Early Christian History

 

It is the perfect time to show the real history of Christianity. I wrote about the chronology of information about the history of Christianity in almost 10 years. This work is for Christians and non-Christians alike who desire to see the occurrences of this very powerful religion. It started with Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ was born, the Roman Empire dominated the Levant (i.e. Israel) and the Fertile Crescent along with areas as far as Western Europe. Jewish people were followers of Judaism in Israel mostly being dominated by brutal Roman occupation. Scholars believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was born between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C. To understand Christianity, you have to understand Judaism and the Roman Empire. In Judaism, prophecies of the Messiah existed, especially from the book of Isaiah. Therefore, Christians believe that Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah are fulfilled by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In traditional Christianity, Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit from Mary, and Mary's husband was Joseph. Jesus Christ was born during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. Augustus was the first major Roman Emperor after the Roman Republic civilization ended. Joseph's lineage came from David to Abraham as Joseph and Mary are Israelites. Mary and Joseph lived in Egypt according to the New Testament to escape a pogrom against Jewish people. By 6 A.D., Herod Archelaus was deposed by Augustus; Samaria, Judea and Idumea was annexed as Iudaea Province under direct Roman administration, capital at Caesarea. Quirinius became Legate (Governor) of Syria, conducted Census of Quirinius, opposed by Zealots (JA18, Luke 2:1–3, Acts 5:37). The Zealots is like a Jewish political party back then that wanted Jewish independence and liberation from the Roman Empire. By this time, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other Jewish spiritual movements dominated Israeli society. The Pharisees believe in the importance of the law, they had a specific interpretation of the Torah (and accepted the writings of the Old Testament plus oral tradition), many of them were middle class (and working-class people), they believed in the resurrection of the dead, they believed in the afterlife, and they rejected many Jewish leaders. The Sadducees focused on the Temple, believed in using the Torah alone in religious matters, many were upper class, they believed in no resurrection, they believed in no afterlife, and they supported many Jewish leaders. 

From to 7 to 26 A.D, there was a period of peace, relatively free of revolt and bloodshed in Iudaea and Galilee. The Pharisee leader Hillel the Elder passed away in 9 A.D., and the temporary rise of Shammai existed. From 14 to 37 A.D., Tiberius was the Roman Empire. As time went onward, massive changes existed in Israel. From 18-36, Caiaphas was appointed High Priest of Herod's Temple by Prefect Valerius Gratus, deposed by Syrian Legate Lucius Vitellius. The Roman Empire persecuted Jewish people heavily during this time period. By 19 A.D., Jewish people from prostyles to astrologers were expelled from Roe. From 26-36 A.D., Pontius Pilate, Prefect (governor) of Iudaea, were recalled to Rome by Syrian Legate Vitellius on complaints of excess violence.

Everything will change by the story of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a Jewish preacher who send his message of repentance all over the Levant or Israeli lands. According to the New Testament, John the Baptist started his ministry in "15th year of Tiberius" (Luke 3:1–2), saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:1–2). According to the Bible, John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus (Luke 1:36), a Nazirite (Luke 1:15), baptized Jesus (Mark 1:4–11), and later arrested and beheaded by Herod Antipas (Luke 3:19–20). It is possible that, according to Josephus' chronology, John was not killed until 36 A.D. (JA18.5.2). In essence, John the Baptist was like a proto-Apostle whose work set a major path for the 12 Apostles to walk upon. Jesus Christ started his ministry officially after his baptism by John the Baptist and during the rule of Pilate, preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:12–17). While the historicity of the gospel accounts is questioned to some extent by some critical scholars and non-Christians, the traditional view states the following chronology for his ministry. Jesus Christ was first tempted by Satan for 40 days while Jesus fasted in the desert according to New Testament. Jesus told Satan after Satan offered the kingdoms of the world that man shall not live by bread alone but by the word of God (which is a very profound statement). Later, Jesus Christ gave his Sermon on the Mount which was one of the most revolutionary speeches in human history. It's found in the Gospel of Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. Jesus Christ in the Sermon the Mount showed blessings to those who are peacemakers, those that mourn, those who are meek, and people who are merciful which are called Beatitudes. He called the disciples the light of the world. Jesus preached about Hell and warned that a person calls someone Thou Fool shall be danger of hell fire. He warns against false prophets too.  Jesus condemns those who judge others without first sorting out their own affairs on the matter.

