Transcript Jesus of Nazareth and Early Christianity

Jesus of Nazareth and Early
Christianity
By
Tim Myers
Butler Community College
Introduction
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Life has changed the course of history
Life presents a problem for the historian
Sources of his life
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Writings of his disciples = New Testament
Roman and Jewish historians
Archaeology
Life and Times
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Jewish Hope of the Messiah
Roman rule
Jewish parties
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Sadducees
Pharisees
Essenes
Zealots
Life and Times
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Jesus’ Ministry
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Preached, taught, and healed
Stressed the spirit of the O. T. Law and
prophets = Sermon on the Mount
“Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Stressed repentance
Life and Times
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Jesus’ Mission
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Luke 19:10; Mark 10:45
Titles: Son of Man; “I am”
Peter’s Confession
Arrest, Trial, and Crucifixion
Resurrection and the Spread of
Christianity
Evidence of the Resurrection
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Roman Guard
Theories to Disprove the Resurrection
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Swoon Theory
Disciples stole the body
Ladies went to the wrong tomb
“Trip” Theory
Evidence of the Resurrection
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Reliability of the Disciples and the New
Testament
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All Disciples died a martyr’s death
Why didn’t authorities dig up the body?
Over 5,000 Greek MSS.
In spite of that number, the NT has not been
distorted
Conclusion: So is Jesus a Liar? Lunatic? Or Lord?
The Apostle Paul: from a Jewish
Sect to a World Religion
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Paul’s Life
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Diaspora Jew from Tarsus
Roman citizen
Knew Greek well
Pharisee and studied under Gamaliel
Persecuted Christians
Converted on road to Damascus
Missionary and Theologian
¼ of NT written by him
4 Missionary journeys
Paul’s Theology
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Christ: A Savior-God for the whole world
Resurrected redeemer who offered
salvation to all peoples
Romans Road
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All sinned (3:10; 3:23)
Christ died for all (5:8)
Receive Christ as Savior (6:23)
Believe and Confess (10:9, 10, 13)
Paul’s Theology
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The Break with Judaism
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“Justification by Faith”
Paul saw the new Christian community
(church) not as a nation but as an
oikoumene, a world community
The Appeal of Christianity
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Decline of Hellenism – a movement from reason
to revelation
Desire for a personal relationship with God and
membership in a community who cared for one
another
Concern for the under classes and hope of
eternal life
Church organization and leadership
Assimilated elements of Greek philosophy
Early Christian Communities
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Local leaders: Bishops
Regional variation in doctrine and ritual
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Nature of resurrection = Gnosticism
Role of women
Gradual acceptance of core texts
Growth of Early Christianity
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Roman persecution
Yet dramatic expansion of Christianity
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Especially with dispossessed, disenfranchised
classes
Urban poor
 Women
 Slaves
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Cultural Change in the Roman
Empire
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Growth of Christianity
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Constantine’s Vision, 312 CE
Promulgates Edict of Milan, allows Christian
practice (313 CE)
Converts to Christianity
392 CE Emperor Theodosius I proclaims
Christianity official religion of Roman
Empire
St. Augustine (354-430 CE)
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Hippo, North Africa
Experimented with Greek thought,
Stoicism, Neo-Platonism, Manichaeism
387 CE converts to Christianity
Major theologian
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City of God
Reconcile Christian thought with Platonic
philosophy
The Institutional Church
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Conflicts over doctrine and practice in early
church
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Divinity of Jesus
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Role of women
Church hierarchy established
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Arianism
Council of Nicaea 325 CE
Council of Chalcedon 451 CE
Pope
Patriarchs
Bishops
Canon of NT established in 397 CE
World Views of Christianity and
Classical Humanism
CHRISTIANITY
CLASSICAL
HUMANISM
WORTH OF MAN
GOD LOVES MAN
ABILITY TO REASON
LIFE’S PURPOSE
SALVATION
ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE
HISTORY
ULTIMATE END
CYCLES OF HAPPINESS
AND DECLINE
AUTHORITY
BIBLE-FAITH
REASON-PHILOSOPHY
ULTIMATE GOOD
KNOWINING, OBEYING
AND LOVING GOD
INDEPENDENT
THOUGHT AND ACTION
GOD
PERSONAL AND LOVING
LOGICAL ABSTRACTION
POLITICS
HEAVEN – GOAL
AVENUE FOR HAPPINESS
AND SELF-REALIZATION