Introduction
After telling the tale of St John’s banishment to the island of Patmos in 92, Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa (?1228-1298) and compiler of The Golden Legend, hazarded some guesses as to why the Roman Empire persecuted Christianity so pitilessly. The English translation below was made by William Caxton, pioneer of printing, in about 1483.
IT ought not to be believed that the emperor did these persecutions unto Christian people because they believed in God, for they refused none,* but it was a displeasure to them that they worshipped God without authority of the senators. Another reason there was, and that was that the service of their other gods was lessed and minished* thereby. The third reason was that he [Christ] preached to despise the worship, the honour, and the avoir* of the world, and that was the thing principal that the Romans loved. But Jesu Christ would no thing* permit it lest they held that it was done by puissance human.*
Another cause there was, as Master John Beleth saith, why that the emperor and the senate pursued Christ and his apostles, and that was that them seemed* that God was over proud and envious, because he deigned not to have a fellow. Another cause allegeth Orosius,* and saith that the senate had despite of this,* that Pilate had written the miracles of Jesu Christ to the emperor only, and not to the senators, wherefore they would not accord that he should be admitted to be worshipped among the gods. Therefore Tiberius the emperor did do slay some of the senators and some he sent in exile.
* That is, the Roman Government was quite happy for the first Christians to believe in their god, for they welcomed gods of all kinds into their official pantheon. As Jacobus de Voragine goes on to explain, what the Romans did not like was the way that Christians refused to let the State regulate their religion, and refused to say that all Rome’s recognised religions were — so long as they were recognised — equally valid. Frankly, to Christians the other gods were at best imaginary, at worst demons, and to reckon them as gods would be to deny Christ’s words to St Thomas in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” See also Matthew 10:33, and The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus.
* Today, we would write ‘lessened and diminished’.
* A French word meaning assets, resources, material possessions.
* That is, ‘in no way’.
* More French, this time meaning ‘human power’, especially the kind of power wielded by a king or government.
* ‘That them seemed’ means ‘that it seemed to them’.
* Joannes Belethus (fl. 1135-1182) was a twelfth-century French theologian and liturgical scholar. In the sixteenth century, he was said by some to have been of English origin, a theory few would entertain now.
* Paulus Orosius (?375-?420), or Paul Orosius, was a pupil of St Augustine of Hippo.
* That is, the Senate despised the action of Pilate in writing to the Emperor and not to them.
Précis
In The Golden Legend, thirteenth-century writer Jacobus de Voragine said that the primitive Christians were persecuted not for their religion, but for failing to seek Senate approval, refusing to recognise the gods Senate had approved, and disparaging riches and political power. Senators also blamed the Christians for some bungled administration on Pilate’s part that sparked a feud with Emperor Tiberius. (60 / 60 words)
In The Golden Legend, thirteenth-century writer Jacobus de Voragine said that the primitive Christians were persecuted not for their religion, but for failing to seek Senate approval, refusing to recognise the gods Senate had approved, and disparaging riches and political power. Senators also blamed the Christians for some bungled administration on Pilate’s part that sparked a feud with Emperor Tiberius.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, despite, may, must, unless, whether, who.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Preach. They. Third.
2 Not. Principal. Service.
3 Accord. Emperor. Human.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Love. 2 Honour. 3 Believe. 4 Seem. 5 Pursue. 6 Reason. 7 Admit. 8 Cause. 9 Send.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Hold. 2. Refuse.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
