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Definition:
The Apostolic Council was a meeting of early Christians under the leadership of apostles and elders,
recorded in Acts 15:4-29
and perhaps Galatians 2:1-10.
The reason for this meeting appears to have been disagreements over the status of non-Jewish Christians. Some wanted these new Christians to go through the same conversion process and follow all the same rules required of Jews because they did not regard Christianity as anything more than simply a new sect of Judaism. Others, however, believed that Jesus' message went beyond Judaism and, therefore, gentiles could become Christians without also being Jews. Peter is recorded as proposing that, in his experience, gentile Christians had indeed received the Holy Spirit. James agrees and suggests only minimal obligations, such as "abstinence from idolatry, blood, meat that is strangled, and sexual immorality" - all quite close to the requirements placed upon gentiles living among Jews who do not wish to convert to Judaism.
Also Known As: none
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Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
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A system of human beliefs, ideals and practices which is harder to define than it may at first appear. Read more about how dictionaries, scholars and others have tried to define and explain religion.
