The First Christians

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Acts 11:19-26

Introduction

          The Church in Antioch appears to have been divided into two subgroups much like the Church in Jerusalem. However, in Antioch, the Hellenist believers who spoke Greek were often Gentiles. It’s important to note that up to this point in Church history Jesus’ followers were considered a Jewish sect. Jewish believers in Antioch perpetuated this belief by only associating with Hebrew-speaking persons. The rationale could have been about comfort or about cultural identity - It is not clear. Nevertheless, when Greek-speaking believers began sharing the good news and establishing cells in Antioch, the home Church in Jerusalem took notice. The elders sent Barnabas to affirm and assist the Greek-speaking Church in Antioch. It was at this point that the Church took on an identity apart from Judaism and Jerusalem.

Antioch was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire. Its population was very diverse and included a variety of religious beliefs and traditions. Essential commerce and socialization among the people groups produced friendships, partnerships, and marriages that helped to blend religions and traditions. It as a process known as syncretism. Jews were found across the Roman world, which helps to explain why the Jewish believers who fled Jerusalem and Judea years earlier found comfort among people of their native culture. With that being said, why did the Greek-speaking Church obtain a unique nickname?             

 

Combating Syncretism

Now that the Church has spread from Jerusalem to Judea, and courageous believers have broken through their “Samarian” barriers, the good news has begun to reach out into the world. The Church leaders in Jerusalem appear to have recognized this as they intentionally nurtured the movement away from Jerusalem and Judaism. The Greek-speaking Church was the first to be called “Christians.” It appears they had set themselves apart from the Jewish believers and other religious communities. How were they different? Was it intentional?

Reading the text between the lines and doing a little research reveals that Jewish believers did not wander far from their comfort zones. It is also likely that they had become syncretistic with established Jewish neighborhoods that had been syncretistic with adjacent neighbors so that their initial zeal had waned. This was a constant threat to both Judaism and Christianity. Blending the teaching of Jesus with the Rabbinic traditions would not have been a major stretch for Antiochian Jews. Consequently, it could have backfired on the incoming Jewish believers if they were not careful. 

Barnabas assessed the situation and then determined to find Saul of Tarsus, also known as Paul. He must have believed that Paul could connect the two branches of Christianity in Antioch and equip them for ministry. The last verses of Acts 11 state that the Church of Antioch became the hub of the worldwide mission. They started by sending Barnabas and Saul on what is known as the first missionary journey, to Cyprus and parts of Asia Minor. 

Conclusion

Today, we are gathered as an indirect result of those early efforts to tell the world about Jesus. One wonders what the Christians of Antioch would think of us. Are we another form of Christianity that emerged from blended religions and traditions? What do we think it means to be a “Christian” and how does that shape our religion? If the religious doctrines, traditions, and dogma are stripped away, then what do we have?  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) “your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.” (1 John 2:12) How shall we go about generating a new identity as Christian Believers when the name “Christian” has become so watered down?