Early Christianity And Its Literary Background

Background of Christianity

Antioch was the first Christian Capital

In 64 BC, Antakya joined the Roman Empire as a free city and became the capital of Syria Province. Caesar visited in 47 BCE, overseeing the construction of large structures, while Governor Cassius resisted a Parthian siege, and Antony and Cleopatra were guests in the city. By the 1st century CE, Antakya was the 4th largest city in the world, after Rome, Alexandria, and Ctesiphon. Sources indicate that street lighting was first used on the marble-columned street known as “Herod Street,” where today’s Kurtuluş Street runs.

Χριστιανός implies slavery under Romans. This word was applied to Christians by non-Christians as a derogatory condition of servitude. Christians never branded them as ‘christians’, and this thing never happned before 300 CE.

Acts 15:13-32 (KJV)

Leadership and Prominalce of James

13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree,

just as it is written:

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the [b]Lord who does all these things.’

18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from [d]sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Jerusalem Letter

22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

23 They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell.

(Note: Christian greetings at first and farewell at the end are missing)

30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

‘Christian’ Title

“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Antakya south-central Turkey). (KJV-Acts 11:26)

ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν, χρηματίσαι τε πρῶτον ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τοὺς μαθητὰς Χριστιανούς. (Greek Orthodox Church 1904)

Authentic Text of New Testament

[This] sacred and holy Synod — considering that no small utility may accrue to the Church of God, if it be made known which out of all the Latin editions, now in circulation, of the sacred books, is to be held as authentic — ordains and declares, that the said old and vulgate edition, which, by the lengthened usage of so many years, has been approved of in the Church, be, in public lectures, disputations, sermons, and expositions, held as authentic; and that no one is to dare, or presume to reject it under any pretext whatever [Council of Trent: Decree Concerning the Edition and Use of the Sacred Books, 1546].

In 1943, Pius XII commented on Trent’s statement, and made a statement:

“And if the Tridentine Synod wished “that all should use as authentic” the Vulgate Latin version, this, as all know, applies only to the Latin Church and to the public use of the same Scriptures; nor does it, doubtless, in any way diminish the authority and value of the original texts”.

Note that there was no “original” text originally as Pius XII stated in Divino Afflante Spiritu 21. Again apart from Vulgate, no Bible existed then including any original ‘Greek New Testament‘. Now Nova Vulgata Editio has been used for liturgical purpose by the Catholic Church. Jerome’s Vulgate was not written by St. Jerom (342-420), a translator who lived in Rome, possibly it was completed around 580-590 CE. It wasn’t a translation of any original work, we presume that Vulgate was an original work (New Testament Portion), and all other Greek texts were adjusted according to the Vulgate New Testament.

• The Christian Scriptures
  • Background from the Jewish Bible
  • The Baptism of Jesus
  • A Miracle based on faith (Mark 5: 25-34)
  • On Forgiveness, Sermon on the Mount
  • The Beatitudes
  • The Golden Rule
  • Salvation and Damnation are linked to Deeds (Matthew 7: 13-23)
  • The Ascetic ideal
  • The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
  • The Last Supper
  • Paul on Salvation by Faith
  • Paul on Marriage vs. Celibacy
  • The Last Judgment
• Tacitus: Nero’s persecution of the Christians
• The Apostles’ Creed
• St. Augustine
  • The Changeable and the Permanent
  • The Problem of Evil
  • The Two Cities

Read also:

• Christology in conflict at the emergence of Corona Virus: Inquiring ‘the Word Became Flesh’ 
• Theological Declaration of Barmen- by Karl Barth-1934
• Necessary Doctrine-Thomas Cranmer-1550 CE
• Basic Books for a Christian Theologian
• Councils of Church (Ecumenical Councils 325 CE-Present)
• Contradictions Between the Old Testament Deity and the New Testament God.