Early Church

1
Early Church

• Challenge Jewish Community to believe that Jesus
  is the Messiah
• First believers Messianic Jews (Acts 236-47)
• Tension between Hebrews and Hellenists

2
Early Church

• Proclamation taken from Jerusalem synagogue to
  synagogue of the dispersion
• Message finds fertile soil among the Gentiles
• Entry of Gentiles into the church causes a
  crisis The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 152-29)
• Tension between the Apostle Paul, Peter, and
  James (Gal 2)

3
Paul

• Mission About 32-60
• Geography and Trade
• Hospitality and Team Mission
• The role of the Household and house church
• An evangelical style
• House church cells throughout eastern
  Mediterranean world

4
Issues in the Pauline Mission

• Language and Culture
• Jews and Gentiles
• Prophetic women women remove head covering
  during worship (1 Cor 112-16)
• Social-Stratification during Lords supper
• (1 Cor 1117-33)
• Leadership and the notion of a variety of
  charismatic gifts (1 Cor 12-14)

5
The Expansion of Early Christianity

• The Significance of Jerusalem
• Growing importance of cities e.g. Ephesus,
  Alexandria, Rome
• Clement of Rome writes to church in Corinth in 90
• Unity and Diversity
• The distinction between Orthodoxy and Heresy

6
Christianity as a Distinct Religion

• Consequence of War of 70
• Relationship between Church and Synagogue
• Christians gain visibility in ancient cities
• Consequences of separation from Judaism including
  loss of connection with ancient social/political
  unit
• Rising tensions between Church and Society

7
Leadership Patterns

• Early Diversity e.g. Apostle, Minister, Overseer
• Threefold Ministry of Ignatius of Antioch
  Bishop, Presbyter, Deacon
• The role of Bishop
• Episcopacy not accepted everywhere at the same
  time