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Do not fill this in! ===Early beliefs and practices=== {{Further|History of Christian theology}} [[File:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg|thumb|One of the oldest representation of Jesus as the Good Shepherd from the [[catacombs of Rome]], made around 300 AD|alt=photo of very old and slightly damaged representation of Jesus as the Good Shepherd from the catacombs, made around 300 AD]] Early Christianity's system of beliefs and morality have been cited as a major factor in its growth.{{sfn|Matthews|Platt|1992|p=147}} In contrast to traditional Roman social stratification, early Christian communities were highly inclusive being open to men and women, rich and poor, slave and free.{{sfn|Meeks|2003|p=79}}{{sfn|Judge|2010|p=214}} In groups formed by Paul the Apostle, the role of [[women]] was greater than in other religious movements.{{sfn|Meeks|2003|p=81}}{{sfn|Lieu|1999|pp=20β21}} Intellectual [[egalitarianism]] made [[philosophy]] and [[ethics]] available to ordinary people that Roman culture deemed incapable of ethical reflection.{{sfn|Praet|1992|p=45β48}}{{sfn|Harper|2013|p=7}} Christian conceptions of sexual morality and free will produced dramatic change from the Roman understanding of sexual morality as determined by social and political status, power, and [[social reproduction|class]].{{sfn|Dunning|2015|p=397}}{{sfn|Harper|2013|pp=4, 7, 14β18, 88β92}}{{sfn|Harper|2013|pp=abstract; 14β18}} Christians distributed bread to the hungry, nurtured the sick, and showed the poor great generosity.{{sfn|Vaage|2006|p=220}}{{sfn|Muir|2006|p=218}} Family had previously determined where and how the dead could be buried, but Christians gathered those not related by blood into a common burial space, used the same memorials, and expanded the audience to include others of their community, thereby redefining the meaning of family.{{sfn|Yasin|2005|p=433}}{{sfn|Hellerman|2009|p=6}} Christianity in its first 300 years was also highly exclusive.{{sfn|Trebilco|2017|pp=85, 218}} Believing was the crucial and defining characteristic that set a "high boundary" that strongly excluded non-believers.{{sfn|Trebilco|2017|pp=85, 218}} The exclusivity of Christian [[monotheism]] has been cited as a crucial factor in maintaining Christian independence in the [[Syncretism|syncretizing]] Roman religious culture.{{sfn|Praet|1992|p=68;108}} Many scholars interpreted this exclusivity as an intolerance inherent in Christian belief, though this view has been challenged by modern scholarship.{{sfn|Drake|1996|p=4}} In the mid-second century, Christian writers such as [[Justin Martyr]] (100β165 CE), began using the term "[[heresy]]."{{sfn|Royalty|2013|p=3}}{{sfn|Lyman|2007|p=297}} The concept developed as a means of defining theological error, ensuring correct belief and establishing identity.{{sfn|Lyman|2007|p=297}} Tension from universality and diversity made the establishment of boundaries necessary.{{sfn|Lyman|2007|p=309}} In the early centuries, doctrinal variations were gradually regulated by literature that established a consensus of common beliefs thereby creating "unified diversity".{{sfn|Lyman|2007|pp=298β299}} The modern understanding of freedom of conscience has been cited by some as beginning with Christianity's understanding of freedom to choose one's own religion. Starting with Justin Martyr, freedom of religious conscience is affirmed in the Milan edict of 313.{{sfn|Babii|2020|p=abstract}} Early Christians were told to love others, even enemies, and Christians of all classes and sorts called each other "[[Brother (Christian)|brother]]" and "[[Religious sister (Catholic)|sister]]". These concepts and practices were foundational to early Christian thought, have remained central, and can be seen as early precursors to later modern concepts of tolerance.{{sfn|Meeks|2003|pp=88β90}} ====Church hierarchy==== {{See also|Christianity in the ante-Nicene period}} The Church as an institution began its formation quickly and with some flexibility. The New Testament mentions ''[[bishop]]s'' (or {{Lang|el|[[episkopoi]]}}), as overseers and ''[[presbyter]]s'' as [[Elder (Christianity)|elders]] or [[Priest#Christianity|priests]], with ''[[deacons]]'' as 'servants', sometimes using the terms interchangeably.{{sfn|Carrington|1957|pp=375β376}} According to [[Gerd Theissen]], institutionalization began when itinerant preaching transformed into resident leadership (those living in a particular community over which they exercised leadership).{{sfn|Horrell|1997|p=324}} A fully organized church system had evolved prior to Constantine and the Council of Nicaea in 325.{{sfn|Judge|2010|p=4}} ====New Testament==== {{Main|Bible}}{{Further|Development of the Christian biblical canon|Development of the New Testament canon}} [[File:P46.jpg|thumb|upright=.7|A folio from [[Papyrus 46]], an early-3rd-century collection of [[Pauline epistles]]|alt=photo of an old page of writing from Papyrus 46 in a third century collection of Paul's Epistles]] In the first century, new scriptures were written in [[Koine Greek]]. For Christians, these became the "New Testament", and the Hebrew Scriptures became the "Old Testament".{{sfn|Brown |2010 |loc=Intro. and ch. 1 }} Even in the formative period, these texts had considerable authority, and those seen as "scriptural" were generally agreed upon.{{sfn|Barton|1998a|p=14}}{{sfn|Porter|2011|p=198}} When discussion of canonization began, there were disputes over whether or not to include some books.{{sfn|Noll|1997|pp=36β37}}{{sfn|De Jonge|2003|p=315}} A list of accepted books was established by the [[Council of Rome]] in 382, followed by those of [[Council of Hippo|Hippo]] in 393 and [[Council of Carthage#Synod of 397|Carthage]] in 397.{{sfn|Brown|2010|loc=Intro.}} Spanning two millennia, the Bible has become one of the most influential works ever written, having contributed to the formation of [[Western law]], [[Western art|art]], [[Western literature|literature]], literacy and education.{{sfn|Koenig|2009|p=31}}{{sfn|Burnside|2011|p=XXVI}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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