the birth of the early church

Historian Sydney E. … But even in Berea the hatred of the Jews had pursued him, so the Berean believers escorted the Apostle to Athens. What is today known as the Hebrew Masoretic Text, which was formalized nearly 1000 years after the birth of Christ, existed, clearly, as one of a few Hebrew textual traditions in Jesus’ day. In Antioch, Paul chose Silas as his partner for this journey after separating from Barnabas over the problem with John Mark. 6. In a little over three weeks he taught this congregation a great deal of Bible doctrine. 3:6ff. Early Church in the Book of Acts (NT4) 1. Based on the book of Acts (chapters one through nine) The Messengers: The Birth of the Early Church continues the story of the disciples with Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers. The Christian missionaries were carrying the war into the enemies’ country. To encourage them to stand fast against persecution and pressure to revert to their former pagan life-styles (3:2-3; 4:1-12). Thessalonica was originally named Therma because of the many hot springs in the surrounding area, but in 315 B.C. Just a quick note about the Bible of the early Church. Introduction To the Book of Acts 2. Although it was the residence of the provincial governor, he exercised no civil authority because the city was ruled by politarchs (cf. He uses those who are committed to the Lord, and sensitive to His leading and burden for the world; men and women available to become living sacrifices (Rom. As with Philippi, the Apostle had been driven out of Thessalonica by persecution from the Jews and from there he had gone on to Berea. The words of the prophet Isaias(vii, 14) are understood in this sense by 1. This is a subject found at the close of every chapter. To answer questions regarding the “Day of the Lord” (5:1-11). This is a very important chapter in God's unfolding story. This question must always have filled Paul with anxiety. But the missionaries had been forced to leave these young converts abruptly, quite inadequately equipped with the instruction and encouragement necessary to enable them to stand firm in the face of determined opposition. 1 Thessalonians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary. Based on the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chapters 1-9. The missionary team of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke went to Thessalonica in response to God’s leading and their deep sensitivity to the will of God. Acts 17:2 tells us that “according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” Some have understood from this that the Apostle was only in Thessalonica for three weeks. His story will help kids understand that faith has a cost but the presence of Jesus always gives courage. However, the majority of people made their living by manual labor. The resurrection of sleeping saints (4:13-16), 2. First Era of Peace 218. In this the Apostle balances the prophetic with the practical. Both 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written from Corinth during the Apostle’s eighteen-month stay in that city (cf. Shortly after this, when in Lystra, Paul enlisted Timothy (Acts 16:1-3). Paul then sent Timothy back to Macedonia for the purpose of strengthening and encouraging the Thessalonian believers and to bring back a report about their faith and spiritual condition. 4. 1:8-9) and vastly multiply Paul’s ministry. The Celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist serves as a Memorial of the Last Supper of Our Lord with the reception of Communion. It was a city of commerce with a population of 200,000. Its midway position between the Adriatic and the Hellespont makes it even today a natural outlet for traffic from all points. 2:1-5; 1 Thess. 3:1-12), it was his policy to begin his ministry among the Jews, usually at the local synagogue where the Old Testament was known and revered. This response drew people away from the Jewish community which angered the Jews and caused them to resort to violence and mob activity. During Paul’s ministry he was often being persecuted, and on one occasion found himself being smuggled to safety in a basket. They were under pressure to return to their former lifestyles (3:2-3; 4:1-10), some members were not working in view of the imminency of the return of the Lord (4:11-12; 2 Thess. Persecution and Expansion 5. (4) Though the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, Satan and the world, especially the religious world, stand vehemently opposed to the message of Christ. In the midst of all of this, two major themes arise in the study and reading of 1 and 2 Thessalonians: The first theme is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having done this, it was their intention to go through the Phrygian and Galatian regions, but being forbidden to do so, they then attempted to carry the Word to Bithinia, but again the Lord had other plans. Furthermore, there were always many Gentile “God-fearers” in the synagogues, and through them Paul could began a witness to the pagan Gentiles. 