Jesus Christ will go to appoint the 12 Apostles. Their names are Simon Peter, Andrew (Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee and John's brother), John (son of Zebedee and James' brother), Philip (friend of Bartholomew/Nathanael), Bartholomew (friend of Philip, the Gospel of John refers him as Nathanael), Matthew (the publican, or Levi son of Alphaeus), James (son of Alphaeus to distinguish him from James son of Zebedee), Simon (the Canaanite), Judas Iscariot (son of Simon Iscariot, the characterization Iscariot is used to distinguish him from Jude, also known as Judas of Jacob), and Jude (also Thaddaeus (or Lebbaeus); called "Judas the Zealot" in some translations). Mark 6:7-13 stated that Jesus at first sent the out in pairs to towns in Galilee. They were told by Jesus to preach, heal the sick, drive out demons, and not be materialistic. Matthew describes Jesus meeting James and John, also fishermen and brothers, very shortly after recruiting Simon and Andrew. Matthew and Mark identify James and John as sons of Zebedee. Luke adds to Matthew and Mark that James and John worked as a team with Simon and Andrew. Matthew states that at the time of the encounter, James and John were repairing their nets, but readily joined Jesus without hesitation. Peter, James, son of Zebedee, and James's brother John formed an informal triumvirate among the Twelve Apostles in the Gospels. Jesus invited them to be the only apostles present on three notable occasions during his public ministry: the Raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Lord Jesus Christ performed many miracles during his early ministry. Some of these stories are about the Gospel of John performing seven miraculous signs from rising Lazarus to the dead to other events like walking on water and healing the blind man of Bethsaida. Each of these stories of miracles share a moral lesson about life, God, and righteousness. In the Bible, Jesus Christ gave out miracles for free without payment as cited in Matthew 10:8 as giving his disciples the call to heal the sick without payment. Jesus Christ also saved the life of Mary Madgelene, who was about to be stoned to death by religious extremists. Jesus Christ said that he has no sin cast the first stone, and Jesus said to Mary Magdelene to sin no more. 

Jesus Christ got rid of the Temple Money changes for gambling near the Temple which is outright sacrilegious. Throughout the Gospels and the New Testament, dignity to the poor, rejecting of materialism, and condemnation of the corruption done by the rich are made blatantly clear. One of the final moments of the earthly life of Jesus Christ was the Last Supper. Christians commemorate the Last Supper in communion. The First Epistle to the Corinthians contains the earliest known mention of the Last Supper. The four canonical gospels state that the Last Supper took place in the week of Passover, days after Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and before Jesus was crucified on Good Friday. During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal by one of the apostles presents, and foretells that before the next morning, Peter will thrice deny knowing him. The Last Supper shows the scriptural basis of communion where the bread represents the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the wine represents the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ redeeming the souls of human beings. During the Last Supper, Jesus Christ predicted his betrayal by one of the apostles present (which was Judas Iscariot) and that Peter will thrice deny knowing him. Back then, resistance against Roman oppression was taken as treason by the Roman Empire. In Matthew 26:23–25 and John 13:26–27, Judas is specifically identified as the traitor. 

After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ and his disciples went out to Gethsemane, a garden located at the edge of the Kidron Valley, possibly an olive grove. Once, there, Jesus Christ prayed privately. Luke said that angel appeared and later Jesus accepted God the Father's will and returned to the disciples. At that point, Judas gave Jesus a kiss, as a pre-arranged sign to those that had accompanied Judas as to who Jesus was. In other words, Judas Iscariot was an agent and traitor. Having been identified, the officers arrested Jesus, although one of Jesus's disciples attempted to stop them with a sword and cut off the ear of one of the arresting officers. The Gospel of John specifies that was Simon Peter and identifies the wounded officer with Malchus, the servant of Caiaphas, the High Priest of Israel. Luke adds that Jesus healed the wound. John, Matthew, and Luke state that Jesus criticized the violent act, insisting that they do not resist Jesus's arrest. In Matthew, Jesus made the well-known statement "all who live by the sword, shall die by the sword." The arrest of Jesus and Judas' role in acting as a guide to those arresting him are subsequently referred to by Peter in Acts 1:16. Then, Jesus was involved in the Sanhedrin trial. The Sanhedrin is a Jewish judicial body in Israel. Jesus was in Jerusalem before Pontius Pilate. He is near former High Priest Annas. 

