LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
2.7 The Early Church and the Leaders' Solution to the Challenge of Multiculturalism
2.7.1 The Problem in the Early Church
2.7.1.1 The Problem in Acts 15:1 - 35
Luke's account of the discussion regarding the relationship between the Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians forms the centre of the book of Acts and the Early Church both culturally and theologically. The relationship discussed here is in relation to the Law of Moses, specifically concerning circumcision and diet. We see here that once the early church's mission work had began to evangelize the Gentiles. and they had accepted the
message and become members of the church. the problem surfaced because these Gentiles had not previously been circumcised. since it was not a requirement in their general culture or religion. Once they become part of the Church's life. the problem for the conditions of their membership of the Church began to emerge. From the time of men from Cyprus and Cyrene to the time of Barnabas and Paul in Antioch. \,ve do not hear of anything concerning circumcision and diet being mentioned as a condition for Gentile Christians to becoming members of the Church. It would seem right here to assume that those who planted this church and also the apostles, in particular. Barnabas and Paul did not see it necessary to require the Gentiles to keep the Law of Moses. particularly circumcision in order to identify with Jewish Christians and be accepted and recognized as equals in the church. Faith in Jesus Christ seems to have been the major requirement.
However, this position was totally unacceptable to some Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.
This could be the same group of people that criticized Peter for going into the house and eating with uncircumcised Gentiles in Acts 11: 1 - 3.
Mm'shall argues that they opposed the acceptance of Gentiles as members of the Church for two reasons:
Firstly. they found it hard to believe that Gentiles could be saved and have become members of the people of God. the Church. without accepting the obligations of the Jewish law. If Gentiles would not identify with the Jews by circumcision. they found it hard to understand how God would accept the Gentiles without circumcision. since this had been God's requirement to all Jewish males. a symbol of God's covenant with His people. In other words. what evidence \vas there that the law. which represented the wi 11 of God for His covenant people. had been repealed? This point led to lively debate on the spot and subsequently a decision by the Church to send representatives to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles.
Secondly. there was also the question of how Jewish Christians. who continued to live by the Jewish law. could have fellowship at the table or eat from the same table with Gentile Christians who did not observe the Law of Moses and who were. as a result. considered unclean. This problem would be particularly highlighted when the members of the
Church meet to 'break bread'. This issue is not mentioned explicitly in this chapter. but from the book of Galatians chapter two. it is clear that it was also a lively debated issue.
and that the decision reached at Jerusalem (ActsI1: 20) v\as also intended to deal with this issue (MarshallI998: 242 - 243). In his account of the issue of the relationship between the Jewish and Gentile Christians, Mal'shall shows that only a group of a few Jewish Christians raised the concern about the Church. What encouraged Paul, Barnabas and those people from the Church at Antioch. who went up to Jerusalem as representatives. was the news about the conversion of the Gentile people which was both welcomed by the churches they visited on their way to and at Jerusalem (Acts 15: 3-4).
The representatives were encouraged even though. at Jerusalem. they were met by a group of believers who used to belong to the party of the Pharisees, who demanded that the Gentile believers must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses (Acts 15: 5). In spite of this opposition. they were encouraged. because the two foremost leaders of the Church, Peter and .lames, stood in support of the delegation from the Antioch Church against the issue of circumcision.
Firstly, Peter gave an explanation. referring to his own experience through which God had shown His readiness to accept the uncircumcised Gentiles into the Church as Jewish equals on the basis of their faith in Jesus Christ only and cleanness of their heart (Acts 15: 7 - 11). Peter was referring to his experiences at Joppa and in the house of Cornelius.
the Gentile (Acts 10). Barnabas and Paul also confirmed the testimony that Peter had presented before the Church in Jerusalem and the apostles. They also explained how God had manifested Himself showing His approval of the Gentiles mission, their conversion and subsequently their inclusion as true and qualifying members of the Church. They also reported how God confirmed this with signs and wonders among Gentiles believers (Acts 5: 12).
Secondly. James. after listening to what Peter. Paul and Barnabas had to say about what God was doing among the Gentiles, spoke against forcing the Gentiles to be circumcised as a condition of their salvation.. .lames. who might have been expected to adopt a more conservative attitude because he had not left Jerusalem since the day of Pentecost to mix with the Gentile believers, took a positive stand on this issue. He rose up to indicate that
the entry of the Gentiles into the Church \vas in accordance with God's plan as revealed in the Scriptures by the holy prophets of God, and obeying that law was not necessary for salvation (Acts 15: 13 - 18). In his speech James was referring to what has been prophesied long ago by the prophet Amos (Amos 9: 11 - 12).