What is Reddit's opinion of The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: The Jesus Movement, Christian Anti-Semitism, Christian Sexism?

> Did James and his flock still follow the Mosaic law as Jewish Christians?

Yes.

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d call Messianic Judaism. Due to the success of the Great Commission, Paul’s conversion and successful missions, we find an influx of Gentiles. Due to the influx the Jewish Jerusalem believers felt the Gentiles should convert to Judaism. The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter.

> And even James made the judgment for the Gentile Christians to follow some food laws such as to abstain " from what has been strangled, and from blood."

James presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert. Basically James repeats the Old Testament requirements to make Gentiles “proselytes of the gate” and hold them to the Noahide laws. The Jews believed all men are sons of Noah.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James (brother of Jesus) of transgressing the Law; James executed in Jerusalem.

64 AD – Great Fire of Rome.

64AD – Peter martyred?

68AD – Paul martyred?

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) The Roman Empire Jerusalem systematically raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem and slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. James, Peter and Paul are dead, the Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem falls.

The first split in Christianity is finalized. Pharisaic Judaism evolved into Rabbinic Judaism and Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

> I was wondering which denomination was the exception?

Short answer: the early Jesus followers known as the Way.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Jesus left no organization or institution outside of his disciples. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate nothing like Roman Catholicism; in fact it would be much closer to what we’d today call Messianic Judaism.

These are the believers Saul (later Paul) was persecuting. These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way met again in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The absolute last thing the apostles would have considered would be patterning their leadership structure to look like that of Rome – who had just murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their family and friends.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

History shows Roman Catholicism is a post-Nicaea development. This doesn’t necessarily mean Catholicism, or any another post-Nicaea affirming Christian denomination, cannot trace itself back to the historic, orthodox Christian faith.

Likewise while Lutheranism was the primary post-Reformation reform movement, and all Protestant denominations trace their lineage back to Lutherans, we do not insist we are the sole authority in primacy over them.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a denomination that confesses the historic, orthodox Christian faith, a faith built on “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone”.

Pharisees were expert on their holy books.

Paul was a Hebrew and Pharisee; Paul converted and as a result became an apostle and his letters became a large portion of the New Testament.

Also, other Pharisees were converted and became Jesus followers. In fact Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. All the early converts who became Jesus followers were Jews.

The early Jesus followers were known as the Way Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, they continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

70 AD – The separation of Judaism and Christianity was only finalized after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning details the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

Also the History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> And Jesus showing miracles doesn't prove he was messiah since lots of other old testament people also showed miracles.

Tentatively agree.

> Since Jesus never fullfiled prophecies, Christian had to create "second coming" teaching, so he could fullfil it.

Unsupported claim you haven’t argued or supported.

> Also the idea of Jesus paying Christians' sins on cross also has been created for making Jesus look like he actually did something.

Unsupported claim you haven’t argued or supported.

> But Torah says "No man will die for others sin".

It does, but that’s not all the Torah says about atonement for sins.

On the Day of Atonement the priest procures atonement. He purifies himself, enters the Holy of Holies, and sacrifices a bull and goat for a sin offering for the people. He sprinkles their blood on the atonement cover of the ark. The priest is anointed, ordained and puts on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” Leviticus 16, The Day of Atonement

In the New Testament Jesus is equated to the high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 3:1, 4:14, 6:20, 8:1)

1. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews.

2. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

3. These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

4. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

5. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday, what they called the Lord’s Day.

6. After Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in 70AD, and with the ensuing influx of new Gentile converts, the outer Gentile areas drop the Jewish Saturday sabbath and keep the sabbath on Sunday.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> Does not subscribe to the dogma of another faith

This is problematic in this context. The early Jesus followers (including the apostles) were Jews and didn’t separate Judaism and being a Jesus follower — they viewed following Jesus a continuation of Judaism.

1. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews.

2. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

3. They were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

4. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on the next day Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d call Messianic Judaism.

Citations:

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

5. Jesus is quoted as saying he, was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

6. Jesus is quoted as commissioning his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” aka the Great Commission

7. The New Testament teaches that Jesus was sent to Jews, the apostles (Greek apostolos, sent ones) were sent to the world (to include Gentiles) and later Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles) corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (read Gentile).

> Believes in God

Problematic. The Bible teaches Satan and his demons believe in God. The Bible relates, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Believing doesn’t necessarily equate to Christian ergo saved.

> Now, your average modern Christian is going to require the Nicene Creed as well, but this is problematic, since there are important Christians prior to the adoption of the Nicene Creed who did not subscribe to it for one reason or another.

Handwaving the ecumenical creeds is highly problematic. Jesus followers prior to the adoption of the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds did subscribe to the scriptural principles the creeds were drawn from.

Paul’s letters record Pre-Pauline Creeds that are the earliest creedal traditions of the earliest Jesus followers written a short time after Jesus’ death and resurrection. “In very nature God, was in appearance a man, was obedient to death on a cross then exalted to the highest place and given a name above every name – and at this name every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

> I believe in God ..., respect the teachings of Jesus

The term “respect” is ambiguous. It’s impossible to make a determination until you really unpack what that means to you.

> but even in non-Christian secular history books, the account of how Christianity was practiced from the beginning till 1400 to 1500, is evident that Christianity until recently reflects Ortho-Catholic beliefs.

That’s a gross historical inaccuracy. In reality academic scholarship shows that the early Jesus followers were called the Way who would have closely resembled Messianic Jews – not Roman Catholicism.

In fact is Roman Catholicism would probably charge the early Christians as heretics. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots and the Way (a reference to Jesus teaching, “I am the way and the truth and the life.) was another expression of Judaism.

Believing Jesus was the Jewish Messiah the Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Because they kept the Saturday Sabbath, they met on the following day (Sunday, what they called the Lord’s Day) to devote themselves to the apostles' teaching, the fellowship and to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Believing Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and would come back in their lifetime, there was no necessity for authority, organization or dedicated places of worship. So the Jesus followers continue with a group of presbyter/elders who functioned much like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

This relatively continued up to the turn of the century as Clement, the bishop of Rome, wrote to the church in Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church – on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

Even up to the 325 Council of Nicaea we see no one monarchical ruler over all Christendom. We know Roman Emperor Constantine organized, oversaw and presided over the council. "The emperor gave patient attention to the speeches of both parties" and "deferred" to the decision of the bishops.” Book 1, Chapter 20, Sozomen, The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen

The bishop of Rome was seen simply as one of the leaders and not one who had jurisdiction over the other bishops in other regions. (Canon 6 of The Canons of the 318 Holy Fathers Assembled in the City of Nice, in Bithynia.) “It is evident that the Council has not in view here the primacy of the Bishop of Rome over the whole Church, but simply his power as a patriarch,” (Hefele, History Councils, Vol. I., p. 397.)

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning by Daniel Walker

History Of The Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes In One) by Philip Schaff

> Protestantism does not make a lot of sense.

Protestantism vs Catholicism is a false equivalency. There are no collectively held Protestant doctrines to make sense of. To characterize not-Catholic-or-Orthodox as “Protestant” making claims about it’s “doctrines” – all your proving is that you don’t know what Protestantism is.

Pro-tip: just because someone isn’t Roman Catholic, and holds different views, doesn’t mean we’re anti-Catholic.

Let’s unpack the first one:

The Sabbath Day

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8

vs

“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” — Romans 14:5

Exodus: the second book of the Torah. Here the author (traditionally Moses) is recording a commandment to keep the Sabbath rest. By resting on the seventh day and sanctifying it, Jews remember and acknowledge that G-d is the creator of heaven and earth and all living things. Resting emulates the divine example, by refraining from work on the seventh day, as G-d did. Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism and is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more so than Yom Kippur.

Romans: Paul’s letter to the Romans is written post-Jesus to both Jewish and Gentile Jesus followers in Rome. Paul addresses both groups.

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

These early Jesus followers continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way then met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday (what they considered the Lord’s Day.)

The early Jesus followers would look a lot like Messianic Judaism. James assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community; the apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

Due to the influx of Gentile the relationship was awkward and clunky. We see this at the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. Paul even records that Peter would eat with the Gentile converts but would withdraw himself when the men from James would visit because he was afraid of the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in this hypocrisy. Paul confronted him publically asking, “how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be pretty much complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

What Paul is addressing in Romans is this clunky nature of whether Gentiles need to keep Jewish ancestral markers (aka keeping the Saturday Sabbath.) Paul is saying that these matters are left to each individual according to their conscience. In his letter to the Colossians Paul writes, “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.”

At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 James ruled that the Gentiles aren’t obliged to keep Jewish ancestral markers. Paul advises that they aren’t to judge Jewish Jesus followers (or anyone else) on the matter. To Paul the observance or non-observance of the days referred to was a matter in itself of no importance. He was content that each person should act up to his own conscientious convictions on the subject.

tl;dr: I guess I don’t see the contradiction.

> The early Church wasn't split into denominations like it is now, it was just the Church as a whole, the one holy catholic and apostolic Church as they called themselves.

Historically and biblically inaccurate.

From scripture we know for a fact they did not call themselves the “one holy catholic and apostolic Church”. The post-Pentecost early Jesus followers were known as the Way. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

As such the early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on the next day Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what today we’d call Messianic Judaism.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> So yes and no, the Catholic Church did inasmuch as they can trace their history back to the early Church

All post-Nicaea Trinitarian confessing Christian Churches who belief and confess the ecumenical creeds trace their history back to the early Church.

> Apostolic Succession is necessary in order to claim that Jesus Christ founded your denomination.

As far as I know only the Catholic Church makes the audacious claim to be founded by Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago.

That claim is highly problematic. The early Jesus followers were known as the Way. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

These are the early Church that Saul, later Paul, was persecuting. He asked the high priest for letters to the synagogues.

Q: Why the synagogues?

A: The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Sabbath, the Way then met in each other’s homes on the next day aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate nothing like Roman Catholicism; in fact the absolute last thing the apostles would have considered would be patterning their leadership structure to look like that of Rome – who had just brutally murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their family and friends.

According to history and scripture the first Jesus followers would be much closer to what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

1. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews.

2. The apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews.

3. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

4. These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

5. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d call Messianic Judaism.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> There has been only one church that has been preaching the gospel throughout these years! That church is known as the holy catholic church that Jesus founded!

Sorry but no. The early Jesus followers would look and operate nothing like Catholicism; it would’ve been much like what we’d call Messianic Judaism. The absolute last thing the apostles would have considered would be patterning their leadership structure to look like that of Rome – who had just murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their family and friends.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church, comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> What if the only church that Jesus founded is found in the bible?

It is. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

> What if the apostles confessed their belief in that holy church?

The apostles and the Way, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

> I’ve overheard some Catholics saying the Bible was first written and transcribed by them?

Just an observation but Reddit users chronically write positive statements – but then end them with a question mark. Very passive and confusing. The way this is written it’s as though you’re asking us, anonymous people who weren’t there, if you overheard what you’re telling us you overheard.

> What denomination was first?

1. Jesus left no organization or institution outside of his disciples.

2. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews.

3. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

4. These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

5. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

The early Jesus followers would look and operate nothing like Roman Catholicism; in fact it would be much closer to what we’d call Messianic Judaism. The absolute last thing the apostles would have considered would be patterning their leadership structure to look like that of Rome – who had just murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their family and friends.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> I see anti-Catholic posts upvoted constantly on this sub

I see the opposite, which likely just proves we each filter perceptions via our relative perspectives not to mention that we define “anti-Catholic” much differently.

I was subbed to /r/Catholicism and replied to a user’s comments about what the early Jesus followers believed. I wrote that they would have operated very much like Messianic Jews and included linked citations from academic sources. The early Jesus followers were Jews who were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. They continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

I was promptly banned for “anti-Catholic rhetoric”. I think when you are addressing this sub not respecting diverse views we need to put that in perspective.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> The Catholic and Orthodox churches are not full-on heretical organizations that contain no real believers.

Lutherans in general consider Catholics to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Lutherans and Catholics actually agree on much. Personally I’d love nothing more than reconciliation.

> I say this: During the Medieval Period, the only churches active were the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

Correct. The Roman Catholic Church (in the West, with Latin as its main language) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (in the East, with Greek as its main language.)

> Jesus said, 'Upon this rock(Peter) I will build my church, and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it', not 'The gates of hell will not prevail against it EXCEPT between 1000 and 1517'. So, I think this issue is more complex than it seems.

1. You added “(Peter)”; not Matthew. Relatively speaking only Catholic apologetics assert Peter was the capital “R” Rock.

2. We don’t know what Jesus said; the consensus is Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic.

3. What we do know is that the disciple Matthew was an eyewitness to the teaching recorded in Matthew 16 and that he recorded what Jesus said in Greek.

For those reading along: note that OP totally ignores New Testament scripture that specifically relates to new covenant Christians.

Christianity 101

1. The early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers.

2. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish messiah, they continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. They were called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

3. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

4. The Way continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They continued to observe Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and follow kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Sabbath – and then met with each other as a sect on the next day (our Sunday) which they called the Lord’s Day.

5. Due to the success of the Great Commission, and Paul’s missions to the Gentiles, the little sect experiences a great influx of Gentile Jesus followers.

6. Jerusalem believers (Jewish believers from the party of the Pharisees) felt the Gentiles should follow Jewish ancestral markers – especially circumcision. Acts 15:5 The relationship between Judaism and the messianic sect became strained.

50 AD – The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 was called to resolve the matter of the Gentiles. James makes the final judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. James holds Gentile proselytes to the Noahide Laws.

7. Noahide Law vs Law of Moses

a. All humanity, including Jews and Gentiles, are descendants of Noah.

b. The Israelites (Jews) are descendants of Abraham.

The Noahide laws are binding upon all mankind; while the Mosaic Law was binding on Israel. In Judaism the Noahide laws were sufficient for Gentile proselytes before – and so rightly James rightly judges from scripture that they are as sufficient for the Gentile converts now.

Q: After the Jerusalem Council were the Gentile/Christians held to keeping Jewish Sabbaths?

No.

Q: So is Sunday the Christian sabbath?

A: No. Sunday (the Lord’s day) is not the direct counterpart to the Jewish sabbath.

Gentile Christians are under the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Christ is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8) and Christ is our sabbath rest. Hebrews 3:11, 4:9-11.

The Jerusalem Council is for the most part the start of the separation between Judaism and Christianity.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Jewish revolts against Rome.) The Roman Empire retaliates with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Titus orders Jerusalem razed, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple.

8. The Jews scatter. The Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt.

9. The separation of Judaism and Christianity is for the most part finalized. Pharisaic Judaism goes into exile and evolves into Rabbinic Judaism.

10. Gentile Christianity shifts to predominately Gentile/Christian areas like Antioch, Alexandria and Rome (each area having its own bishop/presbyters/elders.)

11. Here we find Gentile Christianity distancing themselves from Judaism and as such dropping the Jewish Sabbath in order to set themselves apart by worshiping on the Lord’s Day = Sunday.

