Lesson 1: The Apostolic Church

By the end of this lesson, the student should:

(1) Appreciate the importance of understanding church history.

(2) Understand how the early church differed from its Roman environment.

(3) Recognize causes for the growth and the persecution of the early church.

(4) Apply lessons from the early church to life in today’s world.

History may seem “boring” and irrelevant. However, church history is a very important subject for us to study. Why?

Church History Remembers Our Past

Eason was an enthusiastic Christian teenager in Taiwan. When Eason shared the gospel with an elderly neighbor, the man responded, “Our Chinese culture is an ancient culture. Christianity has been known in China for only a short time. Why would you trade our ancient gods for a new religion?” When Eason began to seek an answer for his neighbor, he found that Christianity is not new – even in China. While Eason’s neighbor knew only about modern missionaries, the Christian message has been known in China since at least A.D. 635.

By studying church history, we learn that Christianity is not new. We gain an appreciation for the spread of the church around the world; we see how God has worked in history; we recognize that despite of human failure, God has accomplished His purposes for His church.

Church History Speaks to Our Present

When we understand our historical roots, we gain a better understanding of the present. The epistle of Jude was written to warn against false teachers who “pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”[1] Jude warns against present dangers by pointing to the past: God’s grace to deliver Israel from Egypt, God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, etc. Jude knows that examples from the past serve as an encouragement to faithfulness today and as a warning against unfaithfulness.

As we study the formation of the creeds[2] in early church history, we gain a deeper appreciation for our doctrinal statements today. When young Christians struggle to understand the doctrine of the Trinity, they are facing the same questions faced at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.

As we study the Reformation and the divisions between the Reformers, we understand the presence of many denominations today. We can often better understand the problems in the church today by seeing parallel situations in the past.

A study of church history inspires us in times of difficulty. Reading about Ambrose’s courage in the face of the Emperor Theodosius, remembering Luther’s “Here I stand,” and studying William Carey’s passion for missions inspires us in today’s ministry.[4]

Church History Guides Our Future

Lessons from church history should guide our decisions for the future. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If we do not learn from the past, we will repeat mistakes others have made. Paul used lessons from Israel’s history to guide young believers at Corinth.[3]

As we study the early church’s response to heresy, we learn how to respond to heresies that threaten the church today. Most heresies today are new versions of past heresies. As we study the empty formalism of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, we are warned against allowing church structure to replace God’s presence in the church today. As we study the successes and failures of past missions, we learn lessons for future evangelistic efforts. The study of church history teaches lessons to help us in the future.

► What are some lessons from the history of Christianity in your country that can guide you in leading the church today?

[1] Jude 1:4

[2] A creed is a formal statement of belief. Christian creeds include the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and other creeds approved by the church councils.

[3] 1 Corinthians 10:1-6

[4]"History gives us a window through which to see the world, and a mirror in which to examine ourselves."
- Robert McKenzie

In a survey of the primary “turning points” of church history, Mark Noll gives four principles that should guide us when we study the history of Christianity. These principles are drawn from Jesus’ words to his disciples in Matthew 28 and Acts 1.[1]

(1) The principle of sovereignty.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” The principle of sovereignty teaches that God is in control and is accomplishing his purposes in and through the church.

(2) The principle of mission.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” The principle of mission teaches that the church grows in two directions. The church grows outwardly as it takes the gospel to all nations. The church grows inwardly as it learns true discipleship and is formed in the image of Christ.

(3) The principle of empowerment.

“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The principle of empowerment reminds us that despite the failings of the church, Christ continues to work in the church to accomplish his mission in the world.

(4) The principle of contextualization.

“You will be my witnesses…to the end of the earth.” The principle of contextualization teaches us that the gospel belongs to all cultures. The gospel did not belong to the church at Jerusalem, to the church in England, or to the church in America. As the Christian faith spreads to all nations, it impacts all cultures. The history of Christianity shows that the gospel must be translated, both linguistically and culturally, for all nations.

► How does the history of Christianity in your country illustrate these principles? As you study this course, return to this section frequently to see how these principles are seen in each period of church history.

[1] Mark A. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (MI: Baker, 2012), 1, 330-331

Jesus told his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”[1] The places represented at Pentecost extend through much of the Roman Empire; these converts took the gospel back to their homelands. By the end of the first century, the church had spread throughout the Roman Empire. Church tradition says that Thomas took the gospel to Persia and India. China may have received the gospel during the first or second centuries through trade with India.[2] The early church was committed to Jesus’ commission.[16]

Who Were the Christians?

After the Resurrection, there were many answers to the question, “Who are the Christians?” Rome answered, “Christians are a Jewish sect.”[3] Many Jews answered, “Christians are apostates who have abandoned the true faith.” Christians answered, “We are the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. We are followers of the promised Messiah.”

