History of Christianity in India
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA
I. The Beginning of Christianity in India – The Tradition of St. Thomas and Bartholomew
The Christian church in arose out of the events described in the central portion of the Apostle’s Creed – the birth, passion and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. These happen in the small country of Palestine in the first century, an its spread outwards from Palestine through the work of his apostles, their helpers and successors, who planted the church in country after country during a wonderful short time through Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece, Antioch, Alexandria and Rome itself. It continued to spread after the death of apostles to ever province of the Empire, by the fearful times of persecution, until in the fourth century the emperors themselves become Christian and made Christianity the established religion of the Empire.
There are two views among scholars about the origin of Christianity in India. According to one, the foundation of Christianity in Indian, the first is laid by St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew. The other view would ascribe the arrival of Christianity in India to the enterprise of merchants, and missionaries of the East-Syrian or Persian Church.
Now, firstly ewe ill trace back the first view, the tradition of St. Thomas and Bartholomew, did they really carry, the Gospel into India or not by using different accounts of individual and groups. Now let us discuss about St. Thomas firstly.
The Tradition of St. Thomas
(i) Western Tradition: According to tradition, the Christianity was brought in the first century by one of the twelve apostles, St. Thomas. This has been the constant tradition of the Syrian Christian of Malabar and widely believed in the West also. However, unfortunately we have no contemporary records to confirm the matter beyond doubt. Consequently there is much uncertainty about the actual history of St. Thomas, and it is necessary to inquire that why they believe that he
I. The Beginning of Christianity in India – The Tradition of St. Thomas and Bartholomew
The Christian church in arose out of the events described in the central portion of the Apostle’s Creed – the birth, passion and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. These happen in the small country of Palestine in the first century, an its spread outwards from Palestine through the work of his apostles, their helpers and successors, who planted the church in country after country during a wonderful short time through Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece, Antioch, Alexandria and Rome itself. It continued to spread after the death of apostles to ever province of the Empire, by the fearful times of persecution, until in the fourth century the emperors themselves become Christian and made Christianity the established religion of the Empire.
There are two views among scholars about the origin of Christianity in India. According to one, the foundation of Christianity in Indian, the first is laid by St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew. The other view would ascribe the arrival of Christianity in India to the enterprise of merchants, and missionaries of the East-Syrian or Persian Church.
Now, firstly ewe ill trace back the first view, the tradition of St. Thomas and Bartholomew, did they really carry, the Gospel into India or not by using different accounts of individual and groups. Now let us discuss about St. Thomas firstly.
The Tradition of St. Thomas
(i) Western Tradition: According to tradition, the Christianity was brought in the first century by one of the twelve apostles, St. Thomas. This has been the constant tradition of the Syrian Christian of Malabar and widely believed in the West also. However, unfortunately we have no contemporary records to confirm the matter beyond doubt. Consequently there is much uncertainty about the actual history of St. Thomas, and it is necessary to inquire that why they believe that he