COURSE TITLE: Church History (with Phil.

Church History)
LESSON #: 2
INSTRUCTOR: Suor Ma. Dolores Jamisola, COTH
STUDENTS: 3rd year
DATE: September 22, 2020 (Tuesday), 3 hours

OBJECTIVES:
1. Learn about the historical background in the Roman Empire when Church had its early
beginnings and identify the attributes of Hellenism or the Roman Empire that are still
reflected in Christianity today.
2. Review the life of Jesus and learn the important events in the early beginnings of the
Church such as the Pentecost, calling of the apostles and evangelization of the Gentiles.
3. Students to be able to do/perform the assessment/evaluation activity at the end of the
lesson.

LESSON CONTENT & METHODOLOGY:

(Pictures use in the lesson are shown in PowerPoint presentation)

(Discussion)
Since the first century B.C., Rome had occupied Palestine, and like most provinces in the Roman
Empire, Palestine featured its own local customs together with an international flavor brought
on by many centuries of foreign rule. Jesus was born into a vibrant mix of 'cultures and
languages. Jesus would most likely have spoken Aramaic and Hebrew but not the two classical
languages that dominated the world around him: Latin and Greek. Latin was the language of
the Roman Empire, but Greek; the written word of the New Testament, was the language of
learning, culture, and commerce in the eastern Mediterranean. Indeed, in many ways, the
world at the time of Jesus was still largely Hellenistic. This was due to the lingering legacy left by
the great empire built by the Macedonian king Alexander the Great.

The Hellenistic Worldview

(Discussion)
After the death of his father Philip II of Macedon in 336 8.C., Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)
He set out to build a huge empire. Alexander's empire covered almost the entire known world.
Only three years later, Alexander suddenly died of a fever in 323 B.C. Alexander had hoped to
build a truly united empire, despite the multiplicity of peoples he conquered. He and his
military officers married Persian wives, and Alexander founded many new cities with native
Greeks in an effort to introduce Greek language, dress, and learning into his empire. Through
this network of cities, Greek ideas, culture, philosophy, and religion all made themselves
present in the East. This began the process called Hellenization by which Greek cultural
attributes were transplanted to the East.

Among the most profound and lasting effects of Hellenization was the effect it had on religion.
Greek religion was seen widely as simplistic compared to the sophisticated theologies of the
Persians and Jews. At the same time, Greek thought supplied these Eastern theologies with new
language and philosophies that helped further their development. Hellenism occasioned
religious debates over the connection between religion and morality and the existence of a life
after death.

In many ways the proliferation of Greek thought laid a foundation for the introduction of
Christianity in the world. Greek language and philosophy were a very suitable medium through
which the teachings of Christ could be transmitted. Most notably, St. Paul's letters and St.
John's
Gospel show how the richness of the Greek language allowed for the articulation of the
intricacies of the Christian religion. Later on, the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle would
provide invaluable ideas for the development of Catholic theology and magisterial
pronouncements.

The Romans

(Discussion)
The founding of Rome is surrounded by myths, many of dubious reliability. The most popular
myth claims that a she-wolf in the Tiber River found Romulus and Remus, two abandoned sons
of the AIba Longa kings. Nursed by the wolf, the foundlings were eventually taken in by a
shepherd. The two boys Iived with the shepherd and his wife (whom some legends attribute to
the nursing of the boys rather than the she wolf), and once they were grown, they established a
city on top of one of the seven hills overlooking the section of the Tiber where they were found.
During a petty argument, Romulus killed his brother Remus and set himself up as king of the
city, naming it Rome, after himself. According to legend this happened on April 21, 753 8.C.,
which is considered the date of Rome's founding. During the first centuries, the city was ruled
as a monarchy.

By 509 B.C., after a string of bad monarchs, the Romans replaced the monarchy with a Republic.
The Republic divided the power formerly held by the single king among the Senate, two
consuls, and a group of Assemblies. During an emergency, the Romans could appoint someone
"dictator" who could rule the city absolutely. His power was, however limited to six months.

