Early Christianity
Glean from this what you may, as I found it very interesting:
Are you interested in learning about the history of the true early Christian church? Are you willing to consider that perhaps what is commonly taught overlooks much of what really happened? Unlike "The Da Vinci Code", this site teaches that the Bible is the only source of doctrine; but similarly, this site also accepts that there are early historical writings (some of which have been preserved better than others), which can give clues about how the early church understood the Bible.
This site also provides definitions, timelines, and other basic information for those who are truly interested in the truth about the real Christian Church--a group which was never intended to be large--as Jesus taught, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
Where Were the Early Christians?
Although there were early Christians in many places, more seemed to be in Jerusalem, Antioch, Asia Minor, Alexandria, Corinth, Rome, Armenia, and even into the Celtic areas and India, but the main early area seemed to be Asia Minor. An article of interest may be Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome.
True Christianity was apparently practiced in Jerusalem up until around 135 A.D., its second fall (which is when it ceased having Jewish bishops and changed practices to avoid imperial persecution--more details are in the article The Ephesus Church Era). By the time it fell in 70 A.D. many Christians fled to Pella, then some returned later to Jerusalem, while others went to Asia Minor and were later called Nazarenes (please see the article on The Smyrna Church Era). There is an Orthodox Church in Jerusalem which claims it is an original faithful Church, though it has beliefs different from those documented here.
Antioch was a major city essentially north of Jerusalem. The Bible records that some of the apostles met there. It was in the country now called Syria. True Christianity was, to some degree, practiced in Antioch apparently throughout the first and second centuries, and perhaps somewhat later than that. The Antiochian Orthodox Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church both claim they are the original faithful Church from Antioch, though both have teachings different from those documented here.
According to the New Testament, true Christianity was practiced throughout many areas of Asia Minor in the first century (this area is now in the country of Turkey). Most (between 15-17) of the 27 books of New Testament were written to or from church leaders in Asia Minor. (Even Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox leaders recognized that it had early "apostolic succession".) What this clearly shows, is that although there were Christians in various areas, the focus for the New Testament writers were the churches in Asia Minor. And interestingly, the last book of the Bible is specifically addressed to the churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 1:4,11). The last of the original apostles to die (John), died in Asia Minor and his disciple Polycarp of Smyrna was a major leader there.
According to Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of God, and other sources, apostolic Christianity was practiced in Asia Minor in the second century--and those there that were true Christians were sometimes referred to as Smyrnaeans. Asia Minor is north and north-west of Antioch and Jerusalem, and was in the country now called Turkey. There are at least two churches that claim descent from Asia Minor: The Orthodox Church of Constantinople (which does not consider itself to be Protestant as it precedes the Protestant Reformation; and it remains in Constantinople, now called Istanbul) and the Living Church of God (which also does not consider itself Protestant as it precedes the Protestant Reformation; it is now headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina). The Living Church of God considers Polycrates (the late 2nd century Christian who refused to accept the authority of Roman Bishops) as an important and faithful leader, but the Orthodox Church is more guarded about that. Also, although the Living Church of God teaches that Polycarp is a successor to the apostles that it traces its history through, the Orthodox Church of Constantinople does not include him in their successor list, nor do any of the "Orthodox" churches, even though they acknowledge that Polycarp was a successor to the apostles.
Alexandria is in Egypt, north Africa. It is unknown how long any true Christians were there. Certain ones have made claims that conflict with the biblical record as some claim that the Gospel writer Mark led of the Church from there for 20 years (while the Bible shows Mark in different parts of the world during that time). Many non-apostolic practices, such allegorizing scripture, were promoted from this area, from even the first century. The largest Alexandrian church split in the year 451 into the Coptic Church and the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Both of those groups have many beliefs different from those documented here.
There were (and still are) true Christians in various parts of Africa and elsewhere around the world (see the Living Church of God Congregations page).
According to the New Testament, there was a troubled, but faithful church in Corinth in the first century. It eventually seemed to accept Roman influence.