12. This is why Justin Martyr, writing between 155-157AD, describes the weekly worship of the Christians: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples … 1 Apol. chp. 67, Weekly Worship of the Christians

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church.

tl;dr: There’s no basis in scripture that Gentile Christians must keep ancestral Jewish markers like keeping the Jewish sabbath. This doesn’t mean the Mosaic Law is no longer relevant or important to Christians.

The closest to the original would be somewhat like Messianic Judaism. People who are of Jewish heritage with a New Covenant faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. Jesus said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”. Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood

Based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

A year after Saul’s conversion the disciples began to be called Christians.

This is why Paul wrote the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

God established a new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. The early Jesus followers were in fact another expression of Judaism. James assumed leadership of the home Church in Jerusalem and James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

I’ve watched this Priest’s various videos many times and he chronically misrepresents the Reformation and gets it wrong.

V. Apostolic Succession and its Transmission

Thus the transmission of the apostolic ministry is achieved through ordination: a rite with a visible sign and the invocation of God to grant to the ordinand the gift of his Holy Spirit and the powers that are needed for the accomplishment of his task.

The Holy Spirit, not a human or human organization, is the vicar of Christ.

1. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples saying, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:19-23

2. Jesus explicitly instructed his disciples to, “wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4. He said, “Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.”

3. The Holy Spirit is the “Lord and giver of life.” It is the Spirit that brooded over the primordial waters of Genesis; it is the Spirit by which Mary conceived. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

4. So the disciples waited and kept to themselves like the dry bones in the valley waiting for the breath of the Spirit within them so that they may live. Ezekiel 37:1-14

5. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out and at this point the apostles are now brought to life and empowered to begin building the church via Word (preaching, teaching) and the sacraments.

6. Christendom believes and confesses: “… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son ...” Nicene Creed

7. The Holy Spirit founded the Church at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit is the vicar of Christ. (Latin vicarius is “proxy", noun use of adjective vicarius "substituted, delegated," from vicis "change, interchange, succession; a place, position" (from PIE root weik- (2) "to bend, to wind").)

8. The visible sign, from the New Testament onward, is the imposition of hands and the rite of ordination expresses the truth that – what happens to the ordinand does not come from human origin.

9. “The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

> There was a point when their denomination didn’t exist; and now it does. Where do they rest their authority? What makes them think they are the Church of Jesus? Honestly I don’t get it.

Here’s the Priest ignores the fact that there was a point when Roman Catholicism didn’t exist – and then it did.

The early Jesus followers were not Roman Catholics. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah these early Jesus followers continued to function under the umbrella of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Sabbath, the Way then met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

Due to the influx of Gentiles this contentious relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

It’s an overwhelmingly well-historically-documented fact that Roman Catholicism began in later centuries.

> I wish that they hadn’t felt the need to start something new and break from a succession of authority to claim a new type of authority.”

A common uncharitable misrepresentation. The Reformers did not intend to start something new, they did not intend to break from Roman Catholicism and did not claim a new type of authority.

Pope Francis: “I think that the intentions of Martin Luther were not mistaken. He was a reformer. Perhaps some methods were not correct. But in that time, if we read the story of the Pastor, a German Lutheran who then converted when he saw reality – he became Catholic – in that time, the Church was not exactly a model to imitate. There was corruption in the Church, there was worldliness, attachment to money, to power...and this he protested. Then he was intelligent and took some steps forward justifying …” – Pope Francis' in-flight press conference from Armenia (on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.)

1. Luther did not want to start a new Church. Luther was a Catholic Priest, a doctor of theology with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies. Luther was received into the senate of theological facility at the Catholic University of Wittenberg succeeding to the chair of theology.

2. Roman Catholicism’s abuse of indulgences started the Reformation.

3. Luther did not quit the Church; he was excommunicated.

Jesus

1. Jesus didn’t found a church; he left no established institution.

2. Jesus made it very clear that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

3. Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

4. God founded this new covenant within the covenant system that God had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

5. This harmonizes the NT with the OT.

Jesus is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

6. What Jesus left: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

7. Jesus commissioned his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (aka the Great Commission.)

8. Jesus shared his intent with his apostles (Greek, apostolos, a messenger, one sent on a mission) that they build an ekklesia (a people “called out to assemble”) from all nations to be the mystical body of believers called out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

9. Paul corroborates: the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile). This harmonizes scripture. In fact the Jesus followers weren’t even called Christians until a year after Paul’s conversion.

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Q: So what is the “founding” church?

A: Not what — but who: whoever confesses that the son of man (Jesus manifested in the flesh is the Son of the living God. God abides in them, and they in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

The Holy Spirit

10. Before returning to the Father, Jesus explicitly instructed his disciples to, “wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4. “Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.” The Holy Spirit is the “Lord and giver of life.”

11. So they waited and kept to themselves.

Q: Was their a Church at this point?

A: There was no Church that could baptize and administer the sacraments.

12. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out and at this point the apostles are now empowered to build the church: preaching, teaching and administering the sacraments.

The Holy Spirit founded the new covenant church at Pentecost.

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The Church

13. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

14. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

These early Jesus followers would, generally speaking, be something like Messianic Judaism. These early Jesus followers expressed the new covenant within the Jewish heritage.

15. Due to the Great Commission and influx of Gentile proselytes, this contentious relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> I'm not sure what you mean,

1. Jesus did not replace the Old Covenant Law.

2. The Old Covenant Law remains intact until all is accomplished aka the end.

3. Jesus ~~replaced~~ fulfilled the Old Covenant Law; he did the Father’s and kept the Law.

Jesus Christ is alone in this; there is no one beside him. Jesus alone pleased the Father. Jesus Christ is the narrow path.

Early Christians

1. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews.

2. Jesus said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” aka Old Covenant Jews.

Q: Why?

A: Because Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood

3. The apostles/disciples and early converts of Jesus followers were Jews.

4. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6

5. So the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

6. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

7. We know the early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Sabbath, the Way then met in each other’s homes on the next day aka the Lord’s Day or Sunday.

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

Reference:

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

50 AD Jerusalem Council

1. Due to the success of the Great Commission, and Paul’s missions to the Gentiles, the Way experiences a great influx of Gentile Jesus followers.

2. Jerusalem believers (Jewish Jesus followers) felt the new Gentiles should follow Jewish ancestral markers especially circumcision. Acts 15:5

3. James made a final judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

James and the early Church unanimously decided new Gentile proselytes are only required to keep the Noahide Laws – not ancestral Jewish markers (all the Old Covenant Jewish laws.)

Q: Why?

A: Because all nations are descendants of Noah – and only Jews are descendants of Abraham.

> but have you circumcised, or wear side curls, or wear tefillin, or keep kosher diet, or avoid mixed fabrics etc?

No. I’m a New Covenant Gentile Jesus follower.

I’ve submitted to grace through faith in Jesus Christ who fulfilled the Old Covenant Law. They no longer convict me “in Christ”. The Law now serves to help me become more Christlike; they’re a standard to check and curb my actions.

> Why are you not Catholic?

Lutherans believe Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ. We actually agree on much but differ on a few key points. They’re dogma, doctrines and decrees on these points are biblically problematic.

> In my country, recently some Protestants converted to Catholicism, seeking a "historic faith"

A common misconception is Catholicism is the “historic faith”.

1. The early Jesus followers were known as the Way

2. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

3. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

4. Keeping the Jewish Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on the next day aka the Lord’s Day (Sunday).

5. This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

Q: Would Roman Catholics continue to keep all these ancestral Jewish markers?

A: No.

Q: Why?

A: Because they weren’t Roman Catholics.

> Any book or YouTube channel to strengthen the protestant position?

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a short readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Even Protestant historians like J.N.D. Kelly acknowledge that the Catholic Church was first.

False.

Actually Bible scholars and historians acknowledge that the first believers where Jewish Jesus followers known as the Way.

The Way functioned as a sect within Judaism.

Historians know there was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. The Way kept the Jewish Sabbath, and then met as a sect in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

This is why scripture records that Saul (later Paul), when wanting to persecute the first Christians, asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find the Jesus followers that belonged to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> Historically, there were no other Christian Churches for the first 1000 years of Christianity. In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox splintered off. Protestantism didn't begin until the 16th century, started by an ex-Catholic monk, Martin Luther.

Gross historical inaccuracy. See Schism in Christianity for a laundry list of splits/schisms in the first 1000 years of Christianity.

tagging /u/Jon-987

> What about the Catholic Church's claim that it is the original church that existed until the reformation happened?

That’s the best way to approach the topic because Roman Catholicism is (generally) unified, has collectively agreed upon doctrines and an agreed upon central leadership structure.

Roman Catholicism’s claim can be shown faulty with evidences from scripture and history.

1. It’s obvious from scripture that the early Jesus followers were not Roman Catholic.

2. The early Jesus followers were known as the Way.

3. The Way functioned as a sect within Judaism.

4. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

5. The early Jesus followers continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. The Way kept the Jewish Sabbath, and then met as a sect in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find early Jesus followers that belonged to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

For in-depth comments with links see my previous post.

There’s no scriptural basis, therefore no evidence, for the papacy.

The Way

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the disciples, apostles, and early Jesus followers were Jews.

Scripture quotes Jesus as plainly saying he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”. Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood

The early Jesus followers were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

Hardly Roman Catholic practices.

Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

Q: If Jesus founded a new religion with a Pope, why would Roman Catholics be found in Jewish synagogues?

A: They wouldn’t.

We know James, not Peter, assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community. Eusebius records James was elected to preside over the home Church on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

God established a new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. The early Jesus followers were in fact another expression of Judaism. James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

After Stephen was stoned, a zealous Saul (later Paul) wanted to persecute followers of the Way. So much so that He asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2

Q: Would Roman Catholics be found in Jewish synagogues?

A: No. The early Jesus followers (aka the Way) were another expression of Judaism. This harmonizes scripture.

Saul’s Conversion

Saul went Jerusalem 3 years after his conversion (Acts 9:26-30,Gal.1:18-24). Paul meets Cephas and James (brother of Jesus) who are satisfied that Paul’s gospel was a revelation of the resurrected Jesus Christ. Paul never mentioned one apostle in primacy and authority over all – Paul does refers to them as pillars and esteemed leaders. Paul records that James, Cephas and John were all pillars and all gave him the right hand of fellowship.

Paul records that Peter’s ministry was an apostle to the circumcised aka Jews.

Peter describes himself as: A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

Peter exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

Due to the success of the Great Commission and Paul’s missions to the Gentiles, the sect experiences a great influx of Gentile Jesus followers.

Jewish Jesus followers from Jerusalem felt the Gentile Jesus followers should follow Jewish ancestral markers especially circumcision. Acts 15:5

The apostles and elders met to consider the question. After discussion and debate James makes the final judgment on the matter, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. James holds Gentile proselytes to the Noahide Laws. Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose and send men to Antioch with a letter.

Conclusion: James, not Peter, assumed leadership of the home Church in Jerusalem. The apostles were esteemed as pillars and delegated authority and made decisions collectively.

This continued to the turn of the first century. Clement, bishop of Rome 88-99AD, wrote to Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

To this point there is no evidence for monarchical bishops in authority over all Christendom.

> Note that it was always kept on Saturday until sometime in the 300s AD when the Catholic Church decided to switch it to Sunday.

Historically inaccurate.

1. The early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, They continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

2. They continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Sabbath – and then met with each other as a sect on their first day of the week (our Sunday) which they called the Lord’s Day.

3. The separation of Christianity from Judaism started in 50 AD at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and was pretty much finalized after Jewish Revolts against Rome and Rome responding by ransacking Jerusalem and destroying the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

&nbsp;

70AD – The Jewish Revolts, and Rome’s resulting destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, was a watershed moment.

70-135AD – Displaced Judaism evolves into Rabbinic Judaism and Gentile Christianity moves to outlying Gentile areas and here we see Gentile Christianity distancing themselves from Judaism and as such dropping the Jewish Sabbath to set themselves apart by worshiping on the Lord’s Day = Sunday.

4. Justin Martyr (writing between 155-157AD) describes the weekly worship of the Christians: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples … 1 Apol. chp. 67, Weekly Worship of the Christians

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313AD – Edict of Milan: established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire.

321AD – Emperor Constantine venerates Sunday (Day of the Sun) as a rest day for Romans. Codex Justinianus 3.12.3

364AD – “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.” Council of Laodicea, canon 29

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5. First, the Jewish calendar doesn't have names for the days of the week. They’re simply known as: first day, second day, third day, et al.

6. Second, Jewish days are reckoned from sunset to sunset. Our contemporary Romanized calendar recons days from midnight to midnight. (Using our Romanized contemporary calendar day) the Jewish sabbath sabbath began Friday at sunset and ended Saturday at sunset.

7. While the Lord’s day is Sunday it is not the direct counterpart to the Jewish sabbath (so not the “Christian Sabbath”.) Christians are under the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Christ is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8) and Christ is our sabbath rest. Hebrews 3:11, 4:9-11.

1. The early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers.

2. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, they continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

3. They went to Temple/synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

4. They kept the Saturday Jewish Sabbath – and then met with each other as a sect on the next day they called the Lord’s Day.

5. The relationship between Judaism and Christianity became somewhat contentious.

6. The beginnings of the separation between Christianity and Judaism started in 50 AD at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). It was finalized after the Jewish Revolts.

70AD – Jewish Revolts and Rome’s resulting destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, was a watershed moment.

Displaced without a Temple Judaism evolves into Rabbinic Judaism and Gentile Christianity moves to outlying Gentile areas.

Here we begin to see Gentile Christianity distancing themselves from Judaism and as such dropping the Jewish Sabbath to set themselves apart by worshiping on the Lord’s Day = Sunday.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Justin Martyr (writing between 155-157AD) describes the weekly worship of the Christians: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples … 1 Apol. chp. 67, Weekly Worship of the Christians

313AD – Edict of Milan: established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire.

321AD – Emperor Constantine venerates Sunday (Day of the Sun) as a rest day for Romans. Codex Justinianus 3.12.3

364AD – “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.” Council of Laodicea, canon 29

Note: While the Lord’s day is Sunday it is not the direct counterpart to the Jewish sabbath (so not the “Christian Sabbath”.) Christians are under the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Christ is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8) and Christ is our sabbath rest. Hebrews 3:11, 4:9-11.

> Why don’t Protestants study church history?

I dig church history:

Believing Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the early Jesus followers, called the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22), continued as a messianic sect under Judaism.

They continue to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to Temple/synagogue, worship and follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They continue to observe Jewish holy days, circumcise and follow kosher dietary laws.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

Peter, James and John didn’t strive for honor and chose James (Jesus’ brother) to preside over the home church in Jerusalem. (Eusebius quoting Clement, Church History, Book II, Chp 1.2)

James, Peter, John, and others continue as a group of presbyters somewhat like Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

Stephen, a Hellenistic Jew, speaks publicly against the Pharisees; the Jewish leaders become enraged and Stephen is promptly killed.

