Chapter I: Part I

The Historical Background of Christianity

The Early History of Christianity

by

JOHN GRESHAM MACHEN

Philadelphia, Pa. The Presbyterian Board Of Publication and Sabbath School Work

CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction 3

LESSON

1. The New Testament 5

2. The Roman Background of Christianity 10

3. The Greek Background of Christianity 15

4. The Jewish Background of Christianity:
I. Palestinian Judaism 21

5. The Jewish Background of Christianity:
II. The Judaism of the Dispersion 26

6. The Messiah 31

7. The Book of The Acts 36

8. The Cross and the Resurrection the Foundation of
Apostolic Preaching 41

9. The Beginnings of the Christian Church 46

10. The First Persecution 51

11. The First Gentile Converts 56

12. The Conversion of Paul 60

13. The Church at Antioch 67

14. The Gospel to the Gentiles 75

15. The Council at Jerusalem 81

16. The Gospel Carried Into Europe 86

17. Encouragement for Recent Converts 92

18. The Conflict with the Judaizers 97

19. Problems of a Gentile Church 103

20. The Apostle and His Ministry 109

21. The Gospel of Salvation 115

22. Paul's Journey to Rome 120

23. The Supremacy of Christ 124

24. The Church of Christ 129

25. Christ and His Followers 133

26. Training New Leaders 138

27. A Presentation of Jesus to Jewish Christians 147

28. A Graphic Sketch of the Life of Jesus 154

29. A Greek Historian's Account of Jesus 158

30. The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple 165

31. The Jesus of the Gospels 174

32. A Document of the Jerusalem Church 178

33. Jesus the Fulfillment of the Old Testament 184

34. Christian Fortitude 189

35. The Christian's Attitude Toward Error and Immorality 194

36. The Life of the Children of God 198

37. The Messages of the Living Christ 203

38. A Vision of the Final Triumph 209

39. Review 213

40. The Church and the World 219

41. The Christian Message 225

42. The Word and the Sacraments 231

43. Prayer 238

44. The Congregation 244

45. The Relief of the Needy 249

46. Organizing for Service 255

47. A Mission for the World 261

48. The Christian Ideal of Personal Morality 266

49. Christianity and Human Relationships 271

50. The Christian Use of the Intellect 277

51. The Christian Hope and the Present Possession 282

52. Retrospect: the First Christian Century 287

Copyright, 1915, by John Gresham Machen