Early Christians in the fourth century used a specific Latin word to label those who did not follow their faith. They called them paganus, which originally meant civilian or non-combatant within Roman military jargon. This term described people outside the ranks of Milites Christi, or soldiers of Christ. The word derived from classical Latin roots meaning region delimited by markers. It evolved to mean country dweller, villager, or rustic person. By extension, it became a label for unlearned yokels and bumpkins. Early Christian writers adopted this military metaphor to distinguish themselves from others. Tertullian wrote about the faithful citizen being a soldier just as the faithful soldier was a citizen. He used the term paganus to describe civilians in a spiritual context rather than a religious one initially. The concept of rural paganism versus urban Christianity did not occur to Romans during early Christianity. Instead, the word acquired its religious connotations by the mid-fourth century through this military usage. Augustine of Hippo later contrasted the fallen city of Man with the city of God. He argued that foreign invaders were not of the city but rural. The term pagan was not attested in English until the 17th century. Edward Gibbon used it in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire published in 1776. Christians also used alternative terms like hellene, gentile, and heathen to describe these groups.
Christianity And Polytheism
Early Christianity emerged within the Roman Empire alongside other monotheistic cults such as Dionysus worship. These groups developed in context, relationship, and competition with each other. Notable contemporary cults included Neoplatonism, Mithraism, Gnosticism, and Manichaeanism. Early Christianity distinguished itself from these religions through the concept of paganism. It named those who did not worship the one true God as pagans. The cult of Dionysus strongly influenced Early Christian themes. Scholars conclude that the conceptual construction of Jesus the wandering rabbi into Christ the Logos reflects direct influence from Dionysian worship. Wine symbolism in the Gospel of John shows Jesus superior to Dionysus. The scene where Dionysus appears before King Pentheus resembles Jesus being interrogated by Pontius Pilate. Paganism generally implies polytheism but the primary distinction between classical pagans and Christians was not about monotheism versus polytheism. Many pagans believed in a supreme deity yet also worshipped subordinate gods or divine emanations. To Christians, the most important distinction was whether someone worshipped the one true God. Those who did not were considered outsiders to the Church. Classical pagans found it peculiar to distinguish groups by the number of deities venerated. They considered priestly colleges like the College of Pontiffs more meaningful distinctions. Ritual sacrifice remained an integral part of ancient Greco-Roman religion. It served as an indication of whether a person was pagan or Christian.