The document discusses the emergence of the early Christian church following Pentecost. It covers three main topics: 1) The formation of the first Christian community in Jerusalem as described in Acts 2:42-47. 2) The persecution faced by the early church from Roman authorities who saw Christianity as a threat. Christians were persecuted for three centuries. 3) How the church developed and grew during periods of persecution, with martyrdom becoming a central theme in Christianity that inspired believers to remain firm in their faith.

1. Topic 2: Pentecost and the
Emergence of New Faith
Lesson 1: The First Christian Community and the
Spread of the Church
Lesson 2: The Persecuted Church and the
Emergence of a New Faith
Lesson 3: Persecution as a Central Theme in
Christianity

2. • History
• Jesus – Apostles – Peter – Pope –
Cardinals- Archbishops- Bishops –
Priests – Deacons – Laity
• Infallibility of the Pope
• Apostolic Succession (oldest office)
• Cathedra / authority of the chair (from
Moses)
• Apostles’ Mission/ the mission of
every baptized Christian

3. Topic 2: Pentecost and the
Emergence of New Faith
Lesson 1: The First Christian Community and the
Spread of the Church

4. •Pentecost marks
the beginning of the
Christian
community –
CHURCH
•ACTS 2; 42-47

5. • In Acts 2: 42-47, it gives a
brief description of the life of
the Christians and brings
out the primary
characteristics of the early
Church which were inspired
by the Word of Christ and
the work of the Holy Spirit.

6. •The account gives a
deeper insight into the
nature of the early
Church and the patterns
of her life.

7. • v. 42 “They devoted themselves to
the apostles’ instruction and
communal life” indicates that the
members of the early Church were
made one by their constancy in
listening to the preaching of the
apostles and in gathering together in
fellowship.

8. • v. 44-48 To become a Christian
was to become a member of the
faith community, sharing a
common life. “Those who
believe shared all things in
common.”

9. • They expressed their faith in
loving service for one another
– a faith manifested in
concrete deeds of love and
justice.
• “They would sell their property
and goods, dividing everything
on the basis of each one’s
need” (v.45).

10. • v. 46 The first Christians
lived with the traditional
Jewish forms of piety but a
new form of worship was
added, which was the
celebration of the breaking
of the bread which later
became the Eucharist.

11. • “While in their homes they brook
bread and took their meals in
common (v.46).
• It was a communion, a koinonia which
means fellowship in Christ, he who
bound them in faith, hope and love.

12. • The community of disciples does not
exist only for itself or its members.
• It is sent on a mission to proclaim the
good news of Christ and to be the
instrument of his grace.

13. • It exists in order to
evangelize, i.e., to proclaim
the good news, to build up
the Church and to serve the
kingdom by permeating the
world with gospel values so
that finally all creation may
be united in Christ as Head.

14. Topic 2: Pentecost and the
Emergence of New Faith
Lesson 2: The Persecuted Church and the
Emergence of a New Faith

15. • No suppression nor persecution has ever
succeeded in totally wiping out
communities of faith.

16. • There is never a lack of people who desire
to take part in the mission of the Church.
Where the faithful are persecuted and
suppressed, the faith tends to become
more alive and aflame.

17. • This letter must have been addressed to
the Christians facing persecution in Rome
who were exhorted to remain firm in their
faith in the Risen Lord and to withstand
suffering and pain for his sake.
Romans 8: 35-39

18. • As it has inspired firm faith at a time of
persecution in the early Church, the
passage can also inspire us to hold fast to
the faith and be authentic disciples in the
present times.

19. • v. 35 No force, dangers and afflictions in life
can make a true Christian forget the love of
Christ which is revealed clearly and fully in
his death and resurrection.

20. • v. 36 Paul quotes Ps. 44:23, a cry of lamentation of Israel
bemoaning the injustice and humiliation inflicted on her.
Recalling her fidelity to Yahweh for whose sake she was
maligned and persecuted, she sought his aid and
deliverance.
• The Psalm is cited to show that trails and difficulties are
mysterious signs of God’s love rather than the absence of
his love.

21. • A disciple who perseveres in his suffering for
the sake of Christ will gain eternal peace and
salvation. A Christian is called to follow and
imitate Jesus to the end. He is called to be a
witness to the Gospel without compromise.

22. • v. 37 We come to possess a conquering might in and
through the love of God in Christ.
• v. 38 Paul cites the obstacles to the love of God. They
are spirits of different ranks: angels, principalities and
powers. Good and evil, they will not succeed in
separating Christians from the love of Christ and neither
would death nor life.

23. • v. 39 Neither height nor depth – these are
ancient terms which determine the power and
influence of astrological forces – not these
forces or any other creature can overpower
the love of Christ, the unshakable foundation
of all Christian hope and love.

24. • Following is a brief sketch of the persecution
that the Church underwent in the early times.

