Unit_2-_Jesus_Establishes_His_Church

Jesus Establishes His One Church

• Ecclesiology - Unit 2.2

Run the Good Race

• Scriptural Reference: St. Paul – Hebrews 12:1

  • "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…"

Unit 2.2 Objectives

1. Role of the Apostles:

   • Articulate the role of the Apostles in the early church, with special focus on St. Peter.

2. St. Paul's Influence:

   • Analyze St. Paul's role in the spread of the Church to the gentiles and the world.

3. Conflict Analysis:

   • Understand the conflicts between the Early Church and Jewish and Roman authorities in the 1st century.

4. Martyrdom's Impact:

   • Explain how martyrdom sanctifies and grows the Church.

Apostolic Leadership

Key Figures

• St. Peter:

  • First Pope, appointed leader of the Apostles.

• St. Paul:

  • Considered the missionary of the Church, instrumental in spreading the Gospel.

• Martyrdom:

  • Many Apostles, including St. Peter and St. Paul, faced martyrdom for their faith.

Apostolic Leadership Chart

Notable Apostles

Christ Chooses His Servant Leaders

• Apostle Definition:

  • Greek for "one who is sent".

• Selection of Apostles:

  • Jesus chose 12 relatable figures called Apostles, endowed them with the Holy Spirit, power, and authority to continue His mission.

• Succession:

  • Bishops are considered successors to the Apostles

  • Authority is passed down from bishop to bishop through history.

Leadership of St. Peter

• St. Peter - The Rock:

  • Known as the 'Fisher of Men', he was a commercial fisherman transformed into a leader by Jesus.

  • Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, meaning Rock, establishing him as the 1st Pope.

• Mission in Rome:

  • Preached about the resurrected Christ, ultimately facing martyrdom by crucifixion (upside down).

Jesus Founded the Church on ‘The Rock’

• Scriptural Reference: Matthew 16:18-19

  • "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church..."

• Authority Bestowed:

  • Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom, instilling a permanent authority within the Church.

Primacy of Peter

• **Significance: **

  • Spoke during the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28-36).

  • First Apostle to encounter the Risen Christ (Lk 24:33-34).

  • Jesus commanded Peter to "feed My sheep" (Jn 21:15-19).

  • Boldly preached at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41).

Council of Jerusalem

• First Ecumenical Council (50 A.D.):

  • Documented in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15.

  • Declared that followers of Christ were not required to observe all Jewish rituals, such as circumcision and certain dietary laws.

  • Gentile converts were instructed to avoid meat sacrificed to idols.

St. Paul – Apostle to the Gentiles

• Saul's Background:

  • Originally a tentmaker and a Roman citizen educated in Hebrew Scriptures.

  • Involved in the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

• Conversion Experience:

  • On the road to Damascus, Saul is blinded by Christ who challenges him on his persecution of Christians.

  • He is healed and baptized, later accepted by the Apostles and becomes the greatest missionary in Church History.

St. Paul's Missionary Journeys

• Three Missionary Journeys:

  • Explored various cities in Asia Minor, Greece, and Macedonia.

  • Eventually imprisoned in Rome, facing a trial that ended favorably, but traditional accounts suggest he was later beheaded by Nero.

St. Paul - The Greatest Evangelist

• Method of Delivering Messages:

  • Adapted his message according to his audience: Jews, Gentiles, and the weak.

  • Quoted: "To the Jews I became like a Jew... to save at least some." (1 Cor. 9:20-22).

St. Paul’s Jewish Methodology

• Focus:

  • Emphasized how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, particularly in his preaching in synagogues.

St. Paul’s Gentile Methodology

• Focus on Hellenistic Culture:

  • Used Greek Philosophy and cultural references to explain Christian theology, engaging with the Athenians about their 'unknown god'.

The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church

• Martyrdom:

  • The Greek word for "witness" implies dying rather than renouncing faith in Jesus.

  • Quote from Tertullian (155-220 AD): "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity."

  • Imitating Christ by enduring suffering leads to glorious resurrection.

Jewish Persecution of the Early Church

• Resistance:

  • Jewish leaders did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, perceiving claims of His divinity as blasphemous.

Roman Persecution of the Early Church

• Threat Perspective:

  • Christians refused to participate in pagan worship, considered political treason.

  • Paul’s teachings undermined the Empire’s economic system tied to idols.

Modern-Day Persecution of the Church

• Statistics:

  • Christians face the highest rates of persecution globally, with incidents of violence and intimidation.

  • Example: In Nigeria, significant numbers of Christians were killed in recent years.

Life of a Christian in Various Countries

• Exploration Task:

  • Use opendoors.org to learn about the challenges and conditions faced by Christians in top persecuted countries.

Redemptive Suffering/Communion of Saints

• White Martyrdom:

  • Involves enduring ridicule, hatred, and religious persecution in everyday life; contributes to the suffering of Christians globally.

  • Encourage resilience against mockery for faith among students.