Chapter 5: The Early Christian Community

Question 0

dignity

Answer 0

worth

Question 1

What was different about early Christian churches from other groups in the Roman Empire?

Answer 1

They were the only groups in the Roman Empire which included all types of people. This behavior imitates the way Jesus interacted with everybody, reflecting an idea of the dignity of every person.

Question 2

ekklesia

Answer 2

(Greek) means assembly. What Paul called the small early Christian churches.

Question 3

What image does Paul use to describe the church?

Answer 3

The church is like a human body. Every part is needed.

Question 4

Eucharista

Answer 4

(Greek) means thanksgiving. Eucharist was the ritual of communal thanksgiving. It originally came from the tradition of Jewish meal prayer: blessing of the bread before dinner, blessing of wine after dinner.

Question 5

Why was the Eucharist changed to a ritual meal?

Answer 5

People were behaving badly at the actual meal: some didn’t have enough to eat, some had too much. Some people got drunk.

Question 6

Similarities between St. Justin’s description of Eucharist and Mass and the modern Catholic mass

Answer 6

• reading memoirs of the apostles=first reading (often Old Testament)
• reading writings of prophets=Letters? Gospels?
• President’s sermon encourages people to follow the readings=homily
• people stand for prayers=Prayers of the Faithful
• bread, wine, water brought up=bringing up gifts
• President offers thanks at length=Eucharistic prayer
• people receive consecrated elements=communion
• deacons take a portion to the sick

Question 7

Differences between St. Justin’s description of Eucharist and Mass and the modern Catholic mass

Answer 7

St. Justin does not mention consecration or the recitation of a creed