In A.D. 49, the early church faced the question, “Who are the Christians?” at the Jerusalem Council. As Gentiles were brought into the church through the preaching of Peter, Paul and Barnabas, and other apostles, the church discussed the conditions by which one became a part of the body of Christ. Some believers “who belonged to the party of the Pharisees” argued that Gentile believers must keep all requirements of the Mosaic Law. Peter responded by testifying that God had cleansed “their hearts by faith” apart from circumcision. Ultimately, the church leaders determined that Gentile believers were free from Jewish dietary laws and circumcision.[4]

The Jerusalem Council provided a model for later decisions in the church. As later generations faced difficult issues, Acts 15 showed:

• The authority of Scripture. Each of the prohibitions in Acts 15 come from Leviticus 17-18. Each of these were forbidden both to Jews and to “the strangers who sojourn among them.”[5] The apostles did not choose these requirements at random. They studied the Scriptures to discover what the Law required of Gentiles living in Israel.
• The authority of the Holy Spirit. The decision of the Jerusalem Council was not guided by the surrounding culture, but by the Holy Spirit.[6] At its best, the church has been guided by the leadership of the Holy Spirit rather than by political and cultural pressures. When it has failed to follow this example, the church has failed its calling to be light and salt in the world.
• The authority of church leaders.  Church leaders are under the authority of Scripture, but if their teaching does not contradict Scripture, their authority should be respected.

By the end of the first century, Christians and Jews were seen as separate. Jews no longer allowed Christians to worship in the synagogues. Christians worshiped on the first day rather than the seventh day of the week. Christianity was no longer seen as a Jewish sect.

The Beginning of Persecution

The book of Acts shows early conflicts between Jewish leaders and the church. However, the Roman Empire did not begin widespread persecution of Christians until A.D. 64.

Rome allowed people under their rule to worship any god as long as they recognized the Roman emperor as divine. For most people in the first century, this was no problem. Most pagans worshiped multiple gods. Only Jews and Christians were monotheistic.

To maintain peace in the Judean province, Rome allowed the Jews to worship Jehovah alone. When Roman rulers viewed Christianity as a part of the Jewish faith, they gave Christians the same freedom of worship that the Jews received. However, after A.D. 64, Rome began to identify Christianity as a separate religion with no exemption from emperor worship.

Two events played major roles in the persecution of Christians. First, in A.D. 64 a fire burned much of the city of Rome. Many citizens accused Emperor Nero of causing the fire. Nero accused the Christians (who were already unpopular) of setting the fire. This began a period of intense persecution. Between A.D. 64 and Nero’s death four years later, Paul, Peter, and many other Christians were martyred by Rome.

The second event that led to persecution of Christians was the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Although Rome tolerated the Jewish faith, there was constant tension between Jews and Rome. After the Temple rebuilding was completed in A.D. 64, thousands of Jewish laborers were without work. Resentment grew into open revolt in A.D. 66. Four years later, the Roman army led by Titus conquered Jerusalem after a long siege. The Temple was destroyed, synagogues were burned, and the Jews were scattered. From this point, both Jews and Christians were persecuted throughout the Roman Empire.

Why Were Christians Persecuted?

(1) Christians were accused of atheism.

Rome could not understand a religion that worshiped a God with no images and who rejected the gods of the Roman people. In their eyes, Christians and Jews were atheists, people with no god.

“Atheism” was more than a religious offense to the Romans; they saw it as a political offense. Romans believed that the gods protected their empire. Refusal to sacrifice to the gods endangered the empire. In the second century, Tertullian wrote, “If the Tiber (River) floods the city, or if the Nile refuses to rise, or if the sky withholds its rain, if there is an earthquake, a famine, a pestilence, at once the cry is raised, ‘Christians to the lions.’”[7]

Rome unified the empire both through idol worship and through the worship of Caesar. To Romans, Christians who refused to honor the emperor as a god were unpatriotic. Rome was willing to allow Christians to worship Christ as long as they also worshiped Caesar and stated, “Caesar is Lord.” However, for Christians there is only one Lord. Believers in the early church gave their life because of their conviction that Jesus (and Jesus alone) is Lord.

(2) Christian customs were misunderstood.

Christians spoke of eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus. They referred to each other as “brother and sister.” They did not allow unbelievers to remain in the service when Communion was served. All of this led to false rumors of human sacrifice and incestuous behavior.

(3) Christianity was a new religion.

In today’s world, many people believe that “newer is better.” In the ancient world, the opposite was true; Romans believed that “older is better.” They tolerated the Jewish religion because it was ancient. The Christian faith, however, was considered a new religion with no sacrifices, no temples, and no sacred city.

(4) Christians challenged the social structure.

