The The Early Early

ChristianChristianss

The first Christians had to endure some of the The first Christians had to endure some of the worst persecutions that the Church would worst persecutions that the Church would

experience. experience. Yet Christians proposed a radically new vision Yet Christians proposed a radically new vision

of human life, where its morality demanded of human life, where its morality demanded that the believer make difficult choices that the believer make difficult choices

concerning his witness to Jesus Christ and on concerning his witness to Jesus Christ and on vital issues that effected daily life.vital issues that effected daily life.

Guiding them through it all Guiding them through it all were the words and life of were the words and life of Christ, along with the Christ, along with the sacraments, both of which sacraments, both of which were transmitted to them were transmitted to them through the Apostles.through the Apostles.

The challenges that these The challenges that these first Christians had to deal first Christians had to deal with in the first three with in the first three hundred years of hundred years of Christianity in many ways Christianity in many ways resemble the challenges resemble the challenges we face as Christians in the we face as Christians in the 21st century.21st century.

Beliefs and Beliefs and Practices: Practices:

The Spiritual Life of The Spiritual Life of the Early Christiansthe Early Christians

1.1. BaptismBaptisma)a) A believer is A believer is

forgiven of forgiven of original and original and personal sin, personal sin, begins a new life begins a new life in Christ, and is in Christ, and is incorporated into incorporated into the Church, the the Church, the Body of Christ.Body of Christ.

b)b) Initially, adult converts were baptized Initially, adult converts were baptized freely, but gradually the freely, but gradually the catechumenate catechumenate develops.develops.

i.i. Catechumens Catechumens (those being instructed)(those being instructed)ii.ii. Lasted Two Years; baptized at Lasted Two Years; baptized at Easter Vigil Easter Vigil

ServiceServicec)c) Gradually, by the Middle Ages the Gradually, by the Middle Ages the

catechumenate fell into disuse, as there catechumenate fell into disuse, as there were fewer adult converts; the time for were fewer adult converts; the time for instruction was shortened to 10 weeks and instruction was shortened to 10 weeks and received any time of the yearreceived any time of the year.

e)e) The program was restored at The program was restored at Vatican II for adult converts and is Vatican II for adult converts and is the standard preparation today in the standard preparation today in most parishes most parishes (RCIA).(RCIA).

f)f) Infant baptism Infant baptism became became common practice by the third common practice by the third century, if not before. century, if not before.

g)g) Advantages to infant baptism Advantages to infant baptism are are 1.1. original sin is forgiven, original sin is forgiven, 2.2. the child is incorporated the child is incorporated

into the Body of Christ.into the Body of Christ.3.3. the baptismal character the baptismal character

imprinted on the soul imprinted on the soul renders the infant a child of renders the infant a child of God who now shares in the God who now shares in the priesthood of Jesus Christ.priesthood of Jesus Christ.

4.4. the child receives a special the child receives a special grace through which he grace through which he may grow more fully in may grow more fully in Christ.Christ.

2.2. AgapeAgape and the Eucharist – and the Eucharist – a)a) ““love”- love”- refers to an early Christian refers to an early Christian

religious meal that was at first closely religious meal that was at first closely related to the celebration of the Eucharist related to the celebration of the Eucharist and often preceded this celebration.and often preceded this celebration.

b)b) The ritual of the Mass develops The ritual of the Mass develops gradually over time, with readings gradually over time, with readings from the Bible, singing of hymns, from the Bible, singing of hymns, common prayers, and then the common prayers, and then the celebration of the Eucharistcelebration of the Eucharist.

c)c) Eucharist Eucharist (thanksgiving)(thanksgiving)

i.i. the central act of the central act of worship for the worship for the ChurchChurch

ii.ii. where Christians where Christians received the received the Sacrament of Holy Sacrament of Holy Communion, the true Communion, the true Body and Blood of Body and Blood of Christ, under the Christ, under the appearance of bread appearance of bread and wine.and wine.

3.3. Churches Churches a)a) Christians Christians

generally generally worshipped worshipped together in together in private homes, or private homes, or in the in the catacombs catacombs (see p. 67); (see p. 67);

4.4. It is not until the It is not until the Edict of Milan (313 Edict of Milan (313 AD) that churches AD) that churches begin to be built.begin to be built.

5. Holy Days a) Originally, the first Christians kept

the Sabbath (Saturday) holy.b) Gradually, Sunday became the day

of Sabbath for Christians, being the day of the Resurrection of Christ and the day of Pentecost.

c) Wednesdays (the day of Christ’s betrayal) and Fridays (the day of His death) were days of fasting and penance.

1. The Papacya) historical sources

indicate that the authority of the Bishop of Rome was the supreme authority in all Church matters from the earliest days of the Church.

b) For example, The First Epistle of St. Clement I, St. Ignatius of Antioch’s Epistle to the Romans, and the writings of St. Irenaeus.

2. The Episcopacya) refers to the bishops who were appointed

by the Apostles to succeed them; they would administer the sacraments, teach the people, and administer the running of the local Church community.

