Christianity

In 100 C.E.

Paul

Traveled extensively spreading his message of Christ

Established many Christian communities

Mixed Jewish-Gentile followers form communities

Began to meet outside of synagogues in “house churches”

AKA “ekklesia”meaning “assembly”

Trouble in JerusalemBy 67 CE, Zealots rose up in rebellion By 67 CE, Zealots rose up in rebellion against the Romansagainst the Romans

The Roman army destroyed the The Roman army destroyed the TempleTemple

A devastating loss to the JudeansA devastating loss to the JudeansThe Sadducees were no longer The Sadducees were no longer necessary necessary Zealots were either killed in the Zealots were either killed in the fighting or completely fighting or completely demoralizeddemoralizedThe Essenes lost some of their The Essenes lost some of their monasteries and all of their hopemonasteries and all of their hopeThese groups faded out of Jewish These groups faded out of Jewish lifelifeThe only groups surviving were The only groups surviving were the Pharisees and the Christians the Pharisees and the Christians

Pharisees

The Pharisees were able to hold onto their vision of what it means to live a Jewish life with out a Temple

Their focus was the scriptures

They became the foundation for Judaism as it has continued to exist today

Christian communities

Those with Jewish roots mourned for Jerusalem

But their faith survived because it was centered in Christ rather than in the Temple

After the destruction of the

TempleA major split between the Way A major split between the Way and Jews who followed the Law and Jews who followed the Law occurred after the Temple was occurred after the Temple was destroyed destroyed

Jewish identity was at stake; the Jewish identity was at stake; the new religion of Christianity new religion of Christianity threatened the very existence of threatened the very existence of Judaism.Judaism.

Within 60 yrs. of Jesus’ death, his Within 60 yrs. of Jesus’ death, his followers were not allowed to followers were not allowed to enter the synagoguesenter the synagogues

Even the ones of Jewish Even the ones of Jewish origins origins

The differences separating Jews and Jewish Christians grew even more serious the next few years

In about 90 CE a group of rabbis came together in a place called Yavneh to discuss how to continue being Jews without the Temple

Outcomes:1. Christians not allowed in the synagogues 2. Scripture canon; they excluded 7 of the books in the

Greek Old Testament because the Christians were using that version

3. Next slide….

Jewish council At Yavneh, the rabbis also decided not At Yavneh, the rabbis also decided not to rebuild the Temple because:to rebuild the Temple because:

of Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, not of Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” sacrifice.”

The Rabbis decided that only The Rabbis decided that only

prayer, prayer,

repentance, and repentance, and

good deedsgood deeds

would replace would replace

the laws concerning sacrifices that the laws concerning sacrifices that Moses had taught.Moses had taught.

In a way, Judaism now interpreted Temple Sacrifices

the way Christianity did:No longer necessary

Christian scriptures

In addition to the books of the NT, other books circulated that were crucial for the early Christian communities

These other books are called noncanonical books:

The Didache

The DidacheBecause the followers of Christ needed more guidance, a handbook was written

This handbook reflected the concerns of a community with strong roots in Judaism

It literally means “the Teaching”

It helps to understand the social life and ritual practices of the early church

It is recognized as the first “church manual”

This Handbook was the foundation for what later developed as the Catechism., which contains the essential teachings of the church

The Magisterium, the teaching body of the Church, compiles and writes the catechism

The Didache: its content

Lead morally respectable lives

Love one another

Avoid evil desires, jealousy and anger

Give alms to the poor

Obey God’s commandments

Instructions for the ritual practices. Ex: how to perform baptisms, what to pray, and how to celebrate the Eucharist

Social interactions of the Christian community