Martyr+Schools

Due to the fact that early church leaders were bitterly opposed to pagan education, prominent education historians note Christian education quickly became prolific in the years following Christ’s ascension to Heaven. The animosity motivating this trend is beautifully illustrated in Tertullian’s words: What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What between heretics and Christians? Our instruction comes from ‘the porch of Solomon,’ who had himself taught that ‘the Lord should be sought in simplicity of heart.’ Away with all attempts to produce a mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition! We want no curious disputation after possessing Christ Jesus, no inquisition after enjoying the gospel! With our faith, we desire no further belief. However, Kienel observes that a curious transition began to occur as persecution began to arise. He says that “because martyrdom was a real possibility for every Christian, some early church Christians actually trained in what might be called a martyr’s school.” He further describes these schools by citing this description by H.D.M. Spense-Jones: It was not a haphazard temporary piece of work, this ‘training for martyrdom,’ but as we shall see a veritable ‘school,’ a protracted education for an awful, for a not improbable contingency. At the end of the second and through the third century it was evidently a recognized and important Christian agency. The following describe what Spence-Jones says were the objectives of the martyr’s schools: 1. How to answer judges when brought into a Roman court. 2. How to focus on heaven and the eternal reward of being a martyr for Christ. 3. How to rehearse the heroism of earlier martyrs. 4. How to prepare the body through physical exercise to endure public flogging, all forms of torture, long periods in prison and even death by hanging, crucifixion, sword, fire, and possibly by the fangs and claws of beast in the Roman Coliseum before forty-five thousand spectators. 5. How to prepare heart and mind through memorization of such Scriptures as, “Therefore whosever confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32) and “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10). Back

Paul Kienel, //A History of Christian Education,// Volume 1
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