Sem. John Raven C.

Angeles CHURCH HISTORY

Philosophy I November 14, 2018

A. THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

The council of Jerusalem was occurred around 50 AD and has regarded as the foremost
council which was piously administered by Peter and James to reconcile and settle the
inadequacy of circumcision which polarizes the Gentiles from Jews. This was figured out
because of the dissent of a specific Christians from Jerusalem that the gentile must adhere
this bidding to make the law of Moses to be consistent as possible. ‘Unless you are
circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ . . . It is necessary to
circumcise them and to order them to keep the Law of Moses.” (Acts 15, verses 1 and 5).
B. EARLY PERSECUTIONS OF CHRISTIANS
The reference point of the early Christians was their faith in the Risen Christ hence the
Jews espoused Judaism and categorized the christians as a new cult and odd throngs which
the Jews felt cautious about and ordered to be secluded subsequently.
In the times of roman empires pagan practices were embedded to the customs, traditions
and faith and suffice to say it is incorporated in their lifestyle. Three factors led the early
Christian into assassination and persecution: 1) the Christians were failed to observe and
keep the pagan practices, 2) The Christians were failed to play a part into pagan religious
practices. 3) The Christians were displeased the emperor to acknowledge such as the God.
C. THE FORMATION OF CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES
Divisions of the Bible

The Old Testament books are grouped in the following manner:

1) Historical books, which are arranged not in the order in which they were written but
according to the order of events in time which they narrate (Genesis to Esther);
2) Didactic or sapiential or moral books, which are so called because they instruct us
especially about heavenly wisdom and principles of morality (Job to Ecclesiasticus);
3) The prophetical books, which contain God's message to men, and predictions
concerning the future (Isaias to Malachias);
4) A historical appendix (the Books of the Machabees).

The New Testament like the Old Testament has also a threefold division:

1) Historical books (the Gospels and the Acts);

2) Didactic writings (the fourteen Pauline Epistles and the seven Catholic Epistles);
3) A prophetical book (the Apocalypse).