Background to the Birth of Christianity

• Hellenism - The concept of a wider expansion of Greek culture

  • Begins with Alexander the Great, and leads into the Roman Empire

    • He wanted unity within the empire, and incorporated other people into his Greek worldview

  • It became a vast, common empire, with Babylon as its centre

  • Greek was the common language of commerce/trade, and larger, abstract ideas

    • The common translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, was in Greek

  • The empire shared established cultures and references

  • It had a rich philosophical tradition, but there was a gap in its spirituality - there was no loving, personal God

    • There became a slow rejection of polytheistic views

• Rome

  • Pax Romana - The 200-year period of prosperity and stability within Rome, around the time of Christ

    • Rome was ruled by Octavius just before Christ’s birth

  • Rome established primary trade routes which could easily move people safely throughout the Empire, especially Roman citizens

    • Had large military protection

    • Increased communication across the Empire

  • Romans prized unity as an empire, showed through religion

    • Following Roman religion, especially paganism, was a sign of citizenship and loyalty to Rome, proving its strength as a collective

    • Rome would allow conquered areas to practice local religions if Roman gods and emperors were also worshipped

    • Rome took on philosophy such as the natural law, virtues, and morality

    • There was limited tolerance towards Jews only to practice their faith because it was seen as an ancient thing

  • Socioeconomic factors created a society where some members needed hope

    • The economy created a division of wealth that placed a heavy tax burden on the poor

    • Women had little power

    • Slaves were beholden to others

    • The message of “the last will be first…” would have been greatly accepted by the disenfranchised

• Judaism

  • Throughout their history, the Jews were usually conquered by another entity, until David and Solomon ruled as kings

    • These kingdoms were seen as the ideal that should be returned to

  • They believed they were the exclusive chosen people, so they would not adapt to Rome

  • They believed God would work through them for His plan, and were expecting a Messiah

    • Because of tradition and prophets, they had faith that God would restore the kingdom by the “anointed one,” but could not agree

    • They were also dissatisfied with the current rulers

    • They expected that God would send a Messiah for Israel and a “King from David”

  • They had based their faith in the Pentateuch

  • They worshipped God in faith and obligation

  • There were four main groups

    • Sadducees - Did not expect the messiah, worked with Rome to gain power, did not believe in an afterlife

    • Pharisees - Valued tradition, pious, strictly observed laws, had the most influence in Judaism, made up many teachers in the temples,

    • Essenes - Ascetic, detached, preserved writings, rejected many earthly things, awaited the Messiah

    • Zealots - Political, anti-Rome, sought to overthrow Rome

  • The temple was the centre of worship

  • The daily life was religious

  • They had monotheism, a sabbath, dietary laws, and the Moral Law, in contrast with the mechanical morals of the Romans

    • This created an exclusive “us and them” mentality

    • They would not integrate with Gentiles

  • The Diaspora - The dispersal of the Jewish people after a history of exiles, revolts, and moving

    • This allowed audiences everywhere to accept the arrival of a Messiah

    • Faith became more local once the temple in Jerusalem is destroyed in 70 AD

    • They would gather in synagogues for teachings

• Non-Christian Sources

  • Support that Christ was also a historical figure

  • Thallus - An earthquake and eclipse at the time of Christ’s crucifixion

  • Tacitus - Nero persecutes the “Christians” who follow “Christus”

  • Mara Bar-Serapion - Uses Christ as the “wise king” of the Jews as an analogy

  • Phlegon - Christ had a knowledge of future events, Christ’s resurrected

  • Lucian of Samosata - Calls Christ a “crucified sage”

  • Josephus - Contemporary of the Apostles, Christ was a wise man with many followers

  • Jewish Talmud - Christ practiced “magic” that led Israel astray

• The timing of Christ’s birth is “right” by these factors, in how we understand God’s providence

The Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus

• Christ was born under Herod around 4BC

• His parents were in Bethlehem for a census, and Herod ordered the massacre of the innocents

  • There was a star that aligned with the time of Christ's birth

• The Gospel authors clarify what is necessary to emphasise about Christ (genealogy from Adam to Solomon to David to Christ, events in His childhood, etc.)

