means "good news"

basic source for knowledge about Jesus

4 of them (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John)

Jesus

lived 4 BC - 30 CE

Life is historically verified

Church believes him to ge God's only Son who proclaimed God's reign

Original apostle

Carried some authority in the early Church

Believed by many to be the 1st pope

(aka Saul)

Jewish Pharisee from Tarsus (Asia Minor)

Conversion: vision, became missionary to gentiles

Wrote earliest books in New Testament (letter format)

Luke's 28th chapter

about the growth of the early Church

Stresses the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Church

49 AD showdown between Peter & Paul over Q of gentiles - must become Jewish 1st? circumcision??

Paul=don't have to Peter=must

Term for the dispersion of the Jews from Israel to the Mediterranean Sea

Christianity spreads with it!

Literal translation: "thanksgiving"

Celebrated in homes at first

Jewish group of leaders

Adherent to the Law and study Scripture

also believe that there are other teachings in addition to the Torah (aka Oral Torah)

Jewish priestly class

Elite class (only ones who are allowed to offer up sacrifices)

Very conservative, Jesus criticized them for hypocrisy

Beliefs that are contradictory to the accepted teachings of the Church

The early Church had to determine what's really true

"defenders of the faith"

Argue that Jesus is the Son of God; Christianity is reasonable

Helped define orthodox beliefs

Those who recanted their faith when pressured by the Romans

Evolved into a system of reconciliation when controversy over whether or not to let them back in arose

Bishop in early Church martyred in 155 CE

Maintained a link between the original apostles and the next generation

apologist

Jesus pre-existed creation of the world

Gnostic

rejected Old Testament because he says Judiasm is dead, rejects material world

Scriptures belong to the Church & are best interpreted by the Church

Apostolic authority

Earliest language for Trinity