Early Christianity

1
Early Christianity
2
Roman and Jewish Background

• Diversity of Roman religion
• Spread of Eastern mystery religions
• Roman involvement in Palestine from 63 B.C.
• Jewish Factions Pharisees, Zealots, etc.

3
Jesus Early Life

• Sources Gospels (esp. Matthew, Luke)
• Annunciation
• Nativity (c. 6 B.C.), visit of the Magi
• Flight to Egypt
• Return to Nazareth
• Upbringing as an artisan

4
Jesus Ministry

• Began at age 30 baptism by John
• Attitude toward Jewish law
• Fulfillment, not destruction (Matt. 517-19)
• A clean heart more important than ritual
• Law Prophets boil down to this
• Love God
• Love each other

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Jesus Ministry (2)

• Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7)
• Humility, Charity, Peace
• Ethics alien to Greco-Roman outlook
• The Son of God or Messiah?
• My kingdom is not of this world (John 1836)
• Repentance brings salvation, eternal life
• Condemnation by legal authorities
• Crucifixion

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The Early Church

• Resurrection and ascension
• Early converts and missionaries
• Peter
• Pentecost sermon (Acts 2)
• Conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10)
• Founder of church in Rome?
• Paul (apostle to the Gentiles)
• Three missionary journeys imprisonmnet
• Confrontation with Greeks (Acts 17)

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Christian Doctrine

• Mankinds Fallen State (Rom. 1-3)
• Worship of creature, not of Creator
• Jews and Gentiles alike are lost because of their
  sin
• The Atonement Christs priestly role (1 John
  17-22 Heb. 7)
• Christ as God and King (Phil. 25-11 Ps. 1101-2)

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Christian Practices

• Weekly meetings
• Baptism of initiates
• Agape feast or Lords Supper
• Commemorated Jesus Last Supper
• Gradually became formalized

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Christian Practices (2)

• Church organization
• Bishops/presbyters/elders
• Deacons (Acts 61-7)
• Church discipline (Matt. 1815-18 1 Cor. 6)
• Court system
• Excommunication/disfellowship

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Persecutions

• Romans initially ignored Christians
• Gradual change of view
• Rumors of ritual murder, etc.
• Viewed as a threat to public order, traitors
• Romans 13
• Sporadic attacks in 1st and 2nd centuries
• Neros and Domitians persecutions
• Pliny the Younger

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3rd Century Growth

• Reasons
• Promise of eternal life
• Some similarities to mystery religions?
• Jesus was human, not mythological
• Universal appeal open to all
• Holy Spirit

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Legitimacy

• Fierce persecutions under Decius (249-251) and
  Diocletian (284-305)
• Constantine (306-336)
• Battle of Milvian Bridge (312)
• Edict of Milan (313)
• Theodosius I (378-395) made Christianity the
  empires official religion

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Early Church Concerns

• Conversions and missionary activity
• Organization
• Bishops and dioceses
• Big Four (later Five)
• Heresies
• Donatism
• Arianism
• Nicene Council (325)