Lesson 5: Non Biblical Sources of Jesus Christ Historicity
1. 9/28/2021
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The Life and
Ministry of
Jesus Christ
Lesson 5: Non-Biblical Sources of Jesus
Christ Historicity
Presenter: Bro Damaine Franklin
Bible Way Apostolic Church
B I B L E S T U D Y S E R I E S
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O R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y
The Early Christian Writers
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The Spread of Christianity
Matthew 28: 16-20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed
them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
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O R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y
The Early Christian Writers
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The Spread of Christianity
1. Jerusalem and Galilee
2. Antioch
3. Damascus
4. Greek cities
1. Philippi
2. Thessalonica
3. Ephesus
4. Tarsus
5. Corinth
5. Alexandria
6. Cyrene
7. Rome
8. From Rome to the rest of
Europe and the world.
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The Early Christian Writers
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The First Christian Council AD 48 or 49
Jerusalem: Acts 15:1-21
Ignatius of Antioch Tertullian
Polycarp Irenaeus
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The Early Christian Writers
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Ignatius of Antioch
Birth Name: Ignatius Theophoros “God Bear”
Territory: Greek now in Syria
Role: 3rd Bishop of the church in Antioch
Death: AD 110 Rome (thrown to wild beast in roman arena)
Notability: Counteracting the teaching of two groups the Judaizers who did not accept
the authority of the New Testament, and the docetists, who held that Christ’s
sufferings and death were apparent but not real.
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O R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y
The Early Christian Writers
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Ignatius Writings on Christ
The Letters of Ignatius
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O R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y
The Early Christian Writers
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Polycarp of Smyrna
Birth Name: Polycarp “much fruit”
Territory: Greek now in Turkey
Role: disciple of John and Bishop of the Church in Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)
Death: burned at the stake and pierced with a spear for refusing to burn incense
to the Roman Emperor.
Writings: Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
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The Early Christian Writers
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Polycarp Writings on Christ
Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
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O R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y
The Early Christian Writers
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Irenaeus
Birth Name: Irenaeus “peace”
Territory: Lugdunum (Lyon) France
Role: disciple of Polycarp and Bishop of the Church in Lyon
Death: AD 140. he died at time when there was pagan uprising against Christians
in Lugdunum (Lyon) France
Writings: His work “Adversus Hearses” (Against Heresies), written in about 180,
was a refutation of Gnosticism.
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The Early Christian Writers
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Irenaeus Writings on Christ
Writings of Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons
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The Early Christian Writers
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Other Early Christian Writers
Tertullian
Origen
Papias of Hierapolis
Justyn Martyr
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The End
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References
1. Ignatius Writings http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ignatius.html
2. The Letters of Ignatius
http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/royaltyr/AncientCities/web/bradleyj/Project%201/The%20Lett
ers%20of%20Ignatius.html
3. Irenaeus Writings http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/irenaeus.html
4. Council of Jerusalem https://www.britannica.com/event/Council-of-Jerusalem