As Rome grew in size, the city took advantage of quarrels they had with neighboring cities and
Provinces using "defensive" attacks to spread the city's influence. In 27 B.C. Octavian received
the imperial title 'Augustus" from the Senate, marking the founding of the Empire of Rome.
After the Iong years of civil war, the reign of Augustus brought much appreciated peace and
prosperity to the Roman world. Augustus centralized the bureaucratic republican
administration, dramatically improving communication in the empire. This reign of peace and
prosperity was known as the Pax Romana, "the Roman peace." During the Pax Romana, the
empire enjoyed two hundred years of peace, and Roman civilization flourished. The Pax
Romana made safe and efficient travel and communication over vast distances possible, and
the spread of Christianity was facilitated in no small measure by these peaceful conditions.
Much of Rome’s pagan religion was directly imported from Greece. Indeed many of the myths,
stories, and names of their gods were inherited. As the Romans u/ere a practical people,
religion also took on a practical end. By the time of Augustus, Roman pagan beliefs were widely
enforced to ensure political unity throughout the empire. Romans were generally tolerant of
local customs and beliefs, and would even sacrifice to local gods, just as long as they also
offered homage to the gods of Rome. There were few exceptions made for the duty to sacrifice
to the Roman gods.
One exception was made in regards to Judaism. The Jews' monotheistic beliefs forbade them to
worship any other gods beside the God of Abraham, and they refused to show deference to
Roman paganism. Eventually the Romans exempted the Jews from pagan worship, but not
without reservation. A number of foreign cults also crept into practice. These were brought
back primarily by soldiers who had served in various comers of the empire. Unlike the public
Roman cults, these foreign cults usually invited the individual to personal religious belief.

As in most societies of antiquity, slavery was an institution vital to the economic structure of
both the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. The advent of Christianity did not initially affect
the institution of slavery, although it found many converts among the Roman slaves.
Christianity was perhaps more appealing to slaves because it recognized their individual dignity
and encouraged them to share in the cross of Christ through their own suffering. In Ephesians
6:5-9, St. Paul asks slaves to give good service to their masters by placing the rewards of heaven
before them, and he instructed masters to disavow violence toward slaves and to recognize
Jesus Christ as the universal master. Indeed many of the early leaders of the Church, including
popes, were former slaves.

The Jews

(Discussion)
The history of the Jewish people is particular to the ancient world. Besides being monotheistic,
the Jewish people believed that they had a special role in God's providential plans to serve as
his chosen people. One of the unique characteristics of the chosen people was their realization
of a personal God. A long history of suffering and oppression molded a people whose faith
stimulated their expectation for a messiah. Being cognizant of their obligation to worship the
one true God and keep his commandments, they shunned the religions and immoral ways of
the Gentiles, typified especially by the Greeks and Romans.

The Jewish world of Jesus was a crossroads of cultures, under Hellenist, Latin, and traditional
Jewish influences. This Jewish culture was different than the one depicted in the Old
Testament.
Influenced by Greek thought and ideas, many new groups of scholars, priests, and ascetics
developed schools of Jewish theology. Roman, not Mosaic Law governed society, and despite
some special concessions for worship, Jews were held as second class to the Roman citizens.
Palestine during the life of Christ was rife with tension and expectations as many Jewish groups
were looking for the messiah to free Israel from the Roman yoke.
The Sadducees and the Pharisees

(Discussion)
There were two main groups of Jewish religious leaders during the time of Jesus. The
Sadducees were comprised of many wealthy elite, especially in Jerusalem. Although they were
never large in number, they did exercise considerable religious and political influence
dominating the Sanhedrin (a ruling body among the Jews) at the time of Christ. Furthermore,
the Sadducees were Hellenized to a greater extent than other Jews, which helped them act as
mediators with the Romans in difficult situations. They were generally on good terms with the
Romans, which made them very unpopular with the Jewish people. They rejected the idea that
there was an afterlife, as well as the belief that there was an individual judgment after death.
These beliefs brought them into contention not only with the teachings of Jesus, but also with
some of the ideas of the Pharisees.

In contrast to the politically and religiously conservative Sadducees, the Pharisees were a
progressive reforming group. The name Pharisee comes from the Aramaic perishaya, which
means "the separated (ones)." Unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees were not a group of priests,
but rather lay scholars.

However, at the Lord's passion and death, the Pharisees faded into the background and the
religiously and politically established Sadducees took the leading role in putting Christ to death.
Even though the Pharisees were depicted as the main opponents of Jesus, they shared a
number of beliefs with him. These included the resurrection of the body, divine punishment
and reward in the afterlife, angels, and human freedom.

