Topic 8 Rise and Growth of Christian Church - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 17
About This Presentation
Title:

Topic 8 Rise and Growth of Christian Church

Description:

'Theological history' designed to commend Christian faith to reader. ... Disciples experience an outpouring of Holy Spirit, resulting a miraculous ' ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:86
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 18
Provided by: pen6
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Topic 8 Rise and Growth of Christian Church


1
Topic 8 Rise and Growth of Christian Church
  • Book of Acts
  • Continuation Gospel of Luke written c. 75-90.
  • Theme expansion of church from Jerusalem to
    Rome.
  • Theological history designed to commend
    Christian faith to reader.
  • Easter Faith as a New Beginning
  • Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus
  • Empty tomb not decisive Paul never mentions
    it.
  • Resurrection appearances more decisive
    earliest recorded tradition is 1 Cor. 153-8.
  • Theological significance of Resurrection
  • Jesus is the Messiah after all (crucifixion had
    seemed to say No).
  • Death of Jesus is saving act of God, a sacrifice
    for human sin.
  • The New Age of salvation has dawned.
  • The Parousia (coming again) of Christ to
    complete his work is imminent.

2
  • Jerusalem Christian Church (Acts 1-5)
  • Commissioning and Ascension (Acts 1)
  • Acts opens during 40 days of resurrection
    appearances in Jerusalem.
  • Commissioning of Apostles (v. 8).
  • Apostle one who is sent out an authorized
    messenger.
  • Mission is to evangelize whole world.
  • Ascension (recorded in Lk. 24 as well)
  • Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
  • Jewish harvest festival 50 days after Passover.
  • Disciples experience an outpouring of Holy
    Spirit, resulting a miraculous speaking in
    tongues pilgrims from distant lands hear the
    gospel in their native language.
  • Symbolizes that God is empowering the church for
    worldwide mission.
  • Apostles are accused of being drunk Peters
    sermon interprets as sign that the last days,
    days of salvation, expected by the prophets are
    already dawning (v. 15-17, 21).

3
  • Jerusalem Christian Church (Acts 1-5)
  • Preaching in Jerusalem
  • Audience first preach only to fellow Jews, that
    our messiah has come no thought yet of going to
    Gentiles.
  • Six main themes in the apostolic preaching (based
    on analysis of the sermons recorded in Acts)
  • The long-awaited Age of Salvation has dawned.
  • Jesus ministry, death, and resurrection have
    fulfilled the messianic prophecies.
  • Jesus the Messiah now sits at the right hand of
    God as head of the new Israel.
  • The presence of the Holy Spirit in the church is
    a sign of Christs power as exalted Lord.
  • Christ will soon return in power and glory to
    bring the fullness of the Kingdom of God.
  • Therefore, repent and be baptized in order to
    receive forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and the
    promise of salvation.
  • Mixed response
  • Some believed 3,000 in 241 5,000 in 44.
  • Most did not most Jews thought crucifixion
    marked Jesus as failure.
  • Some were hostile temple authorities opposed new
    movement.

4
  • Palestinian Jewish Christianity
  • (Earliest phase of Christian movement the
    Hebrews of Acts 61.)
  • Christianity began as movement within Palestinian
    Judaism.
  • Aramaic-speaking centered in Jerusalem.
  • Led by the Twelve James (brother of Jesus).
  • Earliest Christianity was essentially a sect of
    Judaism.
  • Remained Jews loyal to Temple, synagogues,
    Scripture.
  • Reluctant to break with Jewish practices.
  • Concept of church
  • Church ekklesia gathering, assembly (of
    those devoted to Jesus).
  • Thought of themselves as a new or renewed Israel.
  • No church buildings gathered mainly in homes.
  • Two Christian rituals
  • Baptism (Acts 238) initiation rite of
    immersion in water
  • Symbolized cleansing from sin (presupposed
    repentance).
  • Later - dying and rising with Christ
  • Lords Supper (1 Cor. 1123-26) communal meal
  • Commemorated saving death of Christ.

5
  • Hellenistic Jewish Christianity (Acts 6-11)
  • ( Hellenists of 61)
  • Greek-speaking Jewish Christians appear in
    Jerusalem.
  • Have roots in Diaspora (Jews scattered outside
    Palestine).
  • Diaspora Jews were more open to Hellenistic
    culture.
  • Less conservative on Jewish customs.
  • Two factions in Jerusalem church (61)
  • Hebrews Palestinian Jewish Christians
    conservative
  • Hellenists Hellenistic Jewish Christians
    liberal
  • Church dispute over charity for widows (Acts
    61-6)
  • Pits 2 Christian factions against one another
    Hebrews vs. Hellenists.
  • Selection of the Seven resolves dispute they
    are probably leaders of the Hellenists one of
    them is Stephen.
  • Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6-7)
  • Accused by synagogue leaders of rejecting Torah,
    Temple, and Jewish customs. (Indicates that
    Hellenists may be advocating freedom certain
    aspects of Jewish law.)
  • Stoned to death by synagogue leaders first
    Christian martyr.
  • Persecution and expansion (Acts 8-11)
  • Intense persecution, targeting Hellenists
    (81-3).
  • Fled to Diaspora, taking gospel (84).
  • Samaria Damascus Phoenicia Cyprus Antioch
    (Acts 8-11).