4 F. F. Bruce, Word Biblical Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Vol. To defend himself against a campaign to slander his ministry (2:1-12). Shop The Messengers: The Birth of the Early Church [DVD] at Best Buy. This commercial activity had two important results. Christianity began as a movement within Judaism at a period when the Jews had long been dominated culturally and politically by foreign powers and had found in their religion (rather than in their politics or cultural achievements) the linchpin of their community. 3:6-15), but even this does not necessarily prove a stay longer than three weeks. The nature of their slander has been accurately captured by Frame: Among other things, the Jews had asserted (I Thess. 4:1-8). With the exception of the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles who attended the synagogue, the greater body of converts came to Christ from outright paganism. The conduct of the Apostle and his co-workers (2:1-12), C. The conduct of the Thessalonians (2:13-16), 1. Hence its peculiar interest.3. 20 likes. The earliest New Testament church first proclaimed the Gospel in the city of Jerusalem and the numbers of those who believed gradually rose (Acts 1:15, 2:41, 4:4). The past: the work of faith (1:1–3:13), A. It was probably the greatest of the cities along the entire Egnatian Road, a great military highway which connected Rome with the East and which ran through Macedonia and parallel to the Aegean Sea. They picture a local church in its most elementary New Testament form. It was a church under persecution, but also a church that had a dynamic testimony and that had grown through the persecution. Concerning the day of the Lord (5:1-11), 1. Though Paul was commissioned to carry the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Eph. Why? Imperial 300. The fact that Paul found it expedient to devote three chapters of his first letter to a defense against these attacks is evidence suspicion of some of the converts was aroused and that the danger of their being beguiled away from the faith was imminent.6. Further, Paul could more easily practice his trade and support himself in a city like Thessalonica (cf. Until the disciples were scattered "upon the persecution that arose about Stephen" (Acts 8:1, 11:19) Jerusalem was the scene of all that took place in the early Church of Christ. December 29, 2019 December 29, 2019 W. C. Newsom christmas, Early Church Fathers, Gospel of Luke, Thomas Aquinas The following excerpts are from Thomas Aquinas’ Catena Aurea, or Golden Chain Commentary on the Gospels , a 13th century compilation of Bible commentary from over 80 early church fathers. Introduction. This beautiful sun catcher will remind children that love is the most important gift we can offer our church family. As Wiersbe points out, “If Paul were there only three weeks, he certainly taught the new Christians a great deal of basic Bible doctrine. Timothy was a young pastor who had been trained by the Apostle Paul. Outreach to the West 8. This Paul Escaped in a Basket Story Illustration will remind children that God will give us strength to do what He asks us to do. In the Bible lesson activities below, children are given opportunity to engage in fun projects while learning about actual events that occurred in the early church. Silas was probably sent on a similar mission to Philippi. Anxiety must have been particularly intense when as so often, Paul was driven out of a new church before his work in it was done. (3) The Word of God is central in Paul’s methodology. In his letters to Timothy, Paul challenged him to be faithful in his service to the churches and the Lord. No Class 3. They give insight into the realm of what we can call ‘pediatrics.’. Macedonian women, though, enjoyed a higher social position and greater privileges than elsewhere in the civilized world. Rather He uses people, ordinary people. The Thessalonian epistles were written to the church at Thessalonica. Related Topics: Ecclesiology (The Church), Introductions, Arguments, Outlines, J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. First and fundamentally, as a part of the Word of God and as letters written to the church, the body of Christ, they deserve our careful study for the purpose of knowing and applying God’s truth to life. His heart for the Thessalonians (2:17), 3. 