OLAADEGBU: 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

Apatheist: There were no private jets, that's for sure.

PastorKun:

The early christian church also did not preach or collect tithes like some fraudsters do today.

chukwudi44:

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

OLAADEGBU:

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.

chukwudi44:

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.

chukwudi44:

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.

chukwudi44:

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.

chukwudi44:

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.

chukwudi44:

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.

chukwudi44:

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

nora544:

Please explain what you mean with early christianity or you mean the early pentecost fraudster from america.

nora544:

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

OLAADEGBU:

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.

[/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]

[/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]

[/quote]What is read to you? The Bible or your church dogma? [quote]

chukwudi44:

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

OLAADEGBU:

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.

Got Questions
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Got Questions is an online fundamentalist Christian ministry which devotes itself to providing answers to many of the big questions surrounding Christian doctrines, general religion, science, and what the Bible says about such things. It was founded by S. Michael Houdmann in February 2002. The website claims to have over 300,000 questions answered, and says that 75% of all questions asked will be answered "instantly". To no surprise, Got Questions denies Darwinian evolution[1], supports Young Earth Creationism and seems to be highly skeptical of anthropogenic global warming[2]. The ministry is also highly supportive of the state of Israel[3].

The site seems to have the delusion that in thew past, EVERY scientist used to be Christian, and that not believing in God is a delusion, in that the evidence for God is so obvious, that anyone who proves he doesn't exist is denying God.[4]

The site seems to believe that history proves the bible, and misrepresents every position that conflicts theirs, saying Agnostics don't believe in absolute truth, Hinduism is Pantheistic, and has a love for the Cosmological Argument.[5]

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Got_Questions

chukwudi44:

[b]Then change your topics to how did the biblical church worship?[/b]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

.......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

Candour:

The above is true. Very true indeed.

OLAADEGBU:

It is either true or not true. The question was and still is: How did the Church function.

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.

OLAADEGBU:

It is either true or not true. The question was and still is: How did the Church function.

chukwudi44:

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

OLAADEGBU: 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.

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).

chukwudi44:

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.

OLAADEGBU:

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.

Candour:

The below quote is true. Very true indeed.



The question you asked has been answered in the quotes from both of you reproduced below







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

Ubenedictus:

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.

PastorKun:

The term "early church" refers to the first century church and not the rcc that was instituted in the fourth century.

Ubenedictus:

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.