The Early Church: Growth, Persecution, and Legacy
The Church’s Ministry Begins and Grows
As Peter and the other disciples gathered together in Jerusalem in 30 AD, they experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The disciples were inspired to preach the Gospel, perform miracles, and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Peter addressed the people of Jerusalem, saying, “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. About three thousand people took part in this.
The Holy Spirit guided the members of the first Christian community by inspiring them to live in unity, share their possessions, and support each other. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They gathered together for communal meals and worship.
Early Christians are Martyred for Their Faith
The structure and culture of the Roman Empire, with its extensive road network, common language (Greek), and relative political stability, helped Christian missionaries like Paul to travel widely and share the Good News more efficiently.
A martyr is someone who is killed because of their religious beliefs. The first Christian martyr was Stephen, who was put to death for his outspoken faith and for accusing the Jewish authorities of betraying and murdering Jesus.
The Roman authorities feared Christianity because it rejected Roman gods and the divinity of the Emperor, which they saw as a threat to their authority and unity of the Empire. The Romans began to persecute Christians during the reign of Emperor Nero, around AD 64. The exact number of martyrs is unknown but many Christians were executed.
Saints Peter and Paul
The Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul is celebrated on June 29.
Peter is important to the Catholic Church because he is considered the first Pope, having been appointed by Jesus as the leader of the apostles. His role establishes the papal authority and the succession of the Church’s leadership.
Paul traveled to places such as Asia Minor (modern Turkey), Greece, and Rome to spread the Good New++s. He helped establish the first Christian communities by preaching, baptizing new believers, and appointing leaders. When he couldn’t visit a place personally, he shared the Gospel through letters (Epistles).
The Church Meets at the Council of Jerusalem
The followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians in Antioch, which is in modern-day Turkey.
A Gentile is a non-Jewish person. The controversy that arose with Gentiles in Antioch concerned whether they needed to follow Jewish laws, such as circumcision, to become Christians.
The presbyters were leaders in the early Christian communities, and we call them priests today.
The controversy discussed at the Council of Jerusalem was whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law. Peter played a leading role by arguing that Gentiles should not be burdened with these laws, emphasizing faith in Jesus. It was decided that Gentiles did not need to follow most Jewish laws but should abstain from certain practices.
The Apostle James suggested that Gentiles should abstain from practices like idolatry, sexual immorality, and consuming blood, but they did not need to be circumcised. Dietary laws and circumcision were done away with for Gentile Christians, but moral laws were kept.
The Holy Spirit guides the leaders of the Church in making decisions and maintaining unity. The Christian faith belongs to all believers, Jews and Gentiles alike.
The Church is Inspired by the Holy Spirit
The first Christians spread the Good News through preaching, missionary journeys, and establishing churches. The story of Jesus was preserved through oral tradition and later written down in the Gospels and other New Testament writings.
Timeline of the Gospels:
- AD 60-70: The Gospel of Mark
- AD 70-90: The Gospels of Matthew and Luke
- AD 90: The Gospel of John
The Epistles are letters written by apostles like Paul, Peter, James, John, and others to various Christian communities. The Acts of the Apostles is a book that details the early Church’s history and the spread of the Gospel after Jesus’ ascension. The last book of the Bible is Revelation, which is about the end times and the return of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit inspired the authors of the Bible, guiding them to write God’s truth accurately.
Tradition refers to the teachings and practices passed down through generations of the Church. Tradition and Scripture together guide the Church in faith and morals.
The Magisterium
The Pope and bishops trace their authority back to the apostles, specifically to Peter. The Holy Spirit helps to guide them.
The Magisterium refers to the teaching authority of the Church, consisting of the Pope and bishops. The Church looks to Tradition and Scripture when new circumstances and questions arise.
Divine Revelation is God’s communication of Himself and His will to humanity, primarily through Scripture and Tradition.
Women of the Early Church
Saint Lydia: Lydia was a businesswoman who became the first European convert to Christianity after hearing Paul’s preaching. She hosted Paul and his companions, and her home became a meeting place for Christians, playing a crucial role in the establishment of the early Church in Philippi.
Saint Prisca: Also known as Priscilla, she was a missionary who, along with her husband Aquila, worked closely with Paul. They provided him with support, hosted a church in their home, and were influential in spreading Christianity.
Saint Perpetua: Perpetua was a noblewoman and martyr who, along with her slave Felicitas, was executed for her faith. Her diary provides a vivid account of early Christian martyrdom and has inspired generations of Christians to remain steadfast in their faith.
Places and Things
- Monastery: A place where monks or nuns live
- Monastic Life: A life dedicated to prayer, work, study, and the needs of society
- Evangelical Counsels: Poverty, chastity, and obedience
- Ora et labora: “Pray and work”
- Canon law: A grouping of laws that would be used to govern the Church and would provide for good order in ecclesial governance
- Ecclesial: Another word for Church
- Gregorian Chant: The music chanted at the Liturgy of the Hours and other liturgical and traditional celebrations
- Schism of 1054: A division of Catholicism, separating the Church in the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire; western is now Roman Catholic, eastern is now Eastern Orthodox
People
- Anthony of Egypt: (251-356); brought together a group of solitary hermits to live in a community which become a monastery
- Basil the Great: (329-379); a great theologian whose writings helped to defeat Arian heresy; a holy monk who developed a great “rule of life” for monks, calling them to a life dedicated to serving God in other people, especially those who were poor
- Benedict of Nursia: (480-550); founded a monastery for monks at Monte Cassino, Italy, around 529; wrote a rule for his monks and Scholastica’s nuns; lived by the motto Ora et labora, which set aside times for daily community prayer
- Scholastica: (480-543); founded a monastery for nuns near Benedict’s
- Pagans: Non-Christians
- Pope Gregory the Great: Reached out to the pagan tribes and began the work of their conversion → made treaties with their leaders and sent Christian missionaries to their homelands; helped to reform the Church → contributed to Canon law
- Clovis (King of the Franks): (466-511); converted to Christianity and laid the foundation for a new Christian empire in what was the western part of the known world
- Cyril and Methodius: (827-869) and (825-884); brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to the territory from which many of the invading tribes had come
- Charlemagne: Crowned as Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, 800; viewed the Church and the state as the two halves that formed his Holy Roman Empire
- Muhammad: (570-632); a prophet followed by Muslims
Questions
How did monasteries help preserve education and literacy in Europe after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire?
All monasteries opened schools to everyone, not just to those studying to become monks or nuns. Charlemagne also helped encourage monastic libraries to preserve and copy ancient manuscripts.
How did Charlemagne help to reform and strengthen the Church in Europe?
He defended Christian doctrine. He also reorganized the Church’s hierarchy. Charlemagne also reformed and strengthened education in Europe.
What impact did the rise of Islam have on the Church?
The rise of Islam made it hard for the Church to spread. Muslim armies conquered many holy sites and Christian lands, such as Spain and areas of Northern Africa.
What are two differences between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches?
Roman Catholic Churches follow the pope, unlike Eastern Orthodox Churches. Eastern Orthodox Churches also developed slightly different creeds, canons of Scripture, sacraments, moral codes, and respect for the teachings of Ecumenical Councils.