| Lactantius(C.E.250～325)is a Latin father,who is the most excellent apologist during the Roman Empire.In this dissertation,we study Lactantius,apologetics,by taking him as an example of early apologists,from the perspectives of Pagan,philosophy,politics and faith,trying to show the achievement of early apologetics,and reveal the important role the early apologists had played in the development of early Christianity,and meanwhile,to explore the modern significance and value of Lactantius’ apologetics.This dissertation includes seven chapters,and the main part of it is the contents from chapter two to chapter six.In chapter two,we first give a brief introduction on Lactantius’ life and works,and then examine the apologetics before Lactantius’ to make a comment on them,and point out that the main body of the apologists was transferring from Greek fathers to Latin fathers at that time,and also the content of apologetics was transferring from passivity to initiative.In chapter three,we examine Lactantius’ critique on pagan superstitions,pointing out that Lactantius had criticized and disclosed almost every aspect of pagan superstitions,including the divinity and number of pagan gods,idolatry,Pagan cult,the cause ofpagan superstitions and so on.In this section we prove that Lactantius made a comprehensive use of Pagan testimonies,philosophical principles,common senses,the facts of history and Bible scriptures to strengthen his argument.In chapter four,we examine Lactantius’ critique on philosophers.And its main contents include the conflict between philosophers and Christianity,the relationship between wisdom and religion,the limitation of human cognitive ability,what’s the chief good in human life,and if philosophers can guide people to live a right life.Lactantius held that the wisdom had two meanings of knowledge and action,and specifying it in human life was to know God and worship God,hence,wisdom and religion were closely related.Because of philosophers lack of true wisdom,they exaggerated human rational cognitive ability,ignoring the revelation of God,seeing chief good as things in this life,disregarding the reward and punishment in afterlife,and they also usually didn’t live according to what they teach,therefore,in Lactantius’opinion,philosophers couldn’t guide people to live a right life.Chapter five focus on Lactantius’ political theology and its effect.Lactantius had a good personal relationship with Emperor Constantine,and by taking full advantage of this,Lactantius affected Constantine’s religious policies.Lactantius connected ancient "Golden Age" with Christian monotheism to prove that Christian monotheism and its moral doctrine helped to maintain national unity and social justice.In addition,Lactantius also claimed that faith was a spiritual thing,and it could only be changed by persuasion of language,not by violence,therefore,Lactantius advocated religious tolerance.In chapter six,we examine Lactantius’ interpretations of Christian doctrine.In order to firm Christian faith,Lactantius mainly illustrated God’s justice,the reason of incarnation,millennium and the Last Judgment.Lactantius pointed out that God was the final guarantee of justice,and the good things Christians loosed in this life would be compensated in afterlife;Jesus Christ who preached on earth was the example Christians should follow,and Christians must keep virtues in daily life,furthermore,Christians also needed to have the character of patience.And at last,Lactantius claimed that the man who stuck to being a qualified Christian,would finally got the great reward of immortal life.Lactantius is the most important apologist in early Christianity,and his apologetics displayed the character of systematic,inclusive,flexibility and initiative.By affecting pagan world,Emperor Constantine,and the later Christian scholars,Lactantius made a great contribution to the survival and development of early Christianity.Lactantius’ apologetics also inspires us to properly handle the relationship between religion and politics,and reasonably take advantage of the positive aspect of religion;treat the conflict between different cultures correctly;realize communication,reconciliation and coexistence between different cultures... |
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