History of the Church: A Clash of Three Cultures

“Why is there so much history in the Bible? The reason for the plentiful references to
history in both the Old and New Testaments is that they give us divine sanction to the
lessons drawn from them. They give us divine instruction based not on ‘fake’ news but
true stories about the past,” according to David McClister. Church historian J.W.
Sheppard wrote, “Its early history becomes interesting and important. This is especially
true of the very beginning of its history, where those influences which have molded its
character are most clearly seen … heroic men who were chief actors in such a
movement, that the motives which inspire them, the principles which guided them, and
the forces which oppose them, together with results of this conflict, should be set down
accurately for the information and for the benefit of those who are seeking the truth.”
The world in Jesus’ time was the crossroads of three cultures. Rome ruled over two
million people and was divided by region, religion, and politics. Historian Bruce Shelley
noted, “In a day’s journey, a man could travel from rural villages where farmers tilled
their fields with primitive plows to bustling cities where men enjoyed the comforts of
Roman civilization. In the Holy City of Jerusalem, Jewish priests offered sacrifices to the
Lord of Israel, while at Sebaste, only 30 miles away, pagan priests held rites in honor of
the Roman god Jupiter.”

Rome provided military protection and a legal institution. Roman soldiers, posted on
frontiers and provinces, were ordered to put down disturbances. They built roads and
secured safety for travelers, especially Christians who carried the gospel throughout the
empire. The governmental organization of the empire seemed to provide a pattern for
the eventual development of church hierarchy. Although all the children of Abraham
universally despised their overlords, they simply disagreed about how to resist them.
The Roman occupation and oppression rubbed against the Jewish sense of
independence. It smacked of both the Babylonian Exile and the Seleucid oppression. It
was economically unbearable. And it was the cause of frequent minor rebellions.
Greek was the predominant language in education, literature, and philosophy. Since
Alexander the Great, its language, coinage, culture, philosophy, and religion have
permeated the Mediterranean region. Greek was the official language of the church in
Rome until AD 250 when Latin gained prominence. Greek social norms guided the
Mediterranean social lives. They include dinner parties, weddings, and funerals.
Christians lived within the framework of these existing social norms.

The Jewish world provided the immediate religious context for Christianity. Jewish
scriptures were the “Bible” for the early church. The Jewish culture was more than
doctrine; Jewish culture bound the Jews together. It identified them as God’s chosen
people. Their land played an important cultural role. The Temple, priesthood, and
festivals all speak to Jewish identity. The synagogue was especially important. It was
primarily a school where children learned the Law and traditions of the elders, especially
circumcision, food laws, and the Sabbath. It was also a place of worship, civil litigation,
and socialization.

Three concentric circles of culture circumscribed the world in the first century.
Understanding the influence of these cultures is helpful in grasping the setting in which
the primitive church began.
– Kevin Goddu