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The Early Church

The Early Church. The Era of the New Testament. Chronology of the Early Church – part 1.

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The Early Church

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  1. The Early Church

  2. The Era of the New Testament

  3. Chronology of the Early Church – part 1 The execution of Jesus. His friends perceive, especially when they gather for the “Lord’s Supper,” that Jesus continues to live in transcendent glory. A first “assembly” (ekklesia) gathers in Jerusalem to worship in the Temple, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and rejoice in the Spirit. There is occasional conflict between this church and the Temple hierarchy. The Jesus-preachers spread through the Jewish Diaspora. They establish a church community as far away as Rome by the early 40s. They are amazed when their words about Jesus are most warmly received by the Gentile God-fearers who frequent Diaspora synagogues. Some Church members oppose admitting Gentiles – controversy escalates as the decade unfolds. Probable writing of synoptic sayings source (“Q”) somewhere in Judea or Galilee. Caesar Caligula orders a statue of himself to be placed in the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple. Mass protests and peasant strikes occur among Jews. Caligula is murdered by a rival before his order can be implemented. 30 40 50 Paul of Tarsus, who had been harassing Jesus-preachers in synagogues in Syria and Cilicia, has an experience of the Raised Lord which transforms him into a supporter of the Church. Paul and Barnabas, as apostles from Antioch, establish churches in Asia Minor. They follow the Antiochaen practice of baptizing uncircumcised Gentiles. Hellenistic Jews become introduced to the Jerusalem church. A dispute erupts when they feel slighted by the lack of preaching to them at the Lord’s Supper. The argument is resolved by the appointment of Hellenistic preachers for them. Hellenistic-Jewish church members begin to announce the Good News in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and adjacent regions, establishing an important church in Antioch of Syria. The “Council of Jerusalem” occurs at which Peter, James, Paul and others are present. It is decided to “officially” sanction the admission of uncircumcised Gentiles (Gal. 2:1 -10;Acts 15:1 – 18) Perhaps first in Antioch, some Gentiles are spontaneously baptized without being circumcised.

  4. Peter visits Antioch, but withdraws from table fellowship with baptized Gentiles when baptized Jews (from James?) complain about the presence of non-kosher food. Paul accuses Peter of betraying the Gospel and storms off, leaving his former partner Barnabas behind (Gal 2-11 – 14). Chronology of the Early Church – part 2 The first Great Revolt of Jews against Rome breaks out. Rome ruthlessly suppresses it. Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed in 70. The Jerusalem church may have previously fled across the Jordan to Pella. Paul’s great missionary journeys occur. The churches he establishes include Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and Colossae. His views on dietary issues may change after his experiences in Corinth. He finally sets out for Jerusalem with a collection and embassies from his Gentile churches. He plans to go from there to Rome in order to mount a missionary journey to Spain. In Antioch, the term “Christian” is coined as a word of derision. 50 60 70 Caesar Nero begins a persecution of church-members in Rome. Paul and Peter are probably executed during this oppression. Meanwhile James is executed in Jerusalem in the mounting violence and confusion occurring there. Writing of the final form of the Gospel of Mark, maybe based on a Galilean original and a Roman redaction. The editorial comment in Mk 7:19 that Jesus “declared all foods clean” displays the continued Gentile-Jewish tension. A letter from James in Jerusalem resolves the dietary dispute: Gentiles in Christ must observe minimal kosher and ethical standards (Acts 15:22ff; cf. 21:25)

  5. Chronology of the Early Church – part 3 Caesar Hadrian visits ruined Jerusalem and rebuilds it as an unwalled Roman shrine to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva named “Aelia Capitolina.” The Gospel of Mark is written in Galilee or Syria. In contrast to mark, it reflects a church community that prefers Gentiles to follow the Torah (see Mt: 5:17-19; 22:11-14). Matthew believes that his assembly represents authentic Judaism. A persecution of churches in Asia Minor by Caesar Domitian occurs. The Book of Revelation is written in this context. The Church holds a low social status in the opinion of most citizens. Very slowly, organized authority structures emerge, partially in answer to doctrinal controversies that are now beginning to prevail in Christianity. Still, Christian church communities can be found throughout the Empire by the end of the second century. In various towns, especially in the Diaspora, local synagogues and churches dispute who is more faithful to the heritage of Israel. 80 100 135 Second Revolt (Bar Kochba Revolt), primarily in Judea. With defeat, many Judean Jews relocate to Galilee. The writing of the Gospel of Luke/Acts of the Apostles. This work wants baptized Gentiles to observe minimal Torah standards in order to preserve unity with baptized Jews. The Gospel of John (ca. 95) reaches its final form in a church community whose Jewish members have recently been ostracized by the local Jewish community.

