1 / 41

Church in the New Testament

Church in the New Testament. The Kingdom is announced. Themes. The connection between Jesus and the Church Ekklesia Proclaiming the kingdom Apostolic communities. What connection is there between Jesus and the Church?. When did the Church begin to exist?

vcyr
Download Presentation

Church in the New Testament

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Church in the New Testament The Kingdom is announced

  2. Themes • The connection between Jesus and the Church • Ekklesia • Proclaiming the kingdom • Apostolic communities

  3. What connection is there between Jesus and the Church? • When did the Church begin to exist? • Did Jesus intend to found a Church? • Did the Church remain faithful to Jesus’ intentions? • - even in the earliest days?

  4. 2 extreme views: • There is no connection between Jesus and the subsequent Church • The Church was laid down in the NT in every dimension (Mt 16:18; 18:18) The majority view: that the ecclesiology of the NT has developed

  5. The term ‘Ekklesia’ • An assembly in the Greek world • A legislative assembly • Participants were those with full citizen rights; • ‘Qahal’ remained in use until the issue of Gentile membership then the word Ekklesia was used

  6. Ekklesiain Paul • Similar to the Hebrew QAHAL • Always refers to a concrete community • Eg ‘the church in Corinth’ • Occasionally to the whole ‘people of God’

  7. Ekklesiain NT • 2 in Synoptics; John doesn’t use the term ekklesia or have a concern for structure or authority as Matt does • 20 in Revelation • 23 times in Acts • 65 times in Paul • A clear rising profile!

  8. Meanings • Signifies the local church • Paul uses the plural form too –the worldwide assembly of Christians • But may be a small house community too (Rom 16:5; Phil 2) • All congregations ‘gathered in the name of Jesus Christ’

  9. Was Jesus establishing a church? • ‘Founding ‘ as in laying the foundations for.. • Appointed the 12 apostles: continuity with OT • Healing - a sign of the Kingdom • Membership is divisive • Not just for Jews – Gentiles also**pre/post resurrection • The primacy of Peter • The Eucharist • Leadership as service

  10. Pentecost - • Did not inaugurate the church - already existed (Acts 1:15-22) • Was the point when the church was specifically endowed with power from on high (Acts 2:1-12) • The outpouring of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit were accepted • The Spirit is the firstfruits of the final Kingdom (1 Thess 4:8; 1 Peter 1:2; Heb 6:4) • A community transformed by the presence of the Spirit

  11. Church in NT • Not uniform or monolithic • The local church is not just a sub-division of the universal church • The universal church is not just the sum of the constituent parts • The Corinthian church: ‘the church of God which is in Corinth’ • The church universal ‘the fullness of him who fills the universe in all its parts’ Eph1:22/3

  12. The NT as a source: • As we have seen: • A 3 stage process: - • Original words and deeds of Jesus • How these were used in the oral tradition • How this tradition came to be written down

  13. Jesus speaking of church: • Mtt 16:18 Mtt 18: 17/8 • Meaning given by Jesus? • Meaning given by first apostles? • Meaning given by first communities? • Meaning given by NT authors?

  14. Developmental principle • The idea of ‘church’ is seen to develop through various stages • Interpretation of each stage is a delicate and subtle matter • Diversity of ecclesiological approaches within the NT • And also within modern day theologians

  15. Did Jesus intend to found a Church? - his target group • He never addressed himself to a select group • But to the whole people of Israel; • to sinners; • Post-resurrection, to everyone • The call of the 12 represented / symbolised the call of the 12 tribes of Israel • The wider group of disciples was given a mission to Israel as a whole

  16. Did Jesus intend to found a Church? - membership rules • No specific rule of life • Membership is not a condition of salvation • In fact salvation is gained by obedience to the Father’s will (Mt 7: 21) • And this may be done without explicit awareness (Mt 25: 31-46)

  17. Jesus lays foundations for the Church • The community of disciples stayed together as a Eucharistic community (1 Cor 11: 17-27) • The community understood that they were meant to stay together (Lk 22: 29-30) • So in a sense, the church never ‘began’ – there was always a community

  18. And.... • Jesus gathered disciples: - • They took part in his healing ministry • The message was divisive • Jesus anticipated a gap between his death and the Parousia and that Israel would reject the call to salvation • And pagans would be invited instead (Mt 8: 10-12)

  19. The Proclamation of the Kingdom

  20. Eschatology • Theology which deals with the ‘last things’ - Resurrection; hell; the last judgement; heaven • Realised – here and now • Future – to come

