Masjid Tulay in Lupah Sug
Discuss and explain why 3-5 people, places and/or events were critical to developing Christianity into what it is today.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds and all that exists. Peace and salutations of Allah be upon His Messenger Muhammad صل الله عليه وسلم .
I. JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the central of focus of Christianity. He serves many functions in the religion such as the saviour (foundation of salvation), the revealer of God, and the model of a pious life. He is one of the persons in Trinity which is the central theology of christianity. The core Christian belief is that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinful humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life. This is the what the average Christian know and this understanding is what the canonized gospels seem to support. However, when all the sources and documents at the time of Jesus are taken together including the writings of the Jews, one might not agree with the Christian interpretation of who Jesus was, and consequently what his message was all about. Vital to this theses is the concept of Messiah. While the Christian concept of Messiah is the coming of the son of God and his death in order to provide salvation to all mankind, archeological findings such as the Qumran documents which includes the gospel of Thomas does not offer support such claims. It is does not matter what is written in it (gospel of Thomas), but what matters is what is not written in it. Meaning there is no mention of messianic elements that culminates in the supposedly death of Christ on the cross. The Gospel of Thomas was written much earlier than the canonized gospels. Apparently, the earlier the gospel is written, the more it conforms with a monotheistic worldview, much the same to the teachings of Moses. Conversely, the later the gospels are written, the more it goes far away from the monotheistism as it adds the basic elements of Christianity as advocated by Paul such as the gospel of John. However contemporary scholars on Christianity now acknowledge that Jesus peace be upon him was born a Jew, raised a Jew and lived all his life as a Jew. He was a teacher and even a Jewish Rabbi[1]. He didn’t teach Christian concepts such as the Divine atonement or vicarious sacrifice, much of which was promoted by Paul, our second person who was critical to the development of present day christianity.
II. ST. PAUL
Paul is rather a controversial character because admittedly, he was a persecutor of the followers of Christ. What is more controversial is the varying and even apparently contradicting narratives of his meeting with ‘risen’ Jesus thrice mentioned in Acts of Apostle in chapters 9, 22 and 26. But Christian exegetes easily dismiss the contradiction as having slight differences, easy to harmonize, and does not affect the basis of the narrative which is perfectly identical in substance[2].
Several theories were purported to explain the visions of Paul when he was on his way to Damascus. To discredit these theories, Christian scholars says that these explanations ‘suppose that it was Paul's faith in Christ which engendered the vision, whereas according to the concordant testimony of the Acts and the Epistles it was the actual vision of Christ which engendered faith’[3]. Another controversy concerning Paul he ‘had but a vague knowledge of the life and teaching of the historical Christ and even disdained such knowledge as inferior and useless’ [4] This is due to Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 16:
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”[5]
However, it is argued that this understanding is improbable because Paul loved Jesus passionately and whose spirit he prided of having. But this is really an after the fact argument on the side of Christian apologist because the core issue here is the authority of Paul to transmit Jesus’ teachings and his closeness to him. A question could then be asked ‘did Paul really love the real Jesus’? Since today’s Christianity hinges on Paul’s claims to his meeting with Jesus it is no wonder that church’s doctors and apologists would defend the veracity of this incident.
Perhaps what is most astounding from an outsider point of view is the stark contrast of Jesus’ teachings and Paul’s teachings even in the canonized gospels themselves. Mark chapter 12 verse 29 says:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds and all that exists. Peace and salutations of Allah be upon His Messenger Muhammad صل الله عليه وسلم .
I. JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the central of focus of Christianity. He serves many functions in the religion such as the saviour (foundation of salvation), the revealer of God, and the model of a pious life. He is one of the persons in Trinity which is the central theology of christianity. The core Christian belief is that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinful humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life. This is the what the average Christian know and this understanding is what the canonized gospels seem to support. However, when all the sources and documents at the time of Jesus are taken together including the writings of the Jews, one might not agree with the Christian interpretation of who Jesus was, and consequently what his message was all about. Vital to this theses is the concept of Messiah. While the Christian concept of Messiah is the coming of the son of God and his death in order to provide salvation to all mankind, archeological findings such as the Qumran documents which includes the gospel of Thomas does not offer support such claims. It is does not matter what is written in it (gospel of Thomas), but what matters is what is not written in it. Meaning there is no mention of messianic elements that culminates in the supposedly death of Christ on the cross. The Gospel of Thomas was written much earlier than the canonized gospels. Apparently, the earlier the gospel is written, the more it conforms with a monotheistic worldview, much the same to the teachings of Moses. Conversely, the later the gospels are written, the more it goes far away from the monotheistism as it adds the basic elements of Christianity as advocated by Paul such as the gospel of John. However contemporary scholars on Christianity now acknowledge that Jesus peace be upon him was born a Jew, raised a Jew and lived all his life as a Jew. He was a teacher and even a Jewish Rabbi[1]. He didn’t teach Christian concepts such as the Divine atonement or vicarious sacrifice, much of which was promoted by Paul, our second person who was critical to the development of present day christianity.
II. ST. PAUL
Paul is rather a controversial character because admittedly, he was a persecutor of the followers of Christ. What is more controversial is the varying and even apparently contradicting narratives of his meeting with ‘risen’ Jesus thrice mentioned in Acts of Apostle in chapters 9, 22 and 26. But Christian exegetes easily dismiss the contradiction as having slight differences, easy to harmonize, and does not affect the basis of the narrative which is perfectly identical in substance[2].
Several theories were purported to explain the visions of Paul when he was on his way to Damascus. To discredit these theories, Christian scholars says that these explanations ‘suppose that it was Paul's faith in Christ which engendered the vision, whereas according to the concordant testimony of the Acts and the Epistles it was the actual vision of Christ which engendered faith’[3]. Another controversy concerning Paul he ‘had but a vague knowledge of the life and teaching of the historical Christ and even disdained such knowledge as inferior and useless’ [4] This is due to Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 16:
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”[5]
However, it is argued that this understanding is improbable because Paul loved Jesus passionately and whose spirit he prided of having. But this is really an after the fact argument on the side of Christian apologist because the core issue here is the authority of Paul to transmit Jesus’ teachings and his closeness to him. A question could then be asked ‘did Paul really love the real Jesus’? Since today’s Christianity hinges on Paul’s claims to his meeting with Jesus it is no wonder that church’s doctors and apologists would defend the veracity of this incident.
Perhaps what is most astounding from an outsider point of view is the stark contrast of Jesus’ teachings and Paul’s teachings even in the canonized gospels themselves. Mark chapter 12 verse 29 says:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[6]
In another gospel, Matthew chapter 5 verse 17 Jesus reportedly said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.”[7]
Of course Jesus being a practicing Jew refers the law here to the Laws of Moses. But Paul seemingly audaciously contradicted Jesus’ commandments and teachings when he declared in Galatians chapter 2 verse 16:
“Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”[8]
One interesting to note at this point is that where are the rest of the disciples? Do they all believe just as what Paul believed?
III. THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM
The followers of Jesus continued to preach his gospels to the Jews and the non Jews. When the gentiles embrace Christianity in its early years, the question of whether they should be like the Jews or is their any some leeway for them not to follow the laws arose. What can be said concerning this is they like its theology but they don’t like its laws. Thus it became a necessity that the disciples should come together and meet in Jerusalem. Representing the community of Antioch were Paul and Barnabas while James is that of Jerusalem. The key issues were about circumcision, sacrificing things to idols, eating of blood of strangulated animals and fornication. The catholic encyclopedia claims that this “injunction was laid upon them, not in virtue of the Mosaic Law, but in the name of the Holy Ghost. This meant the complete triumph of Paul's ideas”.
This last sentence mentioning Paul’s ideas as being triumphant reveals the fact that in these early days of Christianity, the very first believers themselves were involved in controversy regarding a fundamental aspect of the religion. These questions are probably asked: “Shall we follow the Laws of Moses (just like what Jesus did in all his life when he was with us) or shall we abandon it? Is faith enough or are we required to follow the Law?
