Council of Jerusalem

E26576

The Council of Jerusalem was an early Christian assembly, traditionally dated to around 50 CE, where apostles and elders decided that Gentile converts did not need to fully observe the Jewish Law, shaping the future of the Christian movement.

Aliases (2)

Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian council
church council
first council of the Christian Church
alsoDescribedIn Epistle to the Galatians
Galatians 2
attendedBy Barnabas
Paul the Apostle
Peter the Apostle
apostles of Jesus
elders of the church in Jerusalem
convenedToAddress obligation of Gentile Christians to observe the Mosaic Law
requirement of circumcision for Gentile Christians
status of Gentile converts in the Church
hasAlternativeName Apostolic Council
Jerusalem Council
hasApproximateDate c. 50 CE
mid-1st century CE
heldDuring apostolic age
imposedRequirementOn Gentile Christians
influenced development of Christian canon law
relationship between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians
theology of law and grace in Christianity
locationWithin early Christian community in Jerusalem
precedes First Council of Nicaea
presidedOverBy James the Just
primarySource Acts 15
Acts of the Apostles
recognizedBy Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
most Protestant traditions
relatedTo Pauline mission
controversy over Judaizing
early Christian law
religiousTradition Christianity
resultedIn apostolic decree
decision that Gentile converts are not bound to the full Jewish Law
decision that Gentile converts need not be circumcised
letter to Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
significance affirmed inclusion of Gentiles without full Torah observance
marked separation of Christianity from Jewish ritual law
shaped future mission to the Gentiles
specifiedObligation abstain from blood
abstain from food sacrificed to idols
abstain from meat of strangled animals
abstain from sexual immorality
tookPlaceIn Jerusalem

Referenced by (6)

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