““The World and the The World and the identity of the identity of the

earliest Church”earliest Church”

The Roman Empire:The Roman Empire:

► Rome was the dominant military and Rome was the dominant military and political power in the first century political power in the first century A.D. Rome allowed local autonomy A.D. Rome allowed local autonomy for the most part, letting native for the most part, letting native governors rule foreign lands.governors rule foreign lands.

► Roman legions were used to help Roman legions were used to help maintain the peace of Rome. PAX maintain the peace of Rome. PAX ROMANAROMANA

► Macedonia was conquered Macedonia was conquered in 168 B.C.in 168 B.C.

► Achaia (where Corinth is Achaia (where Corinth is located) was conquered in located) was conquered in 146 B.C.146 B.C.

► Asia (Ephesus was the Asia (Ephesus was the capital) was conquered in capital) was conquered in 133 B.C.133 B.C.

► Pompey took Syria in 66 Pompey took Syria in 66 B.C. (This included the B.C. (This included the lands of Galilee and lands of Galilee and Judea).Judea). The capital was The capital was Antioch. Antioch.

► Julius Caesar almost united Julius Caesar almost united Rome in 4 B.C.Rome in 4 B.C.

► Octavian (Caesar Augustus) Octavian (Caesar Augustus) rose out of the political rose out of the political climate to be the emperor climate to be the emperor when Jesus was born (Lk when Jesus was born (Lk 2:1) 2:1)

► Tiberius (A.d. 14-37) took Tiberius (A.d. 14-37) took the reigns next. the reigns next.

► Gaius (Caligula A.D. 37-41) Gaius (Caligula A.D. 37-41) played a major role in the played a major role in the early church period.early church period.

► Claudius was Caligula’s Claudius was Caligula’s uncle who evicted the Jews uncle who evicted the Jews from Rome (A.D. 49)from Rome (A.D. 49)

► Nero (A.D. 54-68) Nero (A.D. 54-68) ► Domitian (A.D. 81-96) Domitian (A.D. 81-96)

““Historians have long observed that Historians have long observed that conditions in the first century were conditions in the first century were

just right for the spread of just right for the spread of Christianity. There was relative Christianity. There was relative

peace, a common language (Greek), peace, a common language (Greek), some level of social order enabling some level of social order enabling

safe travel, and an increasing safe travel, and an increasing

network of roads and sea routes.”network of roads and sea routes.”

Hellenistic (Greek) Hellenistic (Greek) Civilization:Civilization:

► Rome was dominated by the influences of Rome was dominated by the influences of Greek culture…due mainly to the exploits of Greek culture…due mainly to the exploits of Alexander the Great and the spread of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture.Greek culture.

► Greco-Roman world. Greco-Roman world. ► Because Greek was the trade language, the Because Greek was the trade language, the

early Christians could speak their message early Christians could speak their message anywhere in the world and be understood.anywhere in the world and be understood.

► Hellenization brought big city life as well as Hellenization brought big city life as well as religious syncretism (the mixing of religious religious syncretism (the mixing of religious systems). systems).

Religions and Religions and PhilosophiesPhilosophies

► Philosophy was intertwined with religion in Philosophy was intertwined with religion in antiquity.antiquity.

► The major philosophers of the 4The major philosophers of the 4thth and 5 and 5thth centuries centuries B.C. (Socrates and Plato) passed on some of their B.C. (Socrates and Plato) passed on some of their thought.thought.

► Plato is most notable for dualism (matter / spirit).Plato is most notable for dualism (matter / spirit).► Plato’s cave was an allegory that suggested Plato’s cave was an allegory that suggested

salvation was the escape from the material world.salvation was the escape from the material world.► Sin was ignorance.Sin was ignorance.► Salvation was disembodied immortality.Salvation was disembodied immortality.► The Sophists preserved the thought of Socrates but The Sophists preserved the thought of Socrates but

focused on style of rhetoric rather than substance.focused on style of rhetoric rather than substance.

PhilosophyPhilosophy

Focused on human rationality, Focused on human rationality, experience, will or a experience, will or a combination of all.combination of all.

