Chapter 1: The Founding of the Church and the Early ChristiansTHE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

BASIC QUESTIONSHow did the Jewish religion and people contribute to the spread of the Gospel? Who is Jesus Christ, and how can people know him? How did Christs Church come into being? What are the nature and four marks of Christs Church?

KEY IDEAS The Jews, Gods Chosen People, prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus.People can know what Christ did and taught because he entrusted the Deposit of Faith to the Church he founded.The Holy Spirits presence in the Church has given her life, fruitfulness, and endurance throughout history. This began at Pentecost when the Church was born.The Church is a mystery, a human and divine institution, meant to bring salvation to the world. The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What were the dominant emotions felt by Christs disciples in the days after his Crucifixion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension? His disciples felt doubt and fear.What event transformed Christs disciples? The Descent of the Holy Spirit on them at Pentecost made the disciples confident heralds of Jesus as the Christ.What does it mean to say that St. Peter is the Vicar of Christ? A vicar acts in the place of another. As the rock upon whom Christ promised to build his Church, St. Peter stands in the place of Christ on earth.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What is the chief message of Christs Birth? Christs Birth in a humble stable is a message of peace, simplicity, material poverty, spiritual abundance, Gods love, and sacrifice.Why did Herod want to kill the infant Christ, and how did he attempt to do this? Herod heard that a kinga potential rival to his thronehad been born in Bethlehem and wanted to kill him at his weakest. Because Herod could not locate Christ, he ordered every male in that city less than two years old to be executed.What were the major events of Christs life before his Baptism? They include his Birth, his Presentation in the Temple, the Holy Familys Flight into Egypt, and the Finding in the Temple.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What event began Christs public ministry? His Baptism in the Jordan by St. John the Baptist began Christs public ministry.What is the Deposit of Faith? The Deposit of Faith is the heritage contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition handed down by the Church from the Apostles. Extension: The Deposit of Faith contains all that Christ taught and did and wanted to reveal. This was entrusted to the Apostles and is handed on through their successors, the bishops.Where is the most succinct and direct collection of Christs teaching found? It is found in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Mt 57).How did Christ confirm the truth of his teachings? He performed miracles in part to show his teachings are of divine origin. Extension: Christs greatest miracle was his own Resurrection.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why might the author of this text have begun the section on the life of Christ with a quote about taking up ones cross (cf. p. 30)? This is how Christ defines his followers: by accepting the sufferings of life just as he had taken up his literal Cross unto his Death.Why might the author have only devoted two pages to the life of Christ? This is a history of the Church, not of Christs actions on earth. Extension: It would have taken many volumes to examine the life of Christ and many more to explore his identity, a study that has been going on for two millennia.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What is the difference between an Apostle, a disciple, and an Evangelist? An Apostle is one of the particular men Christ chose from among his many disciples, or followers, to lead the Church. An Evangelist wrote one of the Gospels under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.With which Apostles are the non-apostolic Evangelists associated? St. Mark traveled with St. Peter, who is thought to be the primary source for his Gospel intended for Christians in Rome. St. Luke accompanied St. Paul and is thought to have gotten material from the Blessed Virgin Mary since his Gospel includes details about Christs infancy and youth.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS How do we know the four Gospels are trustworthy? They have always been held as authentic and canonical by the Sacred Tradition of the Church.Why were some early writings about Christ rejected by the Church? The Church rejected apocryphal writings because of their doubtful origins and erroneous content.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What does the word gospel mean? Gospel means good news. Why are the Gospels of Sts. Matthew, Mark, and Luke called the synoptic gospels? Synoptic comes from the Greek for seeing together. Sts. Mathew, Mark, and Luke present the life of Christ in a very similar fashion. 1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why were Jews from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost? Because of the Jewish Diaspora, there were Jews living throughout the Roman world. Many traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.Why were Christs disciples afraid, and were these fears justified? The disciples were afraid of being persecuted by the Jewish authorities. Their fears were justified since their leader had just been executed.What were the effects of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost? The Apostles lost their fear and began to preach the Gospel boldly. People from foreign countries even understood them in their own languages, and about 3000 people were baptized that day.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 2 13)

FOCUS QUESTIONSWhat do the Churchs charisms of infallibility and durability mean? Infallibility means the Church is incapable of formally teaching error in matters of faith and morals. Durability means she will last until the end of time.What are the two principal meanings of the word church? Church comes from the Greek for that which belongs to the Lord; it refers to the church building. The Latin ecclesia comes from the Greek ekklesia for assembly, or congregation.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONSWhat are the two dimensions of the nature of the Church? The Church has a visible and an invisible dimension. She is a visible, hierarchical society like any other human organization, but she also has an invisible, spiritual dimension: her teaching and governing authority comes under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.What are the aims of the teaching authority and the sanctifying power of the Church? These are intended to bring all people to union with God and each other.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

