BOOK REPORT: CHURCH HISTORY

BOOK REPORT: CHURCH HISTORY Vol. 1

SUBMITTED TO DR. JEFF YANEFF

COURSE: CHURCH HISTORY

SEMESTER: FALL/17

DATE: Dec. 12th 2017

PREPARED BY MIRIAM CRISTINA SANT ANA

BOOK REPORT

CHURCH HISTORY (VOL.1) - From Christ to Pre-Reformation

(Everett Ferguson)

1. The Setting for the Story’s Beginning

Christianity suffered the influence of 3 of the greatest civilizations: Roman, Greek and

Jewish. The Church consequently also had their influence.

1. The Roman World

In Luke, the birth of Jesus is clearly set under the emperor Augustus. The Roman

military, legal, and governmental rules are also contextualized. The Church hierarchy seems to

be based on its organization. Latin was was the languageinwhichChristianitywasexpressedin

those regions.

2. The Greek World

More significant than Latin, the Greek language had predominant influence inlanguage,

education, literature and philosophy, even amongthosewhodidnotspeakit.ItseemsthatGreek

was the Church language in Rome and also the Christian’s writers, before Latin. Greek

philosophy provided the tools to develop Christian’s affirmations of the gospel, moral and

doctrine. In the other hand, Greek also initiated mystery religions, belief in astrology and

practice of magic. Although the social life was also guided by Greek societal norms, Christians

lived within the framework of existing ways of doing things.

3. The Jewish

Jesus and his disciples were Jewish. Judaism provided the religious context for

Christianity and the central affirmation of the early Church.

2. Jesus and the Beginning of the Church

Jesus’ Ministry was ensuedaspreaching,teachingandhealing.Itwaspopularandarouse

many followers and hopes.Hispopularityandpowerfulinfluenceprovokedjealousy,andhewas

sentenced to death. He died for our sins, was buriedandraisedonthethirdday.Hisresurrection

is one of the proofs that he was not a simple man among others, being one of the pillars of

Christianity.

The experience of the comingoftheHolySpiritlaunchedtheChurch.Therewasinitially

no difference from the Jewish institution. There were 3 groups in Jerusalem: the Galilean

Ministry, led by Peter and the Twelve; Judaean converts,ledbyJamesandthosefromtheGreek

Diaspora, led by Stephen.

The Church began in Antioch and the new name Christians was designatedtobothJews

and Gentiles. Paul is sometimes considered to be the second founder of Christianity. Although

the Twelve Apostles must not be forgotten, Paul had a significant part as a missionary for his

work, among many different Christian actions, the interpretationoftheLawsandtheconversion

of mostly gentiles. Some sources state he was beheaded under Nero emperor. There are

evidences that Peter and Paul had been in Rome, therefore they are associated to the church in

Rome. The church in Ephesus is associated to Paul and his co-laborers and there were also

disciples of John the Baptist in the city. In Syria, Christians claim that the gospel was first

introduced in Edessa by Addai by encouragement of Thomas.

Due to the variety of regions and individuals to where thegospelwasbrought,therewas

not a uniform church life at first. Some old Judaism habits were still at use and were slowly

changed only some time later.

3. The Subapostolic Age

After the death of the “big three” and the mutual rejection between Gentiles and Jews,

there was a long periodofmanygapsandwithfewregisters.Thiscombinedwiththedestruction

of Jerusalem brought a new situation to the church. There was an increasing marginalization of

Jews and a growing number of Gentile believers. Three strands of Jewish Christianity could be

fragmented noticed and eventually passed away: Ebionites, Nazaraeans and Elkesaites.

Some Gentile literature show the organizational and doctrinal developmentinthechurch

as it adapted to the new circumstances, besides some concerns and problems pointed in