Early Christian Communities

Syllabus Point | Describe the development of early Christian

communities after the death of Jesus
 Ready.. Set…
Google!!!
Quick Definition Challenge

As a class we will quickly define the following words:

❏ Gentile
❏ Heresy ❏ Edict
❏ Pagan ❏ Parousia
❏ Helenistic ❏ Convert
❏ Persecution ❏ Palestinian Jews
❏ Diaspora Jews
 Share your thinking...
Think - Share ONE idea with those around you - Discuss as a class

Put yourself in the position of the Apostles. You have just given up 3
years of your life to follow Jesus. Your faith as a Jew has always been
about following God’s command and awaiting the Messiah. The
Messiah has come, gone and said he will come again but doesn’t say
when or how. Also, you’ve just lost a friend. How do you feel? What
are some things you would need to think about? Who else is affected
and you have to keep in mind?
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-13 | The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from
heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on
each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came
together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are
speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from
Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

1. Read the passage above.

2. In 5 points, summarise what happened and who was involved.
The Jesus Movement and Early Christians
The Jesus Movement lasted from approximately 30-60 CE and was the period immediately following the death of
Jesus. The infant Christian community saw itself as a sect which existed within the Jewish tradition. This means that
they believed in Jesus but adhered to some Jewish customs and beliefs. Believers of this movement built little
infrastructure (e.g. places of worship), as they believed that they were living in the last days before the Parousia (the
second coming of Christ). The Early Christians weren’t yet accepted and were persecuted. Jewish leaders and believers
who did not convert saw them as heretics and persecuted them, causing conflict. In addition, Romans were in power
and the conflict between Jews and Christians disrupted the peace.

1. What was the Jesus movement?

2. How were the early Christians treated? Why?
Early Christians | Followers of Peter
Small groups of Palestinian Jews followed Jesus through the preaching of disciples such as Peter in and around Palestine

After the descent of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost, Peter became a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel and is the
first pope of Rome. After his first sermon in Jerusalem, about 3,000 souls were converted to the Faith. He preached the Gospel
throughout Palestine and Asia Minor, in Italy and Illyria. He performed many wonders, healing the sick and raising the dead,
and even his shadow had the power of healing the sick. Peter was condemned to death on the order of the Emperor Nero. When
he saw he was to be crucified,, he asked the executioner to crucify him upside-down, because he felt himself unworthy to die in
the same way as his Lord.

1. Who was Peter, and what did he do?

2. Where did he preach?
Early Christians | Followers of Paul
Larger groups of Diaspora Jews of the time and Gentiles responded to the preaching of Paul

He was a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christians. He was converted to the Christian faith by the Lord Himself, who
appeared to him on the road to Damascus. After this, he changed his name to Paul and started preaching. He spread
Christianity and preached the news about Jesus everywhere, from the borders of Arabia to the land of Spain, among both
the Jews and the gentiles. He established many new communities and some of the letters of advice from Paul to these infant
Christian communities are seen in the bible (e.g. Colossians, Romans). He was beheaded in Rome in the reign of Nero, at
the same time as St. Peter. Paul is typically considered as the second founder of Christianity because he helped to set up the
structure of this new religion and hence confirm the status of Christianity facing Judaism.

1. Define the words diaspora and gentile.

2. Who was Paul?
3. Where did he preach?
Council of Jerusalem 50CE

The Council debated issues for early Christians. An example is that the Council supported Paul’s arguments that gentiles did
not need to be circumcised to be Christians. It is significant for the spread of the Church as it separated Jewish laws. Peter
& Paul agree and then preach to different crowds (Jews & Gentiles). Despite the formal resolution of the problem the
tensions between the two early communities continued for some time

1. Why was the council of Jerusalem important for early Christians?

Persecution of Christians | Emperor Nero

During the New Testament period (45-100CE) there existed a great hatred towards Christians. This was because of
their non-conformity to formal structures and religion, and religious intolerance. An example of this hatred is that
Emperor Nero blamed early Christians for the great fire of Rome. As a result, great persecution of Christians
occurred. Paul and Peter were also both martyred.

1. Why were early Christians persecuted? Provide an example.

Diocletian Persecution | 303 CE

Emperor Diocletian treated the Christians harshly and persecuted them heavily. They were used as instruments of torture in
entertainment arenas. A meeting of the Roman rulers during 302 CE lead to an edict stating

“to tear down the churches to the foundations and to destroy the Sacred Scriptures by fire; and commanding also that those
who were in honorable stations should be degraded if they persevered in their adherence to Christianity”

This was followed by two more edicts declaring bishops, clergy, and laity be imprisoned and tortured until giving up their
faith.

1. How were the Christians treated under Emperor Diocletian’s rule? Provide specific examples.
Edict of Milan | 313 CE

Emperor Constantine was going into battle (known as the Battle of the Milvian Bridge 312 CE). The night before battle,
Constantine had a vision where the Chi Rho (Christian symbol) appeared and a voice said “under this sign you will
conquer”. He made all the soldiers paint the sign on their shields, and the battle was won. As a result, In early 313 he met
with other Roman leaders and declared that Christianity regain legal rights and restore the right to practice
Christianity. This was proclaimed on the ‘Edict of Milan’.

1. Why did Emperor Constantine restore the right to practice Christianity?

2. How was this declared?
Council of Nicea | 325 CE

The council was called by Emperor Constantine to restore religious peace. Pope Sylvester along
with many other bishops attended to discuss and resolve theological differences (e.g. the divinity
of Christ, the wording of the Nicene Creed).

1. What was the purpose of the council of Nicea?

Consolidation |
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1. List some of the difficulties faced by the early Christians?

2. What are 3 factors that contributed to the growth and development
of Christianity?
3. DESCRIBE the early development of Christian communities after
the death of Jesus.