In The Beginning … of the Church

1 minute = 8 years

Filling in the Gap

Persia (539-330BC)High Priest – local rulerJudea limited freedomDescent through motherSynagogues

Alexander (330-323BC)Hellenism (koine)Still limited freedom

Ptolemies & SeleucidsHellenism (optional)Still limited freedom

Maccabees & Hasmonean Period

Antiochus IV ‘Epiphanes’ (175BC)

Forced Hellenization

Judah Maccabee ‘the Hammer’Jerusalem 164BC – Hanukkak

Hasmoneans – Independence

Monotheism finally, forever

Purity, law newly emphasized

Hasmonean civil war 63BCPompey, later Caesar (Roman)

Jewish Political/Religious Parties

PhariseesLaymen, not priests (Saul/Paul)ResurrectionPredestination & Free will compatibleLetter of the Law, not the Spirit

SadduceesTemple priestsFree willNo afterlife/resurrection (Dan 12:2; Acts 23:8)Torah only (1st 5 books)

EssenesPredestinationCommunal, silent mealsDO NOT GO TO TEMPLE

Herod the GreatGovernor of Galilee (47-40BC)

NOT HasmoneanParthian invasion (40BC)Flees to Rome

Made ‘King of the Jews’ (40-4BC)

By decree of Roman SenateMarried Hasmonean princessRecaptured Jerusalem (37BC) Upgraded TempleBuilt pagan temples, too

Guess who crashes this party?Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matt 2:2-3 (NASB)

Gen 49:10-11; Num 24:17; Isa 11:1-9

A 4th Jewish Sect?Resurrection (Sorry, Sadducees)

“The Way” a Jewish SectAttended Temple

Followed rituals

Observed dietary laws

Spread the Gospel (Acts 13:15-16)

What of “God Fearers”?

Jerusalem Council (49-50AD)Acts 15:1-30; Amos 9:11-12

Destruction of Jerusalem (70AD)

Church now Gentile

Pilgrim Church

Greek philosophiesJustin Martyr and Origen

Order, justice, and beauty

Pax Romana (27BC-180AD)– Ideal for spread of Gospel– Roman theological

pluralism

• Emperor Domitian (81-96)– Dominus et Deus

– “Lord and God”

• Anti-Christian pogroms begin

How did Ignatius of Antioch face martyrdom?

“I hope to obtain by your prayers, the privilege of fighting with the beasts at Rome. Suffer me to be eaten by the beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Entice the wild beasts that they may become my tomb, and leave no trace of my body. Then shall I truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall not even see my body.”

©Witnesses impressed with Christian steadfastness©Some Romans converted BECAUSE of martyr courage©Stories of martyrdom actually used to encourage Christians

Emperor Constantine (306-337AD)

• Worshiper of Sol Invictus

• Battle at the Milvian Bridge (312)– Dreams “Chi Rho”– “In this sign, you will

conquer”

• Edict of Milan (313)– Christianity “legal” now

• Slippery slope?

From Pilgrim to Imperial Church

• Sunday made holy day (321)

• 1st Council of Nicaea (325)– Nicene Creed

• December 25th celebrated Jesus’ birth– Was Sol Victus’ festival day

• Eusebius, a bishop in Palestine– Writes 1st church history– Writes Constantine bio

• “13th apostle”

• Edict of Thessalonica (380)– Christianity only legal

religion

Shifts in Focus

• Early Church– Jewish - mixed– Synagogues –

caves– Long suffering– End Times focused

• Imperial Church– Gentile– Churches (Constantine’s

mother)– Accepted & in power

• “White Martyrdom”• Monastic separation

– Mix of this world & next

The Medieval Mind: Fusion and Order

Next time …