After another frenzied room cleaning and remodelling spree- they happen regularly- I stumbled upon last years notebook, full of fascinating scribbles and ideas, and a fair few less inspired ones too.
One page near the back jumped out at me, it was the beginning of the story of the Early Church (abridged version). The early church has been a topic that I've loved for a long time now (see my earlier blogs in '09 about Paul's travelling companions) and I have always wanted to write a simple storyline following Paul and fusing together the tales of his friends and churches. Unfortunately I lack any sense of perserverance when it comes to literary matters! However here is the introduction, the setting if you will, of my tales of the early church:
AD33: Rome dominates the Meditteranean. Trade and commerce flourish. Emporer Tiberias reigns. The unfaltering Pax Romana, Peace of Rome, spreads it might and justice from the shores.
But on the eastern borders of the Empire, in the Jewish province of Judea, Roman soldiers occupy an unwilling land. The populace, once entirely conposing of Jewish Hebrews, is now split- The Samaritans to the north of Jerusalem have their own religious practices and rituals, and are despised by their southern brothers. To the east, in the cities of the Decapolis, the citizens have adopted the Greek language and culture, these are known as Hellenists. Zealots and terrorist bands, conceived to harrase the Romans occupiers, equally terrorise the common Jewish peoples, leaving them poorer and under harsher control. Some of their number, know as the Sicarii, pass amongst the crowded streets and markets, unseen until they strike with concealed knives, butchering many of their own.
The Jewish Sanhedrin, the authority on all Jewish matters, is divided. The aristocratic Saducees, including the High Priest, dominate- they do not believe in the Ressurection of the dead. The Pharisees, although a minority, have great support amongst the scribes and rabbis (the backbone of spiritual Israel), however their multitude of strict and unreasonable laws make them proud, hypocritical and unreachable.
Life for the average family is tough: the Roman Prefects, Sahedrin elites and corrupt tax officials bleed them dry. Famine strikes like a regular occurance across the region. Local synagogues provide community centres in Jerusalem and throughout the province, Rabbis school the children and the un-merciful authorities keep a close watch on any religious disent.
However, in this forsaken backwash of the mighty Roman Empire a great work has started, a work which shall rock the very foundations of civilisation, its laborours will be crucified, beaten, scourged, mocked, tortured and beheaded, but it will go on and grow stronger; its message of salvation and freedom from slavery to sin shall continue until our Lord returns!
This is the world of the early church, the world in which we now find ourselves. Paul lived, worked and preached in the cities across this empire, alongside such names as Simon Peter, James the Just, and the Apostle John; as well as those we are less familier with like Onesimus, Tychicus and Ananias. This is their story....
