CH625—Early Church—Phil Harrold (TSM)

Early house Early house churcheschurches

““[Christianity] grew because [Christianity] grew because Christians constituted an Christians constituted an

intense community…”intense community…”--Rodney Stark--Rodney Stark

Origins of the House Church (Origins of the House Church (domus domus ekklēsiaekklēsia))

Jewish backgroundJewish background

Origins of the House Church (Origins of the House Church (domus domus ekklēsiaekklēsia))

Greco-Roman backgroundGreco-Roman background

. . . with groups of disciples who emphasized philia and koinōnia . . .

Origins of the House Church (Origins of the House Church (domus domus ekklēsiaekklēsia))

Peculiar ritesPeculiar rites domus ekklēsia domus ekklēsia

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

Origins of the House Church (Origins of the House Church (domus domus ekklēsiaekklēsia))

Peculiar ritesPeculiar rites domus ekklēsia domus ekklēsia

koinōnia

Origins of the House Church (Origins of the House Church (domus domus ekklēsiaekklēsia))

Why did the Lord’s Supper assume Why did the Lord’s Supper assume such significance in the development such significance in the development of koinōniaof koinōnia and, in turn, the distinctive and, in turn, the distinctive ethos of the early church?ethos of the early church?

koinōnia

Origins of the House Church (Origins of the House Church (domus domus ekklēsiaekklēsia))

What did this bread-breaking koinōniaWhat did this bread-breaking koinōnia actually look like?actually look like?

Ekklēsia Ekklēsia andand koinōnia koinōnia in the Sub-apostolic in the Sub-apostolic EraEra

Placing Christian life and worship in a Placing Christian life and worship in a house church house church

Ekklēsia Ekklēsia andand koinōnia koinōnia in the Sub-apostolic in the Sub-apostolic EraEra

Placing Christian life and worship in a Placing Christian life and worship in a house church house church

CatechesisCatechesis

Ekklēsia Ekklēsia andand koinōnia koinōnia in the Sub-apostolic in the Sub-apostolic EraEra

Placing Christian life and worship in a Placing Christian life and worship in a house church house church

Ekklēsia Ekklēsia andand koinōnia koinōnia in the Sub-apostolic in the Sub-apostolic EraEra

The house church atmosphereThe house church atmosphere

Women in the Early ChurchWomen in the Early Church

Women in the Early Women in the Early Church:Church:

The private-public factorThe private-public factorHistorical arguments of Historical arguments of

Carolyn Osiek and Karen TorjesenCarolyn Osiek and Karen Torjesen