philip arab christianity philip arab 3rd century roman emperors sympathetic christians relationship christianity obscure controversial philip born arab district east urban centers region early years 3rd century major christian centers little evidence christian presence small villages region period philip birthplace philip served commander emperor brief civil war died hands successor late 3rd century 4th held philip christian emperor described known middle ages highly popular history scholars hold early accounts ultimately derive ecclesiastical history important section philip religious beliefs describes emperor visit church denied entry presiding bishop confessed sins account paralleled celebrates bishop denying emperor entry church quotations describe philip seeking sin murdering predecessor given parallels accounts scholars believe referring event legend growth scholarly criticism 17th 18th centuries fewer historians believed philip christian historians increasingly aware secular texts describe philip christian recorded participating chief priest secular games modern scholars divided issue like argue narratives ambiguous based oral rumor christian philip like argue narratives clear philip described christian like argue sources strong describe philip man interested sympathetic christianity strong christian background biography philip arab philip born village district east palestine philip renamed village modern syria reign emperor emperor decisive separation east west arab greek father known indicates held roman citizenship prominent community early details philip career obscure brother emperor inscription refers moved equestrian offices administrative positions open member equestrian order reign spring philip likely help brother following failed campaign persia winter died camp rumors philip murdered taken opposition later 3rd century survive latin histories period philip acclaimed emperor secure title late winter philip brother rector executive position extraordinary powers including command armies eastern provinces philip began reign negotiating peaceful end predecessor war persia philip called secular games celebrate year anniversary founding rome philip brother tax collection methods provoked revolt time started rebellion provinces faced rebellion successful campaigns frontier revolted proclaimed officer named emperor rebellions suppressed quickly restore order defeat philip gave senator native region command armies late spring armies proclaimed emperor civil war followed ended battle outside emerged victorious philip died assassinated news philip death reached rome murdered son successor marcus christianity philip early life career account allusion philip presumed conversion christianity survives argues favor philip christianity rome arabs assumes christian emperor argues need explain absence evidence philip conversion contemporary christian literature north south sited road connecting direction christian philip probably familiar christians hometown nearby settlements historian arguing accounts philip christianity allows philip curious religion origins area close place birth eastern provincial italian intense commitment traditional roman religion open mind religions accepts probably contained christian congregation philip childhood scholar religion absence evidence early makes assumption philip christian early childhood philip christian military service particularly unusual figure era membership army prohibited certain required participation rites christians found uncommon christian position emperor explicitly pagan emperors expected public rites lead religious ceremonies army christian scripture contains explicit sort behavior shall gods people raised tolerant christianity camp able justify participation pagan ritual know people exist historical record includes christian army officers regularly guilty military late 3rd century ritual sacrifice excluded certain parts christian community ecclesiastical writers tended ignore example people nonetheless believed christian recognized christians christianity thanks proximity christian communities palestine regions convert christianity time philip birth region extensively especially north settlements like region known fully developed system bishops region met discuss church affairs century region sent bishops biblical place names records wholly christian village called near outside cities evidence 5th century little evidence faith villages remained 6th small village period christian inscription dated earlier known village established sent bishop christian beliefs present region arab community ethnic arab king roman client state converted christianity religion propagated capital destruction century city christian bishop offers early example beliefs christians arabs race believed christ exist flesh incarnation according views condemned following debate local debate likely conducted greek language common use cities region christianity century 3rd century age initiative persecution shifted masses imperial office 1st 2nd centuries carried authority local government officials alleged issued general religion targeted clergy evidence acts obscure contested evidence philip effected changes christians legal status christians alexandria took place philip emperor evidence philip punished participated assisted historian contests philip successor called general persecution church list anxious secure imperial office mid december issued demanding romans empire sacrifice gods signed june july demonstrations sacrifice dismissed fiction precedent christians believed philip friends alexandria presents help explain motivations greek ecclesiastical writing ancient traditions philip christianity divided categories latin tradition consists bishop documents cited including letters bishop alexandria tradition consists bishop entries scholars