BOOK REPORT: CHURCH HISTORY
Por: Miriam Sant'Ana • 12/11/2018 • Trabalho acadêmico • 3.516 Palavras (15 Páginas) • 177 Visualizações
BOOK REPORT: CHURCH HISTORY Vol. 1
SUBMITTED TO DR. JEFF YANEFF
COURSE: CHURCH HISTORY
SEMESTER: FALL/17
DATE: Dec. 12th 2017
PREPARED BY MIRIAM CRISTINA SANT ANA
BOOK REPORT
CHURCH HISTORY (VOL.1) - From Christ to Pre-Reformation
(Everett Ferguson)
1. The Setting for the Story’s Beginning
Christianity suffered the influence of 3 of the greatest civilizations: Roman, Greek and
Jewish. The Church consequently also had their influence.
1. The Roman World
In Luke, the birth of Jesus is clearly set under the emperor Augustus. The Roman
military, legal, and governmental rules are also contextualized. The Church hierarchy seems to
be based on its organization. Latin was was the languageinwhichChristianitywasexpressedin
those regions.
2. The Greek World
More significant than Latin, the Greek language had predominant influence inlanguage,
education, literature and philosophy, even amongthosewhodidnotspeakit.ItseemsthatGreek
was the Church language in Rome and also the Christian’s writers, before Latin. Greek
philosophy provided the tools to develop Christian’s affirmations of the gospel, moral and
doctrine. In the other hand, Greek also initiated mystery religions, belief in astrology and
practice of magic. Although the social life was also guided by Greek societal norms, Christians
lived within the framework of existing ways of doing things.
3. The Jewish
Jesus and his disciples were Jewish. Judaism provided the religious context for
Christianity and the central affirmation of the early Church.
2. Jesus and the Beginning of the Church
Jesus’ Ministry was ensuedaspreaching,teachingandhealing.Itwaspopularandarouse
many followers and hopes.Hispopularityandpowerfulinfluenceprovokedjealousy,andhewas
sentenced to death. He died for our sins, was buriedandraisedonthethirdday.Hisresurrection
is one of the proofs that he was not a simple man among others, being one of the pillars of
Christianity.
The experience of the comingoftheHolySpiritlaunchedtheChurch.Therewasinitially
no difference from the Jewish institution. There were 3 groups in Jerusalem: the Galilean
Ministry, led by Peter and the Twelve; Judaean converts,ledbyJamesandthosefromtheGreek
Diaspora, led by Stephen.
The Church began in Antioch and the new name Christians was designatedtobothJews
and Gentiles. Paul is sometimes considered to be the second founder of Christianity. Although
the Twelve Apostles must not be forgotten, Paul had a significant part as a missionary for his
work, among many different Christian actions, the interpretationoftheLawsandtheconversion
of mostly gentiles. Some sources state he was beheaded under Nero emperor. There are
evidences that Peter and Paul had been in Rome, therefore they are associated to the church in
Rome. The church in Ephesus is associated to Paul and his co-laborers and there were also
disciples of John the Baptist in the city. In Syria, Christians claim that the gospel was first
introduced in Edessa by Addai by encouragement of Thomas.
Due to the variety of regions and individuals to where thegospelwasbrought,therewas
not a uniform church life at first. Some old Judaism habits were still at use and were slowly
changed only some time later.
3. The Subapostolic Age
After the death of the “big three” and the mutual rejection between Gentiles and Jews,
there was a long periodofmanygapsandwithfewregisters.Thiscombinedwiththedestruction
of Jerusalem brought a new situation to the church. There was an increasing marginalization of
Jews and a growing number of Gentile believers. Three strands of Jewish Christianity could be
fragmented noticed and eventually passed away: Ebionites, Nazaraeans and Elkesaites.
Some Gentile literature show the organizational and doctrinal developmentinthechurch
as it adapted to the new circumstances, besides some concerns and problems pointed in
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