This ‘debate’ between James and Paul were recorded for posterity in the Epistle of James and the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians. In the first verse of the first chapter of Galatians, Paul declared that he is an apostle not from men nor through men but through Jesus Christ, probably referring to the fact that unlike the disciples who met Jesus as human, he met and received revelation from the risen Christ. He goes on to say in verse six that he marvels that the people of the Church of Galatia are turning away to a different gospel. Again in chapter two, he alluded to a person ‘who seemed to be something’[9] and his disdain for him. Then he enumerated that James, Ciphers and John as those ‘seemed to be pillars’[10] in the ninth verse. Paul then went on to proceed to cite the story of Abraham that just as he believed in God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
James on the other hand in the beginning of his epistles mentioned about being patient from temptations (which breaks the law). It is perhaps worthwhile to quote James words:
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.[11]
Concerning Abraham, he reportedly to have said:
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone".[12]
James, the brother of Jesus, the first bishop of Jerusalem had variant views of Jesus’ teachings in contrast to Paul’s Christianity. Robert Eisenman in his book James the Brother of Jesus: The Key to Unlocking the Secrets of early Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls portrays this kind of relationship between Paul and James.[13]
But somehow Paul’s ideas were triumphant and it is known as Pauline Christianity – a paradigm shift from the fundamental teachings of monotheism and adherence to the law in Judaism to Trinity and vicarious atonement. Consequently Michael Hart, a contemporary historian would have to put Paul as second to Jesus as the most influential person in Christianity.[14]
IV. CONSTANTINE I
Early Christians were persecuted, seized, tormented, put into flames, starved, and coerced into gladiatorial contests to amuse spectators. In 313 Emperor Constantine I, whose mother St. Helena was a Christian, announced the Edict of Milan which removes penalties for professing Christianity and returns the confiscated Church properties. His ascension to the throne is generally considered the beginning of Christendom (medieval and renaissance notion of the Christian world as a sort of social and political polity). Not only did he legalize Christianity but he also supported the Church from his own wealth and became its patron. However, it turns out that there are a number of different varieties of Christianities with different views on Jesus, such as the Gnostics Christianity vies a vis Pauline Christianity. It was extremely diverse during the second and third century that there are different brands of Christianity living often side by side, even in the same city.[15]
To uphold the unity of his empire, a unified doctrine has to be established. Therefore Constantine convenes the bishops to meet in Nicea.
V. THE COUNCIL OF NICEA 325 CE
Of two thousand and forty eight (2048) bishops who were invited, Constantine disqualified 1730 from having voice in deciding questions. Although the emperor did not decide the creed, he in fact influenced it indirectly by deciding who is to decide on the creed. This step dampened the spirit of the remaining bishops whom the emperor chose not to disqualify[16]. The result is the Nicene Creed which is an anathema to Unitarian belief championed by Arius.
Conclusion
The history of Christianity is a cognitive dissonance that is filled with controversy in its formative stage. Its teachings evolved in time from a sect of Judaism to a distinct religion of Trinity, Divine Atonement, and later the Original Sin (as expounded by St. Augustine). Although Christians will argue that it is only those who are imbued with holy spirit who should interpret the bible, however, looking at the gospels as historical documents and contemporary writings at the time revealed that Jesus could not have been what the gospels described him to be nor what the Christians perceived him to be. The differences between James and Paul over a fundamental issue is an important clue concerning who really was Jesus’ true disciple who followed him closely. Finally, if the core beliefs such as the Trinity and Divine atonement were so important to Christian understanding of themselves, then why is it that nowhere Jesus Christ explicitly taught this and leave his followers to figure it out and consequently differ about it.
[1] From Jesus to Christ. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/rabbi.html
[2] St. Paul, Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm. Jan. 7, 2008.
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] King James Version. www.biblegateway.com
[6] New International Version. www.biblegateway.com
[7] Ibid
[8] New International Version
[9] Galatians 2:6
[10] Galatians 2:9
[11] James 1:23
[12] James 2:20-24
[13]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Brother_of_Jesus:_The_Key_to_Unlocking_the_Secrets_of_Early_Christianity_and_the_Dead_Sea_Scrolls
[14] http://www.adherents.com/adh_influ.html
[15] From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/diversity.html
[16] A Comparative Study of the Religions of Today. Muhammad Ali Muhiyaddin pg 43.
