Plurality and ethnicity in early Christian mission

Journal/Book: Sociol Relig. 1997; 58: Marist Hall Room 108, Catholic Univ America, Washington, DC 20064. Assoc Sociology Religion. 305-321.

Abstract: Christianity has never been a monolithic movement. From its beginning, ct least four groups were active in its mission, and each addressed itself to a particular ethnic segment of the Roman Empire. The Twelve of Galilee, under Peter, went to Galilee and beyond, to the village culture existing there. The Brethren, under James, addressed themselves to ''Hebrews'' - Jews who spoke Aramaic in their homes, wed Hebrew in their synagogues, and tended to isolate themselves from the prevailing Greek society. The Hellenists, led by Stephen and Philip, directed their mission to ''Hellenists'' - Jews who spoke Greek at home, used that language in the synagogue, and related themselves to Hellenistic culture. The last, the Apostles, under Barnabas and Paul, worked with synagogues in what is now Turkey and Greece, ministering especially to ''godfearers'' - Greek men and women attracted to Judaism but who were not proselytes These groups developed distinctive theologies, worship practices, and methods of governance. They cooperated with each other, and they fought each other. Luke, writing in the latter part of the first century CE, glossed over the differences as he tried to present the Christian movement as ''one Lord, one faith, one church.'' A concluding section relates this thesis to the work of Rodney Stark (1996), The rise of Christianity.

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