scholarly journals The amazing growth of the early church

2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim A. Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
Church Growth ◽  
Reaction Model ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Social Reaction ◽  
Institutional Model ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
The Church ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Research Analysis

The church grew rapidly during the first centuries. The question is: Why? Generations of scholars approached this question from different perspectives and with different methods. Historical research, analysis of early Christian texts and theological reflection were the most common methods used to shed light on the growth of the church. In this contribution five different models of growth were discussed, using the approach of A.M. Schor as a point of departure. These models of church growth were put under the headings of an apostolic mission model, values reproduction model, social reaction model, network model with an institutional model added.

The Early Church and War

1946 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland H. Bainton
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Early Church ◽  
French Translation ◽  
Political Thinking ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Subsequent Investigation ◽  
The World ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
The Church

The attitude of the early church toward the problem of participation in warfare has been not a little studied and controverted. The data with regard to participation and the attitude toward it have been assiduously compiled by a series of investigators among whom four may be mentioned for their distinctive and permanent contributions. Adolf Harnack in his Militia Christi pointed out that the early Christians rejected the militia of the world in favor of the militia of Christ. In theory the Church was pacifist until the time of Constantine though in practice some Christians were in the legions. James Moffatt in the course of a fruitful survey called attention to the shift in early Christianity from marital to martial metaphors. Whereas in the Old Testament infidelity was called adultery, in the New Testament and the early church it is described as desertion. Such militant terminology could be used by the early Christians “without the slightest risk of misconception” because their pacifist principles were so well known. C. J. Cadoux in The Early Christian Attitude to War set the entire problem in the broad context of theological and political thinking. His work remains the indispensable point of departure for all subsequent investigation. Leclercq supplied in French translation the recorded acts of the soldier martyrs and the texts of the extant inscriptions which mention Christians in the army.

scholarly journals God as One

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem H. Oliver ◽  
Erna Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Early Church ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
Christian Religion ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

Two notions are discussed in this article, namely, the (unity of the) Trinity and God’s omnipresence. These two notions are deeply embedded in the Christian faith system and religion – they actually form both the basis and point of departure for the Christian religion. The aim of this article is to revisit the (Early Church and present) dogma of the Church about the Trinity and omnipresence of God as a result of the heresies and apologies linked to this dogma, and to rethink the notion of the concept ‘Trinity’ linked to God’s omnipresence. The historical method is used in the discussion of the (primary) sources and to reach the outcome.

The Marcan Framework

1961 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-294
Author(s):  
Harry Sawyerr
Keyword(s):  
Early Church ◽  
Considerable Time ◽  
Passion Narrative ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Difference ◽  
John's Gospel ◽  
Early Compilation ◽  
The Church ◽  
Vital Element ◽  
The Way

In 1932, Professor Dodd published in the Expository Times an article on ‘The Order of Events in St. Mark's Gospel' which broke fresh ground in the Study of that Gospel. Dr Dodd then stated that in planning the first ten chapters St. Mark had a skeleton outline of our Lord's earthly career which he broke up into what now stand as editorial summaries. This outline he suggested was in the nature of a summary of the kerygma and approximated to the Petrine speech of Acts 10.37–41 or the Pauline speech in Acts 13.23–31. Into this outline were inserted the pericopae Mark collected sometimes on a historical, and at other times on a topical basis. This hypothesis held the field for a considerable time but it has recently been questioned by Professor Nineham in an examination of Dr Dodd's hypothesis in his contribution to Studies in the Gospels published in 1955. Indeed Professor Nineham takes the line that the presupposition of such a skeleton outline of our Lord's ministry which Mark used in the way Dr Dodd suggests is ‘highly improbable’.1 He questions the probability of such an outline having been preserved by the early Church. Referring to the changes in the Marcan pattern which both Matthew and Luke felt free to introduce when using St. Mark's Gospel as a basis, and to the difference in outlook between St. John's Gospel and the Synoptics, he concludes: ‘It does not appear that the precise order in which the saving events occurred seemed to the early Christian mind a very vital element in the saving proclamation or kerygma.'2 Professor Nineham is of course prepared to admit that the Passion narrative is in a class by itself and does not appear to question the accepted opinions of scholars that it was an early compilation of the primitive Church. But he rightly contends that there is no cogent evidence that the Church quite early agreed on ‘a formal outline account of the progress of the Lord's earthly ministry’.3

scholarly journals The Contribution of Intercessory Prayer in the Growth of the Early Church According to the Book of Acts

