Christianity

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I. Origins 1. Judaic Context 2.
Christ the Person II. History 1.
Apostolic Age 2. Christian Hellenism III.
Liturgy Sacraments 1. Sacramental
Iconography 2. The Divine Liturgy
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I. Origins 1. The Essential Judaic Context

• Scriptural-Liturgical Context of Christ
• Genesis, the Psalms, the Prophets Wisdom
  Literature as received by Judaism are the context
  of Christianity
• 2. Jesus, Christ - entered this context
  - He is the new wine in every Context.
• EXAMPLES
• Adam the Fall Christ, the new Adam
• Amarteia? He does not miss the mark
  (sin)
• Promise to the Fathers Christs Kingdom
• Royal Messianism He is the
  King-Prophet-Priest He is the Davidic
  Messiah

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Crucifixion Resurrection Axis Mundi in
TimeEnd of Time (Salvation History)
Direction of Time
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II. Historical Sub-Contexts - 1. The
Apostolic Age (33 AD...)
Pentecost thru death of those taught by the
Apostles . . . continuation of Apostolic
teaching

• 33 AD - Crucifixion Resurrection.
• Those Jews who accept Christ as the
  Resurrected Messiah are eventually ejected
  from the Temple
• Liturgy as the re-entry remembrance of
  the acts of God, along with use of incense,
  vestments, etc., are continued by the ejected
  Christians.
• Vespers is an example of continuity /
  discontinuity of context content.

St. Peter (6th Cent. icon from Mt. Sinai
Monastery)
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Pauls Mission to the Gentiles

• His letters are earliest Christian
  Scriptures after the Septuagint.
• His letters contain more theology than
  any other part of the New Testament,
• with the exception of John the theologians
  Gospel Revelation
• Why is it possible to live in Christ ?
• 1. because Christ is fully human,
  like us, but as we were meant
  to be
• The intention of God right intentions of
  mankind come together in Him
• 2. because of how humans are
  created (for oneness with God),
• AND 3. because Christ is also fully God.