Melito of Sardis

Melito of Sardis (died c. 180) was a prominent Roman Christian prelate who served as the Bishop of Sardis, located near Smyrna in western Anatolia. He held a leading position among early Christian bishops in Roman Asia, recognized for his personal influence and his literary works, many of which are now lost but have provided valuable insights into second-century Christianity.

Life and Historical Context

Born Jewish, Melito lived within a milieu where Christianity retained a strong Jewish imprint. His orientation is thought to represent the Johannine tradition, and his theological understanding of Christ often mirrored that of John. He was deeply immersed in Greek culture and trained in rhetorical argumentation, likely influenced by Stoic philosophers such as Cleanthes and Poseidonius. His background in Stoicism and his Jewish heritage informed his views on the proper observance of Easter, believing the Christian Passover should align with the Jewish Passover, particularly the 14th of Nisan.

Major Contributions

Melito is most significantly remembered for developing the first Christian list of the Old Testament canon, compiled around 170 AD after traveling to the Levant. In this canon, he excluded certain books, including the Book of Esther and Nehemiah, and the Apocrypha. He also authored "Peri Pascha" (On the Passover), a work that has been seen as a reliable indicator of early Christian attitudes toward Judaism. This treatise explicitly blames the Jewish people for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, contributing to the establishment of anti-Jewish tropes. Furthermore, Melito presented an "Apology for Christianity" to Emperor Marcus Aurelius during the controversy over Easter observance, arguing that Christianity had not weakened the empire and pleading for an end to persecution.

Theological Views

Melito is noted for his high Christology, emphasizing the unity of Christ and the Father. He declared Christ to be both God and a perfect man, possessing two essences in one being. He focused on Christ's divinity and humanity, particularly in his writings against Marcion, to counter claims that Jesus was solely divine. He maintained a clear separation between the divine and human natures of Christ while affirming their combined existence in one person.

Legacy

Melito's reputation as a writer persisted into the Middle Ages, with numerous works pseudepigraphically attributed to him. His writings, though largely lost, were highly regarded by church fathers like Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius. His compilation of the Old Testament canon and his theological arguments, particularly concerning Christology and the date of Easter, left a lasting mark on Christian tradition. He was buried at Sardis, awaiting the resurrection and judgment, as noted by Polycrates of Ephesus.