Comments on: The Golden Rule http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/ Mike Aquilina's Blog Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:36:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Phil S http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-2124 Phil S Sat, 19 Aug 2006 16:50:09 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/#comment-2124 I had forgotten that Justin had quoted the letter. Obviously, its authenticity is questionable because it is so neat and tidy to have it at hand. Ye, there remains the possibility that our Christian sources are depicting something historical in this incident. The problem is that we simply can't know what version is right, although I suspect the situation may be historical. Peace, Phil I had forgotten that Justin had quoted the letter. Obviously, its authenticity is questionable because it is so neat and tidy to have it at hand. Ye, there remains the possibility that our Christian sources are depicting something historical in this incident. The problem is that we simply can’t know what version is right, although I suspect the situation may be historical.

Peace,
Phil

]]> By: Mike Aquilina http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-2117 Mike Aquilina Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:42:50 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/#comment-2117 The letter attributed to Marcus is appended to the earliest manuscripts of the First Apology. But it would have been a later addition, since the First Apology was addressed to Marcus's predecessor, Antoninus Pius. Most recent translations don't include the letter, but rather end with the note from Hadrian. CCEL says that the Marcus letter is likely spurious; another edition I have says it is "certainly fictitious." The letter attributed to Marcus is appended to the earliest manuscripts of the First Apology. But it would have been a later addition, since the First Apology was addressed to Marcus’s predecessor, Antoninus Pius. Most recent translations don’t include the letter, but rather end with the note from Hadrian. CCEL says that the Marcus letter is likely spurious; another edition I have says it is “certainly fictitious.”

]]> By: Maureen http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-2113 Maureen Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:05:56 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/#comment-2113 I'm pretty sure that letter's at the end of Justin Martyr's First Apologia, too... Yup. http://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.ii.lxxi.html I’m pretty sure that letter’s at the end of Justin Martyr’s First Apologia, too… Yup.

http://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.ii.lxxi.html

]]> By: Phil S http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-2103 Phil S Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:23:26 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/08/18/the-golden-rule/#comment-2103 I think Marcus Aurelius' reputation among Christians was softened because of his abrupt shift in policy, as reported by Eusebius (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 5,5and other church historians. The story goes that Marcus Aurelius was on his campaigns against the Germans and Sarmatians (so around the Danube, I should think) and found himself in a tight spot. His army was cut off from water and no rain was coming down. His men supplicated various gods, but it wasn't until Christians from a legion (it is disputed which) prayed that rain came. Marcus Aurelius, on discovering the God which had saved his army, not only ordered an end to persecution, but punished anyone who dared to try to persecute Christians. There seems a historical kernal in this story because the earliest source that I know which reports it is Tertullian (Apologeticus, 5,6) who tells the story first and cites a letter by Marcus Aurelius as proof. I seem to remember a pagan author referring to this episode, but, predicatably, giving credit to either an Egyptian magician or to Marcus' own prayers, not the Christian God (dio Cassius, 71,8; Capitolinus, Life of Marcus) Peace, Phil I think Marcus Aurelius’ reputation among Christians was softened because of his abrupt shift in policy, as reported by Eusebius (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 5,5and other church historians.

The story goes that Marcus Aurelius was on his campaigns against the Germans and Sarmatians (so around the Danube, I should think) and found himself in a tight spot. His army was cut off from water and no rain was coming down. His men supplicated various gods, but it wasn’t until Christians from a legion (it is disputed which) prayed that rain came. Marcus Aurelius, on discovering the God which had saved his army, not only ordered an end to persecution, but punished anyone who dared to try to persecute Christians.

There seems a historical kernal in this story because the earliest source that I know which reports it is Tertullian (Apologeticus, 5,6) who tells the story first and cites a letter by Marcus Aurelius as proof. I seem to remember a pagan author referring to this episode, but, predicatably, giving credit to either an Egyptian magician or to Marcus’ own prayers, not the Christian God (dio Cassius, 71,8; Capitolinus, Life of Marcus)

Peace,
Phil

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