6/5/17
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Amazon Kindle Edition, 2014.
Volume 1, Ch. 3, “The Apostolic Age.” Loc. 2859-3470
§20 “Sources and Literature of the Apostolic Age” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 2859).
The New Testament texts come to mind immediately as source documents for the Apostolic Age. Schaff refers to the debates which have occurred about various books of the New Testament but concludes that even without those of which there is debate the canonical Gospels and Acts give evidence of a trustworthy preservation of the apostolic time (Ibid., Loc. 2874). Schaff also notes that the post-apostolic and patristic writings seem dependent on a view of the accuracy of Acts and Paul’s letters. The apocryphal and heretical works, which Schaff cites in a bibliography (Ibid., Loc. 2892), Jewish, and Pagan sources, though often hostile to Christian orthodoxy, accept the New Testament view of people, places, and many ideas. Schaff provides a list of histories as well (Ibid., Loc. 2910).
§21. “General Character of the Apostolic Age” (Ibid., Loc. 2996). This period covers approximately AD 30-100 with centers of activity in Jerusalem, Antioch, and Rome, with Ephesus and Corinth becoming important later in the period (Ibid., Loc. 3003). The Gospel reached throughout the Mediterranean world in this period. Again, Acts and the Pauline Epistles are the primary source until 63. Little is known after that time until the second century (Ibid., Loc. 3026). Christianity grew rapidly, possibly reaching some 12 million by the time of Constantine (Ibid., Loc. 3043). Schaff sees Peter, Paul, and John as the representatives of this age, being paradigms for all growth of Christianity (Ibid., Loc. 3073). He goes on to sketch the three individually.
§22. “The Critical Reconstruction of the History of the Apostolic Age” (Ibid., Loc. 3155). In Schaff’s time studies of the apostolic age were blossoming, though often in such a way as to discredit the early accounts (Ibid., Loc. 3169). Schaff discusses both verbal criticism and historical criticism which had been developed in the early 1800s. One branch was more disposed to accept the reliability of Scripture than the other. Schaff illustrates some of the distinctives of the more skeptical Tubingen school.
§23. “Chronology of the Apostolic Age” (Ibid., Loc. 3389).
Much of the chronology is well document in Acts, the Pauline Epistles, Josephus, and other Roman historians. Schaff gives some highlights of the period with dates.