hold accounts ultimately derive ecclesiastical history like independent oral tradition significant author discuss philip arab christianity served bishop roman palestine death major work written editions dating attempt history church classical style collection facts addressing topics christian history times late 3rd century lists bishops major sees christian teachers writings jews christians pagan authorities written constantine death death combination continuation separate documents combined distributed successor references speak philip christianity directly describes philip visiting church denied entry presiding bishop confessed sins bishop goes unnamed writes letters christian theologian philip philip wife writes persecuted christians hated philip remaining references quotations bishop alexandria contemporary philip held contrasts tolerant philip rule implies emperor philip openly christian philip visit church text sources interpretation arguments philip christianity account emperor visit church words 17th century ecclesiastical historian action action know honored church reconstruction event took place april emperor way rome persian 12th century byzantine historian repeats story introduces account philip visit words precise meaning words modern european languages contested account challenging narrative translated phrase rumor scholar translated saying goes possible modern english translations recorded reported translation quoted historian translates story rumor scare quotes emphasizes draws distinction story philip material passage issue involved nature source suggests explains usually means mere suggestion recorded suggests documentation given major sources 3rd century history written records contends typical translation original text source probably letters philip philip wife mentioned argues oral source unlikely given composed like theologian editor translator contend nonetheless story oral source position reinforced reviewed rome arabs publication proper interpretation reference written account roberts notes christian probably editorial included relates passage takes indication philip christianity roberts suggested translated wide spread report added broader study use expression useful points use phrase passage represents reference written sources asserts read letters says compiled word like tale letters drew instead oral rumors case wording passage shows subject skeptical significance latin christian authors following share caution contexts parallels scholars scene parallel confrontation situations parallel letter written francis later event taken evidence philip christianity later 4th century society significantly argument goes humiliation shocked aristocratic elite 3rd century members society experienced partial accept self emperors contests parallel argues philip scene far place background seven thousand months months involve dramatic dialogue emperor bishop philip quick small church way rome persian stark contrast confrontation scholars ecclesiastical historian explain philip alleged visit church evidence simple curiosity excluded services surprising official conduct man unusual admitted rejects idle curiosity explanation arguing 3rd century churches attract attention philip proven stated true little explain scene constantine participated christian services despite baptism end life participation services baptism unusual christians period bishop alexandria quotes letter bishop alexandria bishop persecution alexandria begins describing began year decree philip narrates transition quotes letter unknown early years rule period emperor tolerated christianity contrast early reputation later policy persecution quoted saying friendly christians said openly christians scholars included understand reference philip reference emperors implying philip christians dismissed passage entirely value contends genuine information extracted reference reference philip explains reference christian actually interest christian religion references passage dubious biography emperor states alexander statues christ private chapel prayed morning letters sent alexander mother explain comment letters letters survive scholars believe letters circulated era genuine reasonable man close contacts christian arab community taken particular interest arab emperor scholar argued known faith imperial couple written letters listed read letters mention emperor christian understands passage reflect disbelief philip christianity conclude philip christian baptized argues found letters philip christianity clearly outlined passage biographer constantine interest undermine title christian emperor segment catalog works correspondence contents letters irrelevant views arabs understanding arab peoples informed reading bible knowledge history imperial rome appear personally known arabs arabs appear save reference figure political history centuries christian era 4th century direct line descendants biblical descendants patriarch god favored son twin images raiders reinforce portrait arab nation unhappy color reluctant associate christian emperor people unfortunate ancestry identify philip incorrectly presumed christian prince mention actually christian prince arabs identify arab arab nation massacre attempted murder christ christianity 3rd century earns brief notices bishop correction opinions concerning soul held group arabs corrected account philip appears amidst arab spite fact philip took epithet arab antiquity today identifies arab image arabs persist later ecclesiastical historians like relating facts nonetheless concludes accused account gave arabs place history christianity fact role philip establishment christianity state religion given desire prop constantine reputation judgment tone passage major cause lack scholarly consensus philip christianity wording choice reflection lack enthusiasm philip