Jesus is generally quiet, does not defend himself, rarely responds to the accusations, and is found guilty of: violating the Sabbath law (by healing on the Sabbath as the Old Covenant mentions that little to no work is to be done on the Sabbath); threatening to destroy the Jewish Temple; practicing sorcery, exorcising people by the power of demons; and claiming to be the Messiah. He is then taken to Pontius Pilate, the governor of Roman Judaea, to be tried for claiming to be the King of the Jews. In the narrative of the synoptic gospels, after the arrest of Jesus, he is taken to the private residence of Caiaphas, the high priest. Matthew 26 (Matthew 26:57) states that Jesus was taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest of Israel, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. Mark 14 (Mark 14:53) states that Jesus was taken that night "to the high priest" (without naming the priest), where all the chief priests and the elders gathered. In all four Gospel accounts, the trial of Jesus before the priests and scribes is interleaved with the Denial of Peter narrative, where Apostle Peter, who has followed Jesus, denies knowing him three times. According to Luke 22:63, at Caiaphas's house, Jesus is mocked and beaten. He is accused of claiming to be both the Messiah and the Son of God. Although the Gospel accounts vary with respect to some of the details, they agree on the general character and overall structure of the trials of Jesus. 

Mark 14:61 states that the high priest then asked Jesus, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am", at which point the high priest tore his own robe in anger and accused Jesus of blasphemy. In Matthew 26:63, the high priest said, "Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus responded, "You have said it", and added, "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven", prompting the High Priest to tear his own robe, breaking Mosaic Law (Leviticus 21:10) and to accuse him of blasphemy. According to Luke, Joseph of Arimathea was a counsellor, a member of the Sanhedrin who dissented from the decision. According to John, Nicodemus was with Joseph of Arimathea to recover and bury Jesus' body, leading to the inference that he also dissented.

Jesus Christ was brought before Pilate. At Pilate's court, Jesus Christ was convicted. In the Gospel of Luke, Pilate finds that Jesus, being from Galilee, belonged to Herod Antipas' jurisdiction, and so he decides to send Jesus to Herod. After questioning Jesus and receiving very few replies, Herod sees Jesus as no threat and returns him to Pilate. Jesus Christ is given a crown of torns, beaten, and marchd to the crucifixion site. A man named Simon helped Jesus Christ on the road to the site. According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ was crucified on Nison 14th (as found in John 19:14, Mark 14:2, etc.). Jesus Christ and two theives are nailed to crosses at Golgotha, outside of Jerusalem, later morning through mid afternoon. Jesus Christ said to one theif that he will be with him in Paradise. Jesus Christ died and people gamble for items. A storm happens, and the body of Jesus was taken down the cross and put in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea (and Nicodemus according to John). One major cornerstone of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Christians, Jesus Christ rose from the dead leaving behind an empty tomb. He is seen by many of his followers in the New Testament stories. After the resurrection, Jesus is seen by Mary Magdalene, other women, Thomas (Mark 16:9, John 20:10–18), Simon Peter (Luke 24:34), and others, (1Cor.15:3–9). Jesus Christ gave his Great Commission to the Apostles and his disciples to preach the Gospel to all people in the world and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The 12 Apostles and the 70 disciples start the early journey of evangelism. So, Christianity as we know it started to spread from Jerusalem to the world in ca. 33 A.D. The New Testament mentioned that Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven from Jerusalem. 