FOCUS QUESTIONSWhat does it mean to say that the Church is One and Holy? The Church is One because she professes one Faith in one God and is united in one Baptism, led by the Pope and the bishops in union with him, all over the earth and throughout every age. The Church is Holy because her founder, Jesus Christ, is holy; she is the means to grow in holiness for her members; the Sacraments, which she administers, are holy; finally, all who take advantage of her gifts become holy, whom we call saints.What does it mean to say that the Church is Catholic and Apostolic? The Church is Catholic because she is for all people everywhere in the world, in every age, and in every culture. The Church is Apostolic because she is built on the foundation of the Apostles, her faith and governance going back to them in an unbroken line of continuity.1. Jesus Christ Establishes His Church (pp. 213)

BASIC QUESTIONS What did Christ entrust to his Apostles? What was Gods plan to build up the Church after the Apostles deaths?

KEY IDEAS Christ chose the Twelve Apostles, with St. Peter as their head, to entrust with the Deposit of Faith, whose twin sources are Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture.Gods plan for the Church to continue after the Apostles was to hand on their authority to their successors, the bishops.2. The Apostles (pp. 1419)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What does apostle mean? What is the difference between a disciple and an Apostle? Apostle comes from the Greek for to send out; thus, an apostle is one who is sent. Those who followed Christ were his disciples. From these disciples, he chose twelve to be Apostles, whom he sent out as the foundation of his Church.Why did Christ choose twelve Apostles and not another number? The number twelve coincides with the Twelve Tribes of Israel.When the Apostles decided to replace Judas, what qualification did they insist his successor have, and why was this important? The Apostles decided Judass replacement should have been with them throughout Christs earthly ministry so he was an eyewitness of the Resurrection.2. The Apostles (pp. 1419)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What did Saul do to the earliest Christians? He arrested them and threw them in prison.Why did Saul persecute Christians? Saul was a devout Jew and Pharisee and saw Christianity as a dangerous threat to the Jewish faith and so believed it was his religious duty to stop it.How did Sauls conversion come about? On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Christ appeared to Saul and asked, Why are you persecuting me? Saul was blinded, recovering his sight three days later through St. Ananias. After his baptism, Saulthereafter called Paulproclaimed Christ boldly to the Gentiles.2. The Apostles (pp. 1419)

FOCUS QUESTIONS How was St. Paul different from most of the Apostles? Being a Pharisee, St. Paul was well educated in the Jewish Law and Sacred Scripture. St. Peter, for example, was a fisherman.Which were written first: the Epistles or the Gospels? Most of St. Pauls Epistles were written in the 50s, before the Gospels; they are the earliest writings in the New Testament.What is the significance of St. Pauls Epistles? They are profoundly theological and invaluable historical references to early Church life.2. The Apostles (pp. 1419)

GUIDED EXERCISE Read silently 2 Corinthians 11:24 for a catalog of the hardships that St. Paul endured.2. The Apostles (pp. 1419)

BASIC QUESTIONS How were Gentiles admitted into the Church? How did the Apostles respond to the Great Commission?

KEY IDEAS The Council of Jerusalem, definitively concluded by St. Peter, decided that converts were free from the requirements of the Mosaic Law.The Apostles carried out great apostolic activities, and all but one was martyred.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why did St. Paul travel to Jerusalem to resolve the question of whether Gentile converts had to observe the Mosaic Law? St. Paul was convinced Gentile converts did not have to follow the Mosaic Law and so traveled to Jerusalem to confer with St. Peter and the other Apostles.What question arose concerning Gentile converts to the Faith? What position did the Jewish Christians generally take regarding Gentile converts? There was doubt and debate about if Gentile coverts had to follow the Mosaic Law and Jewish customs, for example, to undergo circumcision and follow dietary laws. Jewish Christians generally thought that Gentile converts needed to follow the Mosaic Law.What was the Churchs decision on the matter? St. Peter said that, in the early days, God decided that he himself should preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, and God gave the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to the Jews. Therefore, the yoke of the Mosaic Law should not be placed on their necks.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What was the fate of all the Apostles except St. John? They were martyred.Why was St. Paul not crucified? Because Roman citizens were spared the pain and humiliation of crucifixion, he was beheaded instead.

