Which of the following featured prominently at the first Christian Council in Jerusalem?
Answer Details
Circumcision featured prominently at the first Christian Council in Jerusalem. The Council was called to address the issue of whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to be circumcised and follow Jewish law in order to be saved. Some Jewish Christians believed that Gentiles needed to follow Jewish customs and practices, including circumcision, in order to be considered part of the Christian community. However, other Christian leaders, including Paul and Barnabas, believed that salvation was a free gift from God that was not dependent on observing the law. At the Council, Peter and James spoke in favor of accepting Gentiles without requiring them to be circumcised, and the Council ultimately agreed that Gentile believers did not need to follow Jewish law in order to be saved. This decision was a significant moment in the history of Christianity, as it opened the door for the gospel to be preached to people of all nations and backgrounds, without the requirement of following Jewish customs.