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THE EARLY CHURCH
BACKGROUND
The Jews were awaiting their Messiah. For 600 years they had been
ruled by others (since 63BC by the Romans). During the 6th Century
BC they were scattered across the Roman Empire where they formed
ghettos with synagogues in every town. The Scriptures were read
and studied but it was legalistic and academic with nit-picking
Scribes and Pharisees.
Jews were privileged by the Romans – they were allowed to worship
Yahweh alone, they did no military service, their religion was
protected. The situation was good for the Romans to colonise e.g.
Spartacus, Alexandria. In the 3rd Century BC the Old Testament was
translated into Greek. In 150 BC the Jews were threatened with
annihilation by the Syrian ruler Antiochius Epiphanes IV. Their
response to this resulted in four different parties.
1.
The Pharisees who were prepared to preserve the Jewish
religion even to the laying down of their lives.
2.
The Saducees who were prepared to compromise.
3.
The Zealots who, under the leadership of Judas Macabeas
and his five sons, led a successful revolt.
4.
The Essenes who became nomadic mystics who fled to
the desert to set up pietistic communities.
There had been 400 years of prophetic silence, then John the Baptist
burst onto the scene.
Until AD65 Christianity was also seen as a protected religion. Paul
and Peter used this when opposed by the Jews eg Paul in Corinth
(Acts 18:14) when brought before Gallio.
1ST CENTURY - TIME OF EXPANSION
The Roman Empire helped. Travel was good and safe by road and
sea. The Roman ‘mystery’ religious posed many questions but had
no answers. Roman citizenship was widespread – Paul – Pax Roma
– 250 years of peace.
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© Ray Lowe
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The Greek Culture helped.
The Greek language was spoken
throughout the Empire – Greek religion and philosophy did not
satisfy eg Paul and the unknown God. Also Stoics had no answer to
human nature. Greeks used words like ‘mystery’, ‘fullness’,
‘wisdom’ – Church used the same words to communicate the Gospel
e.g. Colossions, Romans.
CHURCH BORN AT PENTECOST INTO
SITUATION RIPE FOR GROWTH.
1ST century Church was dynamic with a lot of Holy Spirit activity.
For first 30 years the Apostles travelled and planted Churches – they
believed the Gospel was for whole world. The Apostles went to the
Synagogues first as they were locked into Judaism (Acts 7 – Stephen)
but soon went to Gentiles (Acts 11 – Antioch). From AD 70 the
Church became primarily Gentile.
The first battle – to see the Gospel go to the whole world – was won
but now there was a different one as Gospel went to the Greek world
– an intellectual battle.
The Greeks and the Jews took a different view of the world – a
different view of creation. The Greeks regarded physical things as
evil, spiritual things as good – creation was seen as a battle between
good and evil.
Therefore Greek view of salvation was man’s spirit escaping from an
evil body at death and making it’s way to a good supreme being
through intermediaries and eventually being absorbed into God.
This led to two extremes which affected the Church as the Gospel
met Greek culture, religion and mythology.
(a)
(b)
ANTINOMIANISM – the body is unimportant, so indulge
it. This led to an abuse of grace.
ASCETISM - treat the body harshly – keep it under. This
led to asceticism and legalism.
Therefore they had to find a way round doctrines like creation and
the incarnation (Polytheism and controversies like ‘Who is Jesus?’)
The crucifixion and resurrection were difficult to communicate.
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© Ray Lowe
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THE CHURCH THEN FOUGHT 3 MAJOR BATTLES IN
THE FIRST 3 CENTURIES
1. FIRST BATTLE – with the Jews – This was a spiritual
battle.
The Acts of the Apostles is full of confrontation with the Jews
-
-
Stephen and Apostles Acts 1.9
Paul, harassed by the Jews 2 Corin 11.25 (three times
beaten with rods, five times lashed etc), maligned,
accused.
converts were threatened etc.
Peter was arrested, James beheaded Acts 12 to please
the Jews.
James, Jesus’ brother, was stoned – AD 62.
BUT in AD 66 The Jews revolted against Rome (eg desolation
foretold in Daniel). For 4 years they withheld the might of Rome but
in AD 70 Jerusalem was sacked, the temple was destroyed, the
Sanhedren and ruling families were killed. There were no more
sacrifices, Judaism as it was came to an end, the Pharisees were the
only survivors.
Jerusalem became a pagan city.
From AD 132 to AD 135 there was another and final revolt by the
Jews. The Emperor Hadrian outlawed Jews and Christians from
Jerusalem and it was realised there was no imminent return of Jesus.
2.
SECOND BATTLE – The incarnation.
Intellectual battle.
The
(for background, see 1 John.)
Cerinthus could not believe God could really become a man so taught
he was ghostlike – only a spirit. Others taught Jesus was adopted by
God at baptism but spirit left him at crucifixion. So concluded Jesus
was not fully God and fully man.
It came to a head in the 2nd Century with the Gnostics. They believed
Christians were on the right track but needed more revelation,
knowledge (Gnosis – secret knowledge). This led to superspirituality
– new age of enlightenment (taught against by Paul in Acts and his
letters).
