![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | The Judeo-Christian Bible and Subsequent History
- The Evolution of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Greek Scriptures
- The evolution of the Hebrew biblical canon
- Completed by late first century C.E.
- Influenced by rabbis at Jamnia
- Hebrew biblical canon ends at 1 Chronicles
- Christian New Testament begins at Matthew, ends at Revelation
- Christians see their canon as fulfillment of Old Testament covenant promises
- New Testament canon reflects dominance of the figure of Jesus Christ
- Place of Revelation in canon reflects impact of apocalypticism in early Christian thought
- Books of 1 Clement and 2 Peter deal with delay of the Parousia
- Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor 306-337 C.E.
- Issues the Edict of Milan 313, decreeing religious toleration for Christians
- Hailed by some Christians as realization of Christ's sovereignty over the world
- The Church and the Secular World
- Christianization of Roman Empire led to espousal of realized eschatology
- Renewed emphasis on individual, personal elements of eschatology
- Shocks and readjustments
- The rise of Islam
- Founded by Muhammad in seventh century
- Incorporates traditions from Judaism and Christianity
- Muhammad the last and greatest prophet of Allah, the only God
- Allah demands Islam ("submission") from all
- Aggressive spread of Islam into previously Christian areas of Europe and Asia in Middle Ages
- The split between the Western and Eastern Church
- Dispute over papal authority caused schism between papacy at Rome and patriarchate of Constantinople
- 1054 C.E.: split between Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church
- Recent attempts at reconciliation
- The Protestant Reformation
- Spurred by Martin Luther's criticisms of Roman Catholicism in sixteenth-century Europe
- Championed primacy of Scripture over church tradition as basis of Christian teaching
- Resulted in rapidly proliferating Christian denominations
- The fragmentation of Christendom
- The proliferation of denominations
- Splintering of doctrinal "core" of medieval Christianity an actual reflection of diversity within the New Testament itself
- The continuing centrality of the figure of Jesus in Christian faith
- The ethics of Jesus a promising guide for humankind
- Jesus' personal welcoming of all persons regardless of social class
- Belief in Jesus' resurrection as a sign of the deep impact Jesus had on his followers
- Summary
- Rapid growth of Christianity during and after Constantine I
- Challenges to Christianity by Islam, internal schisms
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