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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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 and Paul the Apostle video
Homework

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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 ( 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

11. 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