Davide's Notes

The Synagogue and the Separation of the Christians by Judith Lieu on the web site for "Jewish-Christian Relations". Several other interesting articles there.

Meditate on the differences between these four more or less contemporary texts: John's Gospel, Letter to the Hebrews, 1 Clement, Revelation.

If these differences are not of time, are they differences of place, or of people involved, of personal inclination, of the pressure of external circumstances?

Some points:

• Define parting and reconcile the definition with the apparent lack of cohesive systems in the 1st century.
• John 9:22 (John 9:29 in the article is obviously a typo) and possible local interpretations (what do we mean by "synagogue" here?)
• Very interesting is Acts 13:16, where it appears that the synagogue is open to "men of Israel" and to "Gentiles who worship God". So, synagogue as a bridge; at the same time, is this realistic within a 1st century context?
• How to deal with the problem of education in the early church? (see notes on education) What about the Scriptures used by the church? Where were they stored/studied/discussed?
• Synagogue as second home for early Christians?
• Synagogue as a threat?

On church vs. synagogue:

It is intriguing how quickly the Christians come to use the term 'church'/ecclesia, almost exclusively of themselves, and 'synagogue' of the Jews. Christians not only use 'church' of the local community but also of the universal community, transcending the barriers of time and space.

This brings in the problem of the birth of ecclesiology and the related issue of ecclesiology as a key item for Christian self-identification. Why is this point markedly different in Judaism?

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Categories: Church_History