Final answer:
The early Christians referred to the collections of orally transmitted stories and sayings of Jesus as the Gospel traditions, which were fundamental before the written New Testament gospels. The apostles disseminated these teachings, which were essential for the foundation of Christian doctrine and practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Collections of Stories and Sayings of Jesus in Early Christianity
The collections of stories and sayings of Jesus that were communicated orally and later organized in the early Christian church are often referred to as the Gospel traditions. These orally transmitted accounts were crucial in the time of early Christianity before the New Testament gospels as we know them were written.
Given the predominantly oral culture of the time, with limited literacy among the general populace, the spread of Jesus's teachings relied heavily on word of mouth and the memory of His followers to convey His message accurately.
In the absence of printed books and widespread literacy, these stories were vital for the foundation of Christian doctrine and practice, especially as the early Christian community sought to understand and interpret Christ's message.
Notably, the apostles, who were the original followers of Jesus, played a significant role in disseminating His teachings by traveling and spreading the word.
Consequently, the oral Gospel traditions eventually were written down and became the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament, which contain the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.