Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis sets out to examine, as far as possible within the constraints of a limited study, the
nature of the Christianity professed in the first centuries of the Common Era, by means of an
historical examination of Egyptian Christianity. The thesis contends that the believers in
Christ's teachings, in the first century, were predominantly Jewish, that "Christianity" did not
exist as a developed separate religion until its first formal systematizations commenced in the
second century, through the prolific writings of the Alexandrians, Clement and Origen. It is
noted that the name "Christianity" itself was coined for the first time in the second century by
Ignatius of Antioch; and that until the fourth century it is more accurate to speak of many
Christianities in view of regional-cultural and interpretative differences where the religion took
root. The study examines the main religions of the world in which the new religion began to
establish itself, and against which it had to contend for its very survival. Many elements of these
religions influenced the rituals and formulation of the new religion and are traced through
ancient Egyptian religion, the Isis and Serapis cults, Judaism, Gnosticism and Hermeticism.
Alexandria, as the intellectual matrix of the Graeco-Roman world, was the key centre in which
the new religion was formally developed. The thesis argues, therefore, that despite the obscurity
of earliest Christianity in view of the dearth of extant sources, the emergent religion was
significantly Egyptian in formulation, legacy and influence in the world of Late Antiquity. It is
argued, in conclusion, that the politics of the West in making Christianity the official religion
of the empire, thus centring it henceforth in Rome, effectively effaced the Egyptian roots. In
line with current major research into the earliest centuries of Christianity, the thesis contends
that while Jerusalem was the spring of the new religion Alexandria, and Egypt as a whole,
formed a vital tributary of the river of Christianity which was to flow through the whole world.
It is argued that without the Egyptian branch, Christianity would have been a different
phenomenon to what it later became. The legacy of Egyptian Christianity is not only of singular
importance in the development of Christianity but, attracting as it does the continued interest of
current researchers in the historical, papyrological and archaeological fields, it holds also
considerable significance for the study of the history of religions in general, and Christianity in
particular. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die proefskrif poog om, insover moontlik binne beperkte skopus, die aard van die vroeë
Christendom gedurende die eerste eeue V.C. te ondersoek, deur middel van 'n historiese
ondersoek van die Egiptiese Christendom. Die tesis voer aan dat die vroegste Christelike
gelowiges in die eerste eeu N.C. grootendeels Joods was, en dat die Christendom as afsonderlike
godsdiens nie ontstaan het nie voor die formele sistematiseringe wat deur die Aleksandryne
Clemens en Origines aangebring is nie. Selfs die term Christendom is vir die eerste keer in die
tweede eeu n.C. deur Ignatius van Antiochië versin; daar word verder opgemerk dat voor die
vierde eeu dit meer akkuraat is om van veelvuldige Christelike groepe te praat. Die studie
ondersoek die vernaamste godsdienste van die milieu waarin die nuwe godsdiens wortel geskied
het, en waarteen dit om sy oorlewing moes stry. Baie invloede van die godsdienste is uitgeoefen
op die rites en die daarstelling van die nuwe godsdiens, en kan herlei word na die antieke
Egiptiese godsdiens, die kultusse van Isis en Serapis, Judaïsme, Gnostisisme en Hermetisme.
Aleksandrië, die intellektuele matriks van die Grieks-Romeinse wêreld, was die hoof-sentrum
waarin die nuwe godsdiens formeelontwikkel het. Die tesis toon daarom aan dat ten spyte van
die onbekendheid van die vroegste Christendom, wat te wyte is aan die tekort aan bronne, die
opkomende godsdiens in die Laat Antieke wêreld opvallend Egipties van aard was in
formulering, invloed en erfenis. Ten slotte word daar aangevoer dat die politiek van die Weste
wat die Christendom as amptelike godsdiens van die ryk gemaak het, en wat dit vervolgens dus
in Rome laat konsentreer het, die Egiptiese oorspronge van die godsdiens feitlik uitgewis het. In
samehang met kontemporêre belangrike navorsing op die gebied van die Christendom se
vroegste eeue, argumenteer die tesis dat terwyl Jerusalem wel die bron van die nuwe godsdiens
was, Aleksandrië, en Egipte as geheel, 'n deurslaggewende sytak was van die rivier van die
Christendom wat uiteindelik deur die ganse wêreld sou vloei. Daar word aangetoon dat sonder
die Egiptiese tak, die Christendom 'n heel ander verskynsel sou gewees het in vergelyking met sy
latere formaat. Die erfenis van die Egiptiese Christendom is nie alleen van die grootste belang
vir die ontwikkeling van die Christendom nie, maar 'n nalatenskap wat die voortgesette aandag
van navorsers op historiese, papirologiese en argeologiese gebiede vra, en is daarom van groot
belang vir die studie van die geskiedenis van godsdienste in die algemeen, en die Christendom in
die besonder.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49941 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Fogarty, Margaret Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Cook, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 160 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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