3. The Priesthood a) “priest” comes from

the Greek “presbyter”;

b) church elders who along with the deacons helped the bishop in the running of the local Church

c) there is evidence that they were celebrating the Mass by the second century.

1. Monotheism a) Christians were often

at odds with their polytheistic, pagan neighbors of the Roman Empire.

b) There could be no compromise on this issue of one God; they therefore rejected all acts of sacrifice and public ritual which acknowledged pagan belief.

c) This led many Christians to suffer greatly for their faith, even to the point of martyrdom, dying for the faith, particularly after the Edict of Nero, making Christianity illegal.

2. Scripture: a) First centuries of Christianityi. there was no set book for Christian doctrine; ii. the Bible was actually a number of separate

books and letters, along with the Torah.b) It was also during this time that a number of

books written by heretical groups were written to promote their own view of Christ,

i. Ex. ~ the Infancy Gospel of Thomas written by the Gnostics.

c) Beginning of the 5th century

i. formal list or “canon” of Scripture was established

d) Not until the Council of Trent in 1546 that this list was considered definitive.

e) The early Christians never considered the Scriptures to have authority apart from the interpretation of the Church through her hierarchy, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

f) Here we see the importance of the Church’s Tradition which helps understand and interpret the Scriptures.

3. Slavery and Christianity: a) The teachings of Christ on the dignity of

every human gradually will undermine the practice of slavery.

b) Many of the first Christians themselves were slaves yet were treated as equals by their fellow Christians; the first three popes after Peter (Linus, Anacletus, and Clement) were former slaves.

4. Non-Violence: a) Differing opinions

on serving in the Roman army.

b) Some writers seemed to discourage it, while others outright condemned it.

c) Many early Christians did serve in the Roman army and are recognized as saints, such as St. Maurice,

d) Over the centuries the Church has developed a “just war theory”, developed by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

5. The Just War Theory – – 3 Criteriaa) Must be declared by a legitimate

authority, not by private groups or individuals.

b) It must be waged for a just cause like protecting innocent life or preserving conditions necessary to basic human life.

c) It must be waged for the right intention, not for vengeance, cruelty or power.

6. Other criteria were added later.a) must be the last resort; all other

avenues to peace must have been tried.

b) The means used to win must be moral.

7. The Statea) Followed all the just laws laid down by the

state.b) The Christians would not compromise in

what would go against their commitment to Christ, (polytheism & emperor worship).

8. Money Matters a) Christians tended to the

material needs of the whole Christian community, engaging in education, medical care, and the distribution of alms to the poor.

b) Forbidden from practicing usury (charging excessive interest on a loan).

9. Sexual Ethics a) Early Christians rejected practices which

were common in Roman culture at this time: abortion, infanticide, and the use of contraception (see p. 81).

10. Women a) In Roman and Greek

cultures, women were seen as inferior to men in all areas.

b) Christianity greatly improves the position of women.

c) Many of the great saints and martyrs of the early Church were women, and the most venerated person after Jesus was the Blessed Virgin Mary.

11. Family Life (domestic church)

a) where the ideal of Christian charity took its roots, and where love and service form its base

b) this contrasted with the pagan culture’s approach to the family where women and children were treated as property.

Important Writings Important Writings of the Early of the Early

Christian PeriodChristian Period

1. “Apostolic Father” a) the earliest Christian writers

who came immediately after the Apostles,

b) some have direct links to either the Apostles themselves or the communities the Apostles founded.

c) special witnesses of the faith and give the Church a record of the beliefs and practices of the earliest Christians.

1. “Apologetics” a) theology that defends and explains Christianity;

from the Greek “apologia” meaning “defense”.2. Apologists of the early period of the Church would

have to face three groups which raised objections to Christianity

a) Judaism, Gnosticism, and Pagansim

3. Most of the apologists of this time were merely explaining Christian practices to a culture which viewed them with suspicion.

a) EX ~ St. Justin Martyr

1. The Didache (Teaching)a) known as The

Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles

b) it is an important work which covers early Christian views on moral life, Baptism, fasting, prayer, the Eucharist, and the developing Christian hierarchy.

2. Tertullian: a) One of the greatest

early apologists, who argued that far from Christianity being a threat to the Empire, were actually a great asset to it

b) left the Church to join the Montanist heresy.

3. St. Hippolytus and The Apostolic Tradition a) he gives us a lot of

information on the early rituals of the Church, particularly the sacraments.

Martyrdom as the Martyrdom as the Greatest Testimony Greatest Testimony

to Christianityto Christianity

1. The word “martyr” means “witness”.

2. The majority of martyrs were average people who experienced the normal fears of the pain and suffering they would have to endure.

3. The martyrs would become great witnesses to the faith, who amidst the ridicule and sadistic pleasure of the crowds in their suffering, would face their death with great peace, joy, and faithfulness, often leading bystanders to conversion.

4. Christians saw martyrdom as an honor and privilege, and ultimately a gift from God, for it was seen as the surest way of entering heaven