Tags

, , , , , ,

The Growth of Christianity map

Read this in Indonesian language. In June 2023, Indonesian Christian social media was viral with the LOGOS Seminar series presented by Pastor Dr. Erastus Sabdono. The seminar became uproarious because Pastor. E. Sabdono rejected the teaching of the Trinity Doctrine which establishment Churches, such as the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches, considered that doctrine is “orthodox” (from Greek word: “of the right opinion”), and to be understood by its adherents as “true doctrine.”[1] The central core of the Trinity doctrine is all about Yeshua’s divinity: “Yeshua is Elohim and also equal with His Father.” So, I can imagine the reaction of my colleagues – who from a young age were very active in our campus Christian Fellowship, and now several of them have become pastors and even members of a Church Synod. Long story short, a WhatsApp member, a pastor holding a Master of Theology, sent 4 videos of the Sabdono’s Logos (Introduction, 1-4), in response to the request of me: “What do you think bro X about the Seminar?” accompanied by a sentence: “That’s a complex. Please listen to it yourself.” I watched the video until Part 7 (15 videos through YouTube). On top of that I began to re-examine the doctrine of the Trinity – that I have accepted and lived in since I was a teenager and was born-again in 1978 – by studying the Bible and watching dozens of teaching videos from various Bible scholars with all kinds of denomination background. And I collected some Christian literatures to read. Below are the books I have read so far:

Dear friends, stop believing every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize God’s Spirit: Every spirit who acknowledges that Jesus the Messiah has become human—and remains so—is from God. (1 John 4:1-2 ISV)

  1. Voices of early Christianity: documents from the origins of Christianity / Kevin W. Kaatz, editor. Documents from the Origins of Christianity is a collection of excerpts from significant documents from early Christian history, organized topically, then listed chronologically within each section. The author compares textual variations among the works of the apostles, as well as key themes over time, and frames the discussion for further critical thinking. [a general introduction, very recommended]
  2. After the apostles: missionary preaching of the first three centuries; John Foster. [a booklet; very recommended]
  3. Encountering The New Testament.  A Historical and Theological Survey. Walter A. Elwell & Robert W. Yarbrough. Baker Academic. [very recommended]
  4. Nazarene Jewish Christianity: from the end of the New Testament period until its disappearance in the fourth century; Ray A. Pritz. [very recommended]
  5. The Early Church; William. H. C. Frend. Frend’s masterful survey, here presented with a new Preface and updated bibliographies, traces the historical and theological development of the Christian church from apostolic times through the fifth century. [very recommended]
  6. From Sabbath to Sunday. A Historical Investigation of the Rise of Sunday Observance in Early Christianity. Biblical Perspectives Serie 1; Samuele Baacchiocchi.
  7. The Sabbath in the New Testament; Answers to Questions. BP S. 5; Samuele Bacchiocchi. He summarizes this extensive research by presenting four basic reasons for his belief in the permanence of the principle and practice of Sabbath keeping in the New Testament.
  8. A History of early Christian Doctrine before the council of Nicaea. Vol. 1 The theology of Jewish Christianity / Jean Daniélou; transl. and ed.; John A. Baker.
  9. The Church of the First Three Centuries: Notices of The Lives And Opinions Of Some Of The Early Fathers With Special Reference To The Doctrine Of The Trinity; Alvan Lamson, D.D. [very recommended. Free download available]
  10. Paul and the second century; Michael F. Bird, Joseph R. Dodson. “This volume presents an extended juxtaposition of Paul’s thought with a wide selection of writings from the second century.”
  11. Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp: introduction, text, and commentary; edited by Paul Hartog. [investigation; very recommended].
  12. Ignatius of Antioch and the Arian controversy; Paul R. Gilliam III. To see the discrepancies in the writings of Ignatius which had been re-edited (3rd-5th CE) by the Church fathers to defend their own doctrines. [investigation; very recommended].
  13. Matthew, James, and Didache: three related documents in their Jewish and Christian settings; edited by Huub van de Sandt and Jürgen Zangenberg.
  14. The Didache: its Jewish sources and its place in early Judaism and Christianity; Huub van de Sandt and David Flusser. [investigation; very recommended]
  15. One God, one Lord: early Christian devotion and ancient Jewish monotheism; Larry W. Hurtado.
  16. Violence in ancient Christianity: victims and perpetrators; edited by Albert C. Geljon, Riemer Roukema. It’s very interesting book, e.g.: how the Church fathers have very deference views on Constantine the Great personality. [very recommended].
  17. The Reception of Jesus in the First Three Centuries. Vol. 1: From Paul to Josephus. Vol. 2: From Thomas to Tatian. Vol. 3: From Celsus to the Catacombs; edited byanthology editors: Chris Keith Helen K. Bond Christine Jacobi, Jens Schröter. [I am reading the Volume 1, almost finish]

Watch and read also:

[1] Orthodox, (from Greek orthodoxos, “of the right opinion”), true doctrine and its adherents as opposed to heterodox or heretical doctrines and their adherents. The word was first used in early 4th-century Christianity by the Greek Fathers. Because almost every Christian group believes that it holds the true faith (though not necessarily exclusively). Read the rest from here: Orthodox by Britanica.com

“Born to glorify Adonai Yeshua Messiah and be a blessing to the Nations” – Joseph Hendry