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-248
Author(s):  
Bolean Silalahi
Keyword(s):  
Church Growth ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Intercessory Prayer ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Healthy Growth ◽  
Book Of Acts ◽  
The Church

The Contribution of Intercessory Prayer in the Growth of the Early Church according to the Book of the Acts provide a great role and influence for the growth and development of the Church. The Church as a Spiritual Organization craves healthy growth and development, both in quality and quantity. One of the most effective and efficient ways is to intercede, in addition to other methods of course. Nowadays, Intercessory prayer is receiving less serious attention in some churches. The growth and development of the Gospels according to what is written in the Book of Acts shows an event that resulted in major and prominent changes to be examined. There is a significant growth in the preaching of the Gospel both in terms of quality and quantity, many prayers delivered to God are fulfilled and accomplished. In the development of Mission and Gospel in this world it cannot be denied that there are certain individuals, even certain groups do not agree that the creation of a Church growth and development is caused by one of the supporting factors, namely Intercessory Prayer. Luke the writer of the Book of Acts reveals the extraordinary events experienced by Jesus's disciples. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit became the basis of everything that happened and the disciples obeyed the commandments. Behind these events there is a very important thing to remember, that they gather and pray, and even intercede for the fulfillment of God's promises for them and the world. Disciples are baptized, equipped, and even empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. There is no denying that this miraculous event in the Book of Acts has had a great impact until now. Because through this event many people became believers in Jesus Christ and accepted the Gospel in their lives. So that the Church is growing rapidly and extraordinary. Everything that happened during the Early Church was the key to the growth and development of the Church today. May Churches today increasingly realize that behind the Intercessory Prayer there is a real power that will be fulfilled by God for His people. Especially at this time of the Pandemic Covid-19, Intercessory Prayer is very urgent and important because the Churches needed the power of the Holy Spirit poured out for the Churches in this world.

scholarly journals Fulfillment in Continuity: The Orthodox Christian Theology of Biblical Israel

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-236
Author(s):  
Demetrios E. Tonias
Keyword(s):  
Christian Theology ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Orthodox Christian ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Orthodox Theology ◽  
The Church

Abstract Concentrating on the Orthodox theology of biblical Israel within the context of fulfillment theology, the argument is that the early Church envisioned itself as the continuation of Israel of the Jewish Bible rather than its replacement. In the author’s view, the current understanding of the distinction between replacement and fulfillment theology, the early Christian theological conception of the Church as Israel, and the ways in which both contemporaneous pagans and Jews viewed the nascent Christian faith support this assertion.

scholarly journals Catechesis and baptism in the early Christian church

1996 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Early Church ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Christian Church ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The Church

This article which originated as a background study for what Augustine says about his own baptism, presents the facts, as far as they could be ascertained, on practices concerning catechesis and baptism in the early Christian church down to about 400 AD, without going into any doctrinal issues. Public confession of faith and baptism was preceded in the early church by lengthy preparations: catechetical, liturgical and ascetical. Baptism was also followed by mystagogical instruction. All of these are set out concisely, based on a number of primary sources, namely some writings by Augustine, Ambrose and Tertullian, the Traditio Apostolica by Hippolytus and the Didache. A number of secondary sources are also cited. Attention is drawn to the significance of the custom to baptise at Easter this explains why Easter was seen as the climax of the church year in the time of the early Christian church.

scholarly journals Our Common Breath: ‘Conspiration’ from the Stoics to the Church Fathers

2021 ◽  
pp. 55-68
Author(s):  
Phillip Sidney Horky
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Second Century ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Third Century ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Third ◽  
History Of ◽  
Christian Thought ◽  
The Church