According to the New Testament, there was a faithful church in Rome in the first century (one New Testament book was addressed to it and several were written from there), but it does not list any who later became known as "Roman bishops" as holding any office of importance there (please see the article What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About the Early Church?). There were also faithful Christians in Rome in the second century, though many heresies affected that area according to Roman Catholic, Church of God, and other sources. The Roman Catholic Church claims that it is still the faithful Church, the one that has supremacy over all Christendom, and that it has Apostolic Succession, but it has many beliefs that differ from those documented here. It is of interest to note that even many Roman Catholic scholars have long held that the Churches in Asia Minor in the second century held to the original teachings of the apostles.
Most Protestants come from groups that were affiliated with Martin Luther's teachings and/or his departure from the Roman Church. And some groups, such as the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah's Witnesses, claim that the true church essentially had to begin again as essentially the Protestant reformation did not go anywhere near far enough.
According to various legends and historical writings, there were true Sabbath-keeping Christians in the Celtic areas of the British and Irish islands from perhaps the late first century until sometime after the Council of Nicea (s0me information is included in the article on The Pergamos Church Era). There is a third century report that the Apostles Thomas and Bartholomew got the gospel to India; and there are later reports that the church there remained opposed to the Roman Catholic Church for centuries.
Hippolytus' third century report on where the original 12 apostles, plus Paul, went to is included in the article The Ephesus Church Era.
Beliefs: How Was Early Christianity Practiced?
While scholars have a variety of opinions, this page itself will simply mention the following beliefs held by true Christians in the second century, with links to highly documented articles on each subject (which are primarily based on the Bible and early historical writings).
Notice what one Roman Catholic writer has written:
Protestants of many traditions are now espousing recent Protestant traditions and modern schisms; yet they all claim the early Church as their own--asserting that they are the rightful heirs to the teachings of our Lord, the apostles, and the Fathers of the apostolic Church. Are they? Do they have a legitimate claim to the theology of the early Church? Was the "early Church essentially Protestant" in her theology and polity, or was she Catholic? Ray, Stephen K. Upon This Rock. St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church. Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1999, p. 15).
Well, what if the early Church was the Church of God, which is neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic?
Notice the following teachings of early Christianity--all of which are accepted by the true Church of God and only a relatively few of which are practiced/taught/still accepted by Roman Catholics or Protestants:
Baptism was by immersion and did not include infants.
The complete Bible with the proper Old Testament and New Testament was relied on by the true Church in Asia Minor.
A Binitarian view was held by the apostolic and post-apostolic true Christian leaders.
Birthdays were not celebrated by early Christians.
Born-Again meant being born at the resurrection, not at the time of conversion.
Celibacy for Bishops/Presbyters/Elders was not a requirement.
Christmas was not observed by any professing Christ prior to the third century, or ever by those holding to early teachings.
Duties of Elders/Pastors were pastoral and theological, not predominantly sacramental.
Easter was not observed by the apostolic church.
The Fall Holy Days were observed by true early Christians.
The Father was considered to be God by all early professing Christians.
Holy Spirit was not referred to as God or as a person by any early true Christians.
Hymns were mainly psalms, not praises to Christ.
Idols were taught against, including the use of the cross.
Immortality of the soul or humans was not taught.
Jesus was considered to be God by the true Christians.
The Kingdom of God was preached.
Lent was not observed by the primitive church.
Military Service was not allowed for true early Christians.
Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.
Monasticism was unheard of in the early Christian church.
Passover was kept on the 14th of Nisan by apostolic and second century Christians in Asia Minor.
Pentecost was kept on the same day that the Jews observed it by all professing Christians.
The Resurrection of the dead was taught by all early Christians
The Sabbath was observed on Saturday by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church.
Salvation was believed to be offered to the chosen now by the early Church, with others being called later, though not all that taught that (or other doctrines) practiced "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
Sunday was not observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians.
The Ten Commandments were observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians--and in the order that the Living Church of God claims they are in.
Tradition had some impact on the second century Christians, but was never supposed to supercede the Bible.
The Trinity was not a word used to describe the Godhead by the apostolic or second century Christians.
Unclean Meats were eaten by the early allegorists, but not by true Christians.
The Virgin Birth was acknowledged by all true ante-Nicene Christians.
What About Today?
