God’s Wisdom Through the Ages
—–
January 2021 – The First Century
1st Century 1-100
– Jesus
February 2021 – The Second Century
2nd Century 101-200
– Josephus
– Justin Martyr
March 2021 – The Third Century
3rd Century 201-300
– Tertullian
– Africanus
– Hippolytus
– Origen
April 2021 – The Fourth Century
4th Century 301-400
– Eusebius Pamphili
– Constantine
– Council of Nicea AD 325
May 2021 – The Fifth Century
5th Century 401-500
– Sack of Rome AD 410
– fall of Roman Empire
– Augustine
June 2021 – The Sixth Century
6th Century 501-600
– 525 Dionysius Exiguus innovates AD calendar
– Geatish battles later recounted in 11th century Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf
July 2021 – The Seventh Century
7th Century 601-700
– Mohammed AD 674
– rise of Islam (or was it)
August 2021 – The Eighth Century
8th Century 701-800
– Venerable Bede – History of England
September 2021 – The Ninth Century
9th Century 801-900
– 859 Execution of Eulogius, proponent of confrontational Christian witness in Spain who used missiology of martyrdom to confront Islam.¹
October 2021 – The Tenth Century
10th Century 901-1000
– Erik the Red
– Leif Eiriksson
– possible writing of Beowulf 1000¹
November 2021 – The Eleventh Century
11th Century 1001-1100
– possibly final extermination of last indigenous Christians in Libya 1021
– Battle of Hastings AD 1066
December 2021 – The Twelfth Century
12th Century 1101-1200
– Francis d Assissi
Wisdom in the WORD 
WTW 12 ‘ o ‘ 21
February 2021
The Second Century
2nd Century 101-200
– Josephus
– Justin Martyr
JOSEPHUS (AD 37-100)
Antiquities of the Jews (ca AD 93-94)
Josephus & Jesus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus_on_Jesus
JUSTIN MARTYR (AD 100-165)
First Apology (ca AD 155-157)
http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-firstapology.html
For just an initial sample, scroll down to
CHAPTER LXVII — WEEKLY WORSHIP OF THE CHRISTIANS.
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JUSTIN MARTYR — THE FIRST APOLOGY OF JUSTIN
CHAPTER I — ADDRESS.
To the Emperor Titus Ælius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar, and to his son Verissimus the Philosopher, and to Lucius the Philosopher, the natural son of Caesar, and the adopted son of Pius, a lover of learning, and to the sacred Senate, with the whole People of the Romans, I, Justin, the son of Priscus and grandson of Bacchius, natives of Flavia Neapolis in Palestine, present this address and petition in behalf of those of all nations who are unjustly hated and wantonly abused, myself being one of them.
CHAPTER II — JUSTICE DEMANDED.
Reason directs those who are truly pious and philosophical to honour and love only what is true, declining to follow traditional opinions, if these be worthless. For not only does sound reason direct us to refuse the guidance of those who did or taught anything wrong, but it is incumbent on the lover of truth, by all means, and if death be threatened, even before his own life, to choose to do and say what is right. Do you, then, since ye are called pious and philosophers, guardians of justice and lovers of learning, give good heed, and hearken to my address; and if ye are indeed such, it will be manifested. For we have come, not to flatter you by this writing, nor please you by our address, but to beg that you pass judgment, after an accurate and searching investigation, not flattered by prejudice or by a desire of pleasing superstitious men, nor induced by irrational impulse or evil rumours which have long been prevalent, to give a decision which will prove to be against yourselves. For as for us, we reckon that no evil can be done us, unless we be convicted as evil-doers or be proved to be wicked men; and you, you can kill, but not hurt us.
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Comment related to AD 70
https://wtw.family.blog/2021/02/06/holy-holy-holy/#comment-79
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Valentine’s Day
2/14/2021
Looking for a couple good Valentine’s Day videos for a 5 year old and for the whole family, we watched the Superbook classic version Season 2, Episode 4 about Abraham searching for a bride for Isaac.
Love at First Sight
Then, I realized I know little about St Valentine beyond the popular idea of him sending out notes of love from prison. Even J was able to tell me more about Valentine than I ever recall hearing such as his arrest for allowing marriage.
So, I quickly realized this also fits right in with this month’s general time frame in the 12 Centuries of 21 and decided to look at least a little more at the life of this 3rd century man now known through many legends as St Valentine.
Below is a bit more I found along with one more short video that gave a good brief overview and that the whole family enjoyed.
St Valentine’s Day Animated History
https://youtu.be/JdKZepHMFWE
As Valentine most certainly lived in the 3rd century, we can of course always follow up with some additional focus on his life next month when we focus on the work of God in the 3rd Century of this Christian Era.