Saul (later Paul) witnesses Stephen’s execution.

Enraged by Stephen, Saul (Paul) begins a personal mission to persecute and/or murder the followers of the Way. He shares murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples and asks for letters to be sent to the synagogues at Damascus “so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2)

On the way to Damascus Saul sees a light from heaven flashed around him. Jesus’ voice instructs Saul to go to the house of Judas in Damascus. In a vision, Ananias is instructed by Jesus to restore Saul’s sight in Damascus. Saul goes to synagogues preaching Jesus as the Son of God.

Ironically now the Jews belonging to Judah were plotting to kill Saul.

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35/37 AD – 3 years after his conversion Saul to Jerusalem; visits apostles but they were afraid of him (they remember the “dragging out” and “murdering” Saul.)

Barnabas convinces them Saul converted and they stay with them in Jerusalem. Saul meets Cephas and James (brother of Jesus).

Peter/James are satisfied that Saul’s gospel was a revelation of the resurrected Jesus Christ. "James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me ..." Galatians 2:9

Saul sent away to avoid capture. Acts 9:26-30, Galatians 1:18-24

38/40 AD – Anti Jewish riots in Alexandria. Jews were accused of not honoring the emperor; the Jews were angered by the erection of a clay altar and destroyed it. In response, Caligula orders the erection of a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem.

41 AD – Agrippa I, ruler of Galilee, assumes control of Judea; executes James (son of Zebedee). Peter imprisoned, escapes.

45-46 AD – Barnabus to Tarsus, brings Saul to Antioch and they stay one year; here the disciples are first called Christians at Antioch.

Paul back to Jerusalem to deliver donations from Antioch believers to Jerusalem believers; stays short time then back to Antioch. Acts 11:28-30

47-48 AD – Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey; 6-9 months then back to Antioch.

Jewish Jesus followers from Judea travelled to Antioch teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul/Barnabus dispute and debate them.

49/50 AD – Paul/Barnabus appointed to go to Jerusalem to settle the Gentile/circumcision matter with the apostles and elders.

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Jerusalem Council

50AD – Jerusalem Council Acts 15: those who belonged to the party of the Pharisees speak first saying, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses.” Peter speaks next, then Paul and Barnabus speak.

James, leader of the home Church in Jerusalem, makes final judgment on the matter: “we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

James relates the sentiments of Jeremiah 12:14-16: “… after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’ — even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal — then they will be established among my people.”

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Council of Jerusalem judgment: James holds Gentiles to the Noahide Laws. This is the beginning of the separation of Judaism and Christianity.

This is a the beginning of Christianity separation from Judaism.

49/51 AD – Paul begins 2nd Missionary Journey Acts 15-17

51 AD – Paul brought before Gallio then released. Acts 18:12-18

52 AD – Paul takes a vow, has his head shaved; he and Priscilla and Aquila travel to Ephesus. Paul reasoned with the Jews at the synagogue but declines when they ask him to stay. Paul promises to come back and leaves for the next missionary journey hoping to be in Jerusalem for the Feast Acts 18:18-21.

53-57 AD – Paul 3rd Missionary Journey to include Paul’s final trip to Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-28, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Acts 21:15-18.) He carries another collection of donations to Jerusalem.

57-58AD – Stays with Philip a few days in Caesarea; leaves to visit James in Jerusalem. Paul follows James’s counsel Acts 21:18–24; Acts 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1–4.

Paul’s presence at the temple causes a riot and he’s savagely beaten. The mob disperses when Roman soldiers arrive. Paul promptly arrested and imprisoned 2 years at Caesarea (Acts 21:17-26:32); transferred to Rome but shipwrecked. Travels to Rome by road (Acts 28:12-16.)

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60-63AD – Paul under house arrest in Rome. Paul before Roman authorities; charges dropped and he is set free.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James (brother of Jesus) of transgressing the Law; James executed in Jerusalem.

64 AD – Great Fire of Rome; 10 of Rome’s 14 districts were burned due to thousands living in slums filled with poorly constructed wooden apartment buildings.. Soon after it becomes a crime to bear the name "Christian" (About twenty years had elapsed since the name arose in Antioch) and the suppression of the church becomes state policy.

64AD – Peter’s martyrdom under Nero.

67AD – Paul imprisoned again in Rome; writes letter to his closest friend Timothy.

68AD – Paul’s death; traditionally beheaded.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.)

The Roman Empire retaliates from the Jewish Revolts with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Titus orders Jerusalem razed, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. The Jews scatter (diaspora), the Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt. (73AD.)

73 AD – Qumran falls and the Zealots are crushed at Masada ending the revolt.

After the Jewish Revolts and the destruction of the Temple, Pharisaic Judaism goes into exile and evolves into Rabbinic Judaism; the Jesus movement shifts to predominately Gentile areas of Antioch, Alexandria and Rome each having it’s own bishop/presbyters/elders.

This violent end finalizes the separation between Judaism and Christianity.

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Paul’s letters were copied and circulated very early and were the first texts of the New Testament in final/written form.

We know Paul’s letters to Romans, Corinthians and Philippians document creedal summaries of the earliest followers of the Way: Christ died for sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, appeared to Cephas, then the twelve. These Pre-Pauline Creeds date from as early as 35-40 C.E.

> Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church decreed Sunday as the holy day, changing it from the sabbath (Friday 6pm-Saturday 6pm)

Historically inaccurate.

The early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, They continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

They continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

They kept the Jewish Sabbath – and then met with each other as a sect on their first day of the week (our Sunday) which they called the Lord’s Day.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism began in 50 AD at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and was pretty much finalized after Jewish Revolts against Rome and Rome responding by ransacking Jerusalem and destroying the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

70AD – The Jewish Revolts, and Rome’s resulting destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, was a watershed moment.

70-135AD – Displaced Judaism evolves into Rabbinic Judaism and Gentile Christianity moves to outlying Gentile areas.

At this point we see Gentile Christianity distancing themselves from Judaism — and continuing to meet on the Lord’s Day = Sunday.

Justin Martyr (writing between 155-157AD) describes the weekly worship of the Christians: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples … 1 Apol. chp. 67, Weekly Worship of the Christians

313AD – Edict of Milan: established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire.

321AD – Emperor Constantine venerates Sunday (Day of the Sun) as a rest day for Romans. Codex Justinianus 3.12.3

364AD – “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.” Council of Laodicea, canon 29

1. The Lord’s day is Sunday and is not the direct counterpart to the Jewish sabbath (so not the “Christian Sabbath”.)

2. Christians exist under the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Christ is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8) and Christ is our sabbath rest. Hebrews 3:11, 4:9-11.

In the Bible Jesus is quoted as saying that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”. As such Jesus is described as the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood

The Church was founded at Pentecost. Only after the Jesus ascended to the Father could the Father/Son then send the Holy Spirit to breath life into the Church. Now the Church can perform its duty: sinners can repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers.

After Stephen was stoned, a zealous Saul (later Paul) wanted to persecute followers of the Way. So much so that He asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2

The early Jesus followers were another expression of Judaism. This harmonizes scripture. In fact was a year after Saul’s conversion before the disciples were even called Christians.

We know for a fact that James, not Peter, assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community.

Eusebius records James the Just was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

This is why at the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 we see James presiding and making the final judgment on the matter of the Gentiles.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Saul went Jerusalem 3 years after his conversion Acts 9:26-30, Galatians1:18-24. Paul met Cephas and James (brother of Jesus) who are satisfied that Paul’s gospel was a revelation of the resurrected Jesus Christ. Paul never mentioned one apostle in primacy and authority over all.

In scripture Paul refers to the apostles as pillars and esteemed leaders. Paul records that James, Cephas and John were all pillars and all gave him the right hand of fellowship.

Paul also records that Peter ate with the Gentile converts but would withdraw himself when the men from James would visit. In fact the rest of the Jewish Jesus followers joined him in this hypocrisy. Paul states it was because Peter was afraid of the party of the circumcision. Paul confronted Peter publicly asking, “how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Q: Why?

A: Peter’s ministry was an apostle to the circumcised aka Jews. Peter favored the Jewish Jesus followers from James. Peter and many other Jews initially struggled with interacting and eating with Gentile proselytes.

Peter describes himself as: A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul records that Peter’s apostolic ministry was to the circumcised.

Peter exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

From Paul we know Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”.

That’s why Peter favored Jewish Jesus followers over Gentile proselytes. This harmonizes scripture.

Throughout scripture, God is the rock:

Samuel: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer …” 2 Samuel 22:2.

Daniel: “… a stone was cut out, but not by human hands”, “… the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” and “in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever …” Daniel 2

Psalms: “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken”, ““Blessed be the Lord, my rock …”, “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation” Psalm 18:46, Psalm 62:6 and Psalm 144:1.

Isaiah: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:4

Exodus: "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” Exodus 17:6 “And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” Exodus 33:21-23

Paul: “For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

Jesus is the crusher seed of the woman foretold in Genesis 3:15 – Daniel’s rock [crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold …” Daniel 2:44-45

The Jewish disciples (and any Jewish reader) would clearly recognize that Jesus uses Son of Man language from Daniel and rock references from the Prophets. Daniel records a vision seeing one like the son of man presenting himself to the Ancient of Days. Daniel 7:13-14

After the teaching of Matthew 16, Peter and the others were never confused about who the rock was.

Peter describes Jesus as the living stone “being built up as a spiritual house”.. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, describes Jesus as the precious cornerstone; Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 describing Jesus as the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone and Peter quotes Isaiah 8:14 describing Jesus Christ as the stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:4-8

In Matthew 16 Jesus is teaching his Jewish disciples who he is – not who Peter is.

Lutherans do not deny that Peter, James and John were privileged to be in Jesus inner circle. Lutherans do not have a problem with Peter being first among equals or even with Peter representing the Church in Matthew 16. Based on scripture we disagree that Peter had primacy and authority or that Peter alone held the office of the keys.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Par for the course; the linked article outright misrepresents faith alone in order to attack it aka strawman.

1. Faith alone does not mean “once you are “saved” you do not have to do anything to keep your salvation.”

2. Faith alone does not mean we can live “the exact same as the world and expect to stay saved.

Let’s take the link's first point and see how this goes:

> As appreciative as we are of Luther showing the church the way out of the corrupted Roman Catholic structure, we must acknowledge that he did make a few major mistakes. One of them was in teaching anti-Semitism (which would prepare his home country Germany for Hitler many centuries later).

People often copy/paste statements they never investigate to understand the historical context. Unfortunately that misrepresents history and spreads misinformation.

Catholicism

The anti-Semitism of the Catholic Church is well-documented (see The Catholic Church (Under the Roman Empire, the Early Middle Ages, Later Middle Ages, Renaissance and Counter-Reformation and in Modern Times, In the U.S)

When discussing historical topics its imperative to put them in their proper socio-cultural and historical contexts:

Christianity’s origins are in Judaism. The earliest Jesus followers (known as the Way) were Jews who were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.

The Way was considered another expression of Judaism.

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

90-100 AD – The apostles are dead and their disciples continue. At this point in history the separation between Judaism and Christianity is complete and for the most part Gentile Christianity is viewed as a separate religion.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

325 AD – Post-Nicaea Christianity was eager to complete the break with the synagogue.

The Holy Roman Empire wanted go on to declare everyone outside Rome to be heretics and decreed imperial policies to eliminate Judaism as a rival. Synagogues were frequently attacked and destroyed and many church fathers (see Eusebius/John Chrysostom/Augustine) took every opportunity to stress God’s rejection of the Jewish people. They believed it was the will of God to keep a remnant of the Jews alive in a degraded state as living witnesses of the Christian truth.

The Church’s post-Nicaea views on Jews were ingrained in Christian theology for a very long time.

In the ensuing years Jews were forced to convert, forced into baptism or leave the country. Pope Leo VII (937) advised the archbishop of Mainz to expel the Jews from his diocese if they continued to refuse baptism.

Pope Innocent III (1215) imposed upon all Jews the obligation of wearing distinguishable garments, which developed into the Jewish badge.

From the 13th century, the Church’s primary aim became the total conversion of the Jews. A conscious effort was made to weaken Judaism and degrade it among its own adherents.

In reaction to the Reformation Cardinal Caraffa, the head of the Inquisition in Rome, had all copies of the Talmud within his reach burned as well as much other Hebrew literature.

When Cardinal Caraffa became Pope Paul IV he imposed the papal bull Cum nimis absurdum that began a systematic persecution.

Pius V (1569) expelled Jews expelled the Jews from the Papal States excepting Ancona, a business center, and Rome, where a strictly supervised ghetto had been established. Synagogues had to admit conversionist sermons.

Disclaimer: To be fair there were many efforts to treat Jews benevolently – but nonetheless – this is the socio-cultural and historical context of Christendom up to the Reformation.

Martin Luther

Luther was an Augustinian monk who devoted himself to the Augustinian order and was ordained a Catholic Priest. He then became doctor of theology with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies. In 1512 he was received into the senate of theological facility at the Catholic University of Wittenberg. Luther then succeeded to the chair of theology. In 1515 Luther was made provincial vicar of Saxony and Thuringia (visiting/overseeing 11 monasteries.)

Luther was steeped in Catholicism and existed in an era and culture that likewise were steeped in medieval Catholicism. His view on Jews, and frankly the views of much of Christendom of the era, was in a large part due to their Catholicism.

1. Martin Luther was sympathetic to Jewish resistance to the Catholic Church. In fact Luther consulted Jewish scholars when translating the Old Testament into German.

2. After the Reformation, Luther expected the Jews to convert in mass. They did not.

3. Luther, a typical German, was often blunt, polemic and argumentative. Not being one to back down from a debate, Luther took to his writing and turned violently against them reiterating the sentiments of the Roman Catholic Church.

4. Even so, in Luther’s last sermon before his death he said, “We want to treat them (Jews) with Christian love and to pray for them, so that they might become converted and would receive the Lord.”

5. Lutherans do not consider Martin Luther a capital “S” saint by any means. The Lutheran Church (LCMS) adopted an official resolution addressing statements of Luther and making clear its own position on anti-Semitism.

Myths About Lutheranism: “Luther Was Anti-Semitic”

Martin Luther and Anti-Semitism

6. The Third Reich was the official Nazi designation for the regime in Germany from January 1933 to May 1945.

7. Hitler imagined Germany as the presumed successor of the medieval and early modern Holy Roman Empire: 800 to 1806 (the First Reich), the German Empire of 1871 to 1918 (the Second Reich).

Disclaimer: I’m not claiming Hitler was Catholic. I am not equating Catholics with Nazis and I am not saying all Catholic Popes were evil and anti-Semitic. I am saying that when discussing historical topics its imperative to put them in their proper socio-cultural and historical contexts. You cannot speak to historical matters – and totally ignore historical contexts. That makes no sense.