Almost none who profess Christianity hold to all of those beliefs.
The largest group (which happens to also be a "little flock") that agrees with all the positions above, that were part of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) is the Living Church of God.
It also specifically traces its history from the Apostles through Polycarp, Polycrates, and other leaders in Asia Minor.
A listing of countries outside the USA that have LCG congregations can be found by going to the International Living Church of God Congregations page (USA congregations can be found at the United States Living Church of God Congregations page).
What Happened to the Early Church that Led to Modern Mainstream Christianity?
There are many articles linked to on this page that provide specific details as to what happened to the early church that led to a separation between the true Church of God and the formation of various mainstream churches. However a brief overview may be helpful here.
In the first century, apparently a false apostle who is now called Mark preached an allegorical interpretation of scripture in Alexandria. Alexandria was one of the most important intellectual centers of the Roman Empire in ancient times and had much influence in the Greco-Roman world. The falsely called "Epistle of Barnabus" came from Alexandria in the early second century and also preached allegorical interpretation of scripture (see its chapter 10:2). The second century Gnostic heretics Valentinus and Basilides were Alexandrian.
According to the 18th century historian E. Gibbon (who was not in the Church of God), around 135 A.D., many who professed Christ in Jerusalem chose to be led by a Latin leader who urged them to compromise with God's law (which Gibbon calls "the Mosaic law", see article on the Ephesus Church era) in order to be tolerated by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Certain compromises in Rome apparently occurred around the same time, apparently for the same reason (see article on Passover).
The acceptance of some of the doctrines held by other heretics (such as Simon Magus, Marcion, and Montanus) spread to many who professed Christ. Various allegorical heretics, such as Valentinus, went from Alexandria to Rome and elsewhere and began spreading various Gnostic and semi-gnostic teachings. And while history shows that second century leaders from Asia Minor opposed these heretics and their teachings, many of them were tolerated, at least for decades, by the main churches in Rome and Alexandria.
Part of the reason for that acceptance of certain Gnostic teachings was that it greatly increased the number of Gentiles into those churches. Notice:
The Gnostics blended with the faith of Christ many sublime but obscure tenets, which they derived from oriental philosophy, and even from the religion of Zoroaster, concerning the eternity of matter, the existence of two principles, and the mysterious hierarchy of the invisible world. As soon as they launched out into that vast abyss, they delivered themselves to the guidance of a disordered imagination; and as the paths of error are various and infinite, the Gnostics were imperceptibly divided into more than fifty particular sects, of whom the most celebrated appear to have been the Basilidians, the Valentinians, the Marcionites, and, in a still later period, the Manichaeans. Each of these sects could boast of its bishops and congregations, of its doctors and martyrs; and, instead of the Four Gospels adopted by the church the heretics produced a multitude of histories in which the actions and discourses of Christ and of his apostles were adapted to their respective tenets. The success of the Gnostics was rapid and extensive. They covered Asia and Egypt, established themselves in Rome, and sometimes penetrated into the provinces of the West. For the most part they arose in the second century...
The Gentile converts, whose strongest objections and prejudices were directed against the law of Moses, could find admission into many Christian societies, which required not from their untutored mind any belief of an antecedent revelation. Their faith was insensibly fortified and enlarged, and the church was ultimately benefited by the conquests of its most inveterate enemies (Gibbon E. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume III, Chapter XXVII. ca. 1776-1788).
While I do not agree that the true church "ultimately benefited" from this compromise, this did allow the mainstream Greco-Roman churches to expand and become the majority of those who professed Christ.
One or more semi-gnostic schools developed in Alexandria, including the one headed by the semi-gnostic Clement of Alexandria, whose teachings influenced professing Christians in the Greco-Roman world. Over time, some of the more obvious Gnostic concepts (like Aeons) were never formally adopted as they taught them, but others that the allegorists felt had some type of support from tradition and/or scripture were adopted by the forming Greco-Roman "Catholic/Orthodox" confederation.
After a persecution by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus who died in 211 A.D., the church in Antioch ended up a leader that was acceptable to those who compromised in Jerusalem and apparently other areas.
