Church History: Evangelism in the Early Church - Part 1

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/ev1mp3/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>EVANGELISM IN THE FIRST CENTURY</p><p>Introduction</p><ul><li>Definition of evangelism: spreading the good news</li><li>30—Pentecost, 200 – end of century of intense persecution. Will begin with Acts/NT, then move into 2nd C.</li><li>Matthew 28: Every <i>people, </i>not every nation (in the modern sense of the term)</li><li>Mission & purpose (Luke 10:20; Matthew 22:37-40).</li><li>I have 2 impressions on reading Acts: (1) evangelism was not particularly organized, yet (2) it was vibrant.</li></ul><p>Impressions</p><ul><li>Natural: Acts 2 – root (v.42) v. fruit (vv.43-47). Acts 8 – word preached publicly by principal leaders, privately by others. Acts 2:47, 4:4 – little interest in counting. Acts 21 – yet terrific growth (myriads = tens of thousands?)</li><li>Vibrant: Acts 4, 5 – couldn’t help speaking! Acts 8 – Spirit working with them, coincidence of Isaiah 53.</li></ul><p>Beyond Acts (outside Bible lands)</p><ul><li>India (Thomas), 52 AD+</li><li>Syria-Persia-China (Thaddaeus and Church of the East)</li><li>Britain (some archaeological evidence)</li><li>Spain (Paul, Romans 15: see Isaiah 66)</li></ul><p>Further considerations: Challenges</p><ul><li>Persecution</li><li>False teachers (Judaizers, Docetists [Gnostics])</li><li>Slander (cannibalism, incest, lawbreaking)</li><li>Countercultural – yet this also made evangelism more clear-cut, since Christianity clearly stood out as an alternative lifestyle.</li></ul><p>Further considerations: What helped them</p><ul><li>Counter-cultural (adopted children, sold themselves into slaver, bribed prison guards, forgave enemies...)</li><li>Homes as centers of evangelism. First church buildings about 230 AD. Hospitality – essential for overseers, since presumably they headed up the groups that met in their homes.</li><li>Preached a person, not a system (2 Corinthians 4:5)</li></ul><p>Next podcast: <a href="https://www.do