For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Early sources

• Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
• Acts
• Letters
• Apocalypse
• Found also in early documents like 1 Clement, the letters of Ignatius, etc.

Apostolic emphases illustrated in evangelistic speeches:

• Acts 2:14-36
  • Jesus was a real person -- he was from Nazareth (v.22).
  • The scriptures (Old Testament) bear witness to Christ (vv.16-21, 25-28, 34-35).
  • His many miracles also testify to him (v.22)
    • These were indisputable, even to his enemies.
    • In the early centuries, the Jews did not deny his miracles, although sometimes they dismissed them as magic.
  • Crucified (v.23).
    • See 1 Corinthians 1. What was striking was not the agony of his death, but his apparent failure.
    • Little emphasis on the gore. Restraint exercised even in the gospel accounts of Jesus' passion.
  • Resurrected (vv.24-32).
    • Corroborated by eyewitnesses.
    • Emphasized more than the crucifixion.
  • The world /age to come is here:
    • Day of the Lord here (v.20).
    • Kingdom of God -- and Christ is King (vv.30,33).
    • The Spirit is now available (vv.17-18, 33 -- see v.38)
  • Jesus is the Christ, or Messiah (vv.34-36).
    • Son of David
    • Jesus is the Lord (vv.34, 36).
    • Salvation therefore comes in name of the Lord (v.21--see v.38, 22:16).
• Acts 28:23
  • 25 years later than the Pentecost message
  • This is an abbreviated version of most of the material in the Pentecost sermon.
  • Paul had many hours to proclaim Christ -- far longer than Peter did at Pentecost -- and this one-verse compendium summarizes a period of teaching doubtless containing  more content than the Acts 2 sermon:
    • Kingdom
    • Messianic texts

General

• Incarnate God -- both divine and human
• Sinless
• Lord: personal and political implications (esp. beginning in the 2nd century).
• Church as visible body of Christ, though see 2 Corinthians 4:5.
• Yes this compelling portrayal of Christ slowly begins to change. To be continued...

Next: Christ in Church History: The Early Middle Ages