church pentecost and the emergence of faith

Topic 2: Pentecost and the Emergence of New Faith

Lesson 1: The First Christian Community and the

Spread of the Church

Lesson 2: The Persecuted Church and the

Emergence of a New Faith

Lesson 3: Persecution as a Central Theme in

Christianity

• History• Jesus – Apostles – Peter – Pope –

Cardinals- Archbishops- Bishops – Priests – Deacons – Laity

• Infallibility of the Pope• Apostolic Succession (oldest office)• Cathedra / authority of the chair (from

Moses)• Apostles’ Mission/ the mission of

every baptized Christian


Lesson 1: The First Christian Community and the

Spread of the Church

•Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian community – CHURCH

•ACTS 2; 42-47

• In Acts 2: 42-47, it gives a brief description of the life of the Christians and brings out the primary characteristics of the early Church which were inspired by the Word of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

•The account gives a deeper insight into the nature of the early Church and the patterns of her life.

• v. 42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and communal life” indicates that the members of the early Church were made one by their constancy in listening to the preaching of the apostles and in gathering together in fellowship.

• v. 44-48 To become a Christian was to become a member of the faith community, sharing a common life. “Those who believe shared all things in common.”

• They expressed their faith in loving service for one another – a faith manifested in concrete deeds of love and justice.

• “They would sell their property and goods, dividing everything on the basis of each one’s need” (v.45).

• v. 46 The first Christians lived with the traditional Jewish forms of piety but a new form of worship was added, which was the celebration of the breaking of the bread which later became the Eucharist.

• “While in their homes they brook bread and took their meals in common (v.46).

• It was a communion, a koinonia which means fellowship in Christ, he who bound them in faith, hope and love.

• The community of disciples does not exist only for itself or its members.

• It is sent on a mission to proclaim the good news of Christ and to be the instrument of his grace.

• It exists in order to evangelize, i.e., to proclaim the good news, to build up the Church and to serve the kingdom by permeating the world with gospel values so that finally all creation may be united in Christ as Head.


Lesson 2: The Persecuted Church and the

Emergence of a New Faith

• No suppression nor persecution has ever succeeded in totally wiping out communities of faith.

• There is never a lack of people who desire to take part in the mission of the Church. Where the faithful are persecuted and suppressed, the faith tends to become more alive and aflame.

• This letter must have been addressed to the Christians facing persecution in Rome who were exhorted to remain firm in their faith in the Risen Lord and to withstand suffering and pain for his sake.

Romans 8: 35-39

• As it has inspired firm faith at a time of persecution in the early Church, the passage can also inspire us to hold fast to the faith and be authentic disciples in the present times.

• v. 35 No force, dangers and afflictions in life can make a true Christian forget the love of Christ which is revealed clearly and fully in his death and resurrection.

• v. 36 Paul quotes Ps. 44:23, a cry of lamentation of Israel bemoaning the injustice and humiliation inflicted on her. Recalling her fidelity to Yahweh for whose sake she was maligned and persecuted, she sought his aid and deliverance.

• The Psalm is cited to show that trails and difficulties are mysterious signs of God’s love rather than the absence of his love.

• A disciple who perseveres in his suffering for the sake of Christ will gain eternal peace and salvation. A Christian is called to follow and imitate Jesus to the end. He is called to be a witness to the Gospel without compromise.

• v. 37 We come to possess a conquering might in and through the love of God in Christ.

• v. 38 Paul cites the obstacles to the love of God. They are spirits of different ranks: angels, principalities and powers. Good and evil, they will not succeed in separating Christians from the love of Christ and neither would death nor life.

• v. 39 Neither height nor depth – these are ancient terms which determine the power and influence of astrological forces – not these forces or any other creature can overpower the love of Christ, the unshakable foundation of all Christian hope and love.

• Following is a brief sketch of the persecution that the Church underwent in the early times.

• During the first three centuries of the Christian era, the infant Church was subjected to hostile pressures by the Roman civil authority. The threat of severe persecution always existed and actual persecution occurred during most of this period.

1. The Moral Degeneration of the Roman Empire

• In Paul’s letter to the Romans (1: 18-32), he described the moral corruption which plagued the Roman society.

• Such was the sad state of the Roman empire

when Christianity was preached and proclaimed by the apostles.