  21. The kingdom is....here ....and to come. • Realised Eschatology – something has been fulfilled in the here and now • Lk 4: today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.... • Mk 1: 1-15 the kingdom of God has come near... • Future Eschatology – something remains to be fulfilled • Mk 13:22:We cannot predict the day or the hour

  22. Jesus talks of: • Basileia tou theou • The realisation of God’s reign of justice and right - a dynamic concept • The nearness of God’s rule • ‘Just round the corner’ • Parables which describe ‘the kingdom’ • Signs of the Kingdom – • Lk 7:22 Mtt 11: 5 Lk 4: 16-24

  23. Parables: see session notes Of growth Of judgement Of forgiveness Of commitment Of urgency

  24. Take one parable and think about its meaning. • What does it tell you about the Kingdom?

  25. Membership of the Kingdom • No specific rule of life indicated • Nor is membership a condition of salvation • Mtt 7:21 – the one who does the will of my father in heaven • Often done without explicit awareness – ‘as often as you did it for one of the least of my brothers you did it for me (Mtt 25:31-46)

  26. Church = Kingdom? • Does membership of the church equal acceptance in the Kingdom of God? • No guarantee • False prophets Mt 7:22-23 • All evil doers will be cast out Mt 13:38-43 • People who do not belong will be acknowledged by the Lord as brothers and sisters Mt 25: 31-46 • The final test is a just life – parable of the wedding garment Mt 22:11-13

  27. Apostolic Communities • No uniform order or structure • Some order and structure: these shape the life of the church • Whole congregation involved in important decisions (Acts 15; 1 Cor 5) • Leadership in place; derived from the Lord; • Bishops & Deacons • Hierarchical:(1 Cor 12:27/8)

  28. Apostolic communities • Charismatic ministries :prophets & teachers • Administrative ministries • No opposition – all gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit • Ministry is for the sake of service, never domination • Pre-eminence of the petrine ministry – not contested

  29. What did they do? • Acts 2: 43-47 • Acts 4 : 32-35 • Acts 5: 12-16

  30. They did.... • Healing and miracles • Evangelised • Sharing of goods (the widows debate) • A rich prayer life - both Jewish and Christian • Meetings – synagogue and homes • Breaking of bread on Sunday

  31. Common threads were: • Faith in Jesus as Messiah and Lord • Prayer - home and Synagogue • Baptism • Eucharist • Apostles preaching and teaching • Communities based on love • Expectation of the Kingdom

  32. Conflicts occurred: • The care of widows: • Acts 6 : 1-6 • The Great Debate • Acts 15 : 1-31 • The resolution is still normative for the Church • Acts 15: 28

  33. And more conflicts.... • 1 Cor • 1: 10-17 • 14: 26-33 • 11: 17-22 • 14: 34 et seq • 2 Cor • 11: 5 • 11: 12

  34. Leadership • Diakonos service (Didache) • Authority ‘has seen the Lord’ • Presbyteroi Tit 1: 5; Peter 5: 1; • James 5: 14 • Elders 1 Tim 5: 17-19 • Episkopos / Episkopoi: overseers Didache • (Dead Sea Scrolls / Essenes) (Acts 20: 28) • Widows !!!

  35. Pauline ecclesiology • Many members, one body • A variety of gifts but always the same Spirit • 1Cor 12:12 - 30 • Conflict resolution in Corinth

  36. Paul: 3 different threads • The Pastorals • Colossians and Ephesians • Luke/Acts • Not clear where these audiences were • Or if they knew one another • Acts devotes a lot of space to Paul but doesn’t mention Pauline letters • Eph/Col draws heavily on Paul’s writings • - Why the difference?

  37. Case study –attitude to Judaism • Eph: 2: 11-22 • A peaceful resolution between Jew and Gentile • But - • Acts 28: 25-29 • The Jews will never hear or understand the Gospel message

  38. Case study - church structure • The Pastorals: 1 Tim 3: 1-13; • Strong insistence of the author on church structure and the necessity of appointing church officials • Not present in Luke/Acts or Col/Eph which both have different emphases

  39. Sub-apostolic communities • AD 70 + • Post -apostolic / early church writings: • Didache (?50-60) • Clement of Rome -1st Ep to Corinth (96?) • Ignatius of Antioch (98-117) • The Epistle to Diognetus (120-180) • When were people (some people?) aware of the NT writings? Do we know?

More Related