The annals of history record the events that mold our

lives and times. This course will review the amazing steps that global evangelists have

taken to finish the Great Commission.

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Demographic estimates come from tradition, historical records and mathematical estimates.

Records are few because they were destroyed

The spread of Christianity in the Early Church was not planned by leaders or churches

Church’s part was encouragement, occasionally gave support, received reports (Acts 13:2-3;14:26-27)

It happened because individuals believed the truth and were willing to die to share it

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Avoid projections of contemporary into past

Accept the limitations (travel, technology, textual duplication, etc.)

Understand the circumstances

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Without a special revelation Peter never would have gone to a Gentile (Acts 11:19)

No evidence of other Gentile evangelism except by Paul until AD 49

Most of 12 died martyrs at hands of Gentiles 1 Cor 4:9, “men appointed to death”

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Jews in the diaspora or dispersion 40 – 50,000 living in Rome

Synagogues taught Jewish culture and religion

Proselytes were Gentiles who accepted circumcision and became Jews

Pauline complete strategy not practical today

Initially targeted Jews, Hellenists and proselytes open to OT messianic fulfillment

Secondarily other Gentiles w/o Jewish background

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Paul’s evangelistic trips.

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Gentiles did not have to become Jews first

Circumcision of the heart (Jer 9) more important than external rites

Gentiles should be sensitive to not offend Jewish brethren

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Started because Paul wanted to follow-up on earlier trip

God opens doors and closes doors, sometimes briefly

The transition from Asia to Europe

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A new strategy in Ephesus: Resident teaching ministry for 2 years (19:8)

Paul was adapting and applying new techniques

Word of mouth through disciples was most powerful sharing gospel from Galatia to GaulGreek, not Latin was the language of early Celtic Church in Gaul (France)

Primary method was to evangelize, disciple, then leave small group of believers bound to obey God’s revelation, then move onPossible with Jewish believers who had background. Not as easily possible with Gentile believers.

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Forces believers to act independently

Narrates travel risks, why?

6-7 years of imprisonment

Released, travels, captured, beheaded in AD64

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The annals of history record the events that mold our lives and times. This course will review the amazing steps that global

evangelists have taken to finish the Great Commission.

First Century Church 11

53,000 miles of Roman roads 4 mph normal march (3 mph casual walk), thus 20 miles per day was maximum

Couriers could make 50 miles a day on horseRome to Palestine in 46 days

Overnights were inevitableInns were horrible with gamblers, prostitutes, bugs, etc.

Hospitality of friends, families and believers was primary option

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Ships were cargo ships (usually grain) from Egypt to RomeRome required 200,000 to 400,000 tons per year

Huge ships could carry 1,200 tons Safe travel only between June and September

Archaeologists have identified 538 ship wrecks in the Mediterranean. First Century Church 13

Initial persecution was from Jews against Jewish Christians

Christians were blamed for burning of Rome AD 64

Destruction of Jewish nation in AD 70 scatters Jews and Jewish Christian By then, most Jewish Christian leaders had been martyred or scattered

Boldness of persecuted leaders, and the obligated change of hands to others helped mature the churches

By AD 79 the Coliseum in Rome was constructed and killing events in the Arena began.

Persecution continued sporadically until the 10-year persecution under Diocletian was ended by the Edict of Tolerance in AD 311, then legalized in 313 by the Edict of Milan.First Century Church 14

Defense of the early Church Fathers became the chief means of explaining the faith

By AD 170 the OT canon was accepted

In AD 90 Clement of Rome wrote that the entire Empire had been evangelized

Early defenders of the faith were Origen, Tertullian, and Justin Martyr

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First city to reach 1 million pop. 60% of pop. were slaves In the fall of Rome the population would reduce to 250,000 by AD 450

Center of Christianity until AD 325 This was not Paul’s priority since others were already there

Church already established Spain was his real goal

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Believers continued to expand the gospel awareness and the organized church

Mostly urban focused Preaching and teaching of evangelists

Personal witness of all believers Acts of kindness and charity Faith in the face of persecution Intellectual reasoning of early apologists

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