christianity turn reflection special position constantine held regards written work number scholars following believe later editions extensively revised adapt deterioration public memory official constantine deposed executed passages incompatible suppressed account years life replaced summary suggests addition anti edited favorable notices philip better constantine achievement wrote delivered anniversary emperor reign written years tone ecclesiastical historian framed chronology reigns emperors related entries history emperor reign understood constantine accession especially came immediately great persecution final edition climax constantine reign ultimate triumph christianity argues interest obscure details philip christian emperor skill narrative deception modern historians constantine title argues facts philip alleged christianity discourage celebrating emperor firstly philip lacks exciting conversion narrative secondly religion private unlike constantine public patronage faith reign lasted years long enact christians condition view reign progress christianity subject combined role constantine explain tone content account philip entry smith dictionary cites passage piece evidence philip alleged christianity passage names constantine words dictionary christian emperor describes passage mere flourish carried away enthusiasm statements evidence earlier accounts refers constantine christian emperor passage represents stage evolving portrait pair emperors early nearly called philip christian emperor revision turned wary skeptical late assert constantine sole christian emperor argues writing passage anti propaganda era ancestor emperor enemy philip receive special distinction title christian emperor constantine claimed observes paint arabs terms practitioners human sacrifice priest special distinction bishop decided preach city principal church contribution literature philip christianity martyr bishop died persecution treatise composed john forms corpus confronts emperor interested bishop opponent emperor goes unnamed identified philip bishop quoted universal chronicle history based cycle authority quotation describes philip seeking sin murdering predecessor lived site philip alleged humiliation wrote century years event took place takes fact named account evidence independent local tradition tradition partially oral nature far removed written accounts library historians trace accounts counts accounts later original account dependent legendary core holds dependent relationship probable claims greeks contributors latin ecclesiastical writing latin tradition consists authors writing later 4th early 5th centuries vincent tradition represented vincent scholars hold accounts ultimately derive authors follow greek tradition probably takes information sources authors forceful claims demonstrated use christian emperor referring philip important earliest editor translator closest version written second revision translation continuation dates original greek lost largely latin armenian translation unrelated substance original survives original cover philip rule continuation covers period sections philip christianity survive armenian translation armenian references arabs omitted philip celebration millennium preserved supposed christianity implied entry persecution nearest early statements philip christianity calls philip admits interpretations found added independently based sources available argues text offer strong case philip christianity way interpretation plausible believes appeared version edited second version mid constantine praise subject predecessors written years later mentions philip chapter passage contains important features statement letters philip family extant time second strong philip christianity sentence contains false reference philip mother recipient letter actually philip wife received probably confused mother characterizes passage confused copy evidence understands extant mean read letters refers philip mean found positive evidence philip christianity found dim view arabs native roman born modern croatia near educated rome lover latin italy city rome found accused dream way palestine non christian letters written staying desert tells joy discovered written letter latin hear day languages natives arabic evidence concludes honor memory arab emperor strong rationale constantine christian roman emperor philip probably took judgment met author assignment judgment independent contends nonetheless valuable bias emperor presents philip role christian history precursor constantine served standard manual universal history middle ages judgment matter inherited generally accepted medieval european writers wording echoed anonymous work usually dated late 4th century constantine christian emperor exception christian merely order year rome dedicated christ pagan idols item hoc est scholar holds passage later designed work pagan core christian according lieu passage probably taken history inserted reign period witnessed substantial anti pagan argues author biographer constantine historian 3rd 4th centuries reference philip unnecessary conflicting claims issue turn 5th century written vincent chapter vincent vincent writes authority assumed christian teacher wrote emperor philip roman prince christian vincent commentary letters possible following argues note letters written implies read letters additionally wording vincent refers philip calls letters speaks vincent independence secular writing pagan writing turn 6th century wrote work titled new history detailed sections cover period 3rd century like secular historians era addressed governing class later roman empire officers landed aristocracy relatively little overlap reading audience secular histories ecclesiastical histories successors period covers valuable available source history written aim establishing christianity essential