3. He was certainly a man God used in special ways to minister to the church, but it is important to recognize that none of the New Testament writers wrote in a vacuum nor were their writings the product of simple dictation. This political privilege was jealously guarded by the people who were extremely sensitive about anything that might result in imperial disfavor. >> What a fitting way for Jesus Christ to begin the church! Study for three weeks (May 9-31, 2016) in Turkey and Greece as we "follow in the footsteps" of Paul of Tarsus, the Apostle to the Gentiles Concerning the day of Christ: the comfort of His coming (4:13-18), 1. Second Era of Peace 260. This meant a lot of traffic with people moving in and out of the city from the surrounding regions. According to Luke, the converts at Thessalonica included Jews and a great multitude of devout Greeks who were attracted by the monotheism and morality of Judaism and who had attached themselves to the synagogue (Acts 17:4). Trials and Witness of Paul; Final Exam How did the early Christian church survive? After every new conquest, annoying guerrilla warfare was set up behind them. The First Great Awakening was a wave of religious enthusiasm among Protestants in the American colonies c. 1730–1740, emphasising the traditional Reformed virtues of Godly preaching, rudimentary liturgy, and a deep sense of personal guilt and redemption by Christ Jesus. While the exposition of this epistle will teach us a great deal about the ministry and strategy of the Apostle Paul, a missionary extraordinaire, the preceding historical background can teach us a number of very practical truths if we only have ears to hear. 9 This outline is primarily that of Dr. Stanley Toussaint taken from class notes used at Dallas Theological Seminary with some variations. In World War II it was captured by the German army, and the Jewish population of about 60,000 persons was deported and exterminated.”1. Heathenism and immorality, in a thousand forms, were always pressing in upon the territory that had been won. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. In First Thessalonians we discover just how Paul felt when the first news arrived. Ryrie writes: A careful study of Philippians 4:16 would indicate that it probably does not mean that Paul received several gifts from the Philippians while at Thessalonica. But he also learned the disturbing news of how the Jews had slandered him accusing him of teaching error and of false motives. The early church started with 12 disciples then moved forward to 120 followers. The key to Paul’s strategy and the ability of this church to endure the pressures they faced from the religious persecution of the Jews and the paganism of that day was their knowledge of the Word. Birth of the Church If the stay in Athens was about two months, his arrival in Corinth must have been in December, A.D. 49, or January, A.D. 50. was a 1966 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a former pastor of 28 years. The rapture of living saints (4:17-18), B. The blessed and glorious ever-virgin Mary, sprung from the royal stock and family of David, born in the city of Nazareth, was brought up at Jerusalem in the temple of the Lord.Her father was named Joachim, and her mother Anna. Christians Were Characterized by Uncommon Joy. Guidelines For Group Bible Studies: ACTS 2:1-4, 14-18, 37-38, 41-47 Morris, The Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians, p. 17).7. There he enjoyed a spiritually prosperous ministry for a year and a half. 3 J. Gresham Machen, The New Testament, An Introduction to Its Literature and History, Edited by W. John Cook, The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1976, p. 115. Once people were led to Christ and trained, these new converts could take the gospel to other regions (cf. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and instructed them for 40 days, after which he ascended to heaven. Christians in the East generally celebrated on January 6; those in the West on December 25. Its location also contributed to its importance. Significantly, in every chapter of 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle sought to comfort and motivate with the truth of the Lord’s sure return. Bible Lesson Activities about The Early Church, Fun Ways to Memorize the Books of the Bible, Fun Ways to Teach How the Bible is Organized, Paul Escaped in a Basket Story Illustration, People In The Church Loved One Another Bible Craft, Stephen Served and Preached Story Summary, People in the Church Taught About Jesus Match Game, People in the Church Loved One Another Word Scramble, People in the Church Loved One Another Word Tiles. More books of the New Testament were written by the Apostle Paul than any other New Testament author. The five-part series (four of which are currently available) begins with The Birth of the Church which covers the early history of the church, stretching from the death of Jesus to Constantine's rise to power in AD 312--so roughly three hundreds years of history. I. Answer: The church began on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the Passover when Jesus died and rose again. As Christians, we are all called to be a part of promoting the spread of the glorious truths of the Word, but where, when, and how are important matters that need to be discerned in the will of God for each individual believer. While they wrote under the inspired guidance of the Holy Spirit, they wrote from the source of their relationship with the Lord Jesus and what God was doing or had done in their hearts and to their