The Church in the Early Christian Centuries Section 1 The Church in the Early Christian Centuries

The Mission of the Church Section 1, Part 2 The Mission of the Church

Introduction Acts 2 & 4 made the early Church community seem perfect Every age has its struggles Three in this part Paul – persecution & evangelization Peter – the Gentile question & the Council of Jerusalem Scriptures – formation of the NT Christian writings & canon Three Articles (A. 4) – The Conversion of St. Paul (A. 5) - The Significance of Saints Peter & Paul (A. 6) – The Development of the New Testament Introduction

Article 4: The Conversion of Saint Paul Members of The Way may have been living in harmony but members of Judaism were not so happy (Acts 2 & 4) Saul (St. Paul) was seeking to preserve Judaism by stamping out its members (Acts 8) On his way to Damascus, he experienced a dramatic conversion (Acts 9) Through Ananias Paul became the Apostle to the Gentiles The Way became known as Christians in Antioch around 40 a.d. Conflict arose between Jewish and Gentile Christians over following the Jewish law—please & confused Article 4: The Conversion of Saint Paul

Article 4: The Conversion of Saint Paul cont. “Council” of Jerusalem 49/50 a.d. (Acts 15) Paul and Barnabas – saved through grace Peter and other Apostles – saved through the Law but open due to Acts 10 Jacobine clauses Gentiles wishing to join Christianity must only follow four clauses in addition to accepting the Holy Spirit & the act of faith Abstain from meat offered to idols Abstain from meat of strangled animals Abstain from the blood of animals Abstain from pornea (sexual misconduct) Tension—Old & New Covenants Luke in the Acts (& his Gospel) carefully relates this history since he is a Gentile convert himself Article 4: The Conversion of Saint Paul cont.

Homework 1.2 Review questions 1-3 Read AA. 5-6 Looking Ahead Section 1, Part 2 HW 1-7 due Monday Section 1, Part 2 Quiz Wednesday on AA. 4-6 and Paul the Apostle video Homework

Article 5: The Significance of Saints Peter & Paul Why are Saints Peter & Paul honored together on June 29th as pillars of the Church The Missionary Journeys of Saint Paul Decade immediately following his conversion in Damascus Called to home base of Antioch in 45/46 a.d. by Barnabas First Journey – Asia Minor (46-48 a.d.) with Barnabas and Mark The Council of Jerusalem 49/50 a.d. Second Journey – Asia Minor and Greece (49/50-52 a.d.) with Silas & Timothy Third Journey – Asia Minor and Greece (53-57 a.d.) with Luke “Fourth Journey” – Rome (60-61 a.d.) 15,000 miles by land & see Method = Evangelize, establish a Church, leave a leader, support community with letters that teach doctrine & praxis, revisit if possible Philosophy = Cross of Christ is the power & wisdom of God, not of Jews or Greeks Article 5: The Significance of Saints Peter & Paul

The Missionary Journeys of Paul A Map and Timeline of Paul's Journeys The Missionary Journeys of Paul

Article 5: The Significance of Saints Peter & Paul The Mission of Saint Peter Peter’s role in the Acts of the Apostles – Leader Replacing Judas (Acts 1: 15-26) Pentecost (Acts 2) The Gentile question (Acts 10-11)—Cornelius Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) throughout Acts – “Peter & the other Apostles” Supported by other early Christian writings Paul, Tertullian, Clement, Cyprian Gradually the idea of the papacy would develop as Peter moved from Jerusalem to Antioch to Rome as bishop Apostolic succession guided the popes who succeeded Peter and the bishops who succeeded the apostles The scandal of Paul being more important Peter? Both martyred and buried in Rome (64 and 67 a.d.) under Nero Both strengthened and encouraged Church in their own way Article 5: The Significance of Saints Peter & Paul

Article 6: The Development of the New Testament During the missionary activity of Peter, Paul, & the other apostles NT did not exist; only OT Hb./Jewish Scriptures OT was read at liturgies, Psalms were prayed daily (basis of Divine Office later on) Stories and teachings of Jesus were passed down orally People of the time were more practiced and guided by the HS NT was formed in three broad stages Words & Deeds of Jesus from birth to Ascension (3 b.c.-30 a.d.) Oral tradition by apostles and disciples in synagogues 1st then marketplaces, and liturgies (30-50 a.d.) Written tradition by evangelists and biblical authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (50-100 a.d.) The Formation of the NT canon (200, 400 a.d.) Divine Revelation, Deposit of Faith, Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture (46+27), Magisterium, Apostolic Succession—definitions & relations Early bishops or episcope (apostolic tradition) decided if apostolic, communally accepted (Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople), liturgical, & consistent; if so added to canon Article 6: The Development of the New Testament

Homework 1.2 Review questions 4-7 Study for the Section 1, Part 2 Quiz on AA. 4-6 and Paul the Apostle video Wednesday Make sure the Section 1, Part 2 Homework 1-7 is ready to turn in Monday Homework