The other points in the article are likewise strawmannirg but lets resolve this point first. Thanks.

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

The early Jesus followers would look and operate nothing like Catholicism; in fact it would be much closer to what we’d call Messianic Judaism. Due to the success of the Great Commission, Paul’s conversion and successful missions, we find an influx of Gentiles. Due to the influx the Jewish Jerusalem believers felt the Gentiles should convert to Judaism. The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter. James presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James (brother of Jesus) of transgressing the Law; James executed in Jerusalem.

64 AD – Great Fire of Rome.

64AD – Peter martyred?

68AD – Paul martyred?

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) The Roman Empire Jerusalem systematically raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem and slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. James, Peter and Paul are dead, the Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem falls.

The first split in Christianity is finalized; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

> Followers of Jesus movement

Followers of Jesus movement, based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

Based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were Jews known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

After Stephen was stoned, a zealous Saul (later Paul) wanted to persecute followers of the Way. So much so that He asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2

50AD Jerusalem Council

Due to the success of the Great Commission and Paul’s missions to the Gentiles, the sect experiences a great influx of Gentile Jesus followers.

Jerusalem believers, believers from the party of the Pharisees, felt the Gentiles should follow Jewish ancestral markers especially circumcision. Acts 15:5

James presided over Che home church in Jerusalem and made the final judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. James holds Gentile proselytes to the Noahide Laws.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James of transgressing the Law; James executed in Jerusalem.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt, Jewish revolts against Rome. The Roman Empire retaliates with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Titus orders Jerusalem razed, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. The Jews scatter (diaspora), the Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt.

73 AD – Qumran falls and the Zealots are crushed at Masada ending the revolt.

At this point Pharisaic Judaism goes into exile and evolves into Rabbinic Judaism. Christianity shifts to predominately Gentile areas including Antioch, Alexandria and Rome each having it’s own bishop/presbyters/elders.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

> Look things up for yourself. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO ANYTHING.

I did. I’ll engage the first few points to see how this goes:

> We westerns got the Bible thanks from the Catholic Church.

1. We got our Old Testament thanks to Judaism. Ancient Hebrew scribes recognized two classes of books: authoritative and “outside” books.

2. We got much of the New Testament thanks to the early Church. The early Post-Pentecost Jesus followers were known as the Way and these functioned under Judaism as another expression of Judaism. (Jesus/apostles quote authoritative scripture ad nauseam; the phrase “It is written …” occurs over 70 times in the New Testament.)

The early Church recognized the Gospels early on; Paul’s letters were considered authoritative and were circulated/copied very early within the apostles lifetime.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt: Jewish revolts against Rome. The Roman Empire retaliates with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Titus orders Jerusalem razed, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. The Jews scatter (diaspora), the Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt.

73 AD – Qumran falls and the Zealots are crushed at Masada ending the revolt.

At this point Pharisaic Judaism goes into exile and evolves into Rabbinic Judaism. Christianity shifts to predominately Gentile ares of: Antioch, Alexandria and Rome each having its own bishop/presbyters/elders.

At the turn of the first century there is no single bishop in primacy or authority over all of Christendom; there is no evidence for monarchical bishops in Rome.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

> What is the one thing you admire most about the Catholic Church?

Art/Architecture.

> Why do you admire it?

It’s beautiful.

> What is the single teaching you disagree with the most?

Jesus founded the Catholic Church.

> Why do you disagree with it?

The Holy Spirit founded the new covenant Church at Pentecost. Acts 2 After Pentecost the church can then fulfill its office and perform her duties.

1. Jesus is quoted as saying he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

2. As such Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood

3. We know the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

4. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

5. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

6. This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

7. In fact a year after Saul’s conversion where the disciples even called Christians.

8. This is why Paul wrote the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

God established a new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. The early Jesus followers were in fact another expression of Judaism. James assumed leadership of the home Church in Jerusalem and James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> This is a result of the sola scriptoria heresy.

Historically inaccurate.

1. Jesus and his disciples appealed to scripture ad nauseam as the final court of appeal. The phrase “It is written …” occurs over 70 times in the New Testament.

2. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, “You have nullified the word of God, for the sake of your tradition”

3. Jesus rebuked the Sadducees because they didn’t understand the scriptures; he silenced them quoting scripture, “Have you not read what was spoken to you by God?” (Matthew 22:29)

4. Jesus rebuked the Devil by quoting scripture

5. At Pentecost Peter explained the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by quoting the prophet Joel and David (Psalm 16, Psalm 110). Peter refers to Paul’s letters as scripture writing, “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

6. Paul: “For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who walk by this kanoni, even to the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:16) “All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. Nevertheless, we must live up to (literally “walk the” kanoni) what we have already attained” Philippians 3:16

7. Timothy: writes that a good servant of Christ Jesus is trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine. He ends his letter instructing them to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4

Question: Were Jesus and the apostles heretical to support teachings with scripture?

> There was one church for almost all of history the holy apostolic Catholic Orthodox Church (Easter orthodox for short) the doctrine of this church remains the same since the time of the apostles, it has never reformed and never changed

Historically inaccurate. The Church has split/schismed/reformed/changed from almost day one:

First Jesus Followers

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews.

The early Jesus followers were known as the Way and these continued to function under the umbrella of Judaism; they were another expression of Judaism.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) Rome systematically raided and obliterated Jerusalem, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple.

The split between Judaism and Christianity is finalized; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

History Of The Christian Church.

100 – 800AD Patristic Era

Christian theologians produce volumes upon volumes of theological/apologetic writings to determine/correct interpretations and to refute arguments against opposing factions. The earliest controversies were Christological in nature and related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity. We see: Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites and more.

313AD Edict of Milan – agrees to teat Christians benevolently.

380AD edict decrees Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire; ensuing factions vy for power resulting in splits and schism.

445AD Juvenal, the bishop of Jerusalem, wanted to make Jerusalem into a Patriarchate (designating the office and jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical patriarch) but Leo I bishop of Rome opposed it. Leo 1 appealed to Roman Emperor Valentinian III for support and obtained a decree Decree on Papal Power 445 that recognized the primacy of the bishop of Rome and provided for the forcible extradition of any bishop who refused to answer a summons to Rome.

At this time the Roman Empire was under constant siege and Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425 to 455) was faced with the dismemberment of the Western Empire. The 445 edict strengthened Rome’s socio-economical and political standing against a regular onslaught of opposition and here we find the primacy of Rome given official recognition. EWTN, Leo the Great Pope Doctor of the Church. Leo I is the first to officially claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church thus initiating the rise of the papacy – a uniquely Roman structure based on imperialism and aristocracy.

Enter: Nestorianism and the Assyrian Church of the East split over the Council of Ephesus (431AD), Oriental Orthodoxy split over the Council of Chalcedon (451AD), Pope Sergius I rejected the Quinisext Council (692), and the Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870AD and 879-880AD) is disputed by Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

600 AD Communication between the Greek East and the Latin West by the 600s had become dangerous and practically ceased. 800 AD Phtian Schism due to controversy between Eastern (Byzantine, later Orthodox) and Western (Latin, Roman Catholic) Christianity.

800AD After the fall or the Western Roman Empire Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor reviving the title of Emperor. The concept of translatio imperii (sovereign ruler/supreme power) is revived from the ancient emperors of Rome. (This inaugurates the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperors in Western and Central Europe were now crowned by a Pope; the term "Holy Roman Empire" would be officially adopted from 1254 onward.)

1054AD Great Schism

The cracks and fissures in Christianity evident as early as the fourth century led to the Great Schism. We see the Gregorian Reform movement in the 11th century and the Eastern churches viewed Rome’s understanding of the nature of episcopal power as being in direct opposition to the Church’s essentially conciliar structure and thus saw the two ecclesiologies as mutually antithetical.

This fundamental difference in ecclesiology would cause all attempts to heal the schism and bridge the divisions to fail. Characteristically, Rome insisted on basing her monarchical claims to “true and proper jurisdiction” (as the Vatican Council of 1870 put it) on Saint Peter. This “Roman” exegesis of Matthew 16:18, however, was unknown to the patriarchs of Eastern Orthodoxy. Eastern Orthodox/Western Catholic separate and the division was a toxic mix theological/political/cultural.

Enter: Ireland, Anglo-Saxons (English), Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Serbs and Blugarians = turmoil with Roman Empiricism.

Enter the Inquisitions starting 1184 with Roman Catholicism vs many movements throughout Europe considered apostate/heretical to Catholicism.

1378 – 1416 The Western Schism finds multiple claimants to the See of Rome and conflict concerning the rightful holder of the papacy. In 1309 the papacy moves to France but returns to Rome in 1378 causing strife between Italian and French factions resulting in multiple Popes with two sets of cardinals. A 1409 council declared both existing popes to be schismatic and appointed a new one. But the existing popes refused to resign and now there were three papal claimants. Another council in 1414 cleans house and cleared the field of popes and antipopes and elected a Pope.

1517 Reformation

1517AD – Pope Leo X grants an indulgence as collateral for a loan. Half the funds were to pay off a bishop’s personal loan and the other half was for Leo to pay for the re-design of St. Peters Basilica. (See The Role of Indulgences in the Building of New Saint Peter’s Basilica)

> What’s the difference between Protestant, orthodox, and catholic?

Christianity 101

1. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

2. These Jewish Jesus followers were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism.

3. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

4. Due to Jesus commissioning his disciples to share the Gospel with “the World”, and Paul’s successful outreach to the Gentiles, they experienced a great influx of Gentiles (non-Jews.)

5. The Jewish Jerusalem believers felt the Gentiles should in a sense first convert to Judaism. The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter.

6. James presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert to Judaism.

7. The Great Revolt: Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome. Rome consequently raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple.

At this point in history James, Peter and Paul are dead, the Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem falls.

This is the first split in Christianity; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

History Of The Christian Church.

More splits

8. The earliest controversies were related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity. We see: Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites and more.

380AD – Roman edict decrees Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire; ensuing factions wrestle for power resulting in more splits and schisms.

445AD – Juvenal, the bishop of Jerusalem, wanted to make Jerusalem into a Patriarchate (designating the office and jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical patriarch) but Leo I bishop of Rome opposed it. Leo 1 appealed to Roman Emperor Valentinian III for support and obtained a decree Decree on Papal Power 445 that recognized the primacy of the bishop of Rome and provided for the forcible extradition of any bishop who refused to answer a summons to Rome.

At this time the Roman Empire was under constant siege and Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425 to 455) was faced with the dismemberment of the Western Empire. The 445 edict strengthened Rome’s socio-economical and political standing against a regular onslaught of opposition and here we find the primacy of Rome given official recognition. EWTN, Leo the Great Pope Doctor of the Church. Leo I is the first to officially claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church thus initiating the rise of the papacy – a uniquely Roman structure based on imperialism and aristocracy.

9. Enter: Nestorianism and the Assyrian Church of the East split over the Council of Ephesus (431AD), Oriental Orthodoxy split over the Council of Chalcedon (451AD), Pope Sergius I rejected the Quinisext Council (692), and the Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870AD and 879-880AD) is disputed by Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

600 AD – Communication between the Greek East and the Latin West by the 600s had become dangerous.

800 AD – Phtian Schism due to controversy between Eastern (Byzantine, later Orthodox) and Western (Latin, Roman Catholic) Christianity.

800AD – After the fall or the Western Roman Empire Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor reviving the title of Emperor. The concept of translatio imperii (sovereign ruler/supreme power) is revived from the ancient emperors of Rome. (This inaugurates the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperors in Western and Central Europe were now crowned by a Pope; the term "Holy Roman Empire" would be officially adopted from 1254 onward.)

1054AD Great Schism

The differences in Christianity, evident as early as the fourth century, led to the Great Schism. We see the Gregorian Reform movement in the 11th century and the Eastern churches viewed Rome’s understanding of the nature of episcopal power as being in direct opposition to the Church’s essentially conciliar structure and thus saw the two ecclesiologies as mutually antithetical.

Rome insisted on basing her monarchical claims to “true and proper jurisdiction” based on Saint Peter. This “Roman” exegesis of Matthew 16:18, however, was unknown to the patriarchs of Eastern Orthodoxy. Eastern Orthodox/Western Catholic separate and the division was a toxic mix theological/political/cultural.

Enter: Ireland, Anglo-Saxons (English), Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Serbs and Bulgarians = turmoil with Roman Empiricism.

Inquisitions

Starting 1184 with Roman Catholicism vs many movements throughout Europe considered apostate/heretical to Catholicism.

1378 – 1416 The Western Schism finds multiple claimants to the See of Rome and conflict concerning the rightful holder of the papacy.

In 1309 the papacy moves to France but returns to Rome in 1378 causing strife between Italian and French factions resulting in multiple Popes with two sets of cardinals.

A 1409 council declared both existing popes to be schismatic and appointed a new one. But the existing popes refused to resign and now there were three papal claimants.

Another council in 1414 cleans house and cleared the field of popes and antipopes and elected a Pope.

Reformation

1514 – the Archbishop of Mainz became vacant. Rome required “installation” and “dispensation” fees for multiple sees. Wanting to be a candidate bishop Albrecht borrowed a large sum of money from the Fugger Banking family.

As collateral for the loan, a plenary indulgence was to be issued in Albrecht’s dioceses in Germany.

1517AD – Pope Leo X grants the indulgence as collateral.

Half the funds were designated to pay off Albrecht’s personal loan and the other half was for Pope Leo to pay for the re-design of St. Peters Basilica. (See The Role of Indulgences in the Building of New Saint Peter’s Basilica)

Martin Luther, the chair of theology at the Catholic University of Wittenberg Germany, wanted to debate the indulgence with his theology students. He writes 95 points to debate and mails them with a letter to his superiors at the University and to his bishop.

Luther’s bishop was bishop Albrecht. (See Letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, 1517)

Albrecht had written the indulgence and instructions on how to sell them so he fowarded the letter to Rome.

1518 – Pope Leo X assigns papal theologians to oppose Luther.

1519 – Following the practice of naming a “heresy” after its leader, the name Lutheran originated as a derogatory term..

1521 – Luther and his followers were decreed an anathema, cut out and formally excommunicated. Decet Romanum Pontificem Papal Bull of Excommunication of Martin Luther and his followers Luther and followers are

1529 – ensuing protests led to Catholics using the negative term for followers of Luther = Protestant.

Christianity has split from it’s beginnings and continued to split from the Reformation. Today Protestant is a general broadsweeping term used for many diverse denominations of Christians who are not Catholic or Orthodox.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

James assumed leadership of the home Church in Jerusalem. From Paul we know Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James of transgressing the Law; James executed in Jerusalem.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt, Jewish revolts against Rome. The Roman Empire retaliates with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Titus orders Jerusalem razed, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. The Jews scatter (diaspora), the Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt.

73 AD – Qumran falls and the Zealots are crushed at Masada ending the revolt.

At this point Pharisaic Judaism goes into exile and evolves into Rabbinic Judaism. Christianity shifts to predominately Gentile Antioch, Alexandria and Rome each having it’s own bishop/presbyters/elders.

