Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Religion (MAR)

Committee Chair

Steve Harmon

Abstract

This thesis examines how early Christian leaders strategically contextualized the gospel within the diverse sociohistorical contexts of the Roman Empire while maintaining theological consistency. Using a comparative synchronic methodology adapted from Michael Gorman, it analyzes five primary texts spanning the first through fourth centuries: the Lukan Paul’s missionary speeches in Acts (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, and Athens), Irenaeus’s On the Apostolic Preaching, and Athanasius’s On the Incarnation. Each text is analyzed within its literary, historical, and cultural context to identify patterns of strategic constants and variables in gospel presentation. The analysis shows that central gospel elements, such as Christology, monotheism, soteriology, and scriptural authority remain consistent, even as early Christian communication is intentionally adapted to address specific audiences, contexts, and historical circumstances. The Lukan Paul’s speeches demonstrate adaptive evangelistic approaches across Jewish, Gentile, and philosophical environments; Irenaeus responds to internal theological divisions through a catechetical synthesis grounded in Scripture and apostolic tradition; and Athanasius articulates a philosophically engaged and pastorally oriented theology of the Incarnation amid doctrinal controversy. By tracing patterns of contextualization across four centuries, this thesis argues that early Christianity balanced theological integrity and cultural sensitivity through intentional contextualization, offering historical insights for contemporary gospel communication.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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