Some areas of delimitation from the pagan society in the Syrian Christianity according to the ‘Didascalia Apostolorum’
Some areas of delimitation from the pagan society in the Syrian Christianity according to the ‘Didascalia Apostolorum’

Summary/Abstract: Although we are generally acquainted with traditional anti-pagan stereotypes of Christians or with the theoretical theological refutation of paganism, we do not possess many documents from the pre-Constantinian period which can allow a certain reconstruction of the practical and real challenges and tensions of everyday life among early Christians and their communities in the context of a predominantly pagan society. The paper analyses the practical consequences of biblical exclusive monotheism in the urban Christian communities of the Syrian world in third century. We focus on the ban on the reading of pagan literature, the regulation of the use of mixed public baths, the tensions and accusations made by pagans against Christians in a time of persecution and the attitude of the latter towards the pagan authorities. What authority lies behind these delimitation processes? How are they realized? How are authoritative and normative texts interpreted? How deals the author with old traditions?

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