DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, AD 70AD 70

JEWISH REVOLT66-70 AD

Matthew 24:1-2 24:1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Futurist

Preterist

“An eschatological viewpoint that places many or all eschatological events in the past, especially during the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70”

R. C. Sproul The Last Days According to Jesus, p. 228

Full Preterists Partial Preterists

AD 70

At the end of history

AD 70 At the end of history

Coming (parousia) of Christ

Yes No Yes (judgement)

Yes (bodily)

Resurrection and rapture Yes No No Yes

Day of the Lord Yes No Yes Yes

Judgement yes no yes yes

Apostolic Church

Post – Apostolic Church

Approx

30 AD

Approx

100 AD

Approx

450 AD

1517 1648 AD

(1688 in England

PRESENT

Transition PointsMAJOR CHANGE

Early Church

Medieval Church

Reformation

APOSTOLIC FATHERS (95-140)

“To Edify Christians”

APOLOGISTS (125-195)

“To Defend Christianity”

POLEMICISTS (190—250)

“To Fight False Doctrine”

PATRISTIC Latin pater “father”

Writings of the Apostolic Fathers

Writings of the Apostolic FatherWritings of the Apostolic Father

1. CLEMENT OF ROME The Epistle to the Corinthians

“…the oldest and best among sub-apostolic writings both in form andsubstance” Schaff, Vol. 2, p. 642

2. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHE

Unity of the local church

7 Epistles Smyrna

•Ephesians

•Magnesians

•Trallians

•Romans

Troas

•Philadelphians

•Smyrneans

•To Polycarp

Unity of one bishop (presbyter) in charge of each ‘church’

presiding over the elders in the churches

3. POLYCARP

Epistle to Philippi

“. . . remembered vividly his mode of life and personal appearance, his discourses to the people, and his communications respecting the teaching and miracles of the Lord, as he had received them from the mouth of John and other eye-witnesses, in agreement with the Holy Scriptures”

Iraneus as quoted by Schaff, V. 2, p.665

4. DIDACHE

“It is very simple in its approach” and “reflects a primitive (pre-episcopal)era in church government” Waldron, p. 65

•Contrasts Way of Life with Way of Death

•Discusses church practices

5. Epistle to Diognetus

“The epistle of Diognetus comes closer…to a real understanding of the Pauline doctrine of grace than any document I have yet read prior to Saint Augustine” Dr. Calhoun

6. The Octavius by Minucius Felix

7. Epistle of Barnabas

8. Shepard of Hermes

Alexandria ca. 120-130

How to assess these writings?

1. “Cliff phenomenon”

2. Appreciation

Schaff V. II, pg. 634-635

Writings of the Apologists (125-195)Writings of the Apologists (125-195)

Justin Martyr 100-160

•Personal testimony

•The Old Testament predicted the coming of Christ

Tertullian 160-225

A Dialogue with Trypho

APOLGIESAGAINST HERESIESCHRISTIAN VIRTUES