For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Early sources
- Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- Acts
- Letters
- Apocalypse
- Found also in early documents like 1 Clement, the letters of Ignatius, etc.
Apostolic emphases illustrated in evangelistic speeches:
- Acts 2:14-36
- Jesus was a real person -- he was from Nazareth (v.22).
- The scriptures (Old Testament) bear witness to Christ (vv.16-21, 25-28, 34-35).
- His many miracles also testify to him (v.22)
- These were indisputable, even to his enemies.
- In the early centuries, the Jews did not deny his miracles, although sometimes they dismissed them as magic.
- Crucified (v.23).
- See 1 Corinthians 1. What was striking was not the agony of his death, but his apparent failure.
- Little emphasis on the gore. Restraint exercised even in the gospel accounts of Jesus' passion.
- Resurrected (vv.24-32).
- Corroborated by eyewitnesses.
- Emphasized more than the crucifixion.
- The world /age to come is here:
- Day of the Lord here (v.20).
- Kingdom of God -- and Christ is King (vv.30,33).
- The Spirit is now available (vv.17-18, 33 -- see v.38)
- Jesus is the Christ, or Messiah (vv.34-36).
- Son of David
- Jesus is the Lord (vv.34, 36).
- Salvation therefore comes in name of the Lord (v.21--see v.38, 22:16).
- Acts 28:23
- 25 years later than the Pentecost message
- This is an abbreviated version of most of the material in the Pentecost sermon.
- Paul had many hours to proclaim Christ -- far longer than Peter did at Pentecost -- and this one-verse compendium summarizes a period of teaching doubtless containing more content than the Acts 2 sermon:
General
- Incarnate God -- both divine and human
- Sinless
- Lord: personal and political implications (esp. beginning in the 2nd century).
- Church as visible body of Christ, though see 2 Corinthians 4:5.
- Yes this compelling portrayal of Christ slowly begins to change. To be continued...
Next: Christ in Church History: The Early Middle Ages