Here is an excerpt from the section entitled
Hagiography & Testimony
A common hagiography describes Saint Valentine as a priest of Rome or as the former Bishop of Terni, an important town of Umbria, in central Italy. While under house arrest of Judge Asterius, and discussing his faith with him, Valentinus (the Latin version of his name) was discussing the validity of Jesus. The judge put Valentinus to the test and brought to him the judge’s adopted blind daughter. If Valentinus succeeded in restoring the girl’s sight, Asterius would do whatever he asked. Valentinus, praying to God, laid his hands on her eyes and the child’s vision was restored.[25] Immediately humbled, the judge asked Valentinus what he should do. Valentinus replied that all of the idols around the judge’s house should be broken, and that the judge should fast for three days and then undergo the Christian sacrament of baptism. The judge obeyed and, as a result of his fasting and prayer, freed all the Christian inmates under his authority. The judge, his family, and his forty-four member household of adult family members and servants were baptized.[26] Valentinus was later arrested again for continuing to evangelize and was sent to the prefect of Rome, to the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) himself. Claudius took a liking to him until Valentinus tried to convince Claudius to embrace Christianity, whereupon Claudius refused and condemned Valentinus to death, commanding that Valentinus either renounce his faith or he would be beaten with clubs and beheaded. Valentinus refused and Claudius’ command was executed outside the Flaminian Gate February 14, 269.[27]
Excerpted from
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine
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March 2021
Third Century, Part 1
Tertullian
https://wtw.family.blog/2021/03/01/tertullian/
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March 2021
Third Century, Part 2
Ancient Insurrection
https://wtw.family.blog/2021/03/05/ancient-insurrection/
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March 2021
3rd Century of 21
St Patrick’s Day
17 March
4th-5th Century Missionary
https://wtw.family.blog/2021/03/17/maewyn-succat/
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There are so many things we don’t fully understand or even realize. There are so many things that are a certain way which don’t even enter our thoughts. Research can bring more of these things to our attention. Revelation certainly brings the important things to our attention. Things of which we are otherwise ignorant though they surround and permeate our entire world.
Both research and revelation are intriguing in this regard. Reflection is also notable in this, and it was not until just reflecting on research that this idea including the related role of revelation in this same way came to attention. So for the moment the medium at hand is research and no claim to any real element of revelation.
Bottom line first
I am still reading Eusebius. I have been referring to and going to Eusebius as a resource for at least 15 years. I have set out to read his Ecclesiastical History in its entirety all those years and have yet to do so fully to completion, let alone to some degree of thoroughness. I am reading more intently now and also recognize its significant relevance to this phase of the 12 centuries of 21 as it extends through the 4th century which is the extent of the focus this 4th month of April 2021. And so this is a significantly opportune time.
As I began reading again, I referenced Africanus so clearly in book 1 and so many significant references in each book. More remains to be searched out in each book. My primary starting point at the start of this month, however is once again Book 5. And here is where we come to the short phase which prompted this reflection here.
Virgin Mother
BT mentioned this very thing just last month, yet now it caught my attention from a historical research stance.
When did this enter in to Christian thought?
Eusebius is indisputably the first writer after Luke to offer a contemporary comprehensive history of the faith.
This phrase, with a spotlight focused firmly on it, shows itself plainly as a telltale sign of something significant that happened between Luke & Eusebius, between the years AD 60 & AD 325.
A brief search what could be the origin of the intervening doctrine of the so called virgin mother being firmly established by and before the start of the 4th century leads to the following as starting points. Here are some historical documents and articles such as the
Perpetual Virginity of Mary article
The first note in that article leads to
Protevangelium of James article
And so we are including here a direct link to pdf of
Protoevangelium of James
See also
Infancy Gospels article
Background on the Birth of Mary accounts
And online text of this account itself, the so called
Gospel of the Birth of Mary
And so this is a likely place to look to reveal more about the development of this which is directly related to the historically far greater emphasis even to our day on the deity of Messiah to the minimizing of his humanity. This is even recently relevant in current conversations on the widely acclaimed portrayal of Messiah in the video series The Chosen.
It is also intriguing how I awoke yesterday morning, before this inciting phrase even captured my attention and prompted any of this inquiry today, with some apparent fresh understanding of the significance of the 2 gospel genealogies as likely brought into clarity from the previous day’s recognition of the topic of the first reference in Eusebius to that other earlier writer Africanus, long known by name yet never until then recognized for the content surrounding his first reference in Eusebius.
All these matters call for sufficient attention at least adequate for establishing the basics of a plain and simple understanding of the existence of these topics now revived as existing embedded over centuries in the very fabric of accepted tradition.
We are called to Truth rather than Tradition.
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Egerton Gospel
“The Egerton Gospel has been largely ignored outside a small circle of scholars.”