In the Roman Empire, slavery was accepted as normal. Woman and children had no rights. A father’s power was absolute; if a father didn’t want his child, he left the unwanted infant on the trash heap to die.

In contrast, Christians said that in Christ there is neither slave nor free, male nor female.[8]  Christians rescued abandoned infants and protected the poor. None of this made sense to Romans. To Romans, rights belonged to the strong; Christians protected the weak.

► Early Christians rejected cultural customs that failed to value the image of God in humanity. What customs in your culture devalue human life? How do Christians in your culture combat these wrong customs?

Why Did Christianity Spread?

The growth of the early church was truly miraculous. From a handful of disciples at the arrest of Jesus, the gospel spread until every large town in the Roman Empire had a church. How did this happen?

(1) The early church was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus commanded his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations….” He also promised, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[9] The God who commanded the apostles to evangelize the world is the same God who empowered them for evangelism.

This is seen again at the beginning of Acts. First, Jesus gave the promise, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you….” Then, he gave the commission, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”[10] The rest of Acts shows the fulfillment of the promise and the apostles’ obedience to the command. The growth of the early church was not the result of human effort alone; the growth of the early church was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(2) The early church was committed to the Great Commission.

Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation….”[11] The apostles took Jesus’ commission seriously. The church spread through the Roman Empire as Christians obeyed Jesus’ commission.

The book of Acts shows the church’s fulfillment of the Great Commission. Along with the ministry of great leaders such as Simon Peter and Paul, Acts records the influence of lesser-known believers. As a result of the persecution that broke out against the church after the death of Stephen, believers fled to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Some of those who fled began preaching to Greeks in Antioch and “a great number who believed turned to the Lord.”[12] These new believers probably formed the core of the church at Antioch that would later be the sending church for Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.

These verses in Acts 11 are notable for two reasons:

1. They show that God used persecution to advance the spread of the gospel. 
2. They show that evangelism was not limited to the apostles and Jerusalem leaders. Unnamed “men of Cyprus and Cyrene” obeyed the Great Commission. Evangelism is the responsibility of every believer.

(3) The early church served their world.

Jesus modeled a ministry that not only proclaimed eternal life, but also met the daily needs of those he served. The early church followed their Master’s example. Many of the earliest converts came from the classes that were ignored in Roman society – slaves, women, and the poor. Celsus, a second century critic, mocked the church, “Their aim is to convince only worthless and contemptible people, idiots, slaves, poor women, and children.” While Celsus ignored evidence that members of the upper class had also become believers, his observation was largely true; it was the poor who were most receptive to the gospel.

The fourth century emperor, Julian the Apostate, was a bitter enemy of the church. However, even this enemy of Christianity recognized that Christianity “has been advanced through the loving service rendered to strangers…. It is a scandal that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar, and that the godless Galileans (Christians) care not only for their own poor but for ours as well.”[13] Christians obeyed Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself.

(4) The early church challenged the Roman social structure.

Some Romans opposed the church because the church challenged their social structure; however, others were drawn to the church for this very reason. Women, children, and slaves had no rights in the Roman social structure; the church treated these groups with respect.

One pagan writer described the role of women in this way: “We have prostitutes for pleasure, female slaves for daily sexual use, and wives to produce legitimate children and to serve us faithfully.”[14] In contrast to this view, Christians followed the example of their Master in honoring women.

(5) The early church provided a model of moral purity.

Even many Gentiles were offended by the moral depravity of the Roman Empire. They were drawn to the Christian faith because of its high moral ideals and the righteous lives of Christians. Paul challenged the Philippian Christians to live blameless lives, to be “without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” By doing this, they would “shine as lights in the world.”[15] As the people of the Roman Empire saw the blameless lives of early Christians, they were drawn to the gospel.

► Compare the challenges and opportunities of the early church to the society in which you minister. How does the church contrast with normal aspects of your culture? What opportunities has God given you for the spread of the gospel in your society?

[1] Acts 1:8

[2] Howard F. Vos, An Introduction to Church History (IL: Moody Press, 1984), 5

[3] Acts 16:20

[4] Acts 15

[5] Leviticus 17:8

[6] Acts 15:28

[7] Quoted in Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, 3rd ed. (USA: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 42

[8] Galatians 3:28

[9] Matthew 28:19-20

[10] Acts 1:8

[11] Romans 1:16

[12] Acts 11:19-21

[13] Quoted in Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, 3rd ed. (USA: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 36

[14] Quoted in Timothy Paul Jones, Christian History Made Easy (CA: Rose Publishing, 2009), 18

[15] Philippians 2:15

[16]"There is no people, Greek, or barbarian, or of any other race, whether they dwell in tents or wander about in covered wagons, among whom prayers and thanksgivings are not offered in the name of the crucified Jesus to the Father and Creator of all things."
- Justin Martyr, ca. A.D. 150

The earliest surviving Christian writings after the New Testament are seven letters written by Ignatius on his way to suffer martyrdom in Rome. Three letters are addressed churches listed in Revelation (Ephesus, Philadelphia, and Smyrna). Others are addressed to churches at Rome, Tralles, and Magnesia, as well as a personal letter to Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna.