Around 250 A.D., during the severe persecution by the Emperor Decius, the most public leader of the church in Smyrna (Eudaemon), apostatized. Shortly after this persecution, something new happened: A new leadership was installed throughout Asia Minor that was commended by the allegorist tolerating Bishop of Alexandria (Dionysius) reported:
But know now, my brethren, that all the churches throughout the East and beyond, which formerly were divided, have become united. And all the bishops everywhere are of one mind, and rejoice greatly in the peace which has come beyond expectation. Thus Demetrianus in Antioch, Theoctistus in Cæsarea, Mazabanes in Ælia, Marinus in Tyre (Alexander having fallen asleep), Heliodorus in Laodicea (Thelymidres being dead), Helenus in Tarsus, and all the churches of Cilicia, Firmilianus, and all Cappadocia. I have named only the more illustrious bishops, that I may not make my epistle too long and my words too burdensome (Cited in Eusebius. Church History, Book VII, Chapter V, Verse I).
Notice that the Alexandrian Bishop acknowledged that those in the East (Asia Minor) had been divided from the Alexandrian and Roman churches, were no longer divided. This is because there were no longer any true Christians leading them, but only those who tended towards allegory and non-biblical traditions.
And shortly after this time, is the first recorded instance of the Italians being able to influence a Roman Emperor enough so that they could install a bishop of their choice (probably either Dmonus or Timaeus) in Antioch (circa 270-273 A.D.) (please see the article The Smyrna Church era).
Hence, essentially due to compromise and persecutions, the semi-gnostic allegorizers tended to become the main group of professing Christians. For example, by the third and fourth century, the Roman Church no longer taught many apostolic teachings that it once had and instead included more and more teachings that did not originate in the Bible (this is documented in the article Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God?). While true Christians remained throughout history (please see the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3), they were a persecuted minority (see also Persecutions by Church and State), and were more specifically persecuted by the state beginning after the Council of Nicea in the fourth century and the subsequent "edicts against heretics" by Emperors Constantine and Theodosius (prior to that the Roman state normally persecuted Greco-Roman professors of Christ and true believers together).
Over time, people like the Protestant reformers stood up against those who often relied on allegory and tradition in an attempt to reverse some of the false doctrines that dominated mainstream Christianity. However, even though they were successful in removing some non-biblical practices (such as most idols and icons), they still retained many of the doctrines that the Alexandrian and Roman Churches had accepted (some of this is documented in the article The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong).
Was the Headquarters of the True Church To Remain in the Same City?
While as this page mentioned above, there are several churches that claim direct descent from places such as Alexandria, Antioch, Asia Minor, Jerusalem , and Rome, an important question to answer is: Was the headquarters of the true church to remain in the same city?
The answer, from a biblical perspective, is no.
The Apostle Paul taught that it was impossible:
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come (Hebrews 13:14).
Let us look at what Jesus taught on this matter:
And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:22-23).
Jesus, of course, has not yet returned. Whatever Christians there have been in the area of Palestine have been chased through all the cities in that geographic region since Jesus stated this (the Crusades helped insure this). Thus Jesus must be referring to more cities than just those in the area of Palestine (such as those Jacob was alluding to in Genesis 49:1-27). Jesus, thus, seems to be prophesying that it would not be possible that the headquarters of the true church could permanently remain in any one city for hundreds or nearly two thousand years. These statements from Jesus and Paul clearly indicate that only a church whose headquarters moved relatively often could possibly be the true church.
Furthermore, since John prophesied a time that the church would flee into the wilderness for apparently 1260 years (based on each day representing one year, such as shown in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6) in Revelation 12:6, this strongly suggests that the true church would be hard to locate for a very long time--and this simply is not the case with the Roman or Orthodox Catholic Churches. In Revelation Chapters 2 & 3, Jesus has the Apostle John list various churches that while also contemporaneous, provided a prophecy in advance of what would happen to those churches (for more information, please see the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3).
