Early Christians

Ten days after ascending to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon his apostles in the form of tongues of fire that rested upon them amid a great rushing of wind that filled the house. In those days there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews from many nations, who came at the sound. Peter addressed them and each heard him in his own language. He spoke to them of Jesus Christ whom they had crucified and who had risen. About three thousand people were converted and baptized.

A few days later, Peter and John miraculously healed a man lame from birth, spoke to the multitude, and another five thousand were baptized, all of them Jews. Later, by divine instruction, they turned to the Gentiles.

The disciples were growing so rapidly that the Jewish leaders were filled with envy and began a fierce persecution. The first martyr was Saint Stephen. Shortly after, James the Greater.

Saul, later called Paul, was a fierce persecutor of Christians. One day the glorious Jesus appeared to him, and Saul corrected his life, preaching Jesus Christ throughout many regions. Greatly persecuted by the Jews, he turned to the Gentiles, spreading Christianity in Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome, where he died a martyr.

After preaching in Jerusalem, Peter was in Antioch, and then in Rome, where he remained until his martyrdom. The successors of Saint Peter at the Roman See — the Pope — inherited his mission of leading the Church, which the Lord had entrusted to him.

After preaching in Judea, in accordance with the Lord's command, the Apostles separated and went throughout the whole world speaking of Jesus and establishing Bishops to continue their work. The communication network of the Roman Empire facilitated the expansion.

The following can be mentioned:

• Council of Jerusalem. Around the year 49. The Church extends to non-Jews without requiring them to observe the Law of Moses.
• The Gospels and other texts of the New Testament are written.
• Rome conquers Jerusalem and destroys the Jewish Temple. Around the year 70.

First the Jews and then the Roman emperors launched fierce persecutions in an attempt to destroy the Christians. Very many died as martyrs. There were periods of greater intensity alternating with years of peace in which the Church continued its strong expansion.

During the years of persecution, Christians continued to attend holy Mass, even though it was there they could most easily be arrested. Sometimes they had to celebrate it in underground cemeteries — catacombs — to avoid capture without yielding on Sunday attendance.

Around the year 111, Trajan wrote a letter that influenced events for many years. It stated:

• The authorities should not seek out Christians, nor accept anonymous accusations. (This regulation gave some security.)
• If there was a formal accusation, one must act and condemn the Christian to death. (Simply for being a Christian.)

These took place in the third century. The first half of this century saw peace and expansion of Christianity. Then the situation changed.

• Year 250: general persecution of Decius, who died a year later.
• Year 257: general persecution of Valerian, who died two years later. Then there was peace for more than 40 years, as Christian expansion continued.
• Year 303: general persecution of Diocletian, who abdicated two years later in a state of depression. It was a very harsh persecution, especially in the East.

Shortly afterward, the Emperor Constantine granted freedom of worship to Christians throughout the empire. This was in the years 311–313 (Edict of Milan). With this freedom, Christianity expanded rapidly and became the official religion in the year 380 under Emperor Theodosius the Great.

The first Christians were all Jews, and they observed the precepts of the Law of Moses contained in the Old Testament. God himself intervened by granting grace to the Gentiles without requiring circumcision. But many Christians insisted that Gentiles who converted to Christianity must submit to all the Jewish precepts. The apostles, presided over by Saint Peter, gathered in Jerusalem to settle the matter. They decided that the Gentiles were not bound by circumcision or by the other Mosaic norms.

This was a widespread current of various curious theories that spoke of semi-divine beings called aeons and a creator being called the demiurge, distinct from God. They accepted only certain texts of the Bible. Gnosis infiltrated some Christian groups and considerable effort was required to clarify matters — second century. Saint Irenaeus intervened with good judgment.

Arianism denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. It began around the year 318 in Alexandria. After several warnings it was condemned at the first ecumenical council — Nicaea, year 325. However, the attitudes of the Roman emperors spread Arianism widely. Saint Athanasius stood out in the defense of sound doctrine. The second council — Constantinople, 381 — confirmed and completed the Nicene Creed, giving rise to the current creed.

Once the trinitarian problems had been overcome and the divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit declared, discussions began about the mode of being of Christ. Nestorius spoke of two persons united in Christ, such that Mary would not be Mother of God. Since he was the patriarch of Constantinople, this caused great upheaval. His ideas were condemned at the Council of Ephesus — year 431. Saint Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, stood out in the defense of sound doctrine.

This is the opposite error and arose immediately after. It speaks of a single nature in Christ. The Council of Chalcedon — year 451 — defined clearly that in Jesus Christ there is one person with two natures. Pope Saint Leo the Great stood out here.

This monk erred in his teaching on grace and original sin. He said that human powers alone suffice for salvation, and denied that we are born in a state of original sin. Saint Augustine clarified these matters very well.

These condemned the veneration of sacred images. The heresy was promoted by emperors of Constantinople, who were imitating the Muslims. These ideas were rejected at the Second Council of Nicaea — year 787. It was clarified that idols must not be made, nor should objects be adored, but it is fitting to make images that help one to remember and love the person represented. (Continued in: Church Fathers) (Earlier history in: Life of Christ)