StoicismStoicism► Zeno was the original stoic (3Zeno was the original stoic (3rdrd century B.C.) century B.C.)► They were pantheistic (God is everything) or They were pantheistic (God is everything) or

panentheistic (God is a part of everything).panentheistic (God is a part of everything).► Most famous 1Most famous 1stst century stoic is Seneca (Nero’s tutor) century stoic is Seneca (Nero’s tutor)► Stressed fate. The world is beyond our control, and Stressed fate. The world is beyond our control, and

therefore the individual must forsake the excess of therefore the individual must forsake the excess of pleasure and sorrow to navigate the world pleasure and sorrow to navigate the world successfully.successfully. Stoics are unmoved by emotion…they operate by a sense of Stoics are unmoved by emotion…they operate by a sense of

determinism. Everything is already determined you just determinism. Everything is already determined you just have to live in the light of this preconceived rut. have to live in the light of this preconceived rut.

There is no good or evil only cosmic logic There is no good or evil only cosmic logic This is very close to Deism…which left its adherents empty This is very close to Deism…which left its adherents empty

and wanting for a personal relationship with God.and wanting for a personal relationship with God.

EpicureanismEpicureanism

► Epicurus taught in Athens and founded the rival Epicurus taught in Athens and founded the rival school against Zenoschool against Zeno

► Taught that god(s) were distant from the world.Taught that god(s) were distant from the world.► Believed in the material world and that Believed in the material world and that

everything is made up of tiny particles.everything is made up of tiny particles.► gods existed but were unknowablegods existed but were unknowable► Key to life was to maximize pleasure and Key to life was to maximize pleasure and

minimize pain.minimize pain.► ““Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we

die!”die!”►Not necessarily HedonisticNot necessarily Hedonistic

Cynicism: gloried in radical Cynicism: gloried in radical freedom of speech and act.freedom of speech and act.

► Antisthenes (4Antisthenes (4thth century B.C.) century B.C.)► First person to be labeled as a cynic was First person to be labeled as a cynic was

Diogenes because he was unkempt like a wild Diogenes because he was unkempt like a wild dog.dog.

► gloried in radical freedom of speech and act.gloried in radical freedom of speech and act.► Deliberately violated social conviction (public Deliberately violated social conviction (public

defecation and sex, wore filthy clothes, spoke defecation and sex, wore filthy clothes, spoke with abusive language)with abusive language)

► They ridiculed those who conformed to They ridiculed those who conformed to accepted social standards, which they reviled.accepted social standards, which they reviled.

► Relied on begging to surviveRelied on begging to survive

Skepticism:Skepticism:

►knowledge grew out of experience knowledge grew out of experience alone, that all experience is unique to alone, that all experience is unique to individuals, and therefore no truth is individuals, and therefore no truth is binding on all persons.binding on all persons.

►Morality was living in conformity to the Morality was living in conformity to the accepted norms of society. accepted norms of society.

►Agnostics of the ancient worldAgnostics of the ancient world

Neo-PythagoreanismNeo-Pythagoreanism

►Named after 6Named after 6thth century B.C. century B.C. mathematician and philosopher mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras.Pythagoras.

►Communal groups that focused on Communal groups that focused on mathematics, mysticism, numerology, mathematics, mysticism, numerology, vegetarianism, and reincarnation.vegetarianism, and reincarnation.

►Emphasized harmony and the discover Emphasized harmony and the discover of the divine within a person.of the divine within a person.

Mystery religionsMystery religions

► Sought to bring the initiate into contact with Sought to bring the initiate into contact with the god or goddess of the cult.the god or goddess of the cult.

► Promised conscious eternal life with a Promised conscious eternal life with a particular god.particular god.

►Membership was only given to those who Membership was only given to those who had gone through the initiatory rites.had gone through the initiatory rites.

► Strong internal leadership characterized Strong internal leadership characterized these groups. these groups.

► e.g. the worship of Dionysus often consisted e.g. the worship of Dionysus often consisted of drunken orgies.of drunken orgies.

MagicMagic

►Had to do with the manipulation of a Had to do with the manipulation of a god or the gods into doing what a god or the gods into doing what a person wants by means of person wants by means of incantations, spells, formulas and incantations, spells, formulas and other techniques.other techniques.

►Similar to the occult today.Similar to the occult today.

GnosticismGnosticism

► Platonic dualismPlatonic dualism► Material world is inherently evil / spirit was good.Material world is inherently evil / spirit was good.► Hedonism: indulge in the bodyHedonism: indulge in the body► Asceticism: deny the body satisfactionsAsceticism: deny the body satisfactions► Salvation meant the soul escaping the body by Salvation meant the soul escaping the body by

means of secret knowledge.means of secret knowledge.► Layers of deities in the heavens.Layers of deities in the heavens.► The world was created by a flawed The world was created by a flawed aeonaeon► Primary sources are the “Nag Hammadi Library” Primary sources are the “Nag Hammadi Library”

(gospel of mary, gospel of thomas)(gospel of mary, gospel of thomas)► Mainly a 2Mainly a 2ndnd century A.D. teaching. century A.D. teaching.