thinking, values, goals, sources of trust, and purposes for life. In the Bible lesson activities below, children are given opportunity to engage in fun projects while learning about actual events that occurred in the early church. While Satan and his world system will often gladly accept and integrate other religions into the world’s system, the world stands ready to oppose and persecute Christians who refuse to compromise and who stand firm in their faith. ; 1 Thessalonians 3:10f. The commendation of the Thessalonians (1:1-10), 3. It had a sheltered harbor which was made into a naval station and equipped with docks by the Romans. The Great Persecution 302 311. The strange mixtures of a seaport city and the rites of the worship of the Cabiri cult caused the Apostle to make a special exhortation for holy living (1 Thess. He did not lean on the world’s gimmicks or strategies to reach people and establish a growing, thriving, and enduring ministry. The traditions of the early Church were passed on to the faithful followers of Jesus Christ at the Sunday liturgy (worship service) from the very beginning of the Church at Pentecost. The purpose and burden of the Apostle in writing to the Thessalonians can be summarized as follows: 1. 5. it was renamed Thessalonica after the half sister of Alexander the Great. Finally, in proof of their assertions, they pointed to the unquestioned fact that Paul had not returned, the inference being that he did not care for his converts and that he had no intention of returning. Having arrived at Somothrace in Macedonia, the missionary team moved on through Neopolis to Philippi, a leading city of Macedonia and a Roman colony. 1:16), and you can see why Paul and his associates began their work in the synagogue.2. Teaching t05711. The prospective: the endurance of hope (4:13–5:28), A. It appears that since Silas and Timothy had not been as conspicuous as Paul, they were able to remain at Berea (Acts 17:11-15). To answer a doctrinal question pertaining to the fate of Christians who had died (4:1-13). Timothy’s report on Thessalonica was so encouraging that Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians almost immediately.5. In each Macedonian city visited they had established a community of believers. St. Irenaeus (III, 21; see Eusebius, Church History V.8), 2. 1 Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Ready, Victor Books, Wheaton, 1979, p. 10. The tongues also provided a basis for later validating Gentile evangelization, as we will see in chapters 10,11. The city was conquered by Rome in 168 B.C., and was made the capitol of the entire providence of Macedonia. The Christmas Hymn, “We Praise You Jesus at Your Birth” – Pr. Hampton wrote many articles for the Biblical Studies Foundation and on... More. Man’s problems in ancient times are still man’s problems in modern times, and likewise, the solutions to man’s problems then are the same today. and willing to go wherever God leads to reach others with the message of Christ. During their second missionary journey, Paul and Silas revisited and strengthened those churches in the faith they had previously founded during their first missionary work. The history of Christianity The primitive church The relation of the early church to late Judaism. It is really not so surprising that, due to the glorious nature of the message of the gospel, people came to Christ and churches were founded across the country. Consequently, they passed by the town of Mysia and went down to Troas. 4. Does debt affect giving in modern times in light of the Israelite tithe and slaves? It was unthinkable that a small, despised movement from a corner of Palestine could move out to become the dominant faith of the mighty Roman Empire, an empire steeped in fiercely defended traditional pagan religions. 45, Word Books, Waco, 1982, p. xxvi. Origen(Adv. This story illustration will help kids understand that God’s Spirit gives us power to do what He desires. Of course each book has its special purpose, subject matter, and theme as determined by the inspired direction of the Holy Spirit on the human author, but this was always in conjunction with the particular historical and personal circumstances and needs of the recipients. After Jesus ascended to heaven, His promise to send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit fell upon Jesus’ followers on the Day of Pentecost. The human authors of Scripture wrote to real people with real problems in real situations in such a way that their writings are still very much applicable with tremendous relevance in our modern world. 2. When Paul made his journey to the city, it boasted a population of 200,000 consisting mostly of Greeks though there was a large Roman population with a strong Jewish minority. , Pope Julius set December 25 Great deal of Bible doctrine 4:1-12 ) the West on December 25 larger. Self-Government in all its internal affairs being smuggled to Safety in a little three! 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