The New Testament Church

Key source: F. W. Mattox, The Eternal Kingdom: A History of the Church of

Christ, Delight, Arkansas: Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1961.

Establishment of the Church

• Began on Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection

• In Jerusalem• The apostles received the baptism of the

Holy Spirit• Gospel preached in its completeness for

the first time• About 3,000 souls were baptized and

added to their number

Definition of Terms

• “Church”—Greek for “called out” separation or being set apart for a given purpose

• First used in Matthew 16:18• It was used to signify any called out group

– Acts 7:38; 19:41• “Kingdom of heaven” and “Kingdom of

God” refer to the same thing (Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20)

The Church in Prophecy

• Mystery of Christ not made known to previous generations, but revealed according to His purpose (Ephesians 3:5, 11)

• Daniel shows it would be set up in the days of the rulers of Rome (2:44) and it would be eternal

• Isaiah says the word of Jehovah would go forth from Jerusalem, His house was to be established and all nations flow into it (2:2-3)

Christ in Prophesy• He said a virgin would bear a son who would

be called Immanuel (God with us – Isaiah 7:14)

• Isaiah said His soul made an offering for sin, He would bear our iniquities and be cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of the people (Isaiah 53)

• David put the crucifixion in the present, vividly describing His suffering on the cross, including the piercing of His hands and feet (Psalm 22)

John the Baptist• In accord with God’s plan, John the Baptist came to

prepare a people in heart and mind to receive the Christ (Matthew 3:3).

• John preached the baptism of repentance saying they should believe on Him who would come after him (Acts 19:4).

• The message was so effective that all Jerusalem, Judea and the region about Jordan came to be baptized in the Jordan (Matthew 3:5-6), confessing their sins.

• John plainly stated he was not the Christ, that Jesus must increase but he would decrease (John 3:30).

The Church in Preparation• The Law was a schoolmaster to bring the world to

Christ (Galatians 3:24).• When Jesus died, the Law was abolished, since two

covenants cannot function simultaneously (Romans 7:1-7).

• Jesus also preached the coming of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23).

• The kingdom was not established or complete until Jesus’ resurrection, so Jesus kept the Law and instructed His disciples to do the same (Matthew 23:2-3).

• The coming of the kingdom was placed in the future (Matthew 16:18-19).

The Church in Reality

• Jesus told His apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).– He would teach them all things (John 14:26).– He would guide them into all truth (John

16:13).• This was accomplished on Pentecost

(Acts 2:1-4), the birthday of the church.• It had been prophesied that the church

would begin in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:14).

The Basis for Membership• The Pentecost audience, convicted of the

truth, cried out, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

• Peter’s answer was what Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded of Jesus’ words.

• Believers were thus commanded to be baptized.– Baptidzo – dip, plunge, immerse– There was only one – Ephesians 4:4– It was a burial and resurrection—likened to Jesus’

death, burial and resurrection that we might be in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).

Rapid Growth

• The number soon grew to 5,000 (Acts 4:4).

• The number continued to grow by multitudes (Acts 5:14).

• In the temple and at homes they did not cease to preach Jesus as the Christ.

• The word of God increased and their number multiplied exceedingly (Acts 6:7).

God’s Plan

• Jesus’ apostles were to be His “witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

• God’s plan was for the gospel to go to the Jew first and then the Greek (Romans 1:16).

Early Spread

• God’s plan was accomplished.– Persecution caused Christians to be scattered

abroad.– Apostles stayed in Jerusalem for a time but

were soon making evangelistic tours.– Philip went into Samaria and many were

baptized (Acts 8).– When word of the success reached the

apostles, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on certain of them who received the Holy Spirit.

God’s Plan Was Accomplished• Philip converted the Ethiopian nobleman who likely

carried the gospel home, even to the court of Queen Candace.

• Saul of Tarsus (Paul) became the apostle to the Gentiles after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and being baptized by Ananias (Acts 9).