Egerton Article
Article Digital Audio
Egerton Wikipedia Article
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A GENERAL TIMELINE AD 250-800
251-356 St Anthony the Great
260-340 Eusebius Pamphili of Caesarea
296-373 Athanasius of Alexandria
? – 341 Eusebius of Nicomedia (baptized Constantine)
306-337 Constantine the Great
337 Constantine deathbed baptism by Eusebius Nicomedia
325 Council of Nicea
342-420 St Jerome
350 Huns begin attacking Sassanid Empire
405 Vulgate completed
420 death of Jerome, Rome sacked by Alaric
431 Council of Ephesus
455 Rome sacked by Genseric
476 Odoacer the German deposes emperor Romulus
480 death of last senate-elected Roman emperor Julius
507 Franks defeat Visigoths
525 Dionysius Exiguus develops basis of AD calendar
527 Justinian emperor of Eastern Rome
563 Columba begins Scottish Iona Pict evangelism
570-632 Muhammed
597 Augustine of Canterbury begins Anglo-Saxon evangelism
632 death of Muhammed, Abu Bakr becomes first Muslim caliph
638 Jerusalem captured by Arab Muslims & Syrian Christians
663 Catholicism trumps Celtic Christianity in England (Synod of Whitby)
672-735 Venerable Bede
674-678 first Arab siege of Constantinople
711 Umayyad Muslims begin rule of Hispania lasting 750 years
718 Byzantines defeat 2nd Muslim attack on Constantinople
732 Battle of Tours stops Islamic Moors, leads to Carolingian Empire of Franks
735 death of Bede, father of English history
748-814 Charlemagne
750 beginning of Abbasid caliphate lasting 769 years
751 founding of Carolingian Dynasty
754 Pepin promises Pope central Italy
768 beginning of Charlemagne’s reign
793 Viking sack of Lindisfarne begins Viking Age (793-1066)
794 Vikings destroy Iona Abbey
800 Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor
814 death of Charlemagne
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Proto-Protestants
200 Montanus
300 Eusebius
400 Marcian, Eutyches
500 Vigilius
600 Bede
700 Iconoclasm
800 Claudius of Turin, Gottschalk, Cathari
900 Smbat Zarehavantsi
1000 Berengar of Tours, Pataria
1100 Robert Grosseteste, Cathars, Albigensians, Tanchelm, Peter of Bruys, Henry of Lausanne, Arnold of Brescia, Joachimite, Waldensians, Fraticelli,
1200 Waldo, Francis
1300 Wyclif, Gregory of Rimini, Striginolki
1400 Johann Pupper, John Huss
1500 Luther, Calvin, Zwingli
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Fame of Tanakh
Did the OT & the faith of Abraham spread much before Jesus or did the Hebrew scriptures, experience & history actually become known primarily on the wings of the message of Messiah to the nations?
Certainly Jews, Judaism and their scriptures had already become known through their conquests and at least the Torah had been translated into Greek in Alexandria, Egypt by 250 BC. And by the way, the LXX is actually based on an older more reliable tradition than the masoretic text a full millennium later.
Here is some more Jewish history
Tags: masoretes masorah masoretic AD 70 temple Josephus Islam gnostic gnosticism Israel hebrew canon 2nd century 3rd century
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Jewish History
Excerpt from Wikipedia article by the same name, section on AD 63-324
Roman rule in the land of Israel (63 BCE – 324 CE)
Judea had been an independent Jewish kingdom under the Hasmoneans, but was conquered by the Roman general Pompey in 63 BCE and reorganized as a client state. Roman expansion was going on in other areas as well, and would continue for more than a hundred and fifty years. Later, Herod the Great was appointed “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate, supplanting the Hasmonean dynasty. Some of his offspring held various positions after him, known as the Herodian dynasty. Briefly, from 4 BCE to 6 CE, Herod Archelaus ruled the tetrarchy of Judea as ethnarch, the Romans denying him the title of King. After the Census of Quirinius in 6 CE, the Roman province of Judaea was formed as a satellite of Roman Syria under the rule of a prefect (as was Roman Egypt) until 41 CE, then procurators after 44 CE. The empire was often callous and brutal in its treatment of its Jewish subjects, (see Anti-Judaism in the pre-Christian Roman Empire). In 30 CE (or 33 CE), Jesus of Nazareth, an itinerant rabbi from Galilee, and the central figure of Christianity, was put to death by crucifixion in Jerusalem under the Roman prefect of Judaea, Pontius Pilate.[19] In 66 CE, the Jews began to revolt against the Roman rulers of Judea. The revolt was defeated by the future Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus. In the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and, according to some accounts, plundered artifacts from the temple, such as the Menorah. Jews continued to live in their land in significant numbers, the Kitos War of 115–117 CE notwithstanding, until Julius Severus ravaged Judea while putting down the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132–136 CE. Nine hundred eighty-five villages were destroyed and most of the Jewish population of central Judaea was essentially wiped out, killed, sold into slavery, or forced to flee.[20] Banished from Jerusalem, except for the day of Tisha B’Av, the Jewish population now centred on Galilee and initially in Yavne. Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina and Judea was renamed Syria Palestina, to spite the Jews by naming it after their ancient enemies, the Philistines.[citation needed]
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Further under diaspora heading:
Of critical importance to the reshaping of Jewish tradition from the Temple-based religion to the rabbinic traditions of the Diaspora, was the development of the interpretations of the Torah found in the Mishnah and Talmud.
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