Development of Early Christianity A.D. 30-450
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Turning Points: God’s Faithfulness in Christian History 1 Outline of course Mark Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Baker, 1997; 3rd ed. 2012). “‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me’. Nothing could now happen to the followers of Christ that lay outside the reach of his sovereignty; no experiences that the church underwent, no matter how glorious or how mundane, were irrelevant to the living Word of God.” “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations’. ‘[S]urely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age’. ‘[Y]ou will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth’.” 2 Outline of course Noll, Turning Points, asks, why study Church History? 1. Irreducibly historical character of Christianity. Prophecies fulfilled; Christ’s earthly life; acts of God in time and space. 2. Interpretation of Scripture in the Church over time. 3. Understanding Christianity in different cultures (contextualization). 4. “God sustains the church despite the church’s frequent efforts to betray its savior and its own high calling….” Response: Gratitude / Humility 3 Outline of course “Turning Points: God’s Faithfulness in Christian History” Turning points= often after crises or deep challenges breakthroughs of new understanding of Gospel & God’s providence in history. 1. Birth of Christianity AD 30-312. *establishing Christian teaching & organization 2. Development of Early Christianity AD 300-600. *Augustine, monasticism, mission in Europe 3. Renaissance Search for God and Self AD 1200-1500. (Mendicant orders, mystics, Modern Devotion, Christology & Art) *personal devotion *recovery of Jesus as suffering servant 4 Outline of course 4. Reformation of Church & Doctrine: Luther & Calvin 16th c.. *reform doctrine & practice 5. Post-French Revolution/ 19th century. Free churches, le Réveil, American Awakenings/Revivals, Social concerns—Salvation Army, Social Gospel…) *revival & recovery after Enlightenment & wars 6. Missions to the World 1910-1970s: From Edinburgh to Urbana; Wycliffe to Jesus Movement. *contextualization of the Gospel in the world 5 Outline of course Questions: Where is Christ in each generation? How are Christians influenced by the world around them? Romans 12: “1. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We are all products of our time: our generation, our culture……. 6 Outline of course How do we discern true Christian (communal/ covenantal/ personal) commitment (beyond institutional involvement)? Church attendance, language (buzz words) of expression, actions, piety & devotion, ……. What is normative practice? (normative= should be practiced for all time). Yet all Christians are part of a particular culture(s) and a time (era). GOD is faithful! As we have heard in several sermons this Fall 2015: Why does God appear to be silent at times? 7 How do we KNOW? Outline of course A. Internal= Divine Revelation in scripture (human authors inspired by God) & ministry of the Holy Spirit. B. External= Early Christian sources…. & Non-Christian historical sources : Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, mentions Jesus, and the condemnation of one James by the Jewish Sanhedrin. This James, says Josephus, was “the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ.” Roman historian Tacitus: Emperor Nero blamed Christians for fire destroyed Rome A.D. 64: “Nero fastened the guilt . on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of . Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome….” See F. F. Bruce, Jesus and Christian Origins Outside the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1974. 8 Outline of course Getting out of our own culture to past interpretations. Christopher A Hall, Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers. IVP, 1998. Daniel H. Williams, Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church. Baker, 2005. Tradition, Scripture, and Interpretation: A Sourcebook of the Ancient Church. Baker, 2006. Gerald L. Bray, ed. Galatians, Ephesians (Reformation Commentary on Scripture). IVP, 2011. 9 Outline of course Anthony Lane, John Calvin Student of the Church Fathers. Baker, 1999. [London School of Theology, see YouTube as well] John Calvin, 365 Days with Calvin: A Unique Collection of 365 Readings from the Writings of John Calvin, ed. Joel Beeke. Day One Publications & Reformation Heritage Books, 2008. 10 Outline of course Noll, Turning Points Psalm 90: 1, 12….19 “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout the generations….. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. … Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” 11 An Eastern Orthodox Perspective 12 Protestant Perspectives Typical Protestant perspective: not long after founding of early church it developed unorthodox practices; only small remnant of real Christians survived until Reformation 16th c. Second group Protestants further claim it was not enough & “Second Reformation” necessary (17th 18th 19th c.). Calvin & “Reformed” did not fully reject Church, but claimed to reform doctrine & practice. Calvin eagerly studied many medieval theologians. 13 Timeline of Christianity 1550 onward many divisions Development of Early Christianity A.D. 30-350 15 Late Roman Empire, A. D. 117 16 Jesus of Nazareth Joseph & Mary of Nazareth, Galilee, travelled to Bethlehem, Jesus born. Born: c.7–2 BC Died: c.33 AD Jesus= Latin Iesus ; ,Joshua = יְהֹושֻׁעַ Hebrew-Aramaic i.e. “Yahweh delivers.” Real name= Joshua bar Joseph (son of Joseph) & Mary (Davidic line) 17 Who was Jesus? Claims= 1. Scripture: Matt. 2:1-6 quotes Micah 5:2 – Jesus= Messiah: “But Jesus of Nazareth you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” 2. Nature: “star” 3 kings/ wisemen “magi” to Jesus. Matt. 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Rembrandt ) 18 Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ Jesus (=name) Christ (=title): Christ= Χριστός Christós (Greek) = Hebrew “messiah” (anointed one as savior & liberator) Gospels: came “give his life as a ransom for many” & “preach the good news of the Kingdom of God.” Ministry: Jesus teacher; miracles: healings, exorcisms, walking water, water into wine, raised several dead= Lazarus (John 11:1–44, Matt. 9:25, Luke 7:15). 19 Jesus of Nazareth, Crucifixion & Resurrection 12 Disciples at “Last Supper.” Record of his death: 1. Pilate condemned Jesus; 2. crucified (c. 33); 3. after 3 days he arose= Resurrection. 20 Saul of Tarsus (c.5-67 AD) to Paul: Acts 9: conversion c. 35-36 AD [1-2] “All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants …. [3-4] …outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?” Caravaggio, Peter’s conversion 21 Saul of Tarsus to St. Paul [5-6] He said, “Who are you, Master?” “I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city…[17-19] So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” “Apostle of the Gentiles” 22 St. Paul in the Hellenistic World Christianity in Hellenistic world; Paul used Greek philosophy & reason. Equated “God” to Athenian statue “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” Acts 17:22-32: “what therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man….” altar to Unknown god, Athens 23 St. Paul in the Hellenistic World Plato’s cave analogy used powerful, meaningful language of the day Paul: 1 Cor. 13:12: “Now we see through a mirror dimly (glass darkly), but then face to face….” John: John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” Qualifies reason: Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Thus, divine reason over human reason. 24 St. Paul’s Missionary Journeys Paul’s Missionary Journey & Letters Paul’s letters books NT A. To Celts: Galatians B. To Greeks: Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians(2) Corinthians(2) C. To Romans: Romans 26 Christ & disciples. Painted panel in Coptic museum, Cairo Coptic Christians today: c.16 million: c.12 million Egypt + c.3-4 million abroad (Diaspora) 27 Coptic Christians Contributions: 1. Birthplace of monasticism: 1st = hermits imitated Jesus’s 40 days in desert. St. Anthony the Great (c. 251–356). Biography by Athanasius of Alexandria inspired Christians w/ how Anthony overcame temptations.