초기 기독교의 선교 활동

Abstract

Mission toward pagans is the most central factor in dividing Christianity from Judaism. Although Judaism had some interest in mission, it didn't carry out mission actively. Furthermore the proselyte to Judaism must observe law and be circumcised. But Christianity carried out mission actively, and didn’t enforce the observance of law and circumcision on the proselyte to Christianity. Approving this new practice in about 49 the Council of Apostle gave birth to Christianity as a new religion. According to the suggestion of many Christians and scholars who supported the Christianity scarcely the mission toward pagans of early Christianity began when Jesus ascended to Heaven. But the first Christians didn’t have any intention to carry out mission toward pagans for the time being. They endeavored to persuade only Jews into their belief. I make an argument that the mission toward pagans of early Christianity was began not by the will of the early Christians but by the intention of pagans and most of the pagans were God-fears or God-worshipers. Being semi-Jews or pro Jews, they were present in synagogues. They were part of most of the Jewish community in the Mediterranean world. They did help to Jews financially and protected Jews against pagan world. The main objects of the missionaries of early Christianity including St. Paul were these God-worshipers. According to the recently discovered monument they comprised nearly half of the Jewish community. So St. Paul didn’t not go streets or markets where he could meet pagans who didn’t know Judaism at all. Instead he went to the synagogues, intending to make these God-worshipers Christians. Therefore the conflicts between St. Paul and Jews were inevitable and fierce. And the missions of early Christians played a major role in dividing Christianity from Judaism.