As we shared with you in last weeks blog, the early church is referring to the historical period of the Christian religion from the beginning of the New Testament to the first council of Nicaea in 325 CE.  Christianity began its growth here in the eastern part of the Mediterranean with its islands and neighboring countries to include the entire Roman empire and beyond. This growth and the spread was not without cost, it would be characterized by persecution. It would include the development of Christian doctrine, to meet a growing church.

A fact that it sometimes lost in our conversations and study is that the church emerged from a Jewish tradition with Jesus and his disciples being Jewish it was only natural that the initial Christians continue to meet in synagogues, and the spread of Christianity was initially focused on the Jewish community. We won’t go into a great deal of detail here, but Paul wrote 13 of the books of the New Testament during the time of his ministry. He had four missionary journeys, and he would write between the journey, sometimes while he was in the midst of those journeys, and even when he was in prison, and he suffered a great deal in order to take the message to everyone.The early the church was also characterized by a strong focus on mission and evangelism, and it was Paul who begin to take that message to the Gentiles. Christians always were being persecuted by the Roman Empire in many ways that persecution led to them being murdered and the underground development of the church which was necessary in order to continue the work that needed to be done. As the church grew, doctrine was developed the church grappled with theological questions and they developed key doctrines to deal with them such as the Trinity and the nature of Christ through debates and councils. We have mentioned it before, but it’s worth mentioning again. The early church emphasized community among  the members, sharing meals, praying together and engaging in acts of service and charity and oddly enough, the Roman Empire played a significant role in the spread of Christianity, both through its infrastructure and political influence. I doubt that many from the early church would even be able to recognize what we call church today. The early church laid the foundation for the development of Christianity its practices, beliefs, and it still continues to influence Christian dominations today. 

Ever wonder where these people went after Pentecost? This is one of the better responses I came across. This is an AI summary  of those events. I want to be clear that it has been fact checked, it is not my writings and is an accumulation of information from many sources. 

After Pentecost, the twelve apostles dispersed from Jerusalem to spread the Gospel. While the specific locations varied, some notable destinations and individuals include Peter traveling to Palestine, Asia Minor, and eventually Rome; Thomas going to India;Andrew going to Greece and the regions of the Black Sea; and James the Greater potentially going to Spain.  

Here’s a more detailed look at some of the apostles and their potential destinations: 

  • Peter: Known for his leadership after Pentecost, Peter traveled extensively, including to Palestine, Asia Minor, and eventually Rome where he became the first bishop and was crucified upside down.  
  • Andrew: Tradition holds that Andrew went to Scythia, then to Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.     
  • Thomas: Thomas is traditionally believed to have evangelized in Osroene (eastern Turkey) and then went to India, where his tomb is located. 
  • James the Greater: While his exact route to Spain is not explicitly mentioned in scripture, the tradition is that he eventually traveled to Spain and was martyred. 
  • Philip: Philip is said to have traveled to Scythia (near the Black Sea) and then to Phrygia (in modern-day Turkey). 
  • Bartholomew: Bartholomew is linked to Armenia and India, and some accounts say he may have also traveled to Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt.   
  • Matthew: Matthew is said to have ministered to Jewish communities in Palestine and later traveled to Syria, Media, Persia, Parthia, and Ethiopia.  

They were followed by a group of converts and redeemed believers. In the weeks ahead we will get to know the people who went forth at great risk to their personal wellbeing…and carried out the Great Commission. 

 

Matthew 28:19-20, to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

  Life Is Good

jk