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In AD 140 Marcion came to Rome. He was a religious man, the son
of a bishop. He could not reconcile the fact that the God of the Old
Testament was the Father of Jesus as the Old Testament God was full
of anger, wrath etc but Jesus was full of grace, kindness. He could
not accept the Old Testament at all and wanted a Jesus who could
save but did not have a human body. Marcion’s Jesus came in “the
appearance” of a man but since he was not “man” there was no
suffering in the crucifixion. Marcion had his own Bible with no Old
Testament – no Jewish background. It was made worse by the fact
that those who followed Marcion and the Gnostics travelled widely
and infiltrated the Churches. They wrote commentaries, tracts etc.
The Church had to face the Gnostic battle - HOW DID THEY
DO IT?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The Canon of Scripture was the yardstick (AD 185 the
Muratorian fragment.
Creed – basics of the Faith.
One man ministry – local bishop.
Abolished itinerant ministries – no prophetic voice – loss
of spiritual gifts in the Church.
Apologists – they became very intellectual.
Strong ecclesiastical structures. Strict discipline, ornate
baptism, delayed baptism and membership.
The Church won the battle but went very formal and dry and the
person of the Holy Spirit was neglected.
BUT whenever the Church becomes ecclesiastical, there is always a
reaction.
The MONTANIST MOVEMENT came about in Phrygia and Asia
Minor, AD150-AD160 It was the first charismatic movement.
Montanus was a pagan priest used to ecstasy and trances. He was
converted to Christ and spoke in tongues. It had two women
prophetesses, Priscilla and Maximillia, they left their husbands and
brought wild prophecies about the end times. Many gave up their
jobs and waited for the new Jerusalem. It was very ascetic, taught
celibacy and fasting and had thirst for martyrdom. In Lyon in 2nd
Century, they had women in leadership, allowed people to leave their
spouses for spiritual reasons and taught that leaders could forgive
sins.
Sadly the Church was divided about the Montanists. Although the
Holy Spirit was poured out, the lack of Biblical leadership led to
confusion and error. In AD 207 Tertullian was converted to
Montanism and the use of the gifts was revived. However after his
death, the gifts were lost again. A warning for us today.
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© Ray Lowe
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So the Church won the first two battles but paid a price. By the
beginning of the 3rd Century it was very structured, very locked into a
one man ministry, lost the Ephesian 4 gifts of apostles and prophets
and no gifts of the Holy Spirit were evident.
3.
THIRD BATTLE - THE ROMAN EMPIRE
At first Christians were protected – it was part of Judaism. But that
changed.
In AD 66 Nero made Christians the scapegoat for the fire of Rome as
his wife was sympathetic to the Jews. He burnt Christians (Roman
candles) and they were abused by wild animals.
In AD 67 Paul and Peter were executed.
Letters against the Christians were sent throughout the Roman
Empire in AD 95 by the Emperor Domitian and much of what was
written in the Book of Revelation came about.
In AD 112 Pliny, Governor of Bithinia, writes to Emperor Trajan.
In AD 130 Hadrian outlaws Christianity and there was an outbreak of
persecution.
Christians lived in fear.
The Romans needed
scapegoats at times of famine, bad harvests, failure of the legions etc.
In the 3rd and 4th Centuries, there were two main persecutions.
(i)
In AD 250
There had been 50 years of peace. The Church had become
accredited, respectable and prosperous and Church buildings had
been erected. But Emperor Decius was struggling and needed a
scapegoat. He ordered an Empire wide sacrifice and many Christians
compromised and few were executed. But the Church reacted and
grew as never before with discipleship and stricter discipline.
From AD 180 to AD 284 Two Emperors were murdered and there
was a breakdown of authority. Rome lost its power, the army
disintegrated, mercenaries arose, there was revolt on the borders.
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© Ray Lowe
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(ii)
In AD 303
Emperor Diocetian reorganised government, divided the Empire and
created a powerful army. Although his wife and daughter were
Christians he aimed to destroy the Church and restore the Roman
religion. He too ordered a sacrifice but this time the Christians
refused and many were imprisoned and executed. Although there
was 10 years of persecution, the Church maintained a great witness.
In AD 312 Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity before
Milvian Bridge.
But persecutions led to controversies in the Church on:
1.
2.
How you treat those who had compromised? Some said
forgive, some expel.
Who had the right to forgive? Absolutions, leaders who
escaped persecution or those who had suffered –
beginning of relics – bones of martyrs etc.
SO SPLIT IN THE CHURCH
First House Church Movement. Both groups grew and prospered.
After 4 years reconciliation, but new controversy – Who can baptise
converts? Bishop or unordained minister?
Constantine – was he truly converted? He made many social
reforms, honoured singles, marriage, passed laws on adultery,
orphans were cared for.
At first there was toleration for Christians, restoration of buildings
etc then favouritism. There were many good things but two blunders.
1.
He interfered in Arian dispute. This had a background of
Greek philosophy, Arias taught Jesus was not the same as
the Father (Jehovah Witnesses). He wanted unity so
settled for the Nicea Creed which was vague about One
Substance (which is an unbiblical term). The State
meddling in theology.
2.
Virtually pronounced the Roman Empire a Christian
Empire. Watered down conversion. Opened the way for
corruption. Some revolted. The Donatists wanted a New
Testament Church.
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© Ray Lowe
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NOW IT WAS CHURCH V CHURCH.
He left a legacy. Church was linked with the State. For next 1200
years struggle to recover New Testament Christianity. Always a
thread who wanted a return to New Testament. The Church often
terribly persecuted by also saw moves of the Holy Spirit.
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© Ray Lowe
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