mythsciencereligiontruth1

I was wondering what life must have been like after the crucifiction and up to the writing of the gospels and even up to the end of the 1st century.

What difficulties did they face?

What beliefs did they have?

How can all this be applied to our lives?

Do we undergo the same trials? Are the steps leading to faith the same for everyone?

I would value your opinions on this.

Jasher

The reply to this is staggering - no wonder no one replied.

I would recommend the book I just read by Frank Viola titled "The untold story of the New Testament." He gives a lot of history of the NT period of about 33 years based on the books of Luke/Acts. Luke was the main NT historian.

Also he asks that you read the NT books in the context and chronology in which they were written - beginning with Galatians, which was the first book of the NT.

Boanerges

Here are a few links you find enlightening:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/


http://www.ritchies.net/churchhi.htm


http://www.ccel.org/fathers.html

I have found the study of the early church and the "apostolic fathers" to be an invaluable tool to understanding the heart of the early church- blessings Larry

AmericanAngel

What difficulties did they face?-v
and v
v
What beliefs did they have?-
Well, everything changed. Old Testament sacrifice stopped for those that followed, "The Way" , I believe that what it/they were called. The taking off of the veils for women caused an uproar I'm sure amongst non-believing husbands. So Paul stepped in and tried to make peace with this issue, for this was of great significance for proper prayer/worship in church. So hair became the covering.That was what that generation faced in that country. We are now 2000 years later in this country with its cultures and trends. "Balance" was propably the order of the day then as it is today. As far as diffuculties, Rome wanted peace, so everybody's religion was accepted for a short while.

How can all this be applied to our lives?-
We can learn to not allow ourselves to become complacient/ so in love with the world around us that we don't see what's happening right under our noses. Our right to be a believer has slowly been taken from us. And now it seems even after 911 we are still aleep. In the name of "tolerence", we are becoming like Rome, like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Do we undergo the same trials?-
Yes, I think so. Just that each generation has different curcumstances, teenagers still call each other names just as the did 2000 years ago.

Are the steps leading to faith the same for everyone?-
No, I don't think so. That's what's so wonderful about God and our free will. We are unique. We each have a plan placed out before us by God.

__________________
When we agree, together we can!

mythsciencereligiontruth1

Thanks all for the replies. Perhaps this was too broad a topic? Where do you begin?

I like the idea of going right back to those early days and watching as the church flourished. It is an incredible legacy.

Note that the Romans are no longer persecuting the christians, however, even now this luke warm approach to christianity being adopted by many of our governments is in some way a replacement of the roman oppression. Times don't change very much.

I shall try and find the Frank Viola book, it sounds very interesting. Thanks.

Boanerges, these are great links, thanks. Tons to read here.

AmericanAngel, yep, I think you are right, God has a plan for all of us (of every denomination), for there is only one God, thus we are all brothers and sisters of the same father. We find God in our own ways and grow in faith in different ways.

"Speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20

And further:

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

And finally:

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20-21

CatholicWifeandMom

Dear mythsciencereligiontruth1,

May God be with you!

You can learn much by reading Acts, the letters of Paul etc in the NT. Also, the Apostolic Fathers - those learned men who learned from the Apostles can tell you much about the faith of the early Church.

Saint Clement, Saint Polycarp, Saint Ignatius even Justin Marty and St. Irenaeus will take you up to about 150AD.

You can go here to read the texts translated into English.
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/ar...rticle8074.asp

God bless you!

__________________

mythsciencereligiontruth1

Thanks CatholicWifeandMom.

May God be with you too.

I love to read all of the new testament. The book of Acts is indeed a great book and from it we learn a great deal of what it was like in this early period of the church.

During communion I think back to what it must have been like during this 1st Century, the closeness of all the believers. In a sense it is as though we are there with those early believers, experiencing the same hopes and fears. Placing all our faith on Jesus Christ to deliver us.

It is very humbling.

As of late I have been reading some of the material of the 1st and 2nd century church fathers, and is the reason why I included this post.

Thanks for the link.

God bless you too!

mythsciencereligiontruth1

Furthermore if anybody is interested there is a link to a veritable treasure trove of information (e-books), on numerous topics, particularly pertaining to catholic saints, over on the catholic forum.

So if you are interested, check them out:

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexebk.htm