CONCLUSION

This background to the history of the Church shows how God through his Providence set the
stage for the advancement of his kingdom of truth and justice. Hellenism provided a cultural
milieu that fostered a disposition to the acceptance of Christianity especially through Greek
Philosophy. The Roman Empire, with the unifying forces of its Iaws and organization, together
with the Pax Romana, would greatly facilitate the actual spread of the Gospel. God’s chosen
people would prepare the way for history s protagonist of salvation, Jesus Christ, the Lord of
History.

Jesus Christ and the Founding of the Church

(Students are ask to relate events that they know on the life of Jesus)
*The Life of Jesus Christ (Birth, Public Ministry, Death, Resurrection)

Pentecost, the Birth of the Church

(Discussion)
On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, Jerusalem was filled
with pilgrims from nearly every nation-from Persia, Rome, Arabia, North Africa, and all around
the Mediterranean. The Apostles were all gathered in one place, most likely still fearing
persecution. Just as Christ promised before he ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit descended
upon them, anointing the Church for her mission of evangelization of the world.

On Pentecost, the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Blessed
Trinity, to complete and perfect that which Jesus Christ had begun.

(Students are ask to read the readings from the Bible)

Immediately following the Holy Spirit's descent, the Apostles began to preach the crucified and
risen Christ with great power and authority (Acts 2:5-47).

Many converts came to the Faith through this first proclamation at Pentecost:

(Students are ask to read the readings from the Bible)

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three
thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2: 41-42)

The annual celebration of this feast is an opportunity to recall all that took place at the first
Pentecost, whereby the Apostles were empowered with the strength of the Holy Spirit to
preach
Christ in word and in the heroic witness of martyrdom. Pentecost marks the enduring presence
of the Holy Spirit in the Church that enables Christians to announce the truth of Christ’s Gospel.
It also shows that Christ will live in his Church throughout all ages.

The Church

(Discussion)
What is the Church exactly? The Scriptures teach that the Church is the Body of Christ and the
Temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. Eph 1:22-23). The English word "church" etymologically comes
from a Greek word meaning "thing belonging to the Lord," which applied originally to the
church building. The Latin word ecclesia derives from another Greek word that means
"assembly" or "congregation"

The groundwork for the Church was already being laid down when God made a covenant with
the Jewish people. After this time of preparation in the OId Testament was completed, Jesus
instituted the Church. The Church's foundation, goal, and fulfillment is in Jesus Christ. Through
the Church, Jesus Christ unites himself with all men and women.

The Church has two dimensions: visible and spiritual. The Church is a visible, hierarchical society
that is present in the world, just like any other organization or society. Unlike other societies,
the
Church has a spiritual dimension. The governing and teaching authority of the Church enjoys
perennial guidance from the Holy Spirit. Moreover, she is the Mystical Body of Christ, a spiritual
community, imbued with the healing and sanctifying power of God's grace.

Jesus – Founder
Holy Spirit – soul of the Church

The Church reflects both a human and divine reality. As Christ's Spouse, she enjoys a divine
component in her teaching and sanctifying power. Further expressions of her divine aspect are
the Church's charism of infallibility and her durability until the end of time. Nothing will prevail
over the divinely instituted Church. At the same time, her members are in constant need of
purification in order to achieve holiness.

The Apostles

(Discussion)
The word "apostle" comes from the Greek apostolos, a form of apostellein, meaning "to send
away." Thus, an apostle is literally "one who is sent." The designation traditionally refers to the
twelve men chosen by Jesus during the course of his public ministry to be his closest followers.
They were the pillars of his Church and were to be sent to preach the Good News to all the
nations. Matthias, the Apostle chosen after the Resurrection to replace Judas Iscariot, as well as
Sts. Paul of Tarsus and Barnabas, also enjoyed the status of Apostles, even though they did not
hold that title during Christ’s public ministry.

The Call of the Twelve

(Students are ask to read the readings from the Bible)

Mt 4:18-22, Lk 6:12-16, Acts 1: 21-22

Peter, Andrew, James “the Greater”, John, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas “the Doubter”,
James “the less”, Philip, Judas (not Iscariot), Simon “the Zealot”, Judas Iscariot

The apostolic tradition and the office of bishop

The title 'Apostle" is preeminent among all others because the Apostles, with 5t. Peter as their
head, received teachings and instructions directly from Christ. They were personally chosen by
Christ during his earthly life and empowered by the Holy Spirit to launch the first evangelization
with faith and courage.

