαnds Librαry" 47 (1965) 275-95;

– M.J. Edwards, Justin's Logos and the Word of God, "Journαl of Eαrly ChristiαnStudies 3 (1995), 261-80;

– R.M. Grant, Forms and Occasions of the Greek Apologists, "Studi e materiali di storia delle relίgionί" 52 (1986), 213-26;

– C. Νahm, The Debate on the “Platonism” of Justin Martyr, “Second Century” 9 (1992) 129-51;

– R.M. Price, “Hellenisation” and Logos Doctrine in Justin Martyr, “Vigiliae Christianae” 42 (1988) 18-23.

Teaching tools

Lectures; seminars; use of electronic databases; PC.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Cacciari