The first century of the Christian era begins with the
birth of
Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem.
Christ lived, died,
rose again and ascended into heaven in the first
century.
This time also
witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples on the
feast of
Pentecost, the event which is often called the
birthday of the Church. In the first century, the apostles preached the
Gospel of Christ. We do not know exactly where the apostles traveled, with
the exception of Saint Paul whose missionary journeys are recorded in the
book of Acts. According to tradition, all of the apostles were universal
preachers of the Gospel, who, with the exception of Saint John, were killed
for their faith in Christ.
The gospels and
epistles and all of the books which comprise the New Testament
scriptures
were written in the first century. Also at this time, the first Christian
communities were established in the main cities of Asia Minor and Greece,
and possibly in North Africa. The Church was also established in the capital
city of Rome.
The Church
Contrary to what is
sometimes thought, the Christian Church was first an urban phenomenon which
only later spread to the rural areas. Also, it was composed mainly of people
from what we would call today the "middle classes" of society. Thus, it is
not true that Christianity gained its foothold in the world in uneducated
and backward people who were looking for heavenly consolation in the face of
oppressive and unbearable earthly conditions.
The main event of the
Church of the first century was the admittance of gentiles into the Church
who were not obliged to follow the ritual requirements of the Mosaic law.
(See Acts 15, Galatians, Romans) Thus, although the Christian Church entered
Roman imperial society "under the veil" of Judaism, it was quickly separated
from the Jewish faith as the People of God called from all the nations,
those who were united in Christ the Messiah, Who was confessed as the Lord
and Savior of all men and the whole world. The requirements for entry into
the Christian Church w ere faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ, repentance
from sin, and baptism in Jesus' name with the subsequent reception of the
gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who fulfilled these requirements entered the
Church which was founded in each place as a local community led by those
called bishops or presbyters who received the laying-on-of-hands from the
apostles. The apostles themselves were not local bishops of any particular
Christian community in any place.
Each of the early
Christian communities that we know about had its own unique character, and
its own unique problems, as we see in the New Testament documents. Generally
speaking, however, each church had great concern for the others and were all
called to teach the same doctrines and to practice the same virtues, living
the same life in Christ and the Holy Spirit:
"And they devoted
themselves to the apostles' teachings, and communion, to the breaking of the
bread, and the prayers. And all who believed
were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions
and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need." (Acts 02:42, 44)
This description of
the Church in Jerusalem can generally be applied to all of the early
Christian communities.
From:
Bible and Church History by
Fr. Thomas Hopko,
Dept. of Religious Education - Orthodox Church in America, Crestwood, New
York