• Jewish leaders formed the opposition.• Stephen was arrested, gave a brilliant defense of

Christianity while exposing the Jewish defiance to God’s plan and His spokesmen.

• The Jews stoned Stephen to death (Acts 7).

Into All the World

• Barnabas took Paul to Antioch of Syria where a strong church had already developed.

• Paul made three missionary journeys and was taken as a prisoner to Rome.

• Over a 2 year period, Paul was allowed to preach to all who came to him.

Tradition and the Early Evangelists• Thaddaeus went to Edessa• Mark went to Alexandria• Bartholomew preached in India• John, after his exile at Patmos, went to Ephesus and

labored until he was 90• Matthias preached in Ethiopia• Thomas in Parthia and India• Andrew in the Near East• James the Less in Egypt• James, the brother of Jesus, was taken to the

pinnacle, told to denounce Christ to the crowd below. When he exalted Christ, they threw him to the ground, which did not kill him. He was then stoned and clubbed to death.

Organization and Government• Christ is the head of the church –

Ephesians 1:22-23.• Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to

guide the apostles into all truth – John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:5-15.– God bore witness to the truthfulness of their

words through miracles – Hebrews 2:3-4.

Organization and Government• It is clear the highest authority rested in the

apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.– These men, with the exception of Paul, had

been with Jesus from the baptism of John through the resurrection – Acts 1:21-22.

– Paul was called by Jesus to be an apostle to the Gentiles – Acts 9:15-16; Galatians 1:11-17.

• Until the truth was fully delivered, apostles, prophets, evangelists and teaching pastors were inspired to present God’s will – Ephesians 4:11-13.

Elders Appointed• The apostles appointed elders in each

congregation and worked with them (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2-6).– Appointing a plurality of elders lasted years beyond

the last apostle’s death (Titus 1:5; Acts 20:17).– Elders were also called bishops and shepherds

(Acts 20:28), with qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

– Bishops and elders are never mentioned as different offices (1 Timothy 3; 5:17).

– “The growth of the office of the monarchical bishop did not come until the end of the apostolic age in the second century” (Earle E. Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries, p. 83).

Congregations of the Apostolic Period

• Were independent, autonomous groups.• The “conference” in Jerusalem was not an

ecumenical council.• The church in Antioch, which was among the

strongest and had both Jews and Greeks, faced a controversy concerning circumcision.

• Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to clarify the issue.

• After discussion, the apostles and elders agreed the Gentiles were under no instruction to receive circumcision or to keep the Law.

The Conference Was Not Like Later Councils or Synods

• They had not sent out invitations.• Most of the representatives were from only one

congregation.• Paul later said he had not received any instruction

from those at Jerusalem different from what had been revealed to him (Galatians 2:6; 1:8).

• There was no surrender of independent congregational government.

• Although congregations were complete and independent in government, this did not preclude their cooperating in Christian service and spreading the gospel.

Worship of the Church• The N. T. church met on the first day of the week

for public worship, many of which were held in private homes.

• Consisted of songs, prayer, reading of Scripture and partaking of the Lord’s supper.

• The order of service may have varied congregation to congregation, but its elements were the same.

• Generally accepted by scholars of ancient church history that there were no uses of instrumental music in worship.

Manner of Life

• Early Christians eagerly shared their faith with others, as well as their possessions.

• In Jerusalem church it was customary to have regular meals together.

• With great numbers of people far from home, Christians sold their possessions and gave their money to the apostles to be used as there was need.

• The sharing was voluntary, not mandated as in socialism or communism.

Apostolic Fathers (Earle E. Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries, p. 75)

• Men who knew the apostles and their doctrine continued to write, primarily from 95 to 150.– Their writings contain certain well-defined

characteristics.– Informal, simple statements of sincere faith and

piety– Little evidence of training in pagan philosophy– Great reverence for the O. T. with a heavy use of

typological interpretation– Christianity was considered distinct from Judaism– Doctrine, ethics and obedience to church leaders

were emphasized