  • They use this to express His divinity and identity as the Messiah

  • Matthew uses genealogy from Abraham to appeal to Jewish audiences in 3 groups of 14 generations

  • Luke uses genealogy from Adam to show that Christ fulfills the covenant

• His baptism is the start of His public ministry

  • He is “anointed” by the “prophet” John to fulfill the role as King of Israel

• Theophany - The unveiling and revealing of Christ

• Christ’s message is that “The kingdom is at hand, repent”

  • Creates urgency and fellowship, but also shows that Christ restores the relationship between God

  • He emphasises forgiveness and restoration for all, especially the outcasts, and the need of God for salvation

• Christ offers a new way to live the Law and fulfills it, in a way where the morals respond to the free gift of God’s love

  • Does not abolish the Torah, as its laws prepared the Jews for Christ

• Christ shows the necessity of prayers (teaches them how to pray, prayer leads to important moments in His ministry)

• Emphasises the love of God and neighbour over worldly things and self, and sees suffering in a new light

  • Sacrifice is now the perfection of love

• Jesus performed miracles and exorcisms as a sign of His power over evil, and also to emphasise His traits, such as being concerned for the suffering, or needing human contribution to fulfill the Kingdom

  • However, early Christians did not see Him as a miracle worker, but rather a saviour

• Christ is his own authority, as He challenges understandings of the old law, God’s will, and the power to forgive sins

• Christ is the final Passover in the Last Supper, in which He frees God’s people from evil, like in Exodus

  • His central message is the Good News

• Christ’s claim to divinity was seen as blasphemous

  • Was seen as a threat, because the “Messiah” would change the landscape, spark revolution, criticize the Jewish law, or usurp current rulers

• Christ’s death is a fulfillment and repentance of the treason committed in the first covenant

• Crucifixion was considered shameful, as it was humiliating, weakening, and excruciating for a long time

  • Such a death is used as a message to other “instigators”

• The whole narrative of Christ’s life leads to His resurrection, which is the basis of Christianity

  • He conquered death

  • His resurrection suggests that the story continues

  • 40 days before his ascension - a number often used throughout scripture to prepare for a holy mission

  • He sends the Apostles the Holy Spirit to continue, especially Peter, who leads the Church on earth

The Deposit of Faith and Sacred Scripture

• The Gospels have a clear religious motivation

  • They give a snapshot of Christ and identify the Deposit of Faith to understand what He wanted to establish.

  • Not intended to be a historical book

• Deposit of Faith

  • Jesus’ teachings

  • The Apostles, who were His witnesses, are given this message and a mission

  • These teachings are the deposit of faith, which pass on prayers, rituals, and sacraments

  • Pentecost occurs, and the Apostles establish faith communities, of which they are the bishops

  • The Magisterium is formed, which solidifies the teachings into Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, long after communities are established

• The Deposit is a fulfillment of the old testament and emphasizes the New Law which is about love, forgiveness, and the holy goal of Heaven

  • Tells us what it means to live the will of God

  • Raises the expectations - it is now inward and selfless, rather than mechanical and legalistic

  • Christ demonstrates this law through sacrifice and suffering

• The Deposit of faith becomes the mission of the Church

• The Gospels are an authoritative reflection of the deposit of faith

  • They reveal Jesus and the necessity of orienting ourselves towards God

  • Four different witnesses and accounts of Christ’s life, three of which are synoptic

  • John spends more time on the Last Supper than the other Gospels

  • No one in the early Church questioned the gospels

  • Gospel of Matthew - “man” (humanity of Jesus)

    • A local Jewish audience

    • Old testament references, and only written in Aramaic

  • Gospel of Mark - “lion” (fast paced and begins with the order to “Prepare the way of the Lord”)

    • A disciple of Peter

    • A roman audience (mixture of Jews and gentiles) of early believers

    • Would take time to explain old Jewish traditions

  • Gospel of Luke - “bull” (priestly duties and temple sacrifices)

    • A companion of St. Paul

    • Written for a gentile audience

    • The social gospel - expresses many social concerns

  • Gospel of John - “eagle” (lofty language)

    • Wider audience, but especially Jewish Christians

    • He explains meanings and offers an interpretation

    • The last written Gospel

  • It is believed that Mark’s gospel came first, then Matthew and Luke used it as a reference

  • There are other historical texts that claim to be gospels, but were discounted in the early church