[2]

Ignatius grew up in Antioch of Syria, the third largest city in the Roman Empire. It was at Antioch that believers were first called Christians.[1] The Antioch church commissioned Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey while Ignatius was still a young man.

In A.D. 69, Ignatius was chosen as the pastor of the church at Antioch after the death of Evodius. Evodius had been converted to Christ through the ministry of Simon Peter and likely died as a martyr under Nero. Little is known of the ministry of Ignatius at Antioch until his arrest. What is known is that Antioch continued to be a missionary-sending church through the rest of the first century. The church at Antioch was famous for her hospitality to traveling Christians. It was said that nobody was a stranger at Antioch; every traveling believer was welcomed as part of the Christian family.

Ignatius was arrested during the reign of Emperor Trajan. Trajan was traveling through Asia Minor when he heard that Ignatius was having great success in evangelizing in Antioch. Ignatius was taken before Trajan and charged with “atheism,” denying the Roman gods.

When Ignatius stood before Trajan, he took the opportunity to preach the gospel. When Trajan asked for Ignatius’ defense, Ignatius refused to defend his actions. Instead, he proclaimed the message that Jesus is the Savior who died for our sins and the Lord who was raised from the grave to show his power over death.

In his rage that Ignatius refused to back down, Trajan stood and condemned him to death. Instead of having him executed immediately, Trajan decided to make a spectacle of this preacher who refused to bow to Rome. Trajan ordered that Ignatius be taken to Rome and fed to wild beasts in the Coliseum. 

Ignatius was taken to Rome by a group of ten soldiers who mistreated him on the journey. The journey took eleven months. In his letter to the Romans, Ignatius compared the soldier to savage animals, writing, “From Syria even to Rome I fight with wild beasts, by land and sea, by night and by day, being bound amidst ten leopards, even a company of soldiers, who only grow worse when they are kindly treated.”

In his letters, Ignatius testified that he was ready to die as a martyr, a “witness,” for Christ. Knowing that he would be fed to wild beasts in the Coliseum, he wrote, “I am God’s wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread of Christ.” Ignatius died as a witness to the gospel. He knew that being a disciple of Jesus might mean death. As he faced death, Ignatius testified, “Now I begin to be a disciple.”

[1] Acts 11:26

[2]Image: "Ignatius van Antiochië in de arena voor de leeuwen gesteld, RP-P-OB-44.230", Rijksmuseum, retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ignatius_van_Antiochi%C3%AB_in_de_arena_voor_de_leeuwen_gesteld,_RP-P-OB-44.230.jpg, public domain.

The apostolic church was marked by holy lives that contrasted sharply with their culture, by a passion for evangelism and by faithfulness in the face of persecution. Jesus described these qualities in his Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you…”; “You are the salt of the earth”; “You are the light of the world.” The early church was not surprised that evangelism and godly lives resulted in persecution.

As Christians, we are called to live holy lives; we are called to be the “salt of the earth.” In Jesus’ world, salt was valued as a purifying agent. With no refrigerators, salt preserved foods that would otherwise spoil. The church is to be a preservative.

In church history, we see periods (such as the Middle Ages) when the church compromised with its surrounding culture. When this happened, the church was no longer salt. At other times (such as the Reformation and the 18th century), we see the impact of a church that stood firm in the face of the sins of its culture.

In a world that is “rotten” because of the effects of sin, the church is to purify our society. This requires that Christians be faithful to the commands of Scripture; it requires that Christians refuse to compromise with the demands of our world.

As Christians, we are called to evangelize; we are called to be the “light of the world.” Throughout church history, we see times when the church lost its passion for evangelism and failed in its mission to the world. At other times, we see the impact of a church that was committed to spreading the good news around the world.

When the church is faithful to Jesus’ command to be salt and light, the church will face persecution. Satan will never sit idle and watch the church grow; he will resist. However, writing during the time of Nero’s persecution, Peter encouraged Christians with these words: “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”[1] The suffering is for “a little while”; the glory is “eternal.”

[1] 1 Peter 5:10

Dates marked ca. (circa) are approximate.

Write a one-page essay titled “My Goals for Studying Church History.” This essay should summarize your goals for this course. List 2-3 things that you hope to better understand by the completion of these lessons. At the end of the course, review this essay to see if you fulfilled your goals for the course.