Turn of the first century: Apostolic Fathers now looked to for guidance. At this point in history this is no single bishop in primacy or authority over all of Christendom.

96 AD – Clement I, bishop of Rome, writes letter to the Corinth church. His predecessors were Linus and Cletus about whom almost nothing is known. They are simply names on a list. Few details are known about Clement except his letter to the church at Corinth. Clement's name does not appear on the letter; it was sent as from the Church at Rome collectively. A later reference corroborates the author was Clement.

Clement appears to have written to the church in Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

To this point there is no evidence for monarchical bishops in Rome and no evidence in the letter that Rome had a bishop in the monarchical sense at the time.

132-136 AD – Bar Kokhba revolt, last Jewish-Roman war: Bar Kokhba defeated, emperor bars Jews from Jerusalem and again obliterates Jewish Jerusalem.

313 AD – Edict of Milan: Emperors Constantine and Licinius agree to treat Christians benevolently within the Roman Empire. The Edict was a decree/proclamation that established religious toleration over the Roman Empire. The decree was a political olive branch between east and west (Constantine & Licinius) to strengthen the general welfare of the Empire.

325 AD – Roman Emperor Constantine convenes Council of Nicaea to resolve difference in Christian beliefs; at this point in history no bishop had primacy and authority over all of Christendom and as such Constantine defers to the decisions of the bishops.

380 AD – Edict of Thessalonica: Nicene Christianity becomes the state religion of the Roman Empire.

422 AD – Juvenal, bishop of Jerusalem, wanted to make Jerusalem into a Patriarchate. Leo I, bishop of Rome, opposes it and appeals to Roman Emperor Valentinian III. Leo obtains a decree recognizing the primacy of the bishop of Rome and providing for the forcible extradition of any bishop who refused to answer a summons to Rome.

445 AD – Rome is under constant siege, an edict of 445 strengthened Rome’s socio-economical and political standing against a regular onslaught of opposition. Roman Emperor Valentinian III, faced with dismemberment of the Western Empire, issues a Roman Decree assigning the bishop of Rome supremacy over the provincial churches and founds the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy.

This is the founding of the Roman Catholic Church w/papacy.

Yes.

God founded the new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

From that point on the Christian religion has continually split and schism.

> The Catholic Church was the original and only Church founded by Jesus Christ.

Jesus plainly said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

Based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

We know the early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath.

We know the Way then met as a sect in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

God established a new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. The early Jesus followers were in fact another expression of Judaism.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Gross historical inaccuracies.

> Catholics are members of the church established by Jesus Christ.

Jesus plainly said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

Based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

We know the early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath.

We know the Way then met as a sect in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

God established a new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. The early Jesus followers were in fact another expression of Judaism.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> Protestants are those that left that church

The abuse of indulgences started the Reformation. There was corruption in the Church, worldliness, attachment to money and power. The Catholic Church had the ability to reformed itself — or not. It could have allowed the systematic corruption – or address it.

The RCC chose to eliminate a factor (Luther) and created the split.

My friend in Christ. Like you I flirted with converting to Catholicism. So I dug deeply into scripture and Church history. I’ll also share that Lutherans consider Catholics to be brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m not attacking Catholicism but answering your sincere question. Peace.

From scripture and history we know Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. Jesus said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”. Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood

We know based on Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, that the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

We know God established a new covenant within the covenant system He had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

We know there was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

1. The early Jesus followers were in fact another expression of Judaism.

This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

This is why it takes a year after Saul’s conversion for the disciples to be even called Christians.

This is why Paul wrote the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

2. We know James, not Peter, assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community. Eusebius records James the Just was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

50AD – Jerusalem Council Acts 15

Due to the success of the Great Commission and Paul’s missions to the Gentiles, the sect experiences a great influx of Gentile Jesus followers.

Jerusalem believers, believers from the part of the Pharisees, felt the Gentiles should follow Jewish ancestral markers like circumcision. Acts 15:5

We see that James, not Peter, presides over the Jerusalem Council and that James makes the final decision on the matter of the Gentiles, Therefore my judgment is …

We see James’ judgment was deemed good by the apostles, the elders and the whole Church.

We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy and authority of one apostle; we know the apostles/elders/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Peter

We know Peter describes himself as: A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

We know Paul records that Peter’s apostolic ministry was to the circumcised. We know Peter exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

We know from Paul that Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”.

We even know that Clement, bishop of Rome 88-99AD, wrote to Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

The Rock

We know throughout the Bible that God is referred to as the rock:

Samuel, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer …” 2 Samuel 22:2.

Psalms: “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken”, ““Blessed be the Lord, my rock …”, “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation” Psalm 18:46, Psalm 62:6 and Psalm 144:1.

Isaiah: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:4

Exodus: "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” Exodus 17:6 “And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” Exodus 33:21-23

Paul: “For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

Daniel: “… a stone was cut out, but not by human hands”, “… the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” and “in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever …” Daniel 2

Matthew 16

Jesus is teaching his Jewish disciples who he is; not who Peter is. The disciples would recognize that Jesus uses “Son of Man” language from Daniel and rock references from the Prophets.

Jesus: “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus taught Peter (Petros is a pebble, a small rock – and acknowledges Peter’s confession that Jesus is the rock petra (the huge/mass rock foretold by the prophets.)

After the teaching of Matthew 16, Peter was never confused about who the rock was.

Peter describes Jesus as the living stone “being built up as a spiritual house”.. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, describes Jesus as the precious cornerstone; Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 describing Jesus as the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone and Peter quotes Isaiah 8:14 describing Jesus Christ as the stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:4-8

I’ll stop here and allow you to comment or ask questions.

> For the first thousand years, there was essentially one Christian church

Historically inaccurate.

Christianity 101

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

The early Jesus followers were another expression of Judaism.

1. This is why Saul (later Paul) asked the Jewish high priest for letters to the synagogues to find people belonging to the Way. Acts 9:1-2

2. This is why the the Jerusalem believers, believers from the part of the Pharisees, felt the Gentiles should follow Jewish ancestral markers like circumcision. Acts 15:5

50AD – The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter of circumcision. James presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert.

This is the beginning of the first split: between Judaism and Christianity.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) The Roman Empire Jerusalem systematically raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem and slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. James, Peter and Paul are dead, the Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem falls.

The first split in Christianity is finalized; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

History Of The Christian Church.

&nbsp;

100 – 800AD Patristic Era

Christian theologians produce volumes upon volumes of theological/apologetic writings to determine/correct interpretations and to refute arguments against opposing factions.

The earliest controversies were Christological in nature and related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity. We see: Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites etc., etc., etc. …

313AD Edict of Milan – agrees to teat Christians benevolently.

380AD edict decrees Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.

Ensuing factions now vy for power resulting in more splits and schism.

&nbsp;

445AD Juvenal, the bishop of Jerusalem, wanted to make Jerusalem into a Patriarchate (designating the office and jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical patriarch) but Leo I bishop of Rome opposed it. Leo 1 appealed to Roman Emperor Valentinian III for support and obtained a decree Decree on Papal Power 445 that recognized the primacy of the bishop of Rome and provided for the forcible extradition of any bishop who refused to answer a summons to Rome.

At this time the Roman Empire was under constant siege and Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425 to 455) was faced with the dismemberment of the Western Empire. The 445 edict strengthened Rome’s socio-economical and political standing against a regular onslaught of opposition and here we find the primacy of Rome given official recognition. EWTN, Leo the Great Pope Doctor of the Church. Leo I is the first to officially claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church thus initiating the rise of the papacy – a uniquely Roman structure based on imperialism and aristocracy.

&nbsp;

This guarantees even more splits, more schisms, and more fighting.

Enter: Nestorianism and the Assyrian Church of the East split over the Council of Ephesus (431AD), Oriental Orthodoxy split over the Council of Chalcedon (451AD), Pope Sergius I rejected the Quinisext Council (692), and the Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870AD and 879-880AD) is disputed by Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

600 AD Communication between the Greek East and the Latin West had become dangerous.

800 AD Phtian Schism due to controversy between Eastern (Byzantine, later Orthodox) and Western (Latin, Roman Catholic) Christianity.

800AD After the fall or the Western Roman Empire Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor reviving the title of Emperor. The concept of translatio imperii (sovereign ruler/supreme power) is revived from the ancient emperors of Rome. (This inaugurates the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperors in Western and Central Europe were now crowned by a Pope; the term "Holy Roman Empire" would be officially adopted from 1254 onward.)

&nbsp;

At the turn of this century then we see the Great Schism, the Inquisitions, the Western Schism, multiple Popes and then the Reformation.

Christianity 101

Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and early Jesus followers were Jews. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

The early Jesus followers were another expression of Judaism. This is why the the Jewish Jerusalem believers felt the Gentiles should follow Jewish ancestral markers like circumcision.

50AD – The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter of circumcision. James presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert.

This is the beginning of the split between Judaism and Christianity.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) The Roman Empire Jerusalem systematically raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem and slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. James, Peter and Paul are dead, the Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem falls.

The first split in Christianity is finalized; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

History Of The Christian Church.

100 – 800AD Patristic Era

Christian theologians produce volumes upon volumes of theological/apologetic writings to determine/correct interpretations and to refute arguments against opposing factions.

The earliest controversies were Christological in nature and related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity. We see: Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites etc., etc., etc. …

313AD Edict of Milan – agrees to teat Christians benevolently.

380AD edict decrees Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.

Ensuing factions now vy for power resulting in more splits and schism.

445AD Juvenal, the bishop of Jerusalem, wanted to make Jerusalem into a Patriarchate (designating the office and jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical patriarch) but Leo I bishop of Rome opposed it. Leo 1 appealed to Roman Emperor Valentinian III for support and obtained a decree Decree on Papal Power 445 that recognized the primacy of the bishop of Rome and provided for the forcible extradition of any bishop who refused to answer a summons to Rome.

At this time the Roman Empire was under constant siege and Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425 to 455) was faced with the dismemberment of the Western Empire. The 445 edict strengthened Rome’s socio-economical and political standing against a regular onslaught of opposition and here we find the primacy of Rome given official recognition. EWTN, Leo the Great Pope Doctor of the Church. Leo I is the first to officially claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church thus initiating the rise of the papacy – a uniquely Roman structure based on imperialism and aristocracy.

This guarantees even more splits, more schisms, and more fighting.

Enter: Nestorianism and the Assyrian Church of the East split over the Council of Ephesus (431AD), Oriental Orthodoxy split over the Council of Chalcedon (451AD), Pope Sergius I rejected the Quinisext Council (692), and the Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870AD and 879-880AD) is disputed by Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

600 AD Communication between the Greek East and the Latin West had become dangerous.

800 AD Phtian Schism due to controversy between Eastern (Byzantine, later Orthodox) and Western (Latin, Roman Catholic) Christianity.

800AD After the fall or the Western Roman Empire Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor reviving the title of Emperor. The concept of translatio imperii (sovereign ruler/supreme power) is revived from the ancient emperors of Rome. (This inaugurates the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperors in Western and Central Europe were now crowned by a Pope; the term "Holy Roman Empire" would be officially adopted from 1254 onward.)

At the turn of this century we see the Great Schism, the Inquisitions, the Western Schism, multiple Popes and then the Reformation.

> But I do find myself wondering, why have so many denominations?

Short answer: Genesis 11 recounts the Tower of Babel where God confused language, “Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.”

Remember the nation of Israel was divided into tribes. Throughout their history Israel struggled with conflict among the tribes.

> And if we trace that back through history to I guess the new testament as thats When Jesus came and set up the church

Based on the Bible Jesus didn’t “set up the church”. In fact Jesus made it very clear that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

What Jesus did was share an intent that his disciples build, and left them so the body of Christ may be built up.

He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. This was realized at Pentecost Acts 2.

> … what denomination are we looking at?

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jewish Jesus followers were known as the Way

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The early Jewish Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Sabbath, the Way met as a sect in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

50AD – This is why in Acts 15 we see men from Judea, Jewish Jesus followers who belonged to the part of the Pharisees, were teaching that Gentile proselytes must follow Jewish ancestral markers specifically circumcision. At the end of the Council, James quotes what is written in the prophets and makes the judgment to hold Gentiles to the Noahide law.

This is the beginning of the split between Judaism and Christianity.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

52-57AD – In 1 Corinthians we see Paul admonishing the Corinthians for quarreling and boasting in following different leaders. Paul reiterates the wisdom of the Spirit and not to boast in men, “For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future.”

Paul goes on, “that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.”

63-73AD – Jewish revolts against Rome; the Roman Empire retaliates with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Jerusalem is razed, thousands slaughtered, the Temple artifacts are ransacked and the Temple is destroyed. Qumran falls and the Zealots are crushed at Masada

The Jews scatter, the Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt. Judaism evolves into Rabbinical Judaism and the Jesus movement shifts to predominately Gentile areas of Antioch, Alexandria and Rome.

The split between Judaism and Christianity is final. Judaism continues to be diverse and Gentile Christianity continues to split and schism (see my previous post Splits and schisms in Christianity

> If God’s word is unchanged shouldn’t there only be one denomination? One church?

From OT Abraham, through the NT and thereafter people have been divided – but there is one Church.

Church: Greek, ekklesia, people called out from the world and to God, the mystical body of Christ; the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord" (kyrios).

Whoever confesses that the son of man (Jesus) is the Son of the living God. God abides in them, and he in God.

Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

> If I am understanding this correctly you are claiming that the Bishop of Rome became the "official jurisdiction over the worldwide Church" with Leo I and before that all Bishops of Rome did not hold such authority?

I am presenting compelling evidence showing Leo I is the ”first to officially claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church thus initiating the rise of the papacy – a uniquely Roman structure based on imperialism and aristocracy.”

> What was the hierarchy of the christian church before this?

Sure, so based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were Jews known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

James assumed leadership of the home church in Jerusalem Christian community, and the apostles/esteemed leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be somewhat complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

95-96 AD The church in Corinth was struggling with local bishops/elders/presbyters. A letter from Rome (not signed but later attributed to Clement) reasserts the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

> A bit of a conspiratorial question, but this idea of the sabbath being on Sunday was introduced by the pope of the catholic church.

Historically inaccurate.

> The Bible says the the sabbath is actually on Saturday, (The 7th day of the week.) The week starts on Sunday, and ends Saturday.

What you’re doing is viewing ancient concepts through a contemporary lense. Our modern notions have no place in ancient contexts.

Q: Is the Jewish sabbath on a Saturday?

No.

First, the Jewish calendar doesn't have names for the days of the week. They’re simply known as: first day, second day, third day, et al.

Using our contemporary name days, the Jewish sabbath begins at sunset on Friday evening and ends after dark on Saturday evening.

Jewish days are reckoned from sunset to sunset. Our Romanized calendar recons days from midnight to midnight.

