Topic 8 Rise and Growth of Christian Church

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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.

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• 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).

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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).

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• 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.

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• 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
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• 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.

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• 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).

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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)

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Caesarea

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

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Antioch

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

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Tarsus

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

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