A bishop is a successor of the Apostles who has received the fullness of Christ's priesthood. The
Church has successfully transmitted the Apostolic Tradition down through the line of bishops,
and she will continue to do so until Christ returns.

(Students are ask to read the readings from the Bible)

St. Stephen: the first martyr for Christ ( Acts 7:54- 8:3)

(Students are ask to read the readings from the Bible)

Saint Paul and his Conversion (Acts 8:3, Acts 9:3-9)

St. Paul's profound writings would become central in the development of the Church's teaching
up to this very day as he formed a theology out of the Gospel message. St. Paul particularly
delved into the doctrines of the Cross, the Mystical Body of Christ, the power of grace, and the
value of charity.

He is known as the Apostle of the Gentiles

An interlude: the conversion of Cornelius and the commencement of the mission to the
Gentiles

The early Jewish Christians, though persecuted by the Jewish community, still considered
Christianity a part of the Jewish tradition. They still followed Jewish laws and customs, though
they had begun to incorporate many of Christ's teachings into their religious worship and
practice.

Acceptance of Christ as the awaited messiah did not, in their minds, sever them from their
Jewish heritage. One particular Jewish law created a major problem in the formation of the
early Church.
Jewish Law forbade Jews "to associate with or to visit [Gentiles]" (Acts 10:28). However, the
Apostles remembered how Christ reached out to all people during his life. They understood
that
Christ's message and salvation are universal. How, if bound by Jewish laws, were the members
of the early Church to spread the 'Word of God to non-Jews? How could a Gentile be baptized
into a Church whose traditional law forbids any interaction with people foreign to that
tradition?

(Students are ask to read the readings from the Bible)

Vision of Roman centurion Cornelius and St. Peter’s vision (Acts 10: 11-16), (Acts 10: 34-36,
42-43)

The Council of Jerusalem (A.D.49/50)

(Discussion)
St. Peter's experience with Cornelius unfortunately did not completely resolve all the issues
involved in extending the apostolic mission to the Gentiles. Questions remained whether the
Gentiles who converted to Christianity also had to observe the Mosaic Law, including dietary
laws and the law requiring circumcision. Jewish Christians understood that Christ was the
fulfillment of the Jewish law and therefore wanted to recognize both traditions.

St. Peter, speaking with his authority as head of the Church-supported by St. James, the leader
of the Church in Jerusalem-made the definitive statement on this issue. The Gentiles were to
adhere to the following guidelines: to avoid eating the meat and blood of animals sacrificed to
idols or from animals that had been strangled, and to refrain from unlawful marriage (cf. Acts
15:29). The dietary laws, circumcision, and other aspects of the Law would not be imposed
upon the Gentiles.

CONCLUSION

St. John was the last of the Apostles to die, and with his death public revelation ended. Since
Christ is the culmination of God s direct revelation to his people, possession of the Deposit of
Faith and its interpretation corresponds to the Apostles who were the Lord's closest followers
and witnesses to his life. The teachings of the Apostles initiated the body of Iiving truths called
the Tradition of the Church, which began with their preaching and instruction. During their
lifetimes, the Apostles transmitted their episcopal power and authority to their first successors.
The generation succeeding that of Jesus Christ's contemporaries already had a keen notion of
this Tradition and of its bishops' direct link to the Apostles. From the earliest times, the
successors of the Apostles have been given the duty to protect and transmit Christ's teaching as
it was taught and interpreted by the first Apostles.

ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION:

1. Students are to participate actively in the class discussion.
2. Group activity: The Gospel is an account of Jesus' calling of the Apostles. How did Jesus
convince these total strangers to give up everything and go follow him after meeting
him only for the first time? In small groups, write a brief skit in which you try to use
Jesus' words to convince someone in today's society to come and follow him.

Or

3. Reflection paper: What kind of men were the Apostles? What does their social status,
education, and personality demonstrate about how Jesus calls people to live a Christian
life?

REFERENCES:

1. Welcome to Catholic Church

2. Encarta
3. Church History: The Didache Series
4. A Guide to Church History (Book 1)