The Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ
Imagine taking a course in US History that begins with the Declaration of Independence and then immediately jumps to the Viet Nam war. Obviously you would be shocked that the teacher had left out all the important content in between those two events.
THE FIRST CENTURY
In lesson 1, we studied the founding of the church upon the chief cornerstone, the God-man Jesus Christ, the twelve disciples, the seventy, the seven deacons, and the Christian community growing up in the city of Jerusalem.
The development of the church in the first century is marked by three pivotal events:
1. The martyrdom of Stephen and the subsequent persecution of the church.
THE FIRST 300 YEARS
Persecution and Growth
The Twelve Apostles and the Rest of the Story
The Book of Acts tells us of Paul’s missionary journeys and of his journey in chains to be martyred in Rome; but, the account of his martyrdom is left to be told by another source (that is, Holy Tradition). This is the case for most of the other apostles. James, the brother of John, is the only apostle who’s martyrdom is recorded in the Book of Acts.
Constantine, Byzantium and Monasticism
Constantine
“In 312 an event occurred which utterly transformed the outward situation of the church. As he was riding with his army through France, the Emperor Constantine looked up into the sky and saw a cross of light in front of the sun. With the cross there was an inscription: In this sign conquer.” (The Orthodox Church, Timothy Ware)
