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"What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 4:40pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
Question: "What was early Christianity like?" Answer: Early Christianity began roughly 2,000 years ago, shortly after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Acts 11:26b says, “It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.” “Christians” means “Christ’s people.” Early Christianity consisted of a group of loosely connected local bodies of believers who gathered together on a regular basis, usually in each other’s homes to fellowship and worship together (Acts 16:15; 18:7; 21:8; Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15). These churches generally had the organization of pastors, elders, and deacons within each individual congregation. This early New Testament church lived communally and often shared resources such as food and money (Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32-36). Their services consisted mainly of preaching (during which time they might also read letters from missionaries such as Paul) and the singing of songs. They took offerings to support the journeys of their missionaries, and they performed baptisms. Also, they celebrated the Lord’s Supper each time they gathered together. But, soon, early Christianity was challenged by Roman persecution. The majority of the persecution began with the great fire in Rome that destroyed much of the city and devastated the economy. In an attempt to absolve himself, the Roman Emperor Nero claimed it was the Christians who tried to destroy Rome and its pagan gods. From that point on, the Christians were blamed for many of the misfortunes befalling the Empire. Persecution and martyrdom was quick to follow. Because of this persecution, the Christians were forced to meet in the catacombs, which were long, dark galleries under the city of Rome. There they continued their meetings, baptisms, and even burials for their dead. As a result of the persecution, many of the early Christians were scattered throughout the Roman Empire, expediting the cause of evangelism and fulfilling the Lord’s commands to make disciples of all nations (Acts 8:1, 4-40; 11:19-26; Matthew 28:18-20). Because the early church was not focused on the maintenance of a church building, endless programs, and technology, they were able to concentrate on the study of God’s Word, service and dedication to one another, hospitality, benevolence, and missions (Romans 1:8; 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Acts 13:1-26:32). While programs and technology can make some of these things easier, the early church had a pure, simplistic approach. Compared to the structured organization of the church today, the early church looked more like the informal settings of one of our Bible studies or small groups. Both early and modern Christianity have good and bad characteristics, and neither can be idealized. The positives which characterized the early church—a passion for Christ and His Word and a strong love for one another—are what we should strive to emulate in the modern church. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/early-Christianity.html#ixzz39cvK417G
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Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by PastorKun(m): 4:49pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
The early christian church also did not preach or collect tithes like some fraudsters do today. ![]() 6 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 5:37pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU: Question: "What was early Christianity like?" your write up contains virtually nothing about early christianity.If you want to know about early christianity you will need to hear about it directly from the peole who lived during that era Prominent christian writers of that era include Clement of Rome,Ignatius 0f Antioch,polycarp of smyrna,st Heggesipus,St Justin Matyr,Ireneaus of lyons,clement of Alexandria,Origen of alexdria,tertullian,cyprian of carthage,Amrose of milan,Augustine of hippo,eusebius of ceserea, etc 4 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 5:46pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
No one may share the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ. We do not consume the eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and drink, for we have been taught that as Jesus Christ our Savior became a man of flesh and blood by the power of the Word of God, so also the food that our flesh and blood assimilates for its nourishment becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving. The apostles, in their recollections, which are called gospels, handed down to us what Jesus commanded them to do. They tell us that he took bread, gave thanks and said: Do this in memory of me. This is my body. In the same way he took the cup, he gave thanks and said: This is my blood. The Lord gave this command to them alone. Ever since then we have constantly reminded one another of these things. The rich among us help the poor and we are always united. For all that we receive we praise the Creator of the universe through his Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit. On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray. On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward. The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give assent by saying, “Amen”. The eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates, and the deacons take it to those who are absent. The wealthy, if they wish, may make a contribution, and they themselves decide the amount. The collection is placed in the custody of the president, who uses it to help the orphans and widows and all who for any reason are in distress, whether because they are sick, in prison, or away from home. In a word, he takes care of all who are in need. We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world, and because on that same day our savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead. For he was crucified on Friday and on Sunday he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them the things that we have passed on for your consideration. ~The first Apology of st Justin Matyr cap 66-67 pg 6 427-431 1 Like |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 6:46pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
There were no private jets, that's for sure. 5 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by MizMyColi(f): 6:48pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
Apatheist: There were no private jets, that's for sure.^^^ ![]() ![]() ![]() 2 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 7:18pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
PastorKun: Either they collected tithes or offerings, both are different forms of giving of money. Keep or spend your money as you wish you will surely be accountable to your maker. 2 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by nora544: 7:21pm On Aug 06, 2014 |
Like the life of Francis of Assisi, a man who preach the gospel read about him a well know saint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi 2 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 12:15pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
chukwudi44: When I said early Christianity I did not mean the Roman Catholic Church so don't mix apple with oranges, they are not the same. 4 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by nora544: 12:23pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU: Please explain what you mean with early christianity or you mean the early pentecost fraudster from america. 6 Likes 1 Share |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 12:36pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
chukwudi44: Jesus did not tell His disciples to physically eat His flesh while He was yet with them neither did He tell Nicodemus to be baptised in water for him to be born again. chukwudi44: Jesus died once and for all. He did not have to be dying every time you consume your wafer in eucharist. chukwudi44: What the apostles did in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ and what Roman Catholics do in participating in cannibalism is not the same. chukwudi44: What is read to you? The Bible or your church dogma? chukwudi44: It is what the priest says or does to the wafer before you consume it is what is disturbing. They claim to bring Christ down from heaven, murder Him again and then worship the wafer before you eat it. That is not Christianity but idolatry. chukwudi44: Jesus' disciples did not pass on your church tradition. What they passed on is written for us in the Holy Scriptures and they are written for our learning that we may obey them. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 12:37pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