• The Pentecost is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles

  • The Church is given an intention of salvation for all

  • Christ promises that the Holy Spirit will always be with the Church

  • The Pentecost turns the Church into an outward movement

    • Immediately 3,000 are baptized

• The Church is united in Christ, with Christ, for christ

  • It is a visible and spiritual Church, and a sign of Christ on earth

    • There is a visible hierarchy and structure, with an invisible Holy Spirit guiding it

  • It is a part of the mystical body of Christ

  • One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

    • One - There is one faith, united by Christ, symbolized by the Pope

    • Holy - It has a holy founder and a holy mission

    • Catholic - It is meant for the whole world

    • Apostolic - The succession of authority follows a lineage directly to the Apostles

  • Ecclesia - Assembly/congregation

The Apostles

• They are all primary witnesses of Christ’s life, including Matthias, who replaces Judas

• Number 12 is significant as the number of tribes of Israel, symbolizing that they are the New Covenant

• They were called to Christ from their standard lives

• The Apostles travelled far to establish new communities of faith

  • St. Peter

    • He was the “rock” of the Church and Christ’s vicar, always mentioned first among the Apostles

    • He was crucified upside down in Rome (64AD)

    • He believed he should suffer martyrdom after an encounter with Christ saying he would be crucified again

  • St. Paul

    • A well-educated, pious, Roman Pharisee

    • He persecuted Christians greatly as Saul

    • One day, on his way to Damascus, he is blinded, and Christs asks him why he is persecuting him

      • Ananias cures him, and he is baptized as Paul

    • He believed Christ directly called him to be an Apostle, and he immediately starts preaching

    • His work causes the Church to grow exponentially

    • He wrote many 13 epistles to communities, which give glimpses into early Church problems and beliefs

      • Ex. Thessalonians 4:13-18 explains what happens to those who die, and what will happen at the second coming of Christ

    • He had a wider audience, spoke Greek, and bridged Jews and Gentiles

    • He had protection under the Roman law

    • Paul left structures in charge when he would leave a community (ex. Timothy)

      • He would visit where communities were already established, such as Palestine, Asia Minor, and Jerusalem

    • He worked hard to unify the Church, and clarified teachings, practices, and beliefs, under the authority of the Apostles

    • He would collect money to support the Church

    • He was beheaded between 62 and 65 AD

  • St. Andrew

    • The brother of Peter

    • He went to Scythia, Byzantium, Greece, and Patros

    • He was crucified on an x-shaped cross

    • His feast day is November 30

  • St. James the Greater

    • Son of Zebedee, and one of the “inner circle” Apostles

    • The first Apostle martyr, after being beheaded by Herod Agrippa in 44 AD

  • St. John

    • Son of Zebedee, and one of the “inner circle” Apostles

    • Wrote the fourth Gospel and Revelations

    • The “beloved disciple”

    • He was exiled to Patmos under the reign of Domitian

  • St. Bartholomew

    • Preached in Persia

    • Flayed alive in Armenia

  • St. Matthew

    • Was first a tax collector under the name Levi

    • His mission was directed towards the Jews

  • St. Thomas

    • Was known for being doubtful but zealous

    • Went to Iran, Turkmenistan, and India

  • St. James the Lesser

    • The head of the Church in Jerusalem and presided over the council of Jerusalem

  • St. Phillip

    • Christ called Phillip, who brought Bartholomew to Christ

  • St. Thaddeus

    • The patron saint of lost causes

    • Martyred in Persia with St. Simon the Cananean

  • St. Simon the Zealot

    • Martyred in Persia with St. Thaddeus

• As it expanded, they needed to have some structure to take care of one another

  • The Apostles ordained 7 men to serve as deacons

  • The Apostles understood that they had the authority to create new roles

• St. Stephen was the first martyr after being a powerful preacher of Christ

• The Council of Jerusalem, 49-50 AD

  • Paul approached the Apostles regarding if Gentiles had to obey the old Jewish laws, under the influence of Judaizer beliefs

  • Peter received a vision that they could eat all foods, including the “unclean”

    • Cornelius, a Gentile, has a vision to seek out Peter

    • Peter willingly talks to him, showing no bias against Gentiles, who were considered “unclean” by the Jews

  • It was agreed that they only had to obey marriage laws, and could not eat animals sacrificed to pagan gods

