Having studied and read about the expansion of the early Christian church and movement, discuss the factors (personal, religious, political, etc.) which contributed to its spread. What are the most important factors that you have discovered throughout this study? Do not just list, but explain why you chose the people, events, or cultural issues that helped Christianity spread through the Roman world.
The growth of the Christian churches was very much dependent on personal, religious, and political factors. After the crucifixion of Christ, the spreading of Christ’s message was upon the Apostles, who ought to travel throughout the world. Apostles did their best to risk their lives to share the teachings and quote the example of apostle Paul, who influenced millions of people through his letters and epistles. Although he had faced many trials and tribulations, his dedication to his mission was the unhampered table; this is the reason behind most letters written from prison. At last, his commitment cost him his life; this was not only the case with apostle paul alone; many of the apostles lived a life of tribulations and ended up being martyred for their religion. So, in my opinion, the outbound of Christianity was majorly the result of the passion and dedication of the apostles. Without their commitment and efforts, Christianity may not have grown beyond Jerusalem. The other major factor in the growth of Christianity was the transactions of the scripture into various languages. The teachings were translated into all the common languages. These were known in the area as Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Greek has a commonly spoken and easily perceived language, so it helped in passing on the church-making stories. It helped in enhancing the influential circle until the preaching out bounded a politically influential region, Constantine. Christianity was mandated to be the official religion of the area. Further, the crusades carried on this tradition. Thus the holy scriptures, personal testimonies, gospels, and passionate men made a combined effort to lead the religious conversion, thus giving success to the early Christian church movement.
Explain why Johannine literature is important to a student of the New Testament.
Johannine literature has its specificities which other biblical books might lack. The oration style is peculiar. In the book: The preacher’s portrait, the writer claims that we ought to study Johannine literature in our quest to discover nature.
The epistles served as carriers for the message to all the believers that they can set themselves free from the condemnation and sin within this mortal world. As the darkness of sin veils the world, believers can still hold to the light of the sacrifice made by Christ. Jesus was quite sure that the crucifixion is about to happen; he was ready for giving the sacrifice, as is evident in john 12:31; Jesus refers to one of his apostles about the preparation for crucifixion. As he said:
“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:31).”
This conversation conveys the message that after Christ, the devil will rule the world with all the sins prevailing, but Christ has made the sacrifice for believers and has condemned the devil.
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7-11).”
The conversation further goes with the promise of sending the Advocate, a spirit who will also teach the followers about righteousness—as in the next verses, Jesus told the apostle that he has to go to Father because people didn’t believe him. He further promised to condemn the sin with his crucifixion. The peculiarity of the Johannine literature resides in the warning and promises. First, it states the warning and then promises eternal goodness for the followers. As the above verses warned that the devil now rules the world, thus be vigilant not to fall prey to it. Then it further promises the love of Christ and eternal life.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—come not from the Father but the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (John 2:15-17).”
I find the Johannine literature integral to understanding the teachings of the new testament, as it homes the essence of Jesus’s teachings. Moreover, it answers most of the questions which Christianity is facing in the contemporary world.
Discuss the New Testament assertion of Jesus as “God the Son.” What are the implications? How did Jesus and His followers communicate this unique relationship between “God the Father” and “God the Son”? Explore, specifically, both the incarnation and the attributes of God in Christ. Draw specific textual support from John 1, Philippians 2, Colossians 1, and other New Testament readings and from all previous assignments.
Most of the widely made assertion is that Jesus if he is the son of God and God, is the Father. Thus the phrase “God the father” applies to God, and “God the Son” refers to Jesus. This establishes a relationship between followers and Christ. Before the advent of Christianity, the Jews were referred to as chosen people. With the birth of Christ as the “God the son,” he embodied the idea of God.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John12-12).”
And another verse further adds meaning to this idea:
“ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15-16).”
Even before Christ, there was a fact in Judaism that once a saviour will come and bring freedom from captivation. Jews used to anticipate a warrior who would take their lead.
“Once he is King, leaders of other nations will look to him for guidance (Isaiah 2:4).”
Thus he was an ultimate guider for humanity; the bible has given various attributes to Jesus while addressing him like “god the son,” “the light,” and “the way.”
“This is the message we have heard from Him and declares to you: God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all (John 1:5)”
Several verses relate God as the light, as the beacon of guiding light for all his children.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”
References
Gundry, Robert H. (2012) A Survey of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
Bible Gateway, retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/
The Preachers Portrait, Some New Testament Word Studies, (Grand Rapids: MI, 1961), p. 62.
John R. W. Stott
