Jesus Reigns Christian College Rev Manuel A Ocampo

Jesus Reigns Christian College Rev. Manuel A. Ocampo Jr.

What is History?

Working definition

Division of Church History YEARS PERIOD EMPHASIS 0 – 590 The Early Church Establishment 591 – 1517 The Middle Ages Decay The Modern Era Reformation and Revival 1517 – Present

Sub -Division of Church History PERIOD YEARS ERAS The Patristic Period 01 – 100 Apostolic Christianity 101 -312 The struggle of the Early Church to survive 312 – 590 The Age of the Christian Roman Empire 590 – 1054 Byzantine Christianity 1054 – 1305 The Supremacy of the Papacy 1305 – 1517 The Eve of the Reformation 1517 – 1648 The Age of the Reformation 1648 – 1789 The Age of Reason and Revival 1789 – 1914 Revivals and Missions 1914 – Present The Age of Ideologies The Middle Ages Modern Era

The historicity of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

The Eye Witnesses Accounts

Luke 1: 1 -5 “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea …”

Luke 2: 1 -3 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ) 3 And everyone went to his own to register. ”

Luke 3: 1 -2 “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar — when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene — 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. ”

Mark 15: 1 “Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. ”

Secular Writers

Tacitus (b. 56 or 57 A. D. ), the renowned Roman historian and statesman, writes: “Nero fabricated scapegoats—and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called). Their originator, Christ, had been executed in Tiberius’ reign by the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilatus. But in spite of this temporary setback the deadly superstition had broken out afresh, not only in Judea (where the mischief had started) but even in Rome. All degraded and shameful practices collect and flourish in the capital …” (Annals, XV, 44).

Although some dispute either the authenticity or the precise meaning of the passage, Josephus records another important early reference to Christ. In the context of a discussion concerning the career of Pontius Pilate, Josephus adds this aside: “Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher … He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day” (Antiquities, 18. 3. 3).

Christian faith is rooted in history §

Historical settings and backgrounds

Galatians 4: 4 “But in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law…”

The Greco-Roman World

Major Aspects

Palestine in New Testament Times

Under the Roman Empire

Kingdom divided after Herod the Great among his sons

Principal people groups

The Pharisees

The Sadducees

The Zealots

The Essenes

“The People of the Land”

The Diaspora Judaism § Before the birth of Christ, there were many Jews living outside Jerusalem but with great attachment to the land of their ancestors. They are called “Diaspora” or “Dispersion. ”

One of the main contributions of the Diaspora Judaism is the translation of the Old Testament to Greek known as the Septuagint (usually abbreviated as LXX). This Greek translation of the OT was used by the early Christians in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Growth of the Church in the time of the Apostles

§ Their response to a global mission (Matt. 28: 18 -20; Acts 1: 8) § Gospel Spreads through Jerusalem to Jews (Acts 2 -6) § Stephen’s martyrdom Scatters Witnesses (Acts 7) § Ministry of Peter (Acts 2 -6, 10 -11, 15) § Ministry of Philip (Acts 8) – Samaritans, Ethiopian Eunuch, up Mediterranean coast to Caesarea § Ministry of Paul (Acts 9, 13 -28)

Key Distinguishing Features of the Apostolic Church • The Experience of Miraculous Works • Uniting of Jew and Gentile in the Saving Purposes of God • One Universal Church in Local Settings • Simplistic, Informally Structured Worship – Location of Worship (Jas 2: 2; 70 AD) – Elements of Worship • • • Lord’s Supper and Agape Meal Reading of Scriptures (1 Tim 3: 15; 4: 13) The Exhortation (1 Tim 4: 13) The Teaching (1 Tim 4: 13) Singing (Eph 5: 19 -20; Col 3: 16) The Prayers (Acts 2: 42; 1 Tim 2: 1 -2, 8; 3: 14 -15)

Key Distinguishing Features of the Apostolic Church (cont) • “Family Model” of Church Government – Overseers/Elders (1 Cor 4: 14 -15; 2 Cor 11: 2, 28; Phil 1: 1; 1 Thess 2: 7 -12; 1 Tim 3: 1 -7; Titus 1: 5 -9) – Deacons (Phil 1: 1; 1 Tim 3: 8 -12) – Family Love • Evangelistic Zeal • Persecution – Waves of imperial persecutions – from Nero (r. 54 -68), – Tradition claims 10 of original 12 disciples were martyred (2 Tim 3: 12)

Place of ministry and means of death of principal Apostles

NAME SIMON PETER ANDREW PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MINISTRY MEANS AND PLACE OF DEATH Tradition states he may have visited Britain and Gaul Crucified upside down in Rome during persecution of Nero (64 -68 AD) he felt unworthy to die on a cross in the same manner as Jesus. This explanation of his death can be traced back to the third century writer Origen. Preached in Scythia(Ukraine and Southern Russia) Asia Minor and Greece Crucified on an X shaped cross at Patras in Achaia, before being crucified he was severely whipped, after being laid on the cross he continued to preach to his Executioners till he expired two days later. Later tradition suggests the cross was in spread eagle position (hence St Andrews Cross)

NAME PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MINISTRY MEANS AND PLACE OF DEATH Executed by Herod Agrippa I in 44 AD (Acts 12: 2) JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE JOHN Died natural death c 100 A. D, after early in life being boiled in a huge Ministered at Ephesus, bowl of oil, and sentenced said to have rebuked early to mine prison on Patmos Gnostic Ceronthus Later freed at served as Bishop of Edessa in modern turkey. PHILIP Conflicting traditions place him in Ethiopia, Crucified in Hierapolis in Asia Minor

NAME PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MINISTRY MEANS AND PLACE OF DEATH MATTHEW Possibly Ethiopia Suffered Martyrdom in Ethiopia died by sword wound (Legendary explanation) THOMAS Preached in Babylon, Strong early tradition tells of his founding churches in India Martyred in India by being stabbed with a sphere/lance. C 72 AD Armenia (eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, north BARTHOLOMEW western Iran) may also have gone to Egypt and Ethiopia Martyred after ministry in Armenia flayed to Death by whip. (high degree of uncertainty)

NAME PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MINISTRY MEANS AND PLACE OF DEATH JAMES, SON OF ALPAEUS Possibly ministered in Egypt and Syria Thrown over a hundred foot drop from the southeast pinnacle of a temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When his body was found he was still alive so his persecutors beat him to death by a fullers club c 62 AD THADDEUS Tradition associates his ministry with Assyria (eastern Iraq) and Persia (Iran) Beaten to death with club then beheaded in Persia towards end of first century SIMON THE ZEALOT Variously (and dubiously) associated with Persia, Egypt, Carthage and Britain No explanation

NAME PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MINISTRY Hanged Himself after betraying Jesus JUDAS ISCARIOT MATTIAS PAUL BARNABAS MEANS AND PLACE OF DEATH Possibly Ethiopia, Judea and Eastern Turkey Stoned and then beheaded at Cochis c 80 AD Traveled widely throughout Asia Minor Beheaded under the orders of Nero in 6467 A. D (as Roman citizen exempt crucifixion) Martyred at Salamias in c 61 AD

Spread of the Gospel

Spread of the Gospel Churches in 100 A. D.

Spread of the Gospel Churches in 200 A. D.

Spread of the Gospel Churches in 300 A. D.