The Creation of the Church: Acts and the Epistles Flashcards
Foundations and Beginnings: The Acts of the Apostles
The Scope of Acts: The Book of Acts serves as the primary historical record for the beginnings of the Christian Church, spanning the time immediately following the Resurrection of Jesus and documenting the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
Post-Resurrection Period: Following the resurrection, Jesus remained with the Apostles for several weeks (approximately 40 days), continuing to teach them about the Kingdom of God.
The Divine Charge: Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Once empowered, their mission was to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Understanding Evangelization: Evangelization is defined as the act of preaching the Gospel (the Good News) to others with the intent of converting them to the faith.
Perils of Apostleship: It was extremely dangerous to be a disciple during this era because the movement was viewed as a threat to both the Jewish religious establishment (represented by the Sanhedrin) and the Roman political order. Disciples faced imprisonment, beatings, and execution.
Identity of Early Believers:
The Way: Before the term "Christian" was widely adopted, the earliest followers of Jesus were referred to as followers of "The Way."
Ecclesia: The Greek word for church is ekklesia, which literally means a "called-out assembly" or a gathering of those summoned.
Leadership and the Coming of the Spirit
Community Leadership: The primary leaders of the early community were the Apostles, specifically chosen by Jesus. As the community grew, other roles such as deacons (e.g., Stephen) were established to manage the needs of the believers.
The Event of Pentecost:
Descent of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the form of a violent wind and tongues of fire that rested on each of them.
The Miracle of Tongues: The immediate miracle was that the Apostles began to speak in different languages, allowing people from every nation under heaven to hear the wonders of God in their own native tongues.
The Birth of the Church: Pentecost is called the "Birth of the Church" because it marks the formal empowerment of the disciples to carry out the mission of Jesus in the world.
Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15):
The Issues: The central conflict involved whether Gentile (non-Jewish) converts were required to follow the Mosaic Law, specifically the requirement of circumcision, to be saved.
Peter’s Position: Peter argued that God makes no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, having given the Holy Spirit to both, and that salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus rather than through the Law.
Lifestyle and Values of the Early Church
The Way of Life: The early church was a community based on radical sharing and communal support.
Core Values: The values consisted of communal prayer, the breaking of bread, the teachings of the Apostles, and the selling of possessions to ensure no member was in need.
Tertullian's Observation: The Roman, non-Christian writer Tertullian noted the distinctiveness of the community with the famous quote: "See how they love one another."
Agape Services:
Basis: These were "Love Feasts" based on the selfless, unconditional love of God (agape).
Inclusions: These services included a shared meal, scripture reading, and the celebration of the Eucharist.
House Churches: Because there were no dedicated church buildings, the earliest Christians met in private homes to pray and worship.
The Conversion and Ministry of Paul
Saul’s Conversion:
The Event: Saul, a Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, was on the road to Damascus when a light from heaven flashed around him. He heard the voice of Jesus asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
Blinded and Healed: Saul was blinded for three days. His eyes were opened both physically and spiritually when a disciple named Ananias prayed for him, and something like scales fell from his eyes.
Transformation: His name became Paul, and he immediately began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God.
Paul’s Missionary Journeys:
Quantity and Purpose: Paul made three major missionary journeys (and a fourth journey to Rome). The purpose was to evangelize in major urban centers, establish small Christian communities, and provide them with ongoing leadership.
Methodology: Upon arriving in a new city, Paul would typically visit the local synagogue first to speak with fellow Jews before turning his focus to the Gentiles.
The New Testament Epistles
Nature of the Letters: Paul’s letters are "occasional" documents, meaning they are just one side of a conversation, reacting to specific problems or questions within a specific community. They are snapshots of a longer story.
Composition Timeframe: The letters were written over a period of approximately 15 to 20 years, mostly in the and AD.
Categories of Epistles:
Pauline Epistles: Letters directly authored by Paul.
Deutero-Pauline/Pastoral Epistles: Letters written in Paul's name or by his successors to provide organizational guidance.
Catholic/General Epistles: Letters written to the universal church rather than a specific city.
The Book of Hebrews: Unlike other epistles, Hebrews is not structured like a letter; it is considered a homily (a sermon) written to Jewish Christians.
Standard Letter Format:
Salutation/Opening Greeting.
Thanksgiving for the community.
Body of the letter (addressing theological and practical issues).
Final Salutations and Blessing.
Focus Study: 1 Corinthians and Philemon
1 Corinthians:
Geography and Culture: Corinth was a major port city in Greece, known for its wealth, diverse population, and rampant immorality.
Audience: The audience was mostly Gentile converts who were struggling to leave behind their pagan culture.
Timeline: Paul stayed in Corinth for approximately 18 months; the letter was likely written around AD from Ephesus.
Concerns Addressed: Divisions in the church, lawsuits among believers, sexual immorality, food sacrificed to idols, and the proper use of spiritual gifts.
Philemon:
Timeline: Written by Paul while in prison.
Characters: Philemon was a wealthy Christian slave owner. Onesimus was Philemon's slave who had run away and eventually met Paul.
The Request: Paul, who had become a "father" in faith to Onesimus, asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ.
The Book of Revelation
Authorship and Origin: Written by a man named John while he was in exile on the Island of Patmos "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
Apocalyptic Literature:
Audience: Written for Christians facing intense persecution under the Roman Empire.
Purpose: To offer hope to the suffering by expressing the belief that God is in control and that good will ultimately triumph over evil.
Symbolism and Numerology:
The Seven Churches: John writes to seven specific churches in Asia Minor. The number seven represents perfection, completeness, and wholeness.
Purpose of Sevens: The extensive use of sevens (seals, trumpets, bowls) is not coincidental; it represents the theological truth that God's plan is perfect and complete.
Coded Language: Early Christians used coded language (like "Babylon" to refer to Rome) so they could communicate their faith and resistance to Roman authority without being easily detected by oppressors.
The Son of Man: John describes seeing a figure like a "Son of Man" clothed in a long robe with a golden sash, with hair white as wool and eyes like a flame of fire.
The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21):
God's Dwelling: Verse 3 emphasizes that "God’s dwelling place is now among the people," paralleling John 1:14 ("The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us").
The Temple: There is no physical temple in the New Jerusalem because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple—meaning direct access to God is restored.
Underlying Message: Do not lose hope; evil will ultimately lose. Through all trials, God remains the Alpha and the Omega.
Bible Project Contextual Insights
Acts 1-7: Written by Luke (who also wrote the Gospel of Luke). He emphasizes that the New Temple is not a building, but rather the community of believers where the Spirit of God now dwells.
Acts 13-20: Paul’s message was threatening to Roman order because it proclaimed a different King (Jesus). This often resulted in Paul being thrown into prison.
Historical Levels of Context:
Scriptural Storyline: The Apostles saw themselves as heralds announcing the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.
Roman Culture: 1st-century Rome was highly hierarchical. Jesus’ teachings were counter-cultural because they emphasized that in Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.
Situational Context: Every letter was written to challenge and transform specific cultural behaviors of the 1st century into the values of the Kingdom of God.