Characteristics of the Early Church

The nature of Early Christianity during its first three centuries

MEETING PLACES

Private Homes (House Churches)

Catacombs

Churches

SYMBOLS

Cross

Sign of the Cross

Alpha and Omega

Staurogram

Chi Rho

Peacock

SHIP

Anchor

Ichthys (Fish)

ORGANIZATION

BISHOPS (EPISCOPACY)

• Successors of the Apostles, very important role in the Early Church.

• In charge of one or more congregations• Appoint, ordain, and discipline priests and

deacons

PRIESTS - PRESBYTERS (ELDERS)

• Responsible for teaching, preaching, and ministering the Sacraments to their congregation

ROLE OF WOMEN

• Before the mid-2nd century there is evidence that women played a prominent role in the Church– Some widows owned the “House Churches”

where Christians met– Some women served as deacons

DEACONS

• Assistants to the bishops• Responsible for certain Church tasks– Ex. – Distribution of food (Acts 6)

POPE (Bishop of Rome)

• Peter is considered the first Pope

• Popes did not always have the power and authority they have today– When referring to the Bishop of Rome, the term Pope was

first used to refer to Damasus I (366-384)– However, Popes were always well respected and before any

major theological decisions were made they were consulted (along with Bishop of Alexandria)

– By the 4th/5th century onward, the Popes gradually gained more power in the West

HOLY DAYS

• Fast Days– Wednesday and Friday

• Sabbath Day– Originally same as Jewish Sabbath (sundown

Friday to sundown Saturday)– However, it soon was moved to Sunday• Christ’s resurrection and Pentecost occurred on Sunday

Cathechumenate

• Catechumen – Literally “the instructed”. Adults seeking admission to the Church (baptism) who undergo a period of instruction.

• In the Early Church instruction lasted 2-3 years.

SACRAMENTS/RITUALS

Baptism

BAPTISM

AGAPE MEAL (LOVE FEAST)

EUCHARIST (“thanksgiving”)

Apologetic Texts

• Apology– Greek for “defense”

• Apologetics– A branch of theology which defends and explains

Christian religion• Apologist– Someone who writes an apologetic work

Christian Literature/Authors

• Didache (late 1st/early 2nd century)– Oldest written catechism– Discusses ethics, Sacraments, and Church organization

• This genre is often called “Church Orders”– Church Orders is a genre of Christian Literature that aims to offer

“apostolic” prescriptions on matters of moral conduct, liturgy, and Church organization.

• Tertullian (AD 160 – 225)– “father of Latin Christianity”– One of the apologists

Christian Literature/Authors• Hippolytus of Rome (AD 170 – 236)

– The Apostolic Tradition• Part of the “Church Orders” genre

– Considered the first antipope• Antipope – a person who, in opposition to the Pope, makes a

significantly accepted claim to be the Pope– Died as a martyr

• St. Justin Martyr (AD 100 – 165)– One of the apologists

• First Apology– To convince emperor not to persecute Christians and to defend Christian morality

– Martyred by beheading