HISTORICAL EVENTS
The term “church” comes from two Greek words that have the meaning of “to call or to hold a public activity.” Jesus used the term only on two occasions (Matt. 16:18 and 18:17) to identify the group of His followers, but it often appears in the rest of the New Testament writings where it occurs 107 times. The biblical meaning of “church” is that of an assembly gathered for sacred purposes.
The ever-increasing number of Jesus’ followers rapidly established churches throughout the Roman Empire. Within those early communities we see such important historical events as the Council of Jerusalem, constant witnessing or evangelism, the issuance of sacred literature such as the Gospels and the various Epistles, and a growing persecution of Christianity. At least until AD 66-70 Christianity could spread as a protected Jewish sect, but that changed after the first Jewish rebellion. The Roman Empire then began a more active opposition against Christians.
The environment in which Christianity emerged was a difficult one. The Roman Empire centered its authority in the figure of the emperor. His oppressive rule subjected the conquered nations to heavy taxation. The predominant culture was based on Hellenistic thought. The dominant language, up to the third century, was the Greek Koine. The centers of greatest intellectual activity were Athens and Alexandria, but the great mass of people remained in ignorance and superstition. Religion had a nationality-based character, i.e., each person practicing the religion of their nationality or ethnic group. Overall, the various religions were polytheistic with gods of both sexes. Only Judaism was monotheistic.
The earliest Christian communities reflected the surrounding society with many poor and few members belonging to the upper classes. Churches were autonomous in their local organization and administration, but maintained relationships with congregations in other cities, sharing Pauline correspondence (Col. 4:16), sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3), and maintaining charitable links. Gatherings took place in the homes of those members who had space and conditions to welcome the believers. (for example, see Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15). Especially important were the ordinances ofbaptism and the Lord’s Supper. Church members did not practice an ascetic or monastic lifestyle of later centuries and did not pursue public office. When a problem arose that the believers considered sinful and serious, the congregation would punish the offender with graduated discipline, culminating in ostracism and exclusion (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5:11-13; 2 Thess. 3:14).
One avenue for maintaining Christian unity in different cities was through the spread of Christian literature. To keep alive in the minds of believers the teachings, work, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, there emerged the four Gospels. One of their authors, the physician Luke, also recorded the missionary activities of the apostles, including Paul, after the ascension of Jesus in the book of Acts. Other apostles of Jesus, such as Peter, John, and James the brother of Jesus, prepared texts to strengthen members spiritually. Paul wrote several letters to help believers organize churches, interpret the doctrinal teachings of Christ, and to correct false teachings.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, those writings we now call the NT were preserved. Other documents were written by later authors such as the Epistle to the Corinthians by Clement of Rome, the letter to the Romans by Ignatius, the epistolary letter from pastor Hermas, and the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. These, however, did not become part of the biblical canon.
The growth and expansion of the early church resulted from at least three factors: the existence of synagogues and a diaspora of receptive Jews throughout the Roman Empire (John 7:35), persecution of Christians by Jews and by imperial decrees which hastened the spread of the gospel message, and the missionary journeys of Paul and others in preaching the message of Christ to many cities. The methods used for the dissemination of the gospel were the proclamation in public places (kerygma) and the doctrinal instruction given at church gatherings (didache). It is possible to highlight at least three spheres of activity in the expansion of earliest Christianity: first, that promoted by Peter from Pentecost until his death in Rome; Paul’s ministry from his call on the road to Damascus until his death in Rome; and John’s ministry highlighted by his imprisonment on the island of Patmos and his final residence in Ephesus at the end of the first century.
A striking feature of the early church was the believers’ frequent demonstration of faith sealed by their sacrifice of life itself. The doctrine of Christ presented to the world a message of hope and salvation suitable to the natural needs of humanity. Its impact on society was striking as it transformed norms of social behavior and law. The Roman Empire, which became increasingly opposed to the spread of Christianity, raised unsubstantiated charges against the Christians as excuses to persecute them. The Roman authorities accused them of being subversive through the preaching of the coming of another kingdom, labeled them as superstitious fanatics, and singled them out as the cause of various disasters. Some of the most intense periods of Christian persecution occurred during the reigns of the Emperor Nero who accused Christians of setting fire to Rome; that of Domitian who restored the worship of the emperor, which Christians refused to do; Trajan’s decree against secret societies; Hadrian’s order following the revolt of the Jews after the founding of Aelia Capitolina; and the decree issued by Diocletian in AD 303, perhaps the most cruel and heartless period of persecution.
In conclusion, we should note that early Christianity, despite suffering obstacles and tribulations, strengthened the faith of its members in the ministry of Jesus and successfully spread the faith throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.