Q: Is the Christian sabbath on a Saturday?

A: No. Christians are under the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Jesus Christ is our sabbath rest.

After Jesus the early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, these early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.They were called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

They continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

The early Jewish Jesus followers kept the Jewish Sabbath – and then met with each other as a sect on the first day of the week (our Sunday) which they called the Lord’s Day.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism started in 50 AD at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and was pretty much finalized after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

At this point Gentile Christianity moves to outlying Gentile areas and here we see Christianity worships on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Lutherans consider Catholics to be brothers and sisters in Christ. We actually agree on much.

To answer your question:

1. Jesus didn’t found Catholicism. He founded no organization and left no established institution outside his disciples.

Q: What did Jesus found?

A: Jesus is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

Jesus is quoted as saying that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”. As such Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

God founded the new covenant within the covenant system that God had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

Q: What did Jesus leave?

A: Jesus left: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Jesus commissioned his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (aka the Great Commission.)

Paul corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

Before returning to the Father, Jesus explicitly instructed his disciples to, “wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4.“Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.” The Holy Spirit is the “Lord and giver of life.”

So they waited.

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out and at this point the apostles are now brought to life and empowered to build the church: preaching, teaching and administering the sacraments. For this reason Christianity believes and confesses: “… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son ...” Nicene Creed

The Holy Spirit founded the church at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit is the vicar of Christ.

Scripture relates the Jesus followers weren’t even called Christians until a year after Paul’s conversion.

Q: What we’re they?

A: Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The Way continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

Hardly Catholicism, In fact the early Jesus followers would somewhat look much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

We know James (not Peter) assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community, and the apostles/elders/“esteemed pillars” functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes this contentious relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15

The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

All this is scriptural, historically supported and harmonizes the NT with the OT.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

The first three centuries of Christianity

Q: Is the Jewish sabbath on a Saturday?

No.

The Jewish calendar doesn't have names for the days of the week. They’re simply known as: first day, second day, third day, et al. Using our contemporary name days, the Jewish sabbath begins at sunset on Friday evening and ends after dark on Saturday evening.

Jewish days are reckoned from sunset to sunset.

Q: Why did God need to rest on the 7th day?

A: He didn’t. The Hebrew in the Genesis text relates God created, then ceased creating. If God stopped working (upholding, maintaining) then the cosmos doesn’t work.

Q: Is the Christian sabbath on a Saturday?

No. Christians are under the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Jesus Christ is our sabbath rest.

After Jesus the early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, these early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.They were called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

They continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

They kept the Jewish Sabbath – and then met with each other on the first day of the week (our Sunday) aka the Lord’s Day.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism basically started in 50 AD at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and was pretty much finalized after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

At this point Gentile Christianity moves to outlying Gentile areas and worships on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> If you deny Catholicism, do you deny Christianity?

No.

> When looking at church history, if you decide Apostolic Christianity got it wrong, can you still defend Christianity (as a Protestant), when everything Protestant stems from Apostolic Christianity?

The unsupported “load” presumed true is Apostolic Christianity = Catholicism.

When looking at church history (Acts, Paul’s letters + academic history) I find apostolic Christianity originates in and is steeped in Judaism.

The early Jesus followers were Jews and at first accounted a kind of Jew. These early Jesus followers were known as the Way

These were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant within the existing covenant system. As such they continued to function as another expression of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers and kept the Saturday Sabbath. The Way met as a sect on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

We know James, Peter, John and the other leaders worked as a group of presbyters (somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.) We know Eusebius records James the Just (not Peter) was elected to preside over the home Church in Jerusalem on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

We know James (not Peter) presides over the Jerusalem Council and James makes the judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy and supremacy of one apostle.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

The first three centuries of Christianity

From scripture/history we know Peter describes himself as A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

We know Paul records that Peter’s apostolic ministry was to the circumcised.

We know Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”. Peter even exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

We know Jesus did not come to found a new religion adding more Priests, more rituals and more walls of separation. Jesus came to break down the wall of hostility to make us one in the Spirit.

Frankly my friend in Christ the last thing the apostles would have thought to do was set up their leadership structure to function like the magestierum of imperial Rome –– who had just murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their friends and family.

> Well, being a Christian I do believe that Christ established a New Covenant with his death and resurrection so I will naturally favor the teachings of St. Paul and the example of the early Christians over prior Jewish culture.

And that’s highly problematic because frankly there’s no early Christians outside Jewish culture. The early Christians were Jews who were steeped in Jewish culture.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, who founded a new covenant within their covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and then met with each other on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

What you’re doing is erroneously applying contemporary notions — back into an ancient contexts. Our modern notions have no place in ancient contexts.

> According to Holy Tradition Mary's vow of celibacy was made while she was serving as a Temple virgin before she ever met Joseph. …

If you’re going to ignore my comments, and jump to “Holy Tradition” then I’ll no longer continue.

My points:

1. In Jewish culture being fruitful and multiplying was taken very seriously.

2. Making a vow of celibacy, and then agreeing to a marriage vow, makes absolutely no sense in any culture.

3. There’s no necessity in Messianic prophecy for the messiah's mother be immaculately conceived – or perpetually remain virgin.

4. Eve didn't remain virgin right? In fact the Eve/Mary “typology” is reinforced by Mary knowing her husband, marrying flesh and being fruitful and multiplying by conceiving and bearing more children.

5. Celibacy is not a Jewish value. In Jewish culture marriage is a duty. The Talmud stipulates that a husband’s abstention from sexual relations may be taken by the wife as ground for a divorce (Ketubot 6:7), and the Shulchan Aruch says that a single man who is past 20 can be compelled by a rabbinic court to marry.

The Jewish opposition to celibacy is founded first on the positive precept to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28.) Celibacy is incompatible with the Jewish scheme of creation. A person would be in a sense half a human being unless he or she is married.

> Sunday sabbaths were instituted by the Roman Catholic church in honour of sun worship ("sun" day).

Gross historical inaccuracy.

The first Jesus followers were called the Way. They were Jews who were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East, and under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots. Like these the Way was another expression of Judaism.

The Jesus followers continued to follow Jewish ancestral markers. They went to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They continued to go to synagogue and followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observe Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Because they continued to keep the Saturday Sabbath – the Jesus followers met together on the next day (Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.)

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

History Of The Christian Church

Due to the Great Commission, the early Christian communities attracted Gentile God-fearers (proselytes/Gentile sympathizers/Hellenistic Jews). The growing number of Gentiles began to be a issue for the Jewish Jerusalem Jesus followers. The Jewish Jesus followers in Jerusalem had difficulty relinquishing their old covenant national markers (circumcision et al) that set them apart from other nations.

This is the context of the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.

49/50AD – Jerusalem Council: Jerusalem Jesus followers speak, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses.” Peter speaks, then Paul and Barnabus and James makes the final judgment on the matter: “we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

Essentially James and the Council agree to only hold Gentiles to the Noahide Laws. James and the other’s understand that the Gentiles are not ancestral children of Abraham. Jews recognize that all people are sons of Noah so James holds the Gentile proselytes to the Noahide codes. The Noahide Laws are a link between Judaism and Christianity and serve as universal norms of ethical conduct.

This is the beginning of the split between Judaism and Chrsitianity.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.)

The Roman Empire retaliates from the Jewish Revolts with a vengeance and begins a systematic campaign to obliterate Jewish Jerusalem. Rome barricades Jerusalem, famine ensues and Jerusalem falls. Titus orders Jerusalem razed, slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple. The Jews scatter (diaspora), the Levitical priesthood ceases, the Sadducees (Temple sect) vanish and sacrifices come to an immediate halt. Qumran falls and the Zealots are crushed at Masada (73AD.)

After the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Pharisaic Judaism goes into exile and evolves into Rabbinic Judaism; the Jesus movement shifts to predominately Gentile areas including Antioch, Alexandria and Rome

70-90AD – At this point in history the separation between Judaism and Christianity is complete.

156AD – The “memoirs of the apostles” were circulating, collected and read in the earliest Christian churches. Justin Martyr details the weekly worship of the Christians “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read …” (Justin Martyr, 1 Apology, Chap. 67.)

> By keeping the sabbath on sunday you are actually deferring to the authority of the Roman Catholic church over the authority of God and worshipping the sun.

Another gross historical inaccuracy.

> What is the one true church that Christ established?

Church: Greek ekklesia, people called out from the world and to God, the total body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

The one true Church is the body of believers, though many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:13-27

Jesus didn’t establish nor found a Church. That’s not why the Son manifested in the flesh.

Christ: Greek Christos, Anointed One, Messiah, the Greek form of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" denoting that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince.” Jesus Christ is "the seed of the woman" (Genesis 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Genesis 22:18), the "Prophet like unto Moses" (Deuteronomy 18:15), "the priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4), "the rod out of the stem of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1, 10), the "Immanuel," the virgin's son (Isaiah 7:14), "the branch of Jehovah" (Isaiah 4:2), and "the messenger of the covenant" (Malachi 3:1).

As such Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:23-25). What Jesus founded/established was a new covenant within the previous covenant system aka Judaism.

> It seems like it would have to be catholic or orthodox based on history,

Not if you’re actually basing it on history.

We know Christianity’s history actually originates in and is steeped in Judaism. We know after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect that operated within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

These continued to go to follow Jewish ancestral markers. They went to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) and then met with each other on the Lord’s Day (Sunday.)

5. We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

6. Eusebius records James (Jesus’ brother) was elected to preside over the home Church in Jerusalem (not Peter) on account of his virtue and because Peter, James (the other James) and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

6. We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy of one apostle/presbyter/elder.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

tl;dr: Jesus is founded a new covenant in his blood; Jesus is the founder of our faith. The Church could not perform it’s duties until Christ returned to the Father and they sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit founded (quickened, breathed life into) the Church at Pentecost.

> In early days the Sabbath was considered to be on Saturday also referred to Sabbath day.

In the early days the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, who founded a new covenant with the existing covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws.

Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way then met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday a day they called the Lord’s Day.

50AD — this contentious relationship would change starting with Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.

Due to the success of the Great Commission, Paul’s conversion and successful missions, we find an influx of Gentiles. The Jerusalem believers felt the Gentiles should convert to Judaism. The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter.

James presides and makes a judgment on the matter. The council agrees and they did not force Gentiles to convert.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James (brother of Jesus) of transgressing the Law; James is executed in Jerusalem.

64 AD – Great Fire of Rome.

64AD – Peter martyred?

68AD – Paul martyred?

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) The Roman Empire Jerusalem systematically raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem and slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple and Jerusalem falls.

The first split in Christianity is finalized; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying Gentile areas of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism is for the most part complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

Justin Martyr (writing between 155-157AD): “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.” (1 Apol. chp 67, Weekly Worship of the Christians.)

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church (I got the 1.99 Kindle version.) Don't be intimidated by 8 volumes. The author's writing style is detailed but digestable.

> That’s a lot of questions

Sorry, I keep a list with many more but paired them down. I apologize for the length.

> I can’t really answer the “why didn’t Jesus” questions because I’m not Jesus.

Every day, all day in this sub Christian users (probably you too) answer user questions about why Jesus did and didn’t do things.

It promotes healthy discussion but I understand.

> There was not an immediate and universal recognition that the earliest Christians were not Jewish.

Reads clunky because statements with double negatives are grammatically “weak.

We know the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

We know from scripture the Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and met with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

The early Jesus followers were in fact accounted as a kind of Jew.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> Even Paul, who himself, wrote against the necessity of following the Jewish law, continued to do so at least for a while into his Christian ministry (Acts 21:23-26).

Correct.

> The synagogues were the first places he went to preach when he arrived somewhere new, as well.

Correct.

> So these early Christians would be found in Jewish synagogues because many early Christians still considered following Jesus to be the proper Jewish thing to do.”

Correct.

> I am interested in Christianity, but I was not sure if I want to be christian.

That would have been a less hostile title for this post.

I’m not here to convert you but I’ll share this:

1. Jesus didn’t found a Christian church; outside his disciples he found no organization and left no established institution.

2. Jesus made it very clear that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

3. The New Testament books teach that Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

4. God founded the new covenant within the covenant system that God had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

5. This harmonizes the NT with the OT and rightly Jesus teaches that is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

6. Jesus commissioned his disciples to “make disciples of all nations”. This is referred to as the Great Commission.)

7. God intent in choosing Abraham was to make a covenant (legal binding agreement) with him that included Abraham being the father many nations.

8. Jesus’ intent harmonizes with the OT God’s intent. So Jesus commissioned his apostles (aka “sent ones” ) to build an ekklesia (a people called out to assemble and congregate) from all nations to be the body of believers called out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

9. Paul was a devout Jew who became a Jesus follower. He became the apostle to the Gentiles and he corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile). This harmonizes scripture.

10. The early Jesus followers were Jews known as the Way

11. These Jews were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the Jewish covenant system. These early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions.

12. The Way continued to observe the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way then met with each other on Sunday (what they called the Lord’s Day.)

13. The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism. A very pious Jew named James (Jesus’ brother) assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community, the apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

14. The Jesus followers weren’t called “Christians” until a year after Paul’s conversion.

15. Paul’s outreach to the Gentiles was very successful. Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes the relationship between Jews and the Way became contentious. Some Jews felt the Gentiles needed to be circumcised. So they met in 50 AD to resolve the matter (see Jerusalem Council.

16. James judged that Gentiles didn’t need to be circumcised. This was the beginning of the separation of Christianity from Judaism. The separation would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

In the following decades James, Paul and other Jewish/Christian leaders were martyred. As a result of this, and because Jerusalem was ransacked and the Temple destroyed, Gentile Christianity moved to outlying Gentile areas and as a result Gentile Christianity became the norm.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

I’ll let you respond to this so far.

Jews rejected Jesus?

We know for a fact that many Jews didn’t reject Jesus. Mary was a Jew, the apostles were Jews and the earliest Jesus followers were in fact Jews.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

The Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate something like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

> not bring a new religion…

New religion?

Jesus didn’t found a new religion.

Jesus made it very clear that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

Jesus said was the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

God founded this new covenant within the previous covenant system that God had established within Israel aka Judaism.

Within this new covenant Jesus commissioned his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (aka the Great Commission.)

That means Gentiles could now be grafted into God’s covenant. Paul corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes this relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be pretty much complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> It absolutely is.

Nope. We know in fact that after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

We know the Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and met with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

Hardly Catholicism; much more like messianic Judaism.

We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

We know Eusebius records James was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy of one apostle/presbyter/elder.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> What was the first Christian sect?

The Way. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

James assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community, the apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

> How come Christianity for all its shared origin with Judaism and Islam as Abrahamic Religions that supposedly originated in the Middle East became centered in Europe.

Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes this contentious relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

Gentile Christianity took a stronghold in outlying Gentile areas.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> The Catholic Church claims to be the OG Christianity

That’s historically inaccurate. See above.

> but why was it based in Rome?