6
  • Gentile Christianity
  • Peter and Cornelius (Acts 101-1118)
  • Roman centurion in Caesarea described as a
    God-fearer first Gentile convert reported in
    Acts.
  • Peters new insight series of visions convince
    him that Gentiles are not unclean (Acts 1028,
    34-35).
  • Peter goes to Caesarea Gentiles believe.
  • Jerusalem church reluctantly accepts Gentile
    conversion.
  • Not followed up by continuing Gentile mission.
  • Antioch Church (Acts 1119-26)
  • Founded by Hellenists fleeing persecution.
  • In Antioch, they began the first real, sustained
    Gentile mission successful.
  • Freely included Gentiles without requiring
    circumcision and observance of Jewish customs.
  • New name for Jesus disciples emerged in Antioch
    Christians (1126).
  • Antioch becomes center for broader Gentile
    mission.

7
  • F. Paul Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 13-28)
  • Background two cultures
  • Diaspora Jew from Tarsus (hellenistic city in
    Asia Minor)
  • Hellenistic culture Greek language, philosophy,
    customs, etc.
  • Jewish culture knew Scripture Pharisee devoted
    to Torah rabbinic study
  • Double name Saul (Jewish) and Paul (Roman)
    reflects dual culture no evidence that he
    changed his name.
  • Persecuted the Christian church
  • Stephen Hellenists to Damascus (Acts 758 81,
    3 91-2).
  • Motive was zeal for Jewish law (Gal. 113-14
    Phil. 36).
  • Conversion/call (c. 32/35AD)
  • Dramatic appearance of risen Jesus to him on road
    to Damascus (Acts 9 22 26).
  • This experience not only made him a Christian but
    also provided his call to be Apostle to
    Gentiles (Gal. 113-17 Phil. 34-9 Rom.
    1113).
  • After conversion, we lose sight of Paul for more
    than a decade.
  • Surfaces in Antioch base for 3 missionary
    journeys (Ac. 13-28).

Conversion
8
  • F. Paul Apostle to the Gentiles cont.
  • First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)
  • Antioch to Cyprus and central Asia Minor.
  • Rejection by Jews acceptance among Gentiles.
  • Back in Antioch controversy over inclusion of
    Gentiles demands for their circumcision.
  • Jerusalem Conference (Apostolic Council Acts
    15 Gal. 2)
  • Summit meeting (c. 49) to resolve circumcision
    issue.
  • Paul, Barnabas, and Titus represented Antioch.
  • Peter, John, James the brother of Jesus
    represented Jerusalem.
  • Must Gentiles be circumcised (i.e., convert to
    Judaism and observe Jewish law)?
  • Agreement not to require circumcision. This was a
    momentous decision, destining Christianity to
    become a religion separate from Judaism.
  • Second Missionary Journey (Acts 1536-1822)
  • Antioch through Asia Minor to Macedonia and
    Greece.
  • Corinth 18 months wrote 1 Thess. (c. 50).
  • Brought before proconsul Gallio important for
    dating Paul.

9
  • Paul Apostle to the Gentiles cont.
  • Third Missionary Journey (Acts 1823-2116)
  • Antioch to Ephesus 2 years.
  • Through Macedonia and Greece to Jerusalem.
  • Arrest and Journey to Rome (Acts 2117-2831)
  • Jerusalem arrested over disturbance in Temple.
  • Caesarea held 2 years appealed to Caesar.
  • Rome house arrest awaiting trial preaching
    gospel.
  • Likely executed by Nero (60-65).

10
Early Expansion of Church (Acts 8-11)
  • Hellenists fleeing persecution in Jerusalem
    (Acts 81-3)
  • Took gospel to Diaspora (Acts 84)
  • Samaria (Acts 8)
  • Damascus (Acts 9)
  • Phoenicia (Acts 1119)
  • Cyprus (Acts 1119)
  • Antioch (Acts 1119-26)

11
Caesarea
  • Residence of Roman Procurators of Judea
  • Peters conversion of centurion Cornelius
  • Paul imprisoned two years without verdict

12
Antioch
  • Second largest city in Roman Empire
  • First sustained mission to Gentiles
  • Home base for Pauls missionary journeys

13
Tarsus
  • Large Hellenistic city
  • Center of Greek philosophy and rhetoric
  • Pauls hometown

14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com