In the last quarter of the first century a long time had already elapsed since Jesus's crucifixion and death. This had the result that there was an everincreasing need for literature that would record past events. Especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke ensured that the words and deeds of Jesus would not sink into oblivion. However, this period also provided the opportunity for an ongoing reflection on what the Jesus movement meant. It also became the object of its own reflection in , for example, the Acts of the apostles; the first ‘history of early Christianity’ which exists.

From the deuteropauline letters and the general letters one can see the same kind of reflection. Guidance had to be given on how Christians should behave and act in this world before Christ's second coming. The church as such also became part of the ‘salvation history’ which was perceived to have occurred in the person of Jesus. Despite this concentration on earthly life, the early Christians never gave up their expectation of the coming of Christ. This is remarkable, since their earlier expectations had been dashed. It seems that the message of, and about, Jesus had a power in its own right, which was independent of subsequent (expected) history. This adaptative reflection of early Christian writers and their coming to terms with the fact that Jesus did not come immediately, provided the basis for the survival of Christianity up to today.