25. • During the first three centuries of the
Christian era, the infant Church was
subjected to hostile pressures by the Roman
civil authority. The threat of severe
persecution always existed and actual
persecution occurred during most of this
period.
1. The Moral Degeneration of the Roman Empire

26. • In Paul’s letter to the Romans (1: 18-32), he
described the moral corruption which plagued
the Roman society.
• Such was the sad state of the Roman empire
when Christianity was preached and
proclaimed by the apostles.
1. The Moral Degeneration of the Roman
Empire

27. • The lofty message of Christianity was
attractive and appealing to the inhabitants of
Rome. The following truths of the Faith
opened them to the dignity and splendor of
the Christian faith.
1. The Moral Degeneration of the Roman
Empire

28. • In the beginning, Rome was tolerant and it
allowed religions to flourish. But later on, it
declared war against Christianity when it
realized that its aim to unite all people in the
God of their faith posed a threat to its power
and rule.
2. The Basis of Christian Persecution

29. • This complete change in the attitude of the
Roman authority was the reason for the
persecution of the Christians.
2. The Basis of Christian Persecution

30. • Also, some of the Christian beliefs and
practices were in conflict with the world view
of Pagan Rome.
• In the Emperor cult, religion and patriotism
were closely associated. Anyone who did not
participate in the cult was considered as
endangering the unity of the state.
2. The Basis of Christian Persecution

31. • Thus, refusal to participate meant that a
person was not loyal and obedient to the
state and must be punished.
2. The Basis of Christian Persecution

32. • First Period: The first great persecution by Nero
(54-60 A.D.) was limited to the city devoid of any
lawful foundation at all. He blamed the Christians
for the six days of fire that destroyed three fourths
of the city of Rome. The Christians were
persecuted and turned into living torches in the
garden of Nero. Among the victims were Peter
and Paul.
3. The Course of Persecutions

33. • Second Period: The persecutions started from
100 A.D. to 250 A.D. Christianity continued to be
an illegal religion. Informers were hired to report
to the authorities those engaged in Church
worship and practice. Trajan (98-117 A.D.)
issued a decree stating that simply to be a
Christian was punishable by death.
3. The Course of Persecutions

34. • Third Period: This was the last course of the
persecution of the Christians. Decius, who
became the emperor of Rome from 249-251 A.D.,
saw Christianity as a terrible poison. He ordered
that all Christians make a public act of homage to
the Roman gods. A great number of Christians
abandoned their faith but many also suffered
persecution in its defense.
3. The Course of Persecutions

35. • The last and bloodiest persecution of the Christians was
conducted by Emperor Diocletian throughout the Roman
empire. In 303 A.D. , he decreed that all Christian
churches be destroyed and bibles burned. All meetings
of the Christians were banned and the immediate arrest
and execution of all priests and deacons were ordered.
3. The Course of Persecutions

36. • The bloody executions of Christians were
made into spectacles for the crowds. Their
eyes and tongues were gouged out, their feet
sawed, and many were thrown into
dungeons. This happened during the time of
Galerius, Diocletian’s successor.
3. The Course of Persecutions

37. • The persecutions of the Christians only came
to an end when Galerius admitted their
uselessness. He realized that the
persecutions only made the Christians more
firm in their faith and attracted more pagans
to become Christians.
3. The Course of Persecutions

38. • In early 313 A.D., Constantine, who attributed
his victory to the help of the Christian God,
issued the Edict of Milan which established a
policy of complete religious tolerance.
Christians were allowed to get back their
properties.
3. The Course of Persecutions

39. • With the advent of persecutions, martyrdom
for Christ was the driving force that urged
people to face death fearlessly.
• Liturgy developed as well as the creed of the
Church.
• The veneration of the saints developed.
4. The Church during and after the period and
Persecution

40. • Another important thing that developed in the
life of the Church during the persecution was
the use of arts of symbols. Christian signs
and symbols were carved on the walls of the
tombs of the martyrs.
4. The Church during and after the period
and Persecution

41. • The persecution of the Church by the Romans
lasted for more than three hundred years
though there were times when the Church
experienced peace when the emperors in
power were friendly to or tolerant to the
Christians.
4. The Church during and after the period
and Persecution

42.  During the age of tribulation, the splendor of
Christian discipleship in martyrdom was
made possible by the immense and intense
power of the Holy Spirit in individual
Christians and in the suffering Church as a
whole.
4. The Church during and after the period
and Persecution

43. Topic 2: Pentecost and the
Emergence of New Faith
Lesson 3: Persecution as a Central Theme in
Christianity

44. • The Love of God in Christ is the unshakable foundation
of all Christian discipleship, the ultimate realization of
which is martyrdom.

45. • The lofty teachings and practice of the Christian faith
confronted the moral decadence and crass idolatry of the
Pagan society of Rome.

46. • The persecution of the Church brought to full light the
power and splendor of the message of the Gospel which
no force or power can destroy.

47. • With the blood of the martyrs, the Church has been
enlivened and emboldened to continue to preach the
message of salvation to all men and women.

48. • During and after the period of persecution, the Church
continued to grow in the spirit of Christ in its life of
worship and its Christian practice.

49. Points for Reflection
1. The age of persecution as described above made the
Christians ever more firm and alive in their faith and
their number increased. Similar situations in various
other parts of the world seem to bring about the same
result even today. What does this say about the place
of suffering in Christianity?
2. Christ’s call for discipleship always carries with it the
possibility of suffering and of being persecuted. Why do
you think so?

50. 3. It is said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of
Christian Faith. How is this illustrated in both the early
and present periods in the life of the Church?
4. Explain the relationship between discipleship and
martyrdom?