• The lofty message of Christianity was attractive and appealing to the inhabitants of Rome. The following truths of the Faith opened them to the dignity and splendor of the Christian faith.


• In the beginning, Rome was tolerant and it allowed religions to flourish. But later on, it declared war against Christianity when it realized that its aim to unite all people in the God of their faith posed a threat to its power and rule.

2. The Basis of Christian Persecution

• This complete change in the attitude of the Roman authority was the reason for the persecution of the Christians.


• Also, some of the Christian beliefs and practices were in conflict with the world view of Pagan Rome.

• In the Emperor cult, religion and patriotism were closely associated. Anyone who did not participate in the cult was considered as endangering the unity of the state.


• Thus, refusal to participate meant that a person was not loyal and obedient to the state and must be punished.


• First Period: The first great persecution by Nero (54-60 A.D.) was limited to the city devoid of any lawful foundation at all. He blamed the Christians for the six days of fire that destroyed three fourths of the city of Rome. The Christians were persecuted and turned into living torches in the garden of Nero. Among the victims were Peter and Paul.

3. The Course of Persecutions

• Second Period: The persecutions started from 100 A.D. to 250 A.D. Christianity continued to be an illegal religion. Informers were hired to report to the authorities those engaged in Church worship and practice. Trajan (98-117 A.D.) issued a decree stating that simply to be a Christian was punishable by death.


• Third Period: This was the last course of the persecution of the Christians. Decius, who became the emperor of Rome from 249-251 A.D., saw Christianity as a terrible poison. He ordered that all Christians make a public act of homage to the Roman gods. A great number of Christians abandoned their faith but many also suffered persecution in its defense.


• The last and bloodiest persecution of the Christians was conducted by Emperor Diocletian throughout the Roman empire. In 303 A.D. , he decreed that all Christian churches be destroyed and bibles burned. All meetings of the Christians were banned and the immediate arrest and execution of all priests and deacons were ordered.


• The bloody executions of Christians were made into spectacles for the crowds. Their eyes and tongues were gouged out, their feet sawed, and many were thrown into dungeons. This happened during the time of Galerius, Diocletian’s successor.


• The persecutions of the Christians only came to an end when Galerius admitted their uselessness. He realized that the persecutions only made the Christians more firm in their faith and attracted more pagans to become Christians.


• In early 313 A.D., Constantine, who attributed his victory to the help of the Christian God, issued the Edict of Milan which established a policy of complete religious tolerance. Christians were allowed to get back their properties.


• With the advent of persecutions, martyrdom for Christ was the driving force that urged people to face death fearlessly.

• Liturgy developed as well as the creed of the Church.

• The veneration of the saints developed.

4. The Church during and after the period and Persecution

• Another important thing that developed in the life of the Church during the persecution was the use of arts of symbols. Christian signs and symbols were carved on the walls of the tombs of the martyrs.


• The persecution of the Church by the Romans lasted for more than three hundred years though there were times when the Church experienced peace when the emperors in power were friendly to or tolerant to the Christians.


During the age of tribulation, the splendor of Christian discipleship in martyrdom was made possible by the immense and intense power of the Holy Spirit in individual Christians and in the suffering Church as a whole.



Lesson 3: Persecution as a Central Theme in

Christianity

• The Love of God in Christ is the unshakable foundation of all Christian discipleship, the ultimate realization of which is martyrdom.

• The lofty teachings and practice of the Christian faith confronted the moral decadence and crass idolatry of the Pagan society of Rome.

• The persecution of the Church brought to full light the power and splendor of the message of the Gospel which no force or power can destroy.

• With the blood of the martyrs, the Church has been enlivened and emboldened to continue to preach the message of salvation to all men and women.

• During and after the period of persecution, the Church continued to grow in the spirit of Christ in its life of worship and its Christian practice.

Points for Reflection

1. The age of persecution as described above made the Christians ever more firm and alive in their faith and their number increased. Similar situations in various other parts of the world seem to bring about the same result even today. What does this say about the place of suffering in Christianity?

2. Christ’s call for discipleship always carries with it the possibility of suffering and of being persecuted. Why do you think so?

3. It is said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christian Faith. How is this illustrated in both the early and present periods in the life of the Church?

4. Explain the relationship between discipleship and martyrdom?

church pentecost and the emergence of faith

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