Topical Bible: Jerusalem: First Christian Council Held At

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Topical Encyclopedia

The city of Jerusalem holds a significant place in Christian history, not only as the site of pivotal events in the life of Jesus Christ but also as the location of the first Christian council, often referred to as the Council of Jerusalem. This council is a foundational moment in the early Church, addressing critical issues of doctrine and practice that would shape the future of Christianity.

Historical Context

The Council of Jerusalem is described in the Acts of the Apostles, specifically in Acts 15. This gathering is believed to have taken place around AD 49 or 50. The early Church was experiencing rapid growth, with Gentiles (non-Jews) increasingly converting to Christianity. This expansion raised significant theological and practical questions, particularly concerning the requirements for Gentile converts.

Key Issues Addressed

The primary issue at the Council of Jerusalem was whether Gentile converts to Christianity were required to observe the Mosaic Law, including circumcision. Some believers from the party of the Pharisees insisted that "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses" (Acts 15:5). This position created considerable debate and division within the early Church.

The Council's Deliberation

The apostles and elders convened in Jerusalem to deliberate on this matter. Peter, one of the leading figures in the early Church, addressed the assembly, recounting how God had chosen him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. He argued that God "made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9). Peter emphasized that salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus, not adherence to the Law.

Paul and Barnabas also shared their experiences of how God had worked among the Gentiles, further supporting the argument that the Mosaic Law should not be imposed on them. James, the brother of Jesus and a respected leader in the Jerusalem church, offered a resolution. He cited the words of the prophets, affirming that God intended to include the Gentiles in His redemptive plan.

The Council's Decision

The Council of Jerusalem reached a consensus that Gentile converts should not be burdened with the full yoke of the Mosaic Law. Instead, they were to abstain from certain practices: "abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality" (Acts 15:29). This decision was communicated in a letter sent to the Gentile believers, affirming their inclusion in the Church without the requirement of circumcision.

Significance

The Council of Jerusalem was a defining moment for the early Church, establishing the principle that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through the works of the Law. This decision affirmed the universality of the Gospel and set a precedent for resolving doctrinal disputes through communal discernment and reliance on Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The council's outcome also underscored the unity of the Church, as Jewish and Gentile believers were brought together under the lordship of Christ. The decision made at Jerusalem allowed for the continued growth and expansion of the Christian faith, as it spread beyond the boundaries of Judaism to encompass all nations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 15:4,6
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First Christian Martyr
... Lesson 10 The First Christian Martyr. ... clear, thrilling voice, which rang through
the council hall ... this persecution brought terror to the Christians at Jerusalem. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 10 the first christian.htm

Of the Council Held at Seleucia in Isauria.
... He had been condemned by the council of Sardica ... with one another for the first place
brought ... small occasion, deposed Cyrillus, and drove him from Jerusalem. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxii of the council held.htm

That the Council at Nic??a was Held in the Twentieth, the ...
... Chapter XLVII."That the Council at Nic??a was held ... second synod the emperor convened
at Jerusalem, being the ... have any knowledge, next to the first which he ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xlvii that the council at.htm

The Council of Jerusalem.
... In all past ages, the meeting at Jerusalem has been considered as a ... knowledge of
the Scriptures, have placed him in the first rank among Christian divines ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvi the council of.htm

Introduction. Chapter i. --Life of S. Cyril.
... own parents for a Christian education: "The first virtuous observance in a Christian
is to ... successor to Macarius in the See of Jerusalem [8] . This ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction chapter i life of s.htm

The Ordination of Paul and Barnabas; their Missionary Tour in Asia ...
... of the two most extensive and influential Christian societies in ... Paul, exactly fourteen
years before, [82:1] had visited Jerusalem for the first time after ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter v the ordination of.htm

The First Crusade (Ad 1095-1099)
... their children asked, "Is this Jerusalem?" And besides ... the crusade hated even by
the Christian inhabitants of ... Nicaea, the place where the first general council ...
/.../chapter ix the first crusade.htm

Contemporary History.
... his contempt of Christianity made him first impatient and ... in many ways modified by
Christian influence; and ... wished them to rebuild their temple at Jerusalem. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/ii contemporary history.htm

Different Types of Apostolic Teaching.
... Christian, the Gentile Christian, and the ideal or unionistic Christian. ... he must
be ranked under the first type as the local head of the Jerusalem wing of ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 68 different types of.htm

The Synod of Jerusalem, and the Compromise Between Jewish and ...
... of these Judaizing partisans and zealots brought the Christian church, twenty years ...
The object of the Jerusalem consultation was twofold: first, to settle ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 34 the synod of.htm