Because Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD). The Jesus followers dispersed to outlying Gentile areas. By the 4th century Rome decreed to make Christianity legal and later made Christianity the state church.

First let me say the LCMS considers Roman Catholics to be brothers and sisters in Christ.

Personally I’d love nothing more than Lutherans and Roman Catholics having altar and pulpit fellowship.

> I see the merits of Catholicism as the original church …

Two of my personal primary objections to Roman Catholicism’s:

1. It says it’s the only church today that can claim to be the one church founded by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.

2. It claims Peter was the first Pope.

Those are gross historical inaccuracies and contradict scripture. Here’s why:

1. Jesus didn’t found a church. Jesus found no organization and left no established institution.

What he left were: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Jesus left his intent that his apostles (“sent one’s”) build an ekklesia (a people called out to assemble/congregate) to be the mystical body of believers.

The Church could not be quickened prior to Jesus completing his work (ascending to the Father and sitting at the right hand of God)

Q: Why?

A: Jesus instructed his disciples to, “wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4. “Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.”

The creed relates “… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son ...” Nicene Creed

So they waited and kept to themselves.

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out and at this point the apostles are now empowered to: preaching, teaching and administering the sacraments.

The Holy Spirit founded the Church at Pentecost. God willed to found a new covenant within the previous covenant system He established within Judaism.

As such Jesus rightly said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

Jesus is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

Paul corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers were Jews who continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

James assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community. The apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes this contentious relationship changed starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.

The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

Gentile Christianity gains strength in outlying Gentile areas.

This is normed by scripture (supported by scripture, harmonizes scripture and doesn’t contradict it.)

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

2. Peter was not the first Roman Catholic Pope.

On the road to Damascus Saul (later Paul) is converted. He hears Jesus’ voice instructing him to go to the house of Judas in Damascus. (Ananias was instructed by Jesus in a vision to restore Saul’s sight there.) Ananias laid hands on Saul, restored his sight and Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17.)

Jesus send Saul to Peter. Jesus had Ananias lay hands on Paul to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Q: Why didn’t Jesus set a clear precedent for Catholicism’s strict view of the papacy and command Saul to go to Peter in these matters?

A: Peter wasn’t a Roman Catholic Pope.

Paul, writing to his new church plants, is adamant to record that the influence of the apostles made no difference to him. Paul writes, “I didn’t go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me …” In fact Paul waits 3 years after his conversion to even go to Jerusalem to visit what he deemed the pillars and esteemed leaders.

Paul later did travel to Jerusalem to visit the pillars and esteemed leaders. Paul did not acknowledge Peter to be one from whom confirmation should be sought. In fact Paul records that James, Cephas and John were all pillars and all gave him the right hand of fellowship.

Q: Why didn’t Paul acknowledge that Peter was the one from whom confirmation should be sought?

A: Peter wasn’t a Roman Catholic Pope.

Q: How does Paul describe Peter’s role/ministry?

A: Paul describe Peter’s ministry simply as an apostle to the circumcised (aka Jews)?

Q: How does Peter describe his office?

A: Peter describes himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter describes himself as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ.

Q: Who do Paul/Peter say the rock is?

A: Ephesians 2:19-20 lists Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. Peter describes Jesus as the living stone, precious cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. 1 Peter 2:4-8

Q: Are Peter, Paul and all the other leaders totally confused or ignorant of Peter’s Roman Catholic Papacy throughout the New Testament?

A: No because Peter wasn’t a Roman Catholic Pope

Q: Then who lead the early church?

A: James, not Peter, presided over the home Church in Jerusalem.

We know from Acts 15 that James presided over the Jerusalem Council

We know James made the final judgment on the matter, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

We know Eusebius records that James was elected the leader to preside over the home Church in Jerusalem on account of the excellence of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

All this is normed by scripture (supported by scripture, harmonizes scripture and doesn’t contradict it.)

> … the idea of it being so corrupted to the point of needing total reformation makes me uncomfortable

“I think that the intentions of Martin Luther were not mistaken. He was a reformer. … in that time, the Church was not exactly a model to imitate. There was corruption in the Church, there was worldliness, attachment to money, to power...and this he protested.” Pope Francis

> (why would God allow such corruption?)

Perhaps make another post on the Problem of Evil and I’ll explain.

Because Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

This new covenant was established within the existing covenant system. A covenant is a legal binding contract so things must be resolved legally within the legal system.

Paul would later say first for the Jew then for the Gentile. Romans 1:6

Jesus didn’t found a Christian church because Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

Jesus is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

What Jesus left: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the earliest Jesus followers were known as the Way

These Jewish converts were convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the existing covenant system.

The early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

James assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community, the apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

1. Jesus didn’t found a church and left no established institution.

2. Jesus made it very clear that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

3. The Bible teaches Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

4. It teaches Jesus is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

5. What Jesus left: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

1. Jesus didn’t found a Church or a new religion.

2. Jesus said that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

3. The Bible teaches Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

4. This new covenant was founded within the previous covenant system that God established within Israel aka Judaism.

5. This harmonizes the NT with the OT and rightly teaches that Jesus is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

6. Jesus left: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

7. Jesus commissioned his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (aka the Great Commission.)

8. Jesus shared his intent with his apostles (Greek, apostolos, a messenger, one sent on a mission) that they build an ekklesia (a people “called out to assemble”) from all nations to be the mystical body of believers called out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

9. Paul corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

This harmonizes scripture.

The Jesus followers weren’t called Christians until a year after Paul’s conversion.

Q: What is the new covenant church?

Not what but who: whoever confesses that the son of man (Jesus manifested in the flesh is the Son of the living God. God abides in them, and they in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

10. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples saying, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:19-23

11. Before returning to the Father, Jesus explicitly instructed his disciples to, “wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4. “Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.” The Holy Spirit is the “Lord and giver of life.” It is the Spirit that brooded over the primordial waters of Genesis, it is the Spirit by which Mary conceived and unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

12. They waited and kept to themselves.

13. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out and at this point the apostles are now empowered to build the church: preaching, teaching and administering the sacraments. For this reason Christianity believes and confesses: “… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son ...” Nicene Creed

14. The Holy Spirit founded the new covenant church at Pentecost; the Holy Spirit is the vicar of Christ. (Latin vicarius is “proxy", noun use of adjective vicarius "substituted, delegated," from vicis "change, interchange, succession; a place, position" (from PIE root weik- (2) "to bend, to wind").)

15. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

16. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.

17. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way then met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

18. The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

19. James assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community, the apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

20. Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes the relationship between The Way and Judaism became strained. The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 was the start of the separation of Christianity from Judaism; it would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

First, your question presupposes that Catholicism existed for 1500 years.

It did not.

1. Christianity’s history actually originates in, and is steeped in, Judaism.

2. The book of Acts and Paul’s epistles share important insights about the early Church.

3. We know in fact that after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

4. We know the Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and met with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

5. We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues. Eusebius records James the Just was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

6. We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy of one apostle/presbyter/elder.

The early Church was definitely not Roman Catholic. It would look much like Messianic Judaism.

7. Due to the success of the Great Commission, Paul’s conversion and successful missions, we find an influx of Gentiles. Due to the influx the Jewish Jesus followers in Jerusalem felt the Gentiles should convert to Judaism. The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter.

8. James (not Peter) presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert.

62 AD – High Priest Ananus charges James of transgressing the Law; James executed in Jerusalem.

66-73AD – The Great Revolt (Judea/Galilee revolt against Rome.) The Roman Empire Jerusalem systematically raided/ransacked/obliterated Jerusalem and slaughters thousands, ransacks the Temple artifacts and destroys the Temple.

James, Peter and Paul are dead, the Temple is destroyed and Jerusalem falls.

The first split between Judaism and Christianity is finalized; Gentile Christianity now gains strength in outlying areas to include Alexandria, Antioch and Rome.

Secondly, many Catholics like to falsely assert Roman Catholicism existed without splits, schisms and reforms.

It did not.

100 – 800AD Patristic Era

9. Christian theologians produce volumes upon volumes of theological/apologetic writings to determine/correct interpretations and to refute arguments against opposing factions.

10. The earliest controversies were Christological in nature and related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity.

We see: Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites and more …

313AD Edict of Milan – agrees to teat Christians benevolently.

380AD edict decrees Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.

Ensuing factions vy for power resulting in more splits and schisms:

445AD Juvenal, the bishop of Jerusalem, wanted to make Jerusalem into a Patriarchate (designating the office and jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical patriarch) but Leo I bishop of Rome opposed it.

11. Leo 1 appealed to Roman Emperor Valentinian III for support and obtained a decree Decree on Papal Power 445 that recognized the primacy of the bishop of Rome and provided for the forcible extradition of any bishop who refused to answer a summons to Rome.

12. At this time the Roman Empire was under constant siege and Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425 to 455) was faced with the dismemberment of the Western Empire.

13. The 445 edict strengthened Rome’s socio-economical and political standing against a regular onslaught of opposition.

Here we find the primacy of Rome given official recognition. EWTN, Leo the Great Pope Doctor of the Church.

14. Leo I is the first to officially claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church thus initiating the rise of the papacy – a uniquely Roman structure based on imperialism and aristocracy.

Enter: Nestorianism and the Assyrian Church of the East split over the Council of Ephesus (431AD), Oriental Orthodoxy split over the Council of Chalcedon (451AD), Pope Sergius I rejected the Quinisext Council (692), and the Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870AD and 879-880AD) is disputed by Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

600 AD Communication between the Greek East and the Latin West by the 600s had become strained.

800AD Phtian Schism due to controversy between Eastern (Byzantine, later Orthodox) and Western (Latin, Roman Catholic) Christianity.

800AD After the fall or the Western Roman Empire Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor reviving the title of Emperor. The concept of translatio imperii (sovereign ruler/supreme power) is revived from the ancient emperors of Rome.

This inaugurates the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperors in Western and Central Europe were now crowned by a Pope; the term "Holy Roman Empire" would be officially adopted from 1254 onward.)

1054AD Great Schism

15. The cracks and fissures in Christianity evident as early as the fourth century led to the Great Schism. We see the Gregorian Reform movement in the 11th century and the Eastern churches viewed Rome’s understanding of the nature of episcopal power as being in direct opposition to the Church’s essentially conciliar structure and thus saw the two ecclesiologies as mutually antithetical.

16. This fundamental difference in ecclesiology would cause all attempts to heal the schism and bridge the divisions to fail. Characteristically, Rome insisted on basing her monarchical claims to “true and proper jurisdiction” (as the Vatican Council of 1870 put it) on Saint Peter.

(This “Roman” exegesis of Matthew 16:18, however, was unknown to the patriarchs of Eastern Orthodoxy. Eastern Orthodox/Western Catholic separate and the division was a toxic mix theological/political/cultural.)

17. Enter: Ireland, Anglo-Saxons (English), Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Serbs and Blugarians = turmoil with Roman Empiricism.

18. Enter the Inquisitions starting 1184 with Roman Catholicism vs many movements throughout Europe considered apostate/heretical to Catholicism.

1378 – 1416 The Western Schism finds multiple claimants to the See of Rome and conflict concerning the rightful holder of the papacy.

19. In 1309 the papacy moves to France but returns to Rome in 1378 causing strife between Italian and French factions resulting in multiple Popes with two sets of cardinals.

20. A 1409 council declared both existing popes to be schismatic and appointed a new one. But the existing popes refused to resign and now there were three papal claimants.

21. Another council in 1414 cleans house and cleared the field of popes and antipopes and elected a Pope.

22. 1415 Jan Hus burned at the stake. His was a Church reformer and a seminal figure in the Bohemian Reformation.

1517 Reformation

23. 1517AD – Pope Leo X grants an indulgence; half the funds go to pay off a bishop’s personal loan (Archbishop Albrecht) and the other half was for Leo to pay for the re-design of St. Peters Basilica. (See The Role of Indulgences in the Building of New Saint Peter’s Basilica)

24. Martin Luther, chair of theology at the Catholic University of Wittenberg Germany, writes letters to his superior and his Archbishop (Archbishop Albrecht) notifying him that an indulgence was issued in his name. Luther includes a list of 95 reasons the indulgence is not canonical. (See Letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, 1517)

Albrecht literally wrote the indulgence and instructions on how to sell them so obviously he never responded to Luther but fowarded the letter to Rome.

1518 – Pope Leo X assigns papal theologians to oppose Luther.

tl;dr: Roman Catholicism did not exist for 1500 years prior to the Reformation. After it’s beginning in later centuries, Roman Catholicism has had many splits, schisms and reforms. Roman Catholicism wasn’t always heading in the right direction since it’s founding.

We regularly see a copy/paste quote, “To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant".

The pull-quote comes from John Henry Newman’s 1878 Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (specifically Essay Intro, item 5) in which Newman is arguing against Protestants.

Newman writes that Protestant arguments would be fair if they can be maintained.

The reality is: they can be maintained.

Newman then goes on to discuss Christian history starting from Nicaea 325 AD saying it wasn’t Protestant. Therefore by his reasoning it is by default Roman Catholic.

Unfortunately for Newman since 1878 we’ve learned much more about history and the history of the Church:

1. Newman ignores that Christianity’s history actually originates in, and is steeped in, Judaism. The new covenant within God’s covenant system begins in earnest at Pentecost.

2. The book of Acts and Paul’s epistles share important insights about the early Church; for Newman to start Christian History after Nicaea, and after the 380AD Edict of Thessalonica that made Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, is historically inaccurate and pretty misleading.

3. Newman conveniently starts at the beginnings of Roman Catholicism – not Christianity.

We know in fact that after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

4. We know the Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and met with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

5. We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues. Eusebius records James the Just was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

6. We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy of one apostle/presbyter/elder.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

7. Ironically Newman actually references early writers who present the persecution of Christianity’s early adherents, “The Christian, being at first accounted a kind of Jew, was even on that score included in whatever odium, and whatever bad associations, attended on the Jewish name.” Part 2, Item 6, Section 1 The Church of the First Centuries no. 8

8. Newman argues that all the later Roman doctrines and practices were “hidden” in the church from the beginning – but that’s highly problematic.

Its one thing to use different language to teach something the church has always taught (e.g. the Trinity) but it’s another thing to begin teaching something that the church never taught and even denied (e.g., primacy of Rome, papacy, Mariology, purgatory, etc., etc.).

9. If Roman Catholicism were to appeal to it’s own Vincentian Canon, that we must hold beliefs that were believed everywhere, always and by all – then the papacy would have to give up all claims to supremacy over the entire church, and much of Roman dogma would have to be jettisoned.

