Excellent points, thank you for your comment. A limited reply.

I disagree that Seutonius is the only source we have for an expulsion of Jews from Jerusalem. The author of Acts also mentions it. Acts 18:2. "And he found a certain Jew named Acquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them." Given that Luke's reference is merely a side note, of no determinable theological significance, I believe it is trustworthy. And, it is a second, independent source for the expulsion of the Jews in 49 CE. However, I could accept that it was not a mass explusion. Although we have no indication that Acquila or Priscilla were leaders in the Jewish, or Christian, communities, it is possible that they were expelled for those reasons. I think it a bit of a strecth though.

I am aware that the Chrestus reference is disputed. Your position is certainly a possibility and mine by no means a certainty. I find Bruce's arguments persuasive, however, and would be happy to debate them with you if you desire.

I agree that the Roman church was probably predominantly Gentile by the time Paul wrote. However, I doubt the letter was meant ONLY to be read by Gentiles. Certainly there were Jews in the Roman church, as it was originally founded by Jews. Moreover, as I hope to post later, I believe the Epistle to the Hebrews was sent to Jewish Christians in Rome not too long after Paul had sent Romans to the church in Rome.

Again, excellent points. Thank you.

Thank you keyboard maker for the Scroll button! Did you type that in a monotone?

"Thank you keyboard maker for the Scroll button! Did you type that in a monotone?"

Sorry, too few personal insults for your liking?

Was that an attempt to add one more? I just hope your insurance policy covers Carpel Tunnel Symdrome. Good night, everyone

To Layman:

Thanks for your interesting post. Can you provide any references? Either books or good online info?

I obviously relied a bit on F.F. Bruce and his work, Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Another, more recent work on Paul that I enjoyed was Ben Witherington's The Paul Quest.

A good primer on early church history is The Early Church, E. Glenn Hinson.

Ernest Sparks

Did the Neronian persecution following the great fire in Rome (64 CE) fairly well break up the party for both judaic and gentilic Christ-followers?

And what do you think about the Simon Magus story? Simon was from Samaria and was accounted to have tried bribing Peter for the secret to filling people with the Holy Ghost. A story says that Simon ran a real rival sect in Rome with certain elements taken from the Christ and Church story.

Ernie


[This message has been edited by Ernest Sparks (edited February 12, 2001).]

"Did the Neronian persecution following the great fire in Rome (64 CE) fairly well break up the party for both judaic and gentilic Christ-followers?"

It is difficult to say how thorough the persecution was. All that I believe we know for sure is that the Roman Church survived, and obtained a level of prominence in early Christianity. Around 96 CE, the Roman Church sent a letter to the Corinthian church advising it on certain disruptive matters occuring there (1 Clement). So the church had obviously recovered by that time.

By 230-50 CE the Roman Church had grown so much that "two major organizational changes" were required. "Creation of a lower clergy with five ranks and division of the Roman Church into seven districts corresponding to the ancient wuarters, each under a deacon. Cornelius reported that the Roman rolls included 46 presbyters; 7 deacons; 7 subdeacons; 42 acolytes; 52 exorcists, readers, and doorkeepers, and 1,500 widows or otherwise indigent persons. Forty-six presbyters may inidcate the number of congregations in the city, and the total Christian constituency must have been over 30,000." E. Glenn Hinson, The Early Church, at 114.


"And what do you think about the Simon Magus story? Simon was from Samaria and was accounted to have tried bribing Peter for the secret to filling people with the Holy Ghost. A story says that Simon ran a real rival sect in Rome with certain elements taken from the Christ and Church story."

I can't help you with this one. I was under the impression that the Simon Magus stories where kind of Christian urban legends.