The Jerusalem church was founded as the first Christian Church with about 120 Jewish people and Jewish proselytes as found in Acts 1:15. Then came Pentecost. Pentecost is when the Holy Spirit came down to early followers of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem causing many people to speak in various tongues or languages. All of these stories are found in the Book of Acts. While many Christians believe that the speaking of tongues are inoperative today, but the Bible is clear that during the later days, God's Holy Spirit to cause men and women to prophesize. There were the stories of the Ananias and Sapphira incident, Pharisee Gamaliel's defense of the Apostles (5:34–39), the stoning of Saint Stephen, and the subsequent dispersion of the Apostles (7:54–8:8, also Mark 16:20) which leads to the baptism of Simon Magus in Samaria (8:9–24), and also an Ethiopian eunuch (8:26–40). In the book of Acts, the former Pharisee Paul (who was from the tribe of Benjamin) made a Road to Damascus. After his vision of seeing Jesus Christ, he became a great evangelist who converted many Gentiles to Christianity. Peter baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius. The Antioch church is founded where the term Christain was first used in the Bible as found in Acts 11:26. A black man was in Pentecost named Simeon. While this was going on, the Middle East was changing rapidly. From 37 to 41 A.D., there is a crisis under Caligula. There are more disagreements between Rome and the Jewish people. The early church starts to write down their stories like the Epistle of James written by James the Great before 44 A.D. Soon, many apostles and disclipes were killed by many people. James returned to Judea, where he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I in the year 44 during a Passover (Nisan 15) (Acts 12:1–3). Herod Agrippa I died in 44 A.D. as mentioned in Acts 12:20-23. In ca. 46 A.D.,  Theudas was beheaded by Procurator Cuspius Fadus for saying he would part the Jordan river (like Moses and the Red Sea or Joshua and the Jordan) (JA20.5.1, Acts 5:36–37 places it before the Census of Quirinius). Paul started to grow his ministry worldwide. 

The early ministry of Paul grows from 45-49 A.D., when Paul and Barnabas travel to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (there they were called "gods ... in human form"), then return to Syrian Antioch. These travels are cited in Acts 13:1-14:28). The Apostle Thomas traveled globally too in the Middle East. Herod Agrippa II appointed King of the Jews by Claudius, seventh and last of the Herodians form 48-100 A.D. Many Jewish people resist Roman occupation. Many Jewish people left Rome via Claudius as cited in many sources and Acts 18:2 cited Paul seeing Aquila and his wife Priscilla after Claudius ordered all Jewish people to leave Rome. According to Josephus, in 50 A.D., the Passover riot in Jerusalem resulted in about 20,000 to 30,000 people killed. There was the Council of Jerusalem taking place in 50 A.D. It shows the "Apostolic Decree" of Acts 15:1–35, same as Galatians 2:1–10, which is followed by the Incident at Antioch at which Paul publicly accuses Peter of "Judaizing" (2:11–21). This debates continues to this day about law keeping.

The two heresies are that all Christians must follow all 613 commandments of the Old Law (which is impossible as the 2nd Temple is destroyed and animal sacrifice is abolished by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that if you break one commandment, you break then all. Since the 2nd Temple is destroyed and animal sacrifice is abolished, it is impossible for all people to follow 613 commandments for life). The second major heresy is that you can do what you want (which is the antinomian heresy). The truth is that we are not judge people on what holiday they celebrate or certain customs (like Passover, Hannukah, the Sabbath, etc.), but we follow the New Covenant with Love, respecting the commandments of the New Law, and respect. The first Council of Jerusalem (c. 50) declared that circumcision was not necessary for new Gentile converts (a record of the council is found in Acts 15). After the Council of Jerusalem laid a major ideological split among Christianity and Judaism. It will never be the same again.  From 50-53 A.D, Paul has his 2nd mission as found in Acts 15:36-18:22). Paul with Barnabas traveled to Phrygia, Galatia, Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, "he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken", then return to Antioch; 1 Thessalonians and Galatians were written during this time. Lydia of Thyatira, a seller of purple, becomes the first European Christian convert (Acts 16:11-15). The Roman Senator Gallo mentioned Paul. 