Perhaps it should be noted that even Catholic scholars admit that there is a biblical prophesy related to Rome that is less than flattering as the commentary in the 1582 version of the Rheims New Testament (the Roman Catholic standard English translation) states:
The author of the Commentaries upon the Apocalypse set forth in St. Ambrose name, writeth thus: This...sometime signifieth Rome, specially which at that time when the Apostle wrote this, did persecute the Church of God. But otherwise it signifieth the whole city of the Devil, that is, the universal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian also taketh it for Rome, thus, Babylon (saith he) in St. John is a figure of the city of Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, and the destroyer of the saints. Which is plainly spoken of that city, when it was heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the world, the persecutor of the Apostles and their successors, the seat of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christ's special enemies, the sink of idolatry, and false worship of the Pagan gods (Annotations on Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse. The Original And True Rheims New Testament Of Anno Domini 1582. Prepared and Edited by Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2004, copyright assigned to VSC Corp. Page 583).
Hence Bible prophecy seems to exclude Rome and many other places as the likely leader of true Christendom. Information on some of the early leaders from these cities can be found in the article titled Apostolic Succession.
A comparison of teachings that early Roman Catholic accepted leaders held and those held by the Church of God can be found in the article Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God?
Some terms of Possible Interest
The period of early Christianity has many names:
1) Ante-Nicene Christianity, which means that this covers Christianity prior to the Council of Nicea which was held at the request of the Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D.
2) Original Christianity, which means what the beliefs and practices were of the original Christian church (also called Primitive Christianity). Essentially from the death of Jesus (31 A.D.) until 325 A.D., as well as any who still have the same beliefs and practices today.
3) Apostolic Christianity, which means what the beliefs and practices were of the original Christian church while the original apostles were alive. Essentially from the death of Jesus (31 A.D.) until the death of the Apostle John around 100 A.D., as well as any who still have the same beliefs and practices today.
4) Post-apostolic Christianity, which means what the beliefs and practices were of the original Christian church from the time of the Apostle John's death until perhaps as late as 325 A.D., as well as any who still have the same beliefs and practices today. Specifically, those who claimed they held to the apostle's teachings on specific matters. The second century was the immediate post-apostolic period.
5) Second Century Christianity which means what the beliefs and practices were of the original Christian church from the time of the Apostle John's death around 100 A.D. until 200 A.D.
6) The time of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) which means what the beliefs and practices were of the original Christian church while the original apostles were alive, as well as any who still have the same beliefs and practices today (true Christianity).
7) Biblical Christianity, same as the above.
By early Christianity, this page is specifically referring to the beliefs originally held by true Christians through the fourth century that they received from Jesus, the Apostles, and the writers of the New Testament. It includes Roman Christians, but not Christianity as practiced by Roman Catholics or others professing Christianity where they deviate from those early beliefs. True Christianity is another term for the type of Christianity practiced by those who still practice apostolic Christianity.
Churches of Revelation 2 & 3: Approximate Timeline of Predominance
| Pentecost: 31 A.D. | 135 | 450 | 1050 | 1600 | 1933 | 1986 to present |
| Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamos | Thyatira | Sardis | Philadelphia | Laodicea |
Note to visitors: Many of the doctrines expounded upon at this site are probably different than you have heard. It is certainly understandable that you may question what is taught here. Please understand that when the Bible teaches that Satan deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9) that means we all have been deceived (all of us have sinned too, Romans 3:23).
Recall that Jesus taught: "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14).
Although the Living Church of God is a small, but international, church, it needs to be understood that not only do we NOT teach that we are the only ones who will be saved, we believe that the Bible clearly teaches that God will save the vast majority of humankind (this is documented in the articles Hope of Salvation: How the COG Differs From Protestantism and Universal Salvation? There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis).
If you believe God may be calling you to a possibly different understanding about the true Church, please pray, meditate, fast, and study your Bible. Search the scriptures daily to see if these things are so (as did the Bereans, Acts 17:10-11). If you believe there are any factual errors at this website, please explain where and why as I am happy to correct any errors of fact.
An article of possible interest for some new to this website may be What is the Meaning of Life?
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is also not an official site of the Living Church of God, but contains articles and commentaries from COGwriter, who is not an employee of the Living Church of God.
COGwriter (c) 2006/7 Thiel B., Ph.D. History of Early Christianity. www.cogwriter.com 2006/2007 0719
posted by David Ben-Ariel at 10:02 AM
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