Early Church History 101 - the Jerusalem Council, the early christian church, the beginnings of the Gentile Church

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CH101 - The First Century

The Primitive Church - 30 - 100 A.D.

Outline	Key People	Key Documents
Introduction The Initial "Jesus" Movement Early Conflict Outreach to the Gentiles Conversion of Paul Jerusalem Council James, brother of Jesus The beginning of persecution The destruction of the Temple Post-Apostolic writings New Testament Canon, Part 1 New Testament Canon, Part 2	Peter Stephen Paul James Josephus Apollos John	Acts Galatians Church History - Eusebius War of the Jews - Josephus John The Revelation The Epistle of Barnabas The Letters of Ignatius

The Jerusalem Council
Next we find this same sentiment directed at Paul after he and Barnabas have had success reaching Gentiles:

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. - Acts 15:1-2

This is what led to the Jerusalem Council, the first known formal gathering of the most strategic leaders in the Church. The issue is to define the expectations for the growing Gentile church. According to Luke, Peter reminds the Council of how God had used him to bring the first Gentiles into the fold. Then Paul and Barnabas shared some of their stories. Next James speaks. Outside of some vague references in the gospels and one quick reference in Acts 12:17, this is the first mention of James, the brother of Jesus. Yet it seems that James is in charge rather than Peter, the "rock." It is James who states the decision of the Council: Gentiles would be expected to avoid three types of unclean meat, and to avoid sexual immorality.

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