What is the Quo Vadis tradition? St. Peter was fleeing Rome during Neros persecution when he met Christ walking toward the same city. When St. Peter asked, Domine, quo vadis? (Lord, where are you going?), he replied, To be crucified again. St. Peter understood this to mean he should return to Rome, which he did and was there crucified.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Who was the first Apostle to be martyred, and how was he killed? St. James the Less (the Just) was beheaded by Herod Agrippa AD 44.What was the fate of the beloved disciple? St. John was put in a cauldron of boiling oil. He got out and walked away unharmed, later dying a natural death at an old age.What was the fate of St. Bartholomew? He was flayed alive in Armenia.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What evidence exists to support the tradition that St. Thomas traveled to India? The apocryphal Acts of Thomas suggest that he established the Church in India where he was martyred. When Portuguese explorers arrived in India in the fifteenth century, they found a very old Christian community that traced its founding to St. Thomas.Who are the two Judases? St. Judasknown usually as St. Jude or Thaddues, who wrote one of the Catholic Epistlesis the patron of lost causes. Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ and then committed suicide in despair.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What is an apocryphal writing? In the history of the Church, apocryphal writings were those that purported to be authored by Apostles or their close associates but were not authentic. Many such books were produced in the first two centuries by Gnostic heretics.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why did the Apostles attract magicians, sorcerers, and healers? They were envious of and wanted to obtain the magical powers of the Apostles.What contact did the Apostles have with these magicians? Simon Magus was rebuked when he offered Sts. Peter and John silver for their power. St. Paul struck a court magician temporarily blind.When did the public Revelation of Jesus Christ end? It ended with the death of the last Apostle. Extension: After the death of St. John, there can be no new Revelation requiring an act of faith because nothing can be added to the Deposit of Faith. Christ and the saints have revealed themselves to people over the centuries, but these are private revelations not revealing new doctrines.3. The Apostles (continued) (pp. 2025)

BASIC QUESTIONS How did the Church develop her beliefs and practices? How were new members incorporated into the Church? What did the early Church believe about the Eucharist? Who held authority in the early Church? What did the early Christians believe about abortion and contraception? KEY IDEAS The beliefs and practices of Christianity emerged through centuries of theological, philosophical, cultural, and historical development under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.Converts were baptized as soon as they presented themselves. The catechumenate developed to prepare converts for the demands of Christian life.The early Christians believed in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.Christ made St. Peter the visible head of the Church on earth, and the bishops are the successors of the Apostles.The early Christians condemned abortion and contraception.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS To what does the ancient and holy but often persecuted tradition refer? This refers to Judaism, the precursor to Christianity.What is worth imitating about the early Christians? They were models of holiness, simplicity, and fraternity.What radically new vision of human life did early Christians offer the world? God had come to earth, shown people how to live the New Law of Love, and won victory over death.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why is Baptism important? Christ commanded his Apostles to baptize those who were made disciples. It is the only known way to enter the Kingdom of God.What baptism did Christ receive? Christ received a baptism of repentance from St. John the Baptist. Extension: Christ received St. Johns baptism as an example to others. He was without sin and thus had no need for baptism.What is the difference between St. Johns baptism of repentance and the Sacrament of Baptism? St. Johns baptism of repentance helped people realize their need to repent and be forgiven for sins. It prepared the way for the Sacrament of Baptism, which forgives sins.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONSWhy was the catechumenate instituted? It provided an organized program of instruction for those converting to Christianity, which was necessary because Christians could be overwhelmed by persecution if not formed well.When did Baptism usually occur? Catechumens were baptized at the Easter Vigil, which commemorates the Resurrection of Christ, or on the Saturday before Pentecost, which recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit.Why did the catechumenate fall into disuse? By the Medieval period the persecutions had ended and most new members of the Church were the children of Christian parents.What was Tertullians argument against infant Baptism? Though he did not deny its validity, Tertullian believed Baptism should be delayed to avoid the danger of profaning Baptism by youthful sins.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What was the Agape? The first Christians celebrated the Eucharist in a similar manner to the Last Supper: a ritual meal at the end of which the bishop consecrated bread and wine. The early Christians called this ritual meal preceding the Eucharist Agape, or love feast.Why did St. Paul criticize the way the Corinthians celebrated the Agape? Some people were going hungry and others were getting drunk.What was the fate of the Agape? In order to avoid impiety and denigration of the Eucharist, the Agape and the Eucharist were separated, with the Agape being moved to the evening. The Agape was later discontinued.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What does the word eucharist mean? It means thanksgiving.What did the early Christians believe happened during the Eucharist? All the early documents indicate they believed Christ was truly present in the Eucharist under the appearance of bread and wine.What does St. Ambrose say to those who argue it is impossible or unreasonable for the bishop or priest to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ? The blessing, or words of consecrationnot the bishop or priestchange the nature of the bread and wine. Since God has the power to create bread and wine from nothing and give them their original natures, he certainly also has the power to change the natures of these things.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why were private homes and catacombs used for liturgical services? Christian church buildings were generally not permitted.What are catacombs? They are underground burial places and shrines.Where have catacombs been found? The most impressive are in Rome, but they have also been discovered in Italy, France, and North Africa.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What are loculi, cubicula, and crypts? Loculi are individual burial tombs. Cubicula are small rooms where families could be buried together. Crypts are larger rooms turned into small churches that contain the remains of Popes or martyrs.Why did the early Christians bury their dead rather than cremate them? They believed in the resurrection of the body. Extension: The desire to be buried together showed their strong sense of community.Why did the early Christians baptize and celebrate the Eucharist in the catacombs? It was a place of refuge during periods of persecution.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why were Wednesdays and Fridays adopted as days of fasting and penance? Wednesday may have been adopted because Judas betrayed Christ on a Wednesday. Friday was adopted because Christ gave up his life on the Cross on a Friday.Why did the chief day of worship for Christians shift from Saturday to Sunday? The Sabbath was the day of rest; the first Christiansconverts from Judaismcontinued to observe the Sabbath. Soon, however, Sundaythe first day of Creation, the day Christ rose from the dead, and the day of Pentecostbecame the primary day of Christian worship. The first day of the week thus represented not only the first day of Gods Creation but also the eighth day, the beginning of the new creation.How is a day measured in Jewish tradition? The day begins at sunset and lasts until sunset the next day.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Whom did Christ make the visible head of his Church on earth? He made the Apostle St. Peter Head of the Church.What three historical sources in the early Church support the Bishop of Rome as the supreme authority in the Church? Pope St. Clement I settled a controversy within the Church in Corinth. St. Ignatius of Antioch affirmed deferential obedience to the Bishop of Rome. St. Irenus stressed traditional structures in the Church such as the papacy.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Which two Popes most developed of the power of the papacy? Pope St. Leo the Great maintained Church governance in Rome when political power within the Roman Empire had shifted to the East. Pope St. Gelasius I was the first to use the title Vicar of Christ.