causes decline roman state themes considered history rome decline fall skilled literary rhetoric poor historian dates persons ignorant geography treats sources naive simplicity 3rd century follows egypt history began chronicle historian ended probably chronicle histories german wars poor historian surviving fragments work author strong sources prefers rhetoric fact secular sources period weak like ancient secular historians era says philip alleged christianity great respect philip offers unfavorable judgment reign nonetheless offers detailed narrative reign sections emperor gets half section philip midst discussion peace books later taking opportunity recall philip peace judgment makes editorial decision emphasize central theme decline rome views phenomenon reflect racial prejudice account philip carries anti semitic overtones view philip operating highest levels power character philip contrasted roman predecessor philip helped overthrow roman successor wins glowing praise historian disliked arabs christians scholars taken silence matter strong evidence philip alleged christianity like historian view evident philip noteworthy suggest anti christian indirect writing emperor silence argument philip christianity argues shown pagan african born mother tongue wife provincial gets good press philip assistance execution 3rd century hardly stranger hostility begins makes sense contends assume aware tradition viewed philip christian emperor accepted perfectly clear understand importance attributes secular games christian emperor presiding philip held secular games celebrate anniversary rome legendary founding presumed games capacity chief priest state accepts public notice private religion ran games prince pagan prince cites number early christian support contention christians generally condemned games kind treatise survive comments offered examples later followers like mention philip games claims philip sacrifice games public games continued christian emperors 4th century eventually outlawed provides account games nova mention philip games starring role scheme roman history fortune empire related practice traditional civic rites emperor revived supported rites earns credit emperor ended constantine earns condemnation 4th century directly attributed constantine old rites context argues silence philip christianity philip involvement games makes sense given lie thesis practice traditional rites guaranteed fortunes empire period following games hardly happy argument remains valid philip christianity awareness tradition denied second attack constantine potent alignment imperial disaster christianity traditional cult emperor celebrate games emperor embrace christianity fact proved historian handle ignored historiography continuing popularity medieval writers wrote philip called christian emperor follow point early medieval historian writing eve millennium held philip confessed bishop rome instead late 17th century wrote longer possible argument philip christian difficulty wrote des des affirmed contrary philip christian easy judge degree credit ought given story fully exactly related ancient author account way obliged patch supply alter shortest course admit ill supported narrative great torture history order claim christian volume history decline fall roman empire position public partial favour philip new religion constant reverence ministers church gave colour suspicion prevailed times emperor convert faith afforded grounds invented confession guilt contracted murder innocent predecessor usual embellished matter curious important man credits said shown learning task french historians 19th 20th century favorable notion des premiere chapter les empire christian centuries years english strongly supported notion english german scholars likely accept ecclesiastical historians 19th century like gave notion support critical historians like denied entirely late 20th century small number articles book chapters discussed matter image philip arab argued literary material philip reign deeply biased emperor york attempted correct narrative philip reputation held derived oral tradition originating letters definitively proven philip christianity follows letters addressed philip son fact york declared philip christianity probable certain argued tradition represented independent likewise ignorant sources instead letters philip entirely certain point probable probable spite arguments skeptical accounts philip christianity philip arab christianity philip commitment traditional civic religion evidence denied accounts philip christianity lengthy chapter book rome arabs argued philip deserved title christian emperor chapter divided parts brief listing sources lengthy address arguments accounts philip christianity explanation caution exposition latin authors accounts philip christianity relationship unnamed bishop passage importance ecclesiastical history follows main body chapter appendix addressing articles york philip arab christianity noting scholars reviewed draft currently consensus issue philip christianity reviewed chapters christian emperor arabs presents philip christian constantine author rome east transformation empire argued favor philip christianity author bay treated matter accounts philip christianity simply potter wrote works accepted treated respect count scholars like took middle route reviewing rome arabs wrote doubt convinced extreme position taken arguments offer basis believing philip seriously interested religion reiterated view 3rd french philip christianity legend albeit old intended late roman early byzantine context foster idea christian beginning ideology offering base later legends showing roman emperors beginning aware sympathetic christian revelation forming legendary corpus brought 6th century chronicler ancient sources modern sources
Philip the Arab and Christianity