AbstractThis essay tracks a brief history of the concept of ‘co-breathing’ or ‘conspiration’ (συμπνοία), from its initial conception in Stoic cosmology in the third century BCE to its appropriation in Christian thought at the end of the second century CE. This study focuses on two related strands: first, how the term gets associated anachronistically with two paradigmatic philosopher-physicians, Hippocrates and Pythagoras, by intellectuals in the Early Roman Empire; and second, how the same term provides the early Church Fathers with a means to synthesize and explain discrete notions of ‘breath’ (πνεῦμα) through a repurposing of the pagan concept. Sources discussed include figures associated with Stoic, Pythagorean, and early Christian cosmologies.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Keteladanan Hidup Gembala Sidang terhadap Pertumbuhan Gereja

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-41
Author(s):  
Joseph Christ Santo ◽  
Dapot Tua Simanjuntak
Keyword(s):  
Church Growth ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Good Growth ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
West Java ◽  
Evangelical Church ◽  
1 Peter ◽  
Experience Good ◽  
The Church

Church growth is important, but not all churches experience good growth. The observation shows that one of the causes of the church not experiencing growth is the problem of the exemplary life of the pastor. This research was conducted to determine the effect of a pastor's living example on church growth. The conceptual and operational definitions of the pastor's living example are formulated based on the letter of 1 Peter, while the conceptual and operational definitions of church growth are formulated based on the growth of the early church. This research was carried out by distributing questionnaires to 125 respondents from four local churches from the Gereja Injili di Indonesia (Evangelical Church in Indonesia) in West Java Classes. With statistical calculations, the results show that there is the influence of the pastor's living example based on letter 1 Peter on the growth of the Gereja Injili di Indonesia in West Java Classes, and the effect is high. AbstrakPertumbuhan gereja adalah hal yang penting, tetapi tidak semua gereja mengalami pertumbuhan yang baik. Hasil observasi menunjukkan bahwa salah satu penyebab gereja tidak mengalami pertumbuhan adalah masalah keteladanan hidup gembala sidang. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui pengaruh keteladanan hidup gembala sidang terhadap pertumbuhan gereja. Definisi konseptual dan operasional keteladanan hidup gembala sidang dirumuskan berdasarkan surat 1 Petrus, sedangkan definisi konseptual dan operasional pertumbuhan gereja dirumuskan berdasarkan pertumbuhan gereja mula-mula. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan mendistribusikan kuesioner atas 125 responden dari empat gereja lokal dari Gereja Injili di Indonesia Klasis Jawa Barat. Dengan perhitungan statistik diperoleh hasil bahwa ada pengaruh keteladanan hidup gembala sidang berdasarkan surat 1 Petrus terhadap pertumbuhan jemaat Gereja Injili Di Indonesia Klasis Jawa Barat, dan pengaruhnya adalah tinggi.

scholarly journals Odpoczynek Boga (Rdz 2,1-3) w interpretacji Ojców Kościoła

Vox Patrum ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 81-92
Author(s):  
Bogdan Czyżewski
Keyword(s):  
Early Church ◽  
Biblical Text ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The World ◽  
The Church

The theme of this paper is the exegesis of Gen 2:1-3 in selected writings of the Church Fathers and early Christian writers. The Early Church authors pon­dered over the passage in question, seeking to find the meaning of God’s resting on the seventh day from all his work of creation of the world and man. In their statements, early Christian writers clearly stated that the Biblical text should be read spiritually while treated as a metaphor. For God does not need rest, but man. It is for man that the Creator made the Sabbath day, and made it holy, and since the Resurrection of Christ, Sunday has been a holy day designated for rest and celebration. Concurrently, it was the announcement of the eighth day, or eternity, in which a man, free from all the trouble and bodily decay, will forever rest in God and live a true union with Him.

The Johannine Literature and the Canon

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith M. Lieu
Keyword(s):  
Early Church ◽  
Recent Discussion ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Textual Practices ◽  
Canonical Processes ◽  
The Church ◽  
Different Parts

The stages by which the Gospel and letters commonly known as ‘of John’ (as also of the Apocalypse, often assigned to the same author) became part of the canon are exemplary of wider canonical processes in the early church. While closely inter-related there are also differentiated patterns of recognition of these writings in different parts of the church and at different times. This chapter examines those stages with attention to the evidence of early Christian writings and to scholarly debate about it. More recent discussion has interrogated the nature of ‘canon’ in relation to other terms expressing authority, and also in relation to the range of actual textual practices and of the wider body of texts that flourished among early Christians.

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