How was the canon of Scripture formed in the early Church? The early Church accepted some books universally while it was less certain about others. A definitive canon was declared by a synod of bishops in Rome AD 382. Extension: The formation of the canon of Scripture was complex and took many centuries. It is important to emphasize the Scriptures did not define the nature of the early Church; rather, the Church defined which writings were inspired.4. Beliefs and Practices (pp. 2635)

BASIC QUESTIONS What were the important writings of the early Christian era, and why are they important? Why did the early Christians venerate the martyrs? KEY IDEAS The Apostolic Fathers are important witnesses to the Faith due to their close proximity to the Apostles and the communities the Apostles established.Some Apostolic Fathers wrote apologetical works to explain and defend the Faith against Jewish, Gnostic, and pagan attacks.The martyrs were the greatest testimony to the truth and power of Christianity.5. Writings and Martyrdom (pp. 3639)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What does the title Apostolic Father signify? This refers to a religious writer who lived just after the Apostles and had a direct link to an Apostle or a community established by one of the Apostles.What is apologetics? This branch of theology defends and explains the Christian religion against objections.5. Writings and Martyrdom (pp. 3639)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why is Tertullian considered the Father of Latin theology? He was the first great apologist of the Church who wrote in Latin.How is St. Hippolytus both a heretic and a saint? St. Hippolytus broke with Pope St. Callistus, and Hippolytuss followers elected him Pope in opposition. Both men were persecuted under Emperor Maximin. St. Hippolytus was later reconciled with Pope St. Pontian before his martyrdom.What part of St. Hippolytuss writings are best known today? The Eucharistic prayer he records in The Apostolic Tradition is the basis of Eucharistic Prayer II in the the Mass in the Latin Rite.5. Writings and Martyrdom (pp. 3639)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What is a martyr? Greek for witness, a martyr bears the highest witness to Christ by dying for the Faith.What effect did the martyrs have on Christians and pagans? The martyrs strengthened and edified other Christians and affected many pagans deeplysuch as magistrates and the executionerswho witnessed the courage, serenity, and joy with which they met their deaths.Why were martyrs venerated by the early Christians? A martyr participates in the sufferings of Christ. The Christian community saw martyrdom as a grace and gift from God in which the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity reach their highest levels.5. Writings and Martyrdom (pp. 3639)

5. Writings and Martyrdom (pp. 3639)