eelvangistusasutus

Eelvangistusasutus is a term used in Estonian-language scholarship to describe early Christian organizations and activities that existed before the writing and wide circulation of the canonical Gospels. It is not a single institution but a descriptive category for diverse pre-gospel movements that contributed to the spread of Jesus’ teachings through preaching, communal life, and oral transmission.

Etymology and usage: The word eelvangistusasutus is a compound coinage, combining eel- meaning early or pre- with a form interpreted here as an institutional category for early Christian communities. The term appears in scholarly discussions and some popular treatments to capture the idea of organized pre-gospel activity without implying a monolithic structure.

Historical context and activities: The concept covers late first-century practices, including itinerant teachers, house churches, meal fellowship, and memory-based teaching. These groups often relied on oral traditions and lacked a fixed written canon, with leaders such as apostles, prophets, and elders guiding communities.

Relation to the Gospels: Eelvangistusasutus is used to discuss the period preceding or overlapping with the earliest gospel compositions. Some traditions later appear in the canonical Gospels, while others remain oral or are preserved in non-canonical writings. The term is debated and not uniformly adopted.

Criticism and scholarly usage: Critics warn that the notion risks projecting later ecclesiastical forms onto a diffuse, varied pre-gospel landscape. Proponents argue it helps describe the social and organizational preconditions for gospel formation.

See also: Early Christianity, Oral tradition, Gospel of Mark, Q source.