10. There’s no scriptural or historical basis that Jesus commissioned Peter in any role other than apostle. James, not Peter, presides over the Jerusalem Council and James makes the judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

Peter describes himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Apostolos: Greek, a messenger, one sent on a mission.) Peter describes himself as: A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul records that Peter’s apostolic ministry was to the circumcised. Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”. Peter exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

Clement, bishop of Rome 88-99AD, wrote to Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

Eusebius records that James (not Peter) was elected bishop on account of the excellence of his virtue – and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

Peter describes Jesus as the living stone “being built up as a spiritual house”.. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, describes Jesus as the precious cornerstone; Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 describing Jesus as the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone and Peter quotes Isaiah 8:14 describing Jesus Christ as the stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:4-8

tl;dr: If Roman Catholicism wants to be taken seriously then it should stop using ambiguity of language to describe the “early church”. Skipping to later centuries is being purposely misleading.

as being the Church of early apostolic

We know from the New Testament that after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

We know the Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and then met separately with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

Eusebius records James was elected to preside over the home church in Jerusalem on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

We know from the New Testament that James, not Peter, presided over the Jerusalem Council and James makes the final judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy of one sole apostle/presbyter/elder.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

There’s no scriptural or historical basis that Jesus commissioned Peter in any role other than apostle. Peter describes himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Apostolos: Greek, a messenger, one sent on a mission.) Peter describes himself as: A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

We know Paul records that Peter’s apostolic ministry was to the circumcised. Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”.

Peter exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

Clement, bishop of Rome 88-99AD, wrote to Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

Peter describes Jesus as the living stone “being built up as a spiritual house”.. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, describes Jesus as the precious cornerstone; Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 describing Jesus as the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone and Peter quotes Isaiah 8:14 describing Jesus Christ as the stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:4-8

I’ll note that Lutherans consider Catholics to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Lutherans have no problem with Peter being first among equals (equal to other members of their group but accorded a degree of respect.)

Lutherans even have no have a problem with Peter representing the Church in the teaching of Matthew 16 because there Peter represented the Church and nothing in that account is exclusive to Peter.

For example the Gospel of John relates that “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” – John 20:21-23 (emphasis mine.)

They all received the Office of the Keys (spiritual rights, duties and privileges necessary for the welfare of the Church on earth.)

Jesus did not come to found a new religion adding more rituals and more walls of separation. Jesus didn’t come to favor one sole group of believers. Jesus came to break down the wall of hostility to make us one in the Spirit.

Frankly the last thing the apostles would have thought to do was set up their leadership structure to function like imperial Rome who had just murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their friends and family.

> Since Christianity emerged from Judaism and they both pray to Abrahams God, why does the Jewish idea of the messiah not apply to Jesus?

1. First, one glaring misconception is the presumption that the Jews in Jesus era did not consider Jesus the messiah.

2. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were Jews; the apostles, disciples and earliest Jesus followers were in fact Jews who were convinced Jesus was the messiah.

3. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

4. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the Way continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism.

(There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism.)

5. The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on the following day (Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.)

The early Jesus followers would look and operate in a sense like what today we’d call Messianic Judaism.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church is a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> He didnt rule the Jewish people nor did he save the Jewish nation.

Much of Judaism’s messianic notions of what the Messiah would do are from extant writings. The fact is Judaism placed the primary emphasis on recognizing the messianic age — not on the person of the messiah.

Q: Why?

A: They believe each generation has a potential messiah, and if the messianic age were to happen in that generation, then that person would be anointed (filled with God’s spirit) and step up to become messiah.

> Also, why did God decide to come to earth in human form exactly then and not before or after?

Because that time was when the fullness of time had come

See more on the fullness of time.

> Because Protestants typically accept huge swathes of Christianity (Catholicism) without realizing that they follow Catholicism.

Odd anti-Protestant flex, but ok, let’s address it:

Some zealous Catholics accept early Christianity as Catholicism without realizing early Christianity wasn’t Roman Catholic.

Christianity’s history actually originates in, and is steeped in, Judaism.

We know in fact that after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

The Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and met with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

Hardly Roman Catholic practices.

We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues. Eusebius records James the Just was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> The Catholic Church accepted Paul as an apostle.

The early church aka the Way, accepted Paul as an apostle. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

That's why we all believe the things he said.

> Why do Protestants accept it? Well most of them seem to believe that the Church was guided by the Holy Spirit, until it stopped being guided in the Middle Ages.

The Roman Catholic Church’s corruption in the Middle Ages is historically well documented. Even Pope Francis concedes Luther’s intentions were not mistaken and that “there was corruption in the Church, there was worldliness, attachment to money, to power ... and this he protested.”

I’m Lutheran and we believe Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ so I don’t understand the odd flex and anti-Protestant hostility.

> What is the point of Christians having different denominations?

I’m convinced that perhaps the point of splits, schisms and denominations is to ensure mankind doesn’t “build a city with a tower” in order to “reach the Heavens” by our own prideful means in order to make a name for ourselves. (See Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-9](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+11%3A1-9&version=NIV).

We simply can’t deny that God willed to purposely confuse man’s language “so they will not understand each other.” So I’d be cautious of users here who desperately want to portray Christianity as if it were united for the first few hundred years. Unfortunately that’s a gross historical inaccuracy and frankly it contradicts the Tower of Babel account.

We know the Bible clearly records that Israel in the Old Testament was often divided. The Bible also relates that there was religious and cultural diversity among the Jews in Jesus’ era. At that time under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots.

We also know Christianity was founded in and is steeped in Judaism. We know the early Jesus followers were known as the Way and that they continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism.

70 AD – We know that the split from Judaism was finalized after Rome decimated Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. Gentile Christianity then gained strength in outlying Gentile areas.

100AD - : We know that Christian writers produce volumes upon volumes of theological/apologetic writings to determine/correct interpretations and to refute arguments against opposing factions. The earliest controversies were Christological in nature and related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity. We see: Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites and more.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning

History Of The Christian Church.

Church history:

1. The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

2. History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church. It’s not too academic and readable.

1. We know in fact that after Jesus death the early Jesus followers were considered a sect within Judaism called “the Way” Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

2. We know the Way continued to go to synagogue, followed Mosaic Law and Temple traditions. They observed the Jewish holy days, practiced circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. They kept the Jewish Saturday Sabbath and met with each other on the Lord’s Day aka Sunday.

3. We know James, Peter, John and others worked as a group of presbyters acting somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues. Eusebius records James the Just was elected bishop on account of his virtue and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

4. We know the body of believers during the Apostolic Era did not entertain the primacy of one apostle/presbyter/elder.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning is a good entry level, readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.
History Of The Christian Church, a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

5. There’s no scriptural or historical basis that Jesus commissioned Peter in any role other than apostle.

James, not Peter, presides over the Jerusalem Council.

James, not Peter, makes the judgment on the matter of the Gentiles, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

Q: How does Peter describe himself and his role?

A: Peter describes himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Apostolos: Greek, a messenger, one sent on a mission.) Peter describes himself as: A.) an apostle, B.) a fellow elder and a witness and C.) as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

Q: How do others in scripture describe Peter’s role?

A: Paul records that Peter’s apostolic ministry was to the circumcised. Peter, James, John and others are collectively referred to as “esteemed leaders” and “pillars”.

Peter exhorts to not domineer over those in your charge but instead be to subject to the elders (not to him) and asserts that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-7).

Q: How do the early Church Fathers describe the leadership structure of the Apostolic Era?

Clement, bishop of Rome 88-99AD, wrote to Corinth to reassert the authority of the local bishops/elders/presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. The First Epistle Of Clement To The Corinthians, Chp 44

Eusebius records that James the Just was elected bishop on account of the excellence of his virtue – and because Peter, James and John did not strive for honor. Church History Book II, chp 1.2 and 1.3

Q: How does Peter describe Jesus?

A: Peter describes Jesus as the living stone “being built up as a spiritual house”.. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, describes Jesus as the precious cornerstone; Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 describing Jesus as the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone and Peter quotes Isaiah 8:14 describing Jesus Christ as the stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:4-8

Q: Didn’t the Church Fathers believe Peter was the “rock” and the Church was to be built on him?

A: No. Augustine’s (354-430AD) allegiance was unequivocally to Rome – but not because he believed that Peter was the Rock. Augustine believed: Peter from the rock; not the rock from Peter. Augustine felt Peter’s pre–eminence (and therefore Rome’s) was in Peter being blessed to represent the disciples and the body of believers (the Church) in the teaching of Matt. 16*. (John Rotelle, The Works of Saint Augustine, Sermons on the Saints, Vol. III/8, Sermon 295.)

“Christ is the rock, Peter is the Christian people. Peter is so called from the rock; not the rock from Peter; as Christ is not called Christ from the Christian, but the Christian from Christ. Jesus says I will build thee upon Myself, not Myself upon thee. … that Peter might be built upon the Rock, not the Rock upon Peter.” Philip Schaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Volume VI, St. Augustine, Sermon XXVI, 1-2.

“For petra (rock) is not derived from Peter, but Peter from petra; just as Christ is not called so from the Christian, but the Christian from Christ. For on this very account the Lord said, "On this rock will I build my Church," because Peter had said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." On this rock, therefore, He said, which thou hast confessed. I will build my Church. For the Rock (Petra) was Christ; and on this foundation was Peter himself also built. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” Philip Schaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Volume VII, St. Augustine, On the Gospel of John, Tractate 124.5

6. In Matthew 16 Peter represented the Church and nothing in that account is exclusive to Peter.

The Gospel of John relates that “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” – John 20:21-23 (emphasis mine.) They all received the Office of the Keys (spiritual rights, duties and privileges necessary for the welfare of the Church on earth.)

Conclusion: Jesus did not come to found a new religion adding more Priests, more rituals and more walls of separation. Jesus didn’t come to favor one sole group of believers. Jesus came to break down the wall of hostility to make us one in the Spirit.

Frankly the last thing the apostles would have thought to do was set up their leadership structure to function like imperial Rome who had just murdered Jesus and was systematically martyring their friends and family.

> I understand high views of Mary have been apart of Christianity from the earliest days, indeed Mary as the Theotokos plays a central role in Orthodox Christian theology and liturgy …

Many make the false assumption that “the earliest days” of Christianity started in the 3rd or 4th centuries. They did not.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, the early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, these early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism.

There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate something like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism. Due to success of the Great Commission they realized an influx of Gentile proselytes.

This contentious relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

The first three centuries of Christianity

There was little to no focus on Mary. I’m the later Patristic era we find Christian theologians produce volumes upon volumes of theological/apologetic writings to determine/correct interpretations and to refute arguments against opposing factions. The earliest controversies were Christological in nature and related to Jesus’ divinity/humanity. ( see Docetism, Arianism, Gnostics and Marcionites and more.)

In response to the rising opposition to Jesus Christ’s divinity/humanity — we then see rising assertions about Mary in order to defend/bolster Jesus Christ’s divinity/humanity.

1. Jesus actually didn’t found a church; he found no organization and left no established institution.

2. Jesus made it very clear that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

3. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the the mediator of a new covenant in his blood.

4. God founded the new covenant within the covenant system that God had previously established within Israel/Judaism.

5. This harmonizes the NT with the OT and rightly Jesus teaches that is the founder of salvation and the founder our faith.

6. What Jesus left: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ may be built up.

7. Jesus commissioned his disciples with his intent that they “make disciples of all nations” (aka the Great Commission.)

8. Jesus shared his intent with his apostles (Greek, apostolos, a messenger, one sent on a mission) that they build an ekklesia (a people “called out to assemble”) from all nations to be the mystical body of believers called out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

9. Paul corroborates that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile). This harmonizes scripture.

10. In fact we know the early Jesus followers weren’t even called Christians until a year after Paul’s conversion.

Q: So what is the church?

A: Not what but who: whoever confesses that the son of man (Jesus manifested in the flesh is the Son of the living God. God abides in them, and they in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Q: Who has the keys to this church (e.g. the Office of the Keys)?

A: The disciples — not just Peter.

11. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples saying, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:19-23

The Holy Spirit

12. Before returning to the Father, Jesus explicitly instructed his disciples to, “wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4. “Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.” The Holy Spirit is the “Lord and giver of life.”

13. So they waited and kept to themselves like the dry bones in the valley waiting for the breath of the Spirit within them so that they may live. Ezekiel 37:1-14

15. Then at Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out and at this point the apostles are now brought to life and empowered to build the church: preaching, teaching and administering the sacraments. For this reason Christianity believes and confesses: “… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son ...” Nicene Creed

16. The Holy Spirit founded the new covenant church at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit is the vicar of Christ. (Latin vicarius is “proxy", noun use of adjective vicarius "substituted, delegated," from vicis "change, interchange, succession; a place, position" (from PIE root weik- (2) "to bend, to wind").)

The Way

17. Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

18. Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

19. The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism.

20. James — not Peter— assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community. The apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

21. Due to the influx of Gentile proselytes this contentious relationship would change starting with the 50 AD Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. The separation of Christianity from Judaism would be complete after Rome ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD).

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

Based on Jesus’ words, “I am the way, and the truth and the life … John 14:6, these early Jesus followers were known as the Way

Convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who founded a new covenant with the covenant system, the early Jesus followers continued to function as a reform sect within Judaism. There was religious and cultural diversity among first-century Jews in the ancient Near East. Under the umbrella of Judaism were: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots – and like these the Way was just another expression of Judaism. They continued to follow ancestral Jewish markers: go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Way met with each other in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day.

The early Jesus followers would look and operate much like what we’d today consider Messianic Judaism. James assumed leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community, the apostles/leaders functioned as a group of presbyters who apparently acted somewhat like the Judean presbyter elders of the Jewish synagogues.

The First Hundred Years AD 1-100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning: a readable historical treatment of the Jesus Movement in First Century context to include the Jewish fight against despotic Roman rule and the violent separation of Christianity from Judaism.

History Of The Christian Church: a comprehensive, academic 8 volume history of the Christian Church.

> In Christianity, isn’t authority and hierarchy important?

Yes.

> How can you have the Bible without authority?

Don’t know because authority and hierarchy are important.

> Wasn’t it put together and gnostic gospels refused to be put in by hierarchical authority?

Yes.

> In Protestantism there is no authority.

Explain please.

> Liturgy. In Catholicism and orthodox, they still carry on the liturgy and sacraments. Protestants don’t correct? Why?

I’m Lutheran and we have liturgy and sacraments.

> Splintered sects. Now there is some splintering in Catholicism ….

The false presumption here is that for most of history since the death of Jesus that Christendom remained largely united.

That’s a grotesque historical inaccuracy.

Splits and schisms in Christianity

The early Jesus followers were known as the Way

These, convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, continued to function much like a reform sect within Judaism.

The early Jesus followers continued to go to synagogue, follow Mosaic Law and Temple traditions; they observed the Jewish holy days, practice circumcision and followed kosher dietary laws. Keeping the Sabbath, the Way met in each other’s homes on Sunday aka the Lord’s Day (aka Sunday).

Due to the success of the Great Commission, Paul’s conversion and successful missions, we find an influx of Gentiles. Due to the influx the Jewish Jerusalem believers felt the Gentiles should essentially convert to Judaism.

The Jerusalem Council of 50AD was called to settle the matter. James presides and makes a judgment that they would not force Gentiles to convert.