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.


Statements (67)
Predicate Object
instanceOf followers of Jesus
historical group
religious community
centralBelief Jesus as the Messiah (Christ)
imminent return of Christ
one God
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
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 of Nazareth
hadLeaders apostles
bishops (overseers)
deacons
elders (presbyters)
keyFigure James the Just
John the Apostle
Paul the Apostle
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 Eucharist (Lord’s Supper)
baptism
charitable giving
communal prayer
mutual aid
scripture reading
producedText Acts of the Apostles
New Testament writings
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

Referenced by (9)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Ignatius of Antioch ("Early Christianity")
Irenaeus of Lyons ("Early Church")
Macarius of Egypt ("Early Christian Church")
denomination
Colossians 2:15 ("Christians in Colossae")
addressedTo
Saint Timothy ("Early Christianity")
culture
Second Temple Judaism ("early Christianity")
influenced
Essenes ("early Christianity")
possibleInfluenceOn
New Testament scholarship ("Pauline Christianity")
studies
Christos
usedBy

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