Christians and the synagogue

[Hyperion]

Does Scripture say that Christians gathered in the synagogue or was it a sect of Jews that were mentioned?

 

Acts 19:8-9

"And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus."

 

"The Way" is all I can find, which I understand to be the early Jewish sect of Nazarenes.

 

Thanks for any feedback!

Edited February 7, 2019 by Hyperion
Mispelling

[simplejeff]

"Answer: “The Way” is mentioned several times in the book of Acts (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22) in connection with early followers of Christ.....

....

Presumably, the early followers of Christ referred to themselves as followers of the Way because of Jesus’ statement in John 14:6 that He is “the way and the truth and the life.” Luke says that Aquila and Priscilla explained to Apollos “the way of God” more fully (Acts 18:26). Peter refers to Christianity as “the way of truth” (2 Peter 2:2). And the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus’ broken body is the “new and living way” for us to enter the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19–20).

www . got questions . org/the-Way.html

[Hyperion]

2 hours ago, simplejeff said:

"Answer: “The Way” is mentioned several times in the book of Acts (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22) in connection with early followers of Christ.....

....

Presumably, the early followers of Christ referred to themselves as followers of the Way because of Jesus’ statement in John 14:6 that He is “the way and the truth and the life.” Luke says that Aquila and Priscilla explained to Apollos “the way of God” more fully (Acts 18:26). Peter refers to Christianity as “the way of truth” (2 Peter 2:2). And the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus’ broken body is the “new and living way” for us to enter the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19–20).

www . got questions . org/the-Way.html

Where does it, specifically, say that people of the Way were "Christians"?

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, Hyperion said:

Where does it, specifically, say that people of the Way were "Christians"?

They didn't have bumper stickers saying "Jesus is The Way", but that was the message followers of Christ were spreading, hence the references to The Way.

Act 9:1-2
(1)  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
(2)  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

[Jostler]

8 hours ago, Hyperion said:

Where does it, specifically, say that people of the Way were "Christians"?

The label "Christians" was not applied to followers of Jesus until long after the Cross.

Quote

Act 11:26

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

But there were many followers of Christ prior to that.  The above happens pretty deep into Acts so what WERE followers of Jesus called?   Some contemporary secular writings seem to recognize this group as a "schism" within Judaisim.  A huge percentage of Jesus' earliest followers WERE Jews so it's not surprising unbelievers would identify them as a Jewish sect.   The whole foundation of the New Covenant is the Old Covenant so from some perspectives it might even be perceived as an accurate statement   Without the Old, "new" makes no sense at all

Many times in many ways Jesus identified Himself as "the way" back to restored relationship with Father.  So did the apostles in their various  writings.  If I recall, followers of Jesus were known as "people of the Way".  Regardless of the labels applied, it seems clear to me they had to be born again believers. 

[Who me]

9 hours ago, Hyperion said:

Where does it, specifically, say that people of the Way were "Christians"?

More importantly, where does it say they are not Christian?

Acts 9 v1+2: Saul breathing threats against the Lord's disciples, he gets letters to act against those who belong to "the way".

Lords disciples+ belong to the way = Christian.

[Hyperion]

3 hours ago, Jostler said:

The label "Christians" was not applied to followers of Jesus until long after the Cross.

But there were many followers of Christ prior to that.  The above happens pretty deep into Acts so what WERE followers of Jesus called?   Some contemporary secular writings seem to recognize this group as a "schism" within Judaisim.  A huge percentage of Jesus' earliest followers WERE Jews so it's not surprising unbelievers would identify them as a Jewish sect.   The whole foundation of the New Covenant is the Old Covenant so from some perspectives it might even be perceived as an accurate statement   Without the Old, "new" makes no sense at all

Many times in many ways Jesus identified Himself as "the way" back to restored relationship with Father.  So did the apostles in their various  writings.  If I recall, followers of Jesus were known as "people of the Way".  Regardless of the labels applied, it seems clear to me they had to be born again believers. 

So do you believe the people of the Way enjoyed being called "Christian" and began labeling themselves as such and do you believe that they continued in the synagogue at Antioch or did they begin to meet elsewhere?

[Jostler]

2 minutes ago, Hyperion said:

So do you believe the people of the Way enjoyed being called "Christian" and began labeling themselves as such and do you believe that they continued in the synagogue at Antioch or did they begin to meet elsewhere?

I wouldn't try to be dogmatic on this, but my best guess would be "both".  We have references that indicate "house to house" meetings...meetings IN the temple in Jerusalem...meetings in synagogues.  I don't really know but I'm doubtful Christian felt like an  offensive label due  to its direct connection to the messiah. 

Jesus said the gospel needed to go first to the Jew....and primarily it did in the early church.  It wasn't until Peter was sent to Cornelius house that an overt focus on evangelizing the "nations" was even imaginable to the early Christians.  And Jesus had to give Peter a vision to overcome the "separateness" of Jew and gentile in Peter's eyes. 

I think the message of Jesus would STILL be emanating from synogues in our day had Israel not rejected Him....but they did ...temporarily...so that's speculation   Fun to think about though

I  long for the day when Israel turns as one to the One who bought them...it will be glorious!

[Hyperion]

9 hours ago, pinacled said:

Yeshua is the Lion of the tribe of yhdh.

The way spoken of here in relation to natzerah has to do with direction of purity. An incorruptible seed. 

Righteous judgement and so on.

Do you Understand?

No,please elaborate.

[Jayne]

On ‎2‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 10:18 PM, Hyperion said:

Where does it, specifically, say that people of the Way were "Christians"?

The 9th chapter of Acts makes the connection.

Acts 9:1-2 = "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."