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Chapter 2 A Church of Converts: Widening the Circle of Jesus’ Followers.

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Presentation on theme: "Chapter 2 A Church of Converts: Widening the Circle of Jesus’ Followers."— Presentation transcript:

1 Chapter 2 A Church of Converts: Widening the Circle of Jesus’ Followers

2 Jesus’ Ministry: 30-33 C.E.  What did Jesus mean when He said He was “The Way, the Truth and the Light?”  Difference between an Apostle and a Disciple  The Messiah: Jewish belief vs. what Jesus taught and preached.

3 Peter and Andrew What did Jesus mean when he said to Peter and Andrew, “Come, follow me, and will make you fishers of men”? (Matthew 4:19)

4 Resurrection and Pentecost  Why is the Resurrection the single-most important event in Christianity?  What does Pentecost celebrate and why is it called the “birthday of the Church?”

5 Being both Jewish & Christian  Followers of Jesus = Jewish  To follow Christ meant to be following “The Way”  For a ten year period (33-43 C.E.), the followers of Jesus still followed and practiced their Jewish beliefs and customs. Only difference was that they believed Jesus was the Messiah.  Antioch, 43 C.E. – Christian first used to identify a follower of Jesus the Christ.  The Temple and synagogues still important and used by Jesus’ followers for worship.

6 The Persecutions Begin  In Jerusalem, Jesus’ followers were heavily persecuted by the Jewish authorities, known as the Sanhedrin  Arrests  Physical and verbal harassment  Executions  Jesus’ followers were considered heretics and blasphemers

7 Enter Paul  In the late 30s C.E., Saul of Tarsus experienced an intense conversion experience, which included speaking with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus.

8 Brief Background On Paul  The Acts of the Apostles, written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke, chronicles the missionary journeys of the Apostles and St. Paul.  Before his conversion, Paul was known in the Jewish community as Saul, from the city of Tarsus in modern-day Turkey.  He was both a Jewish Zealot and a Roman citizen.

9 After His Conversion  Paul immediately stopped his violent persecution of Christians and was baptized by Christian named Ananias.  Ananias also cured Paul of the blindness he obtained as a result of seeing and listening to the Risen Christ.  After his baptism, he retreated to the Arabian desert to meditate, read Scripture and pray.

10 Apostles Spreading the Good News  St. Phillip preached first to the Jewish Samaritans in Samaria. He was successful in converting and baptizing them, so he continued his mission west, along the Mediterranean.  St. Peter taught, healed the sick, raised a woman from the dead and converted Gentiles in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea.

11 The Gentile Question  Peter was baptizing Gentiles and this created a controversy amongst the early Church  Was the message of salvation through Christ meant to be only for the Jews, the Chosen People, or was it to be for all people (a universal salvation)?  Peter argued that it was meant for all, Jew and Gentile alike:  Didn’t Jesus eat with, walk with, talk with and preach to Gentiles as well as Jews?

12 Antioch: The First “Christian” Community  It was in Antioch, sometime around 42 or 43 C.E. where the term Christian was first used to describe those Jews who believed that Jesus was the true Messiah.  The Disciple Barnabas journey from Jerusalem to Antioch to visit this community and ended up staying and converting hundreds.  Gentile, Jewish and now Christian.

13 Paul’s First Journey  According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas traveled throughout Cypress and Asia Minor (Turkey), spreading the Good News and converting many Gentiles.  Around the year 45 or 46 C.E.  More often than not, they were rejected by the Jewish community.  Greatly welcomed by the Gentile community.

14 Crisis Over Jewish Law  The conversion of Gentiles by Peter, Paul and Barnabas ignited a new debate over Jewish Law, with the question being: would converted Gentile Christians, although NOT Jewish, be obligated to keep the Jewish Law and in effect, become Jews?

15 A Few Controversies  Peter broke bread and ate with Gentiles in Antioch, a clear violation of Jewish Law.  Gentiles did not keep Kosher; keep proper dietary laws  Gentiles were not circumcised. Circumcision was a sign of the Covenant between God and the Jews.

16 The Council of Jerusalem 50 CE  Main controversy/issue they had to immediately address: how to deal with Gentiles who refused to keep the Jewish Law, but still wanted to convert to Christianity, be saved through Jesus and follow the Way.  Volatile issue: if it was not settled immediately, all the work of Peter, Paul, Barnabas and Phillip would be destroyed.

17 The Council of Jerusalem 50 CE  As the first-ever Church Council in the history of Christianity, the Council came together to finally address and solve this problem.  After a lengthy debate, and passionate speeches by Paul and Peter, James, as the head of the Council, stated that all Gentile converts only had to do what was essential for the followers of Jesus.  They did not have to observe the complete Jewish law and they didn’t have to get circumcised. All that was required was Baptism!

18 In The End...  Crisis averted!  The Apostles were now free to preach and convert all the Gentiles.  Gentiles now really only had to observe one rule: believe that Jesus the Christ is the true Messiah and the Son of God.  As a result, the Apostles began to convert only Gentiles, and not Jews.


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