The Early Dark Ages of the Church-Some Reflections

Authors

Edgar Krentz, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

Publication Date

2-1-1970

Document Type

Article

Keywords

early church, new testament, christianity, st. paul, alexandria, antioch, eduard, missionaries, rome

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

The period of history from the Resurrection to the oldest document in the New Testament is in many ways the darkest in the history of the church. No document in the New Testament antedates the year 50, the generally agreed-on date for 1 Thessalonians. Even if we would date Galatians early, say A. D. 48/49 on the South Galatian hypothesis, we would push our knowledge back only a year and a half. The only other possible candidate for an earlier date is the Epistle of James, placed by a minority of scholars at a time prior to the Pauline Gentile mission. There are thus about 20 years for which we have no primary documentation.

Disciplines

History of Christianity

Scripture References in this Resource (separated by semi-colons)

1 Corinthians 15:5; Acts 7:56; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 3:16; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-9; 1 Peter 1:13-22; 1 Peter 2:1-2; James 1:21; Colossians 3:8-4:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; Mark 14:36; Colossians 3:3;

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Krentz, Edgar (1970) "The Early Dark Ages of the Church-Some Reflections," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 41, Article 8.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol41/iss1/8