The Lost Letters of Pergamum is a fictional book written in the form of a narrative. The book is a compilation of numerous letters written between different prominent men of the first century. Although this book is fiction, “it does not mean these conversations did not take place” (10). The letters that make up the book were found and translated into English after the discovery of scrolls in the city of Pergamum. They were mainly a series of letters written by Luke, a Gentile physician; Antipas, a Roman businessman; and other individuals, both Christians and pagans, of the first century. Bruce Longenecker, who studied and received his doctorate of philosophy at the University of Durham, provides a glimpse of what might have taken place among …show more content…
Although Rufinus attends the meetings, he wholeheartedly disagrees with the teachings of Christ. Antipas is overwhelmed by the Christians’ love for one another, their hospitality, and the deep family-like bond they possess. Antipas is asked to serve by helping oversee the new renovations to the temple Asklepion and the library in Pergamum. Antipas becomes closely connected to these Christians, particularly a girl named Nouna, who is being kept by Demetrius and Diotis. Antipas returns to Pergamum and finds the attacks on Christians have worsened since he left. Demetrius, one of Nouna’s caregivers, had been taken into custody by the magistrates and was being held for retribution (164). After receiving the death sentence for not recanting the name of Christ as Lord, Antipas makes a plea on Demetrius’ behalf and claims that he is the true reason for Demetrius’s rebellion against the city magistrates. Antipas reveals to the emperor that he had financially supported Demetruius’ care for Nouna, the orphan girl. The change of Antipas’ heart and his desire to willingly give his life for another speaks volumes about how Luke’s two-volume monographs had changed Antipas’ life. Antipas comes full circle from being a pagan Roman businessman to a lover of Christ, even sacrificing his very own life for Demetruis. The letter concludes with the martyrdom of Antipas at the amphitheater on the day of the Pergamum gladiatorial games. Even as Antipas stands before the emperor of the city to pronounce his confession of Demitruis, Rufinus, who had also heard the same readings about the man from Nazareth in the gatherings with Christians, turns his head as though Antipas had never said a word. Antipas is then placed in the dead carcass of a bull, chained tightly, and mauled to death by the wild animals. Antonious, a Pergamum
For the author, the fact that Perpetua is a woman strengthens her sacrifice for her faith. This is due to the societal norms and customs she disobeys and overcomes to become a martyr. In ancient Rome, they lived in a patriarchal society. This will make her disobedience of her father more noteworthy as it violates the cultural custom. In her writing, Perpetua talks of her father coming to her in the prison. She says “He came up to me to cast down my faith saying: Have pity, daughter, on my grey hairs; have pity on your father, if I am worthy to be called father by you” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). Multiple times, her father comes to her in prison, begging that she say she is not a Christian so she may live. Through this interaction with her father, we can see his fatherly love as he tries to prevent her death. We also see a sort of disgrace that comes from a daughter’s disobedience, she writes that her father says “give me not over to the reproach of men” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). This show of direct disobedience of her father portrays Perpetua as a stronger martyr. She is not only giving her life for her faith, but going against society and customs, saying her beliefs are more important than both. This is a strong example to encourage conversion to Christianity. When Perpetua is in prison, her father tells her to “look upon your son, who will not endure to live after you” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). This leads to another point concerning Perpetua as a woman. If she dies for her faith, she will abandon her child and give up being a mother. In ancient times, much of a women’s identity was in her ability to be a good mother. With her martyrdom, Perpetua will choose faith over this key part of her life and legacy. This, yet again, shows why, by being a woman, Perpetua is a strong example in the author’s purpose to convert
In the end, however, Jocasta dies and Oedipus is overthrown and ruined. Like her parents, Antigone defies powerful authority. Unlike her parents though, that authority is not of the gods, but rather of a person who thinks he is a god: Creon, Antigone's uncle, great-uncle, and king. He proclaims that the body of Polyneices, Antigone's brother who fought against Thebes in war, would be left to rot unburied on the field, “He must be left unwept, unsepulchered, a vulture's prize..” (ANTIGONE, Antigone, 192).
Rowlands, Mark. The Philosopher and the Wolf . New York : Pegasus Publishing , 2008.
The Lost Letters of Pergamum, by Bruce W. Longnecker, is a story of letters being exchanged between characters Antipas and Luke. Antipas is a civic leader of Rome and Luke is the writer of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. This book was written to give the modern reader a glimpse into the context of Christianity and the first century church. Longnecker conveys the life of Christ through the letters and the effects of his life on the culture. Throughout the book we see clear differences between the Roman Empire and Christianity and by the end of the letters we witness Antipas go through a dramatic change in heart and character.
...s to Luke. In this letter, he explains how after the emperor condemned Demetrius to death, Antipas stepped up, explaining to the emperor his nobility and that Demetrius was only following Antipas’s directions and offering his life in return for the safety of Demetrius.. The Emperor then condemned Antipas to his death. Antipas was put inside a cow’s carcass and burned alive. Antipas was a loyal Christian and proclaimed his faith to the Lord Jesus Christ before his death.
Niles, Patricia. “The Enlightenment.” Novaonline. Niles and C.T. Evans, 7 May 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. .
of A Dialogue Between a Philosopher and a Student of the Common Laws of England;Behemoth: Or the Long Parliament (1668); and various essays on free will, optics, geometry, and moral philosophy. 2
In response to this summarization of Butler’s “Beside Oneself”, I have generated reasoning towards my answers to Butler’s questions within her writing. Though her summary makes many valid identifications, there are still many questions to be rejoined in a more in-depth manner.
William Clifford was born on the 4th of May 1845 in Exeter England. He was an English mathematician and British philosopher. At the age of 15, William attended Kings College, London where he achieved a minor scholarship to Trinity College. Later after graduation he was invited to join the Apostles. He became concerned of many religious questions after studying the influential philosopher Thomas Aquinas and he decided to turn away from religion. Clifford’s philosophical standpoint was a major influence for his day. One of his greatest written accomplishments was an essay “The Ethics of Belief”.
In the Antigone, unlike the Oedipus Tyrannus, paradoxically, the hero who is left in agony at the end of the play is not the title role. Instead King Creon, the newly appointed and tyrannical ruler, is left all alone in his empty palace with his wife's corpse in his hands, having just seen the suicide of his son. However, despite this pitiable fate for the character, his actions and behavior earlier in the play leave the final scene evoking more satisfaction than pity at his torment. The way the martyr Antigone went against the King and the city of Thebes was not entirely honorable or without ulterior motives of fulfilling pious concerns but it is difficult to lose sight of the fact that this passionate and pious young woman was condemned to living imprisonment.
Antigone utilizes her moral foundations, her religious roots, and the events of her past to form a sophisticated argument. Despite being unable to convince Creon to reverse her punishment, Antigone is able to convince the people of Thebes that she was right in her actions. After Antigone’s death, and the deaths of several others, Creon reflects on this monologue and realizes the honest truth behind Antigone’s actions and words.
The play “Antigone” is a tragedy by Sophocles. One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader parts of the form through different characters.
Robinson, R. R. (1994). Some methodological approaches to the unexplained points. Philosophy 2B/3B (pp. 27-34). Melbourne: La Trobe University.
Melchert, Norman. The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. 4th ed. Toronto: McGraw Hill Companies, 2002.