  6. Structure of the Early Church(from the Bausch, Chapter 3) • From the beginning…

  7. Structure of the Early Church - Continued (from the Bausch, Chapter 3) 1. Jesus Gathered the unique As the foundation of his community of disciples. These twelve appointed to service 2. Twelve Apostles 3. The Deacons And also what we might call Who were mainly itinerant preachers who founded church communities and then moved on. They left the ruling of such place to 4. The “Secondary Apostles” 5. The Presbyterate Which was a committee appointed by the church-community. From the Presbyterate there emerged the Who, with all other bishops formed a “college.” The visible image of the total or universal church and hallmark of episcopal unity was the one who held 6. Single Monarchial Bishop 7. The Petrine Office Which evolved from Peter’s leadership. In addition there were 8. Other Ministries For example, healers, teachers, etc.

  8. Church Models(from the Brown, The Churches the Apostles Left Behind) 1. Pastoral Letters: Church Led by Authoritative Teachers “The deaths of the early church leaders and the deaths of those who knew them caused a crisis of leadership towards the end of the first century. In the Christian scriptures we can find at least seven responses to this crisis of leadership.” (Bausch, p. 44) 6. Matthew: The Church Living by the Torah of Jesus 2. Col/Ephesians: Church as the Mystical Body of Christ to be Loved 5. Johannine Writings: A Discipleship of Equals Guided by the Paraclete 3. Luke-Acts: The Church as the Agent of the Spirit 4. 1Peter: The Church as the People of God

  9. Church Models - continued(from the Dulles, Models of the Church) Church as Servant “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.” (from Bonhoeffer’s “The Communion of Saints,” as found on p. 94) Church as Institution The view that defines Church primarily in terms of its visible structures, especially the rights and powers of its officers. (p. 34) Church as Herald The mission of the Church is to proclaim that which it has heard, believed, and has been commissioned to proclaim… emphasizes faith and proclamation over interpersonal relations and mystical communion. (p. 77) Church as Mystical Communion The communion given by the Holy Spirit finds expression in a network of mutual interpersonal relationships of concern and assistance. (p. 50) Church as Sacrament All the sacraments are essentially sacraments of the Church; they are intrinsically social and derive their efficacy from the Church and, in turn, build up the Church and make it the sacrament it is. (p. 64)

  10. Church Models - Evaluation(from the Dulles, Models of the Church) “…we have been engaged in what Bernard Lonergan might call dialectic as distinct from doctrinal theology. We have been exploring the basic models of the Church that have arisen in history as a result of the differing points of view or horizons of believers and theologians of different ages and cultures… Are all of the models equally good, or are some superior to others? Are they an opaque screen that shuts off the reality of the Church, or a transparent screen that permits us to grasp the Church as it really is? If the latter, what really is the Church? What is the best model?” (Dulles, p. 190) How do we evaluate models? Basis in Scripture Basis in Christian Tradition Offers Identity & Mission Fosters Christian values Relevant to current Christianity Internal Fruitfulness External Fruitfulness

  11. Expansion and Its Problems(from the Bausch, Chapter 2) 2nd Century Antioch (Syria) France • Christianity spread with amazing rapidity in the first decades after Jesus’ death. (p. 22) Ephesus Lystra Germany Derbe Cyprus Spain Apostolic Age Miletus Smyrna Croatia Philippi Africa Thessalonia • Why such rapid growth? Missionary Activity Blood of Martyrs Pax Romana Christian Community

  12. Expansion and Its Problems(from the Bausch, Chapter 2) • Second crisis - reaction of Roman government to the rapid growth of Christianity • First crisis - Jewish Christians attempting to require Gentile converts to become fully Jewish in order to be Christian

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