  • The council gave the Church a means to adapt to future problems, as well as spread universally

    • It also establishes authority of apostles/bishops

  • The Church shifts to Rome as many Gentiles become converts, and the Jewish authority in Jerusalem is destroyed

  • The Apostles would write that a decision made by their authority is good to them and the Holy Spirit, as it agrees will the will of God

The Early Christians

• They faced many prejudices, as they were aliens in their own groups

  • The Jewish Christians were persecuted in their community

  • The Gentiles were isolated in the Greco-Roman society, as they could no longer participate in pagan rituals

  • They would worship in secret to avoid gaining attention from the authorities

• However, they still had the benefit of being close in time with Christ and the Apostles

• They believed in Christ’s entrusted authority to the Apostles

  • Christ left a mission, through His established covenant, group of leaders, and body of teachings

    • He did not leave a clear theology, but it developed over time

    • The Holy Spirit would guide these leaders

• Early practices were found in the communal liturgy, sometimes continuing Jewish laws as a continuation of the Covenant

Baptism

• Mt. 28:19 - “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”

• It was instituted by Jesus at the start of His ministry, where it became a sign for the new converts to adopt the Gospel

  • Christ was baptized with a baptism of repentance, but He instituted the Sacrament of Baptism in the Holy Spirit

• It was initially viewed as a sign of conversion to the faith

  • However, the theology adapts to the times

  • It was also viewed as the means of removing original sin

• The sacrament was first instituted for adult converts, and some would wait to be baptized on their deathbed

• Soon, a process developed, where catechumens had to be “trained” in the faith until their sponsor deemed them ready for baptism

• Although it was a sign of conversion, it was also for cleansing the soul, and infant baptism was soon implemented

  • Infant baptism allowed all to receive salvation under the threat of infant mortality

  • It would wipe away sin as soon as possible, giving a person a longer time to grow in God’s grace

  • It would immerse the whole family in the faith, while holding them responsible to ensure the upbringing of their children is in the Faith

Eucharist

• They soon began to have weekly gatherings on Sunday, chosen because of the Resurrection and Pentecost

• There would be scripture and prayer in a preserved tradition

  • Mass developed gradually through readings from the Bible, psalms and hymns, prayers, and the collection for the poor

• Christ’s words at the Last Supper would be repeated in “remembrance” of Him

• They believed that it was truly Christ’s body and blood, and this was their share in the sacrifice of Christ

• They saw this as the Passover Covenant, where they would be saved through the sacrifice

• In the early days, they would gather in private homes or catacombs

The Papacy, Episcopacy, and Priesthood

• Christ made Peter the head of the Church

• The authority of the Bishop of Rome was recognized as the supreme authority

• Pope St. Leo I centralized the power of the Church in Rome as political power shifted to Byzantium

• Pope St. Gelasius I asserted the primacy of the Roman pontiff and was the first to use the title “Vicar of Christ”

• The bishops would guide the flock of Christians amidst the dangers of persecutions

  • They would perform sacraments as well

• Priests (from the word presbyter) would be ministers of divine worship and of the Eucharistic sacrifice

  • They were subordinate to the bishops

The Scriptures

• In a synod in Rome, 382 AD, an official Canon of the Church was established

• It was definitively decided again in the Council of Trent, 1546

• The Church never considered Scriptures as authoritative apart from their interpretation by the Church through her hierarchy

  • It is interpreted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit

• The Old Testament was included, as it showed the establishment of God’s covenants

Sexual Ethics - Abortion and Contraception

• Early Christians rejected abortion, contraception, and infanticide, in contrast to the Roman society

• It was believed to violate the dignity of humans, the fifth commandment, and the natural order of human procreation

  • Greek philosophy also saw contraception as an unnatural violation

1 Clement

• Written between 70 and 90 AD

• Clement was the 2nd or 3rd successor of St. Peter

• Apostolic Fathers - Those who led the Church following the Apostles

• There was evidence to suggest St. John was still alive, yet the Corinthian Church would write to the Bishop of Rome instead

• He writes about how the structure of the Church should work

  • Apostolic succession should establish authority to maintain unity

  • The Church he was writing to wrongfully moved appointed bishops of the Church, in violation with the authority of the Church

  • They are still experiencing divisions among themselves, like they did in Paul’s time