1 of 2
2 of 2
Please see both panels before reading text.
It’s easy to forget that history kept right on happening after the events recorded in the Bible. But Jesus’ disciples grew old, built communities, and past their mantle of leadership onto a new generation. There was no “New Testament” for those first generations, and established Christian communities may have had access to only a few of those letters as they circulated around. Different regions of churches may have had different practices around baptism, holy communion, and even the annual celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, what we know today as Easter.
Baber ident 300
Polycarp (69-155 AD), a successor of the Apostle John, was the Bishop of Smyrna (on the coast of modern-day Turkey). More than just a rad name, Polycarp led the churches under him in the traditions he learned from Jesus’ beloved disciple, John…practices that were deeply rooted in the Judaism from which Christianity was emerging. The churches in Asia Minor, under Polycarp, would celebrate the entire story of Christ’s death and resurrection annually on the day of the Jewish Passover, the 14th of the Jewish month, Nisan. These communities emphasized the death of Christ as the heart of their Christian convictions.
Meanwhile, Anicetus (92-168 AD) the Bishop of Rome, followed a different practice attributed to traditions passed on by Peter and Paul. His tradition insisted that the resurrection of Jesus should always be celebrated on a Sunday, regardless of any connection to the date of the Jewish Passover. These communities also placed a greater significance on the resurrection as the heart of their Christian convictions.
The disagreement was known as The Quartodeciman (latin for “14th”) Controversy, and when Polycarp visited Anicetus in Rome, they decided to honor each other’s traditions and celebrate communion together to display that their unity in Christ was greater than their opinions about religious practices. Within a few years, Polycarp himself was martyred under Roman persecution.
As the centuries past, the church became more intolerant of differing religious practices. With the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine and the church no longer under threat of persecution, the Council of Nicaea was held in 325 AD to bring uniformity to Christian beliefs and practices. The Quartodecimans had always held a minority practice around Easter celebration, and now their practice was no longer tolerated. The Roman practices around dating Easter triumphed.
Christianity has a long and evil history of anti Semitism, of vilifying the Jewish people and perpetuating harm against them. Holy Week has notoriously become a season of increased hatred against the Jews among Christians. As you prepare for worship this week, remembering the betrayal, the crucifixion, the death and the resurrection, pay attention to your theology, your liturgy, and your heart. Christianity did not replace Judaism, nor is it superior. A Christianity devoid of its Jewish roots is a Christianity missing its very soul. I highly recommend this fantastic article by Amy Jill-Levine on avoiding anti-Judaism this Easter.
Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter, my friends.