nora544: Read the OP for answers to your question. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 12:40pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
nora544: We know that he is a Roman Catholic preacher whom you adore but we are talking about early Christianity here not your saints. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 12:45pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU: bros if these people i mentioned are not early christians,i hope you do not mindn mentioning your own names of early xtians for us to see 1 Like |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 12:46pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
[/quote]Jesus' disciples did not pass on your church tradition. What they passed on is written for us in the Holy Scriptures and they are written for our learning that we may obey them. [quote] and how did you get the which scriptures are "holy scriptures"? is it not simply because these early xtians told you which books to read? smh for you BTW when Justin Matyr made this statement in the second century,the bible did not exist if that is what you are referring to as "holy scripture" 4 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 12:49pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
[/quote]It is what the priest says or does to the wafer before you consume it is what is disturbing. They claim to bring Christ down from heaven, murder Him again and then worship the wafer before you eat it. That is not Christianity but idolatry [quote] your own irrelevant teaching and not the scriptures 1 Like |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 12:52pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
[/quote]What is read to you? The Bible or your church dogma? [quote] bros this is a quote from St justin Matyr who died in the second century long before the bible was compiled.The bible did not even exist during his time.He is telling you how the early xtians worshipped in the second century. Do not ascribe these quotations to me.These are the words of the early xtians you seek to know about.Google up "The first apology of St Justin Matyr" 2 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 12:53pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
chukwudi44: Let's not derail. The question of the OP is: When followers of our Lord Jesus Christ first organised, what did the Christian religion look like? How did it function? That is what this thread is about. ![]() |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Nobody: 12:56pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU: Then change your topics to how did the biblical church worship?If you want to know about early christianity (tyically the first 400 years of xtianity is what we refer to as early xtianity). The bible was explicit enough about how the biblical church functioned .The was nothing like church denominations,no tithes,no Daddy and Mummy, Peter did not form his own church and Paul his own.The entire christiandom was one etc 3 Likes |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by nora544: 1:01pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
Got Questions |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:03pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
chukwudi44: What has been written has been written. ![]() |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Candour(m): 1:05pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
The above is true. Very true indeed. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:09pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
Candour: It is either true or not true. The question was and still is: How did the Church function. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Rich4god(m): 1:23pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU:Which church again are you talking about... Cos the last time I checked my history book, the names that Chukwudi44 mentioned were part of the early church. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by nora544: 1:48pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
Rich4god: Which church again are you talking about... Cos the last time I checked my history book, the names that Chukwudi44 mentioned were part of the early church. that is tru, but what he write was from a man in America! |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Candour(m): 2:08pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU: The below quote is true. Very true indeed. chukwudi44: The question you asked has been answered in the quotes from both of you reproduced below OLAADEGBU: Question: "What was early Christianity like?" chukwudi44: If the two of you think there's anything you left out, by all means, lay it out so we all can see and know 1 Like |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Ubenedictus(m): 7:56pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
OLAADEGBU: the topic read "the early church", and you have continued to discredit the writtens of the early christians that show clearly how the church functioned. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Ubenedictus(m): 7:58pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
Candour: seconded |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by PastorKun(m): 8:08pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
Ubenedictus: The term "early church" refers to the first century church and not the rcc that was instituted in the fourth century. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by Ubenedictus(m): 8:21pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
PastorKun:not true. I really thank God these terms are already already defined. Early Christianity is the period of Christianity preceding the First Council of Nicaea in 325. It is typically divided into the Apostolic Age and the Ante-Nicene Period (from the Apostolic Age until Nicea). en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_early_church lastly i the catholic church preceeded the 4th century. Have a nice day. |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by JesusisLord85: 11:41pm On Aug 14, 2014 |
All these 'ages' you speak of are of the disgusting gentiles, who dumped their perversion in Africa. It would have been better if they had left out fathers to worship wood and stone. The early 'christians' were Jews, so sharp there. They simply believed that the four thousand year prophecy was being fulfilled. No mention in the prophets of a new religion. If anything, formation of a new religion would disqualify Yahshua as the prophesied Messiah. So lets see what these first 'christians' got up to: Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place verse 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Acts 10:15 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean [some of you incorrectly think you can eat swine. If Yahshua said it is fine, how come Peter did not get the memo] Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. [oh look, they read the law and prophets on the sabbath, as usual. What are you doing observing Sunday]? Acts 13:44 "44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God." [Again? Nawa o, I thought observing sabbath is wicked according to some of you] Acts 18:18 "And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow." [what this 'christian' doing making nazarite vow, lol] Acts 21: 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. [what this 'christian' doing keeping the law. the law is "bondage" to today's christians] How anyone can think any truth came via Rome is beyond my comprehension. Let me show you, the culture of those devils is at odds with everything the Most High calls holy: Acts 16:20 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. Go away and have a think. Let that marinade. I know all the usual 'christian' arguments for "we can eat anything, God called it holy", or "we are gentiles, we don't need to keep laws, that is for the Jews"...So save it. Shalom |
Re: "What Was Early Christianity Like?" by OLAADEGBU(m): 4:45am On Aug 15, 2014 |
Ubenedictus: The topic reads "early Christianity." What did the Christian "religion" look like or function when the followers of our Lord Jesus first got organised. |
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