INTRODUCTION: IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN CENTERS IN ASIAN MISSION ACCORDING TO COUNTRIES: FROM 1ST CENTURY TO 10TH CENTURY

IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN CENTERS IN ASIAN MISSION ACCORDING TO COUNTRIES: FROM 1ST CENTURY TO 10TH CENTURY


INTRODUCTION
FOUNDER: JESUS CHRIST born in Roman Asia (Bethlehem, Lk 2: 4-7))
"decree from Caesar Augustus" (r.  27 BC- 14 AD), (Lk 2: 1)


APOSTOLIC MISSIONARIES (1st century  AD): 12 APOSTLES (acc. to tradition)
Peter: Antioch, Babylon, Martyred
Andrew: Antioch, Armenia, Martyred
James: Jerusalem, Martyred (Acts 12: 1-2)
John: Ephesus, Natural death
Bartholomew: Armenia, Martyred
Philip: Greece, Syria, Martyred
Matthew: Jerusalem and beyond, Martyred
Thomas: Armenia, India, Martyred
James, Son of Alphaeus: Syria, Martyred
Thaddeus (Jude): Armenia, Martyred
Simon the Zealot (Cannaites): Armenia, Persia Lebanon, Martyred
Matthias: Armenia, Martyred



I. BORDER OF EAST AND WEST: Politically, ancient Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire(Byzantine) (Roman empire split after the death of Theodosius I, c. 395 A.D.) boundaries were (in water ways): Western Empire North: Rhine, including Britain; South: Mediterranean; East: Danube; West: Atlantic. In the Adriatic Sea boundary: the Bay of Kotor (Rison Bay) between Praevalis and Dalmatia.

Geographically, Euphrates River located in Western Asia Region(Turkey, Iraq, Syria) are called Mesopotamia and actually, Turkey Straits divide West and East.


II. CHURCH FATHERS: Origen of Alexandria, "praeparatio evangelium"


III. ROMAN EMPIRE: "Pax Romana"


IV. INTERIOR BIBLICAL CENTERS: GRECO-ROMAN, ASIA


A. Palestine
1. Judea- Jerusalem (Acts 1: 8)


2. Samaria (Acts 1: 8)


3. Galilee (Matt. 4: 15, 21: 11;   Mk. 3: 17; Lk. 4: 14-30; John 1: 46; 7: 52)


4. Ends of the world (Acts 1: 8)


B. Asia Minor: Phhygia, Galatia, Pontus, Lycia, Pisidia, Pamphilia, Cappadocia (Book of Acts)


C. Syria: , Antioch (Lk 2: 1-2; Acts 11: 26)
"Quirius was a governor of Syria"
"The disciples were called Christians at first at Antioch."


D.  Parthia (Iran, Southern Russia, Afghanistan border) (Acts 2: 5-11)


E.  Media (South of Caspian Sea and, modern Teheran) (Acts 2: 5-11)


F. Elam (Khuzistaan, and Persian Gulf) (Acts 2: 5-11)




V. EXTRA BIBLICAL CENTERS:


A. OSROENE: Kingdom of Edessa (132 BC-214 AD)
1. Religion: Gnosticism, Christianity
2. Dynasty:
a. Abqarid
b. King Abgar V (Black, 13 AD-50 AD)
3. Missionaries: Thaddaeus or Addaï of Edessa (Apostle); Eusebius EH (I. 12);
Bardaisan of Edessa (b. 154)
4. Important cities: Edessa (Today Sanliurga, Turkey), Nisibus (Today Nusaybin, Turkey)


B. ARMENIA: Apostle of Armenia was Gregory the Illuminator (3rd century)
1. Religion: Zoroastrianism, Christianity
2. Dynasty: Tiridates III of Armenia (r. 298-330 AD)
a. Armenia was the first Christian kingdom. King Tiridates I (261-317)
b. Missionaries: Gregory the Illuminator
3. Important cities: Mtsbin, Yerevan




C. ARAB NATIONS, (Kuwait; Bahrain; United Arab Emirates, UAE; Oman)
1. Religions: Christian, Islam (c7th century)
2. Dynasty: Himyarites Kingdom (110 BC- 520 AD)
3. Missionaries: Apostle Paul (Gal 15-17);
Pamphilos of the Tannaye, who attened Council of Nicaea (325);
Mawiyya, the first Christian Arab queen; Hayyan of Yemen; Abdisho of Bahrain (390)
4. Important regions: Hira


D. IRAQ (Ancient Assyria)
1. Religion: Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity
2. Dynasty:Adianene kingdom
a. King Ezad converted to Judaism
3. Missionaries:Two disciples of Addaï (Thaddaeus); Aggai (Acts of St. Mari); Pkidha, bishop, Semsoun (2nd bishop); Tatian the Assyrian (c. 110-180)
4. Important cities: Arbela (Modern Erbil; once Iran)


E. IRANIAN (Persian Empire dissolved in 330 AD), ASIA
1. Religions:  Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism
2. Dynasty:
a. Achaemenids (549-330 BC) Founder was Cyrus II, the Great.
b. Seleucids (312-238 BC) It was Greek. Heir of Alexander the Great.
c. Pathians (247-226 AD) It was Asian again.
d. Sasanian Empire (224 AD- 651 AD)
3. Missionaries: Peter, Thomas Parthians; , Thadaeus, Bartholomew and Addeus, Mesopotamia regions.
4. IImportant cities: Seleucia-Ctesiphon




F. CENTRAL ASIA (700 BC-  10th century: Persian Empire; Greek Empire 4th century BC); Indo-Parthian (1st century AD); Kusan (200-300 AD); Xionites (400 AD); Hephthalites and Hunas (500 AD);  Sui (6c)and Tang (7th century), China; Arab empire; Mongol (13th century)
1. Religion: Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism
2. Countries: Pamirs, Tajilistan, Azerbaijan, 7 Stans countries
3. Missionaries:
4. Important cities: Bactria, Afghanistan


G.  INDIA, ASIA
1. Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism
2. Dynasty
a. Maurya empire (321 BC)
3. Missionaries: St. Thomas (1st century), Pantaenus of Alexandria (ca. 180 or 190), Persian missionaries (400 AD), Bishop David of Basra,
4. Important cities and centers: Karela, Malabar




F. CHINA (SINIC)
1. Religion: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism
2. Dynasty
a. Jin daynasty (221 BC- 207 BC)
b. Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
3. Missionaries: An Shih Kao (c. 149 AD); Alopen (635
4. Important cities: Xi'an


I. MONGOL CHINA (13th)
1. Reglision:Tengrism, Shamanism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity
2. Dynasty: Genghis Khan (1206-1227); Sorkaktani (His daughter-in-law was a Christian.)
Ögetai (1229-1241)
Guyuk (1246-1248)
Möngke (1251-1259)
Kublai (1260-1294) (His mother was Sorkaktani.)
3. Missionaries: Ongud tribe, Keraites tribe
4. Important cities: Avarga


J. KOREA
1. Religion: Shaminism, Buddhism, Confucianism
2. Dynasty:Three Kingdoms (300 AD- 700 AD), Northern-Southern Period (700 AD- 900 AD), Koryo Period (936 AD- 1392 AD)
3. Missionaries: Nestorian missionaries
4. Important cities: Anshan, Liaotung peninsula