CHAPTER 3 The Lasting Legacy of the Apostles

 With the Council of Jerusalem Gentiles were freed from Jewish Law  Small Christian communities sprang up  Passed on storied by word of mouth

Answer  Why would the accounts of miraculous deeds prove a successful missionary tool for Christians working among pagan worshippers of many gods?  Can you explain why Christianity might overtake pagan religions at a time when they were flourishing (rather than when they were in decline)?

Why did the Gentile find Christianity so attractive?  Related to the people  Idols were dead…Jesus was alive  Apocalyptic understanding of faith  Signs and miracles were signs of the power of God

 Read take notes

Eucharist  Then  Today

Early Writings  Christian canon  Paul’s epistles  51 CE begins writing  Addresses them to Christian communities  Paul’s message  One God  Faithfully loves us  Sent Jesus  Jesus saves

The Final Break  Separation was pronounced in 62 CE  Many Christians fled Jerusalem after James death  Jewish resentment toward Rome grew  Temple destroyed in 70 CE  Judaism was at risk of dying out  Needed conformity  Final break

Conclusions  Early Christians continued spreading the word  Developed rituals, and practices  Christian Testament

Implications  Small Christian communities are vital  Gain an understanding of how scriptures developed  Tradition as well as Scripture