Early Christians

E54735

Early Christians were the first followers of Jesus in the 1st centuries CE, forming communities that developed the core beliefs, practices, and texts that became the foundation of Christianity.

All labels observed (10)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (67)

Predicate Object
instanceOf followers of Jesus
historical group
religious community
centralBelief Jesus Christ
surface form: Jesus as the Messiah (Christ)

imminent return of Christ
one God
resurrection of Jesus Christ
surface form: resurrection of Jesus

salvation through Jesus
contributedTo development of creedal formulas
formation of Christian canon
developed Christian liturgical practices
core Christian beliefs
early Christian theology
early church organization
distinguishedFrom Greco-Roman paganism
non-Christian Jews
emergedInCentury 1st century CE
emergedInRegion Eastern Mediterranean
Judea
surface form: Roman province of Judea
ethicalEmphasis care for the poor
forgiveness
love of neighbor
sexual morality
faced periodic persecution from Roman authorities
persecution from some Jewish authorities
followed Jesus Christ
surface form: Jesus of Nazareth
hadLeaders apostles
bishops (overseers)
deacons
elders (presbyters)
keyFigure James the Just
Apostle John
surface form: John the Apostle

Apostle Paul
surface form: Paul the Apostle

Apostle Peter
surface form: Peter the Apostle
languageUsed Aramaic
Koine Greek
Latin
metOnDay first day of the week (Sunday)
organizedAs house churches
local congregations
originatedFrom Second Temple Judaism
practiced Holy Eucharist
surface form: Eucharist (Lord’s Supper)

baptism
charitable giving
communal prayer
mutual aid
scripture reading
producedText Acts of the Apostles
New Testament
surface form: New Testament writings

Pauline Epistles
surface form: Pauline epistles

canonical Gospels
early Christian letters
religion Christianity
spreadThrough missionary journeys
urban networks of the Roman Empire
spreadToRegion Asia Minor
Egypt
Greece
Italy
North Africa
Syria
timePeriod 1st–3rd centuries CE
usedText Hebrew Bible (Septuagint) as scripture
viewedJesusAs Lord
Savior
Son of God
viewedThemselvesAs new covenant community

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (16)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Christos usedBy Early Christians
Second Temple Judaism influenced Early Christians
this entity surface form: early Christianity
Irenaeus of Lyons denomination Early Christians
this entity surface form: Early Church
Ignatius of Antioch denomination Early Christians
this entity surface form: Early Christianity
Saint Timothy culture Early Christians
this entity surface form: Early Christianity
Colossians 2:15 addressedTo Early Christians
this entity surface form: Christians in Colossae
Macarius of Egypt denomination Early Christians
this entity surface form: Early Christian Church
Essenes possibleInfluenceOn Early Christians
this entity surface form: early Christianity
New Testament scholarship studies Early Christians
this entity surface form: Pauline Christianity
De Praescriptione Haereticorum historicalPeriod Early Christians
this entity surface form: early Christian Church
Apostolic Age partOf Early Christians
this entity surface form: Early Christianity
First Apology historicalPeriod Early Christians
this entity surface form: Ante-Nicene era
Jude associatedWith Early Christians
this entity surface form: early Christian Church
Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15–16) historicalPeriod Early Christians
this entity surface form: early Christianity
Gaius geographicalContext Early Christians
this entity surface form: earlyChristianChurch
Heraclas of Alexandria memberOf Early Christians
this entity surface form: early Christian Church