According to the Acts of the Apostles, when Gallio was proconsul of Achaea, Paul the Apostle was brought in front of him by the Jewish people of Corinth with the accusation of having violated Mosaic Law. This action was presumably headed by Sosthenes, a ruler of the local synagogue. Gallio, however, was indifferent towards religious disputes between the Jews and Jewish Christians; therefore, he dismissed the charges against Paul (denegatio actionis) and had both him and the Jewish people removed from the Court. As this was being done, Sosthenes was beaten, but Gallio did not intervene (Acts 18:12-17). This happened from 51-52 A.D. It is said that the Apostle Thomas came to India by November 21, 52 A.D. Traditions said that Thomas set up churches at Kodungalloor, Palayoor, Paraur, Kottakkav, Kokkamangalam, Nilakkal, Niranam and Kollam. These locations are in India. From 53 to 57 A.D., Paul established his 3rd mission as found in Acts 18:23-22:30 as he goes to Galatia, Phrygia, Corinth, Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, and Jerusalem where James the Just challenges him about rumor of teaching antinomianism (21:21); he addresses a crowd in their language (most likely Aramaic). This is the time when Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians were originally written. The Egyptian false prophet and 30,000 unarmed Jewish people doing The Exodus reenactment massacred by Procurator Antonius Felix (JW2.13.5, JA20.8.6, Acts 21:38). By 58 A.D., the Apostle Paul was arrested and accused of being a revolutionary (being a ringleader of the Nazarenes teaching the resurrection of the dead). He was imprisoned at Caesarea as found in Acts 23-26. By 59 A.D., Paul was shipwrecked in Malta and called a god on Acts 28:6. Paul goes to Rome in ca. 60 A.D. He was greeted by many "brothers", three days later calls together the Jewish leaders, who had not received any word from Judea about him but were curious about "this sect" which everywhere is spoken against; he tries to convince them from the "law and prophets", with partial success – said the Gentiles would listen, and spends two years proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching "the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:15–31). The Epistle to Philemon is said to have been written in 60 A.D. The 1 Peter book of the Bible and the Epistle of James were written. By 62 A.D., James the Just stoned to death for law transgression by High Priest Ananus ben Artanus; popular opinion against act results in Ananus being deposed by new procurator Lucceius Albinus (JA20.9.1). Simeon or the 2nd Bishop of Jerusalem was crucified under Trajan. There are rumors and stories of the Apostle Paul traveling into Spain and as far as Britian which haven't been conclusively proven. Yet, it is true that Spain is mentioned in the New Testament. The Great Fire of Rome changed early Christianity forever. 

It took place on July 18, 64 A.D. By this time, the Roman Emperor was Nero. Rome was burned, and Nero falsely blamed the Christians for the burning. So, the Roman Empire increased its persecution of Christians. Tacitus mentioned Jesus and Christians in his work. Paul was murdered by Roman authorities in Rome. Peter is said to have been crucified upside down. By 64 A.D., Linus becomes the Bishop of Rome. The Epistle to the Hebrews were written by 64 A.D. From 66-73 A.D., there was the First Jewish–Roman War. This war resulted in the destruction of Herod's Temple and end of Judaism according to Supersessionism; Qumran community (site of Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947) destroyed. Jesus Christ accurately predicted that the Second Temple will be destroyed as found in the book of Matthew, and it was after this war. The Gospels are further created during this period and copies of the Gospel spread all over the world. Anacletus was the Bishop of Rome after Linus. The Apostle Thomas was murdered by July 3, 72 A.D. at Chinnamala, Mylapore, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) in India. More apocryphal works are created like the Pastoral Epistles and the Didache.  Domitian applies the Fiscus Judaicus tax even to those who merely "lived like Jewish people" in 90 A.D. In 94 A.D., the Testimonium Flavianum, disputed section of Jewish Antiquities by Josephus in Aramaic, translated to Koine Greek. The Gospels of John and the Epistles of John was formed by 95 A.D. The Book of Revelation was finished in ca. 95 A.D. too. By 96 A.D, Nerva modifies the Fiscus Judaicus, from then on, practicing Jewish people pay the tax, Christians do not. By 100 A.D., Gnostics and other alternative views are present. Early church leaders rise up like Ignatius and other people. Traditional Christians faced a new era with more literature, more evangelism, and the threat of death by many authorities in the Roman Empire because of their religious views. The first era of early Christianity from 30 to 100 A.D. established a strong foundation that changed the whole world forevermore. 

 

By Timothy