Emperor WorshipEmperor Worship

► Julius Caesar was the first to be deified by Julius Caesar was the first to be deified by his Son Augustus after Julius’ death (27 his Son Augustus after Julius’ death (27 B.C.).B.C.).

► Augustus’ son Tiberius also deified Augustus Augustus’ son Tiberius also deified Augustus upon his death (A.D. 14).upon his death (A.D. 14).

►Gaius Caligula (A.D. 37-41) sought Gaius Caligula (A.D. 37-41) sought acclamation as a god.acclamation as a god.

►Nero (A.D. 54-68) sought the worship of Nero (A.D. 54-68) sought the worship of himself close to the end his life.himself close to the end his life.

►Domitian (mid 90s) tried to establish himself Domitian (mid 90s) tried to establish himself as a god on a large scale. Calling himself as a god on a large scale. Calling himself “lord and God.”“lord and God.”

Christianity held these philosophies in Christianity held these philosophies in check by saying that there was a norm check by saying that there was a norm

and standard to life, and that was and standard to life, and that was modeled by the life of Christ. Freedom is modeled by the life of Christ. Freedom is

only found in Christ not in experiential only found in Christ not in experiential self-expression; furthermore, truth is self-expression; furthermore, truth is

rooted in God’s creative mastery over the rooted in God’s creative mastery over the universe.universe.

The Early Christians: New The Early Christians: New People in Christ.People in Christ.

► Pentecost (Acts 2) Three thousand were Pentecost (Acts 2) Three thousand were converted. Christians spread all over the converted. Christians spread all over the world due to this event.world due to this event.

► At first Christians stayed close to Jerusalem.At first Christians stayed close to Jerusalem.► Problem arose when looking at Christianity Problem arose when looking at Christianity

apart from Judaism…what do we do with apart from Judaism…what do we do with the long-held Jewish customs…circumcisionthe long-held Jewish customs…circumcision

► Jerusalem council (A.D. 49) Acts 15…Jerusalem council (A.D. 49) Acts 15…Christians were not a subset of any other Christians were not a subset of any other religious system.religious system.

► This was simply building on God’s design This was simply building on God’s design and plan for history and prophecy.and plan for history and prophecy.

How early Christians saw How early Christians saw themselves: themselves:

►The people of God and inheritors of OT The people of God and inheritors of OT Promises.Promises.

►Lived their lives around the core Lived their lives around the core message of the Gospels.message of the Gospels.

►They preached not themselves, but They preached not themselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

► followers of the way, servants of Christ, followers of the way, servants of Christ, the remnant of Israel, true Israel, the remnant of Israel, true Israel, church, witnesses, and Christians.church, witnesses, and Christians.

What Early Christians What Early Christians BelievedBelieved

► The OT was their Bible.The OT was their Bible.► They agreed with the Jewish understanding of who God is. They agreed with the Jewish understanding of who God is.

(One God, the Creator, who is holy, loving, just and true.)(One God, the Creator, who is holy, loving, just and true.)► They believed in life after death, bodily resurrection, coming They believed in life after death, bodily resurrection, coming

of the end of the age, last judgment, eternal consequences for of the end of the age, last judgment, eternal consequences for actions on earth in the form of heaven or hell. actions on earth in the form of heaven or hell.

► The uniqueness of Jesus. The difference between Christianity The uniqueness of Jesus. The difference between Christianity and Judaism was their belief in who Jesus is. Jesus is God and Judaism was their belief in who Jesus is. Jesus is God himself taken in human form, God was more than one person himself taken in human form, God was more than one person (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)…doctrine of the Trinity. Phil 2. (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)…doctrine of the Trinity. Phil 2. Col 2:9Col 2:9

► Death and resurrection: everyone agreed that Jesus died, but Death and resurrection: everyone agreed that Jesus died, but the Christians believed that he also rose from the dead. the Christians believed that he also rose from the dead. Jesus’ death was for the sin of the world, so that God’s people Jesus’ death was for the sin of the world, so that God’s people might be saved through him. (Rom 10:9)might be saved through him. (Rom 10:9)

The desperation of The desperation of ancient and modern ancient and modern

culture and the answer culture and the answer to the world’s vacuum is to the world’s vacuum is

Christ. Christ.