Church History

The true church was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ during His personal, earthly ministry as recorded in Matthew 16:18. Jesus Christ is named as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-21). And in Ephesians 5:23-25, the Lord Jesus is de- clared as the head of the church.

The Gospel, an organization with a treasurer, the same Head the church has today, believer's baptism, the Lord's Supper, hymn singing, the Great Commission, prayer meetings, business meetings—every vital element of a true church existed during the personal ministry of Jesus Christ.

On the day of Pentecost the Bible states that about 3,000 souls were added to this church (Acts 2:41), so obviously the church already existed before that day.

In the early days of the Old Testament God had promised that this church would one day be established. God's revelation had been to all men in the beginning. Then, starting with Abraham, God limited His scope of promised redemption to the Hebrew people. But the Lord assured Abraham that in him all nations would eventually be blessed. This promise was fulfilled when the New Testament Church was founded (Galatians 3:8), and the Gospel was extended to the Gentiles.

First there was the strange but wonderful leadership of John the Baptist, the eloquent man of the wilderness. Then came the loving touch and miracle-working power of Christ Himself! The marvelous preaching of the Apostles and their immediate successors continued the work that

100,000 members. (Read Acts 2:41; 4:4, 5:14). The book of Acts and the epistles reveal that Paul had a difficult task even in his day trying to keep some of the churches straight. (Look at some prophecies concerning the future as given in such verses as II Peter 2:12; Acts 20:29-31 along with the second and third chapters of Revelation).

It was necessary for these great churches to have many preachers or elders (Acts 20:17). Some of these pastors began to assume authority not given them in the New Testament, claiming au- thority over other and smaller churches. They began to lord it over God’s heritage (III John 9).

Possibly the first serious departure from New Testament church order, this error was the begin- ning of different orders in the ministry as practiced by Catholics and others. The original democratic policy and government of the early churches would be changed entirely. This error has grown and multiplied into many other hurtful errors. And it all began in a small way, before the close of the second century.

Another vital departure from Scripture that came during the second century concerns the great doctrine of Salvation itself. For centuries both Jews and Pagans had put great stress on Ceremonials. They now saw shadows as real sub- stances and ceremonials as real saving agencies. So it was not hard for them to believe that baptism was a part of salvation. This idea of “Baptismal Regeneration” began to catch on in some churches. The “Baptismal Regeneration” idea required a change in the subjects of baptism. If baptism is to be a means to salvation, then the sooner baptism takes place the better. So the false teaching concerning “Infant Baptism” next came on the scene. Until this time only “believers” were re-garded as proper subjects for baptism.For centuries infants were immersed, like everyone else who was baptized. But in time most of the erring churches would change from the New Testament mode of baptism to “pouring” or “sprinkling.”

Remember, these changes were not made in a day, nor even within a year or two. Most came slowly, and not in all the churches. Some churches vigorously repudiated them. In fact, in the year 251 A.D., many loyal churches declared non-fel- lowship with any church that accepted and prac- ticed these errors. This may have been the first official separation among the churches.

spread mightily the Christian religion during the first 500 years.

But a terribly bloody trail was left behind. Judaism and Paganism bitterly contested every forward movement. John the Baptist was the first of the great leaders to give up his life. His head was taken off. Soon after him the Savior Himself suffered the cruel death of the Cross.

Many other martyred heroes followed their Lord in rapid succession. Stephen was stoned. Matthew was slain in Ethiopia. Mark was dragged through the streets until dead. Luke was hanged. Peter and Simeon were crucified. Andrew was tied to a cross. James was beheaded. Philip was both crucified and stoned. Bartholomew was flayed alive. They pierced Thomas with lances. James the Less was thrown from the temple and beaten to death. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthias was stoned to death; and Paul was beheaded.

This all happened during the first hundred years, and would continue at the hands of Jews and pagans for two more centuries. And yet Chris- tianity continued to spread mightily…throughout the Roman Empire, Europe, Asia, Africa, En- gland, Wales, and nearly everywhere else where civilization was known to exist. The churches greatly multiplied and the disciples increased. But some churches continued to go into error.

These errors involved both policy and doctrine. Some of the early churches grew to be very large. (For example, it has been estimated that the church at Jerusalem had between 25,000 and

Through the centuries, the two errors of “bap- tismal regeneration” and “infant baptism” have caused the shedding of more Christian blood than all other errors combined. Over 50 million Chris- tians died martyr deaths during the twelve centu- ries of the “dark ages” alone (mainly for rejecting these two errors).

But three significant distinctives set apart many churches during the first three centuries:(1) their independence or separateness, (2) the subordinate character of pastors, and (3) the bap- tism of believers only.

Mosheim, the great Lutheran historian, gives this description of the early churches:

How did these men die?

1. Andrew
   
2. Peter
   
3. Matthias
   
4. Paul
   
5. Simeon
   
6. James
   
7. John the Baptist
   
8. A. crucified
   
9. B. stoned
   
10. C. beheaded
    

As you answer questions on the following pages don't forget to consult all Scripture references (KJV) given, along with the text you have just read.

1. To whom did Jesus say, “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell
   shall not prevail against it”?
2. Paul explained that the rock Jesus referred to was “…the foundation of the
   and, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
   
3. In comparing the Christ-church relationship with the husband-wife relationship, Paul taught:
   Christ is theof the church; A husband is to be the of his
   wife. The church isunto Christ; A wife is to be to her
   husband in everything. Christ the church, and gave himself for it;
   Husbands are to their wives.
4. What did God promise Abraham (quoted by Paul in Galatians 3:8)?
5. Galatians 4:4 says that “when theof thewas
   come, God sent forth his…” This indicates that the world was prepared by
   God for the arrival of Jesus to do His redeeming work and to establish His church.
6. What three things happened to 3,000 souls on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41)?
   A. They “gladlyHis ”;
   B. They were;
   C. They wereto the church.
7. Acts 4:4 saysmore men believed on the Lord Jesus, and Acts 5:14
   shows the fast growth continuing with “both of men and
   women” receiving the Lord Jesus as Savior.
8. Paul warned the leaders of the Ephesus church that after he left there would come
   “grievous” {two-legged variety} to deceive them. In addition people in
   their own church would begin “speaking things, to draw away
   after them.”
9. Perhaps the first serious departure from the New Testament order among church leaders
   began before the close of the century, when some bishops or
   pastors began to claim over other and smaller churches.
10. What two errors, developed during the first three centuries, have resulted in many
    millions of Christians dying martyr deaths?
    A.
    B.
11. Check the correct statements concerning early churches (according to Mosheim):
    A. A bishop or pastor often had charge over several churches
    B. Churches ordinarily met in a private house.
    C. The pastor was a minister or servant.
    D. Churches were independent bodies, not under control of any other.
    E. Some churches did not have the same “rights” or authority as others.
    

The First Century

The Lord Jesus emphasized the spiritual nature of the new church He established. He distinctly indicated the power and presence of God that would be the foundation and building of the church. He took His disciples “behind the scenes.” Rather than talk about Roman emperors and wicked persecutors, He referred to “the gates of hell” and “spiritual wickedness in high places.”

During the first century the apostles were alive and helped to lead the early church in actively spreading the Gospel.

Forty days after His resurrection, the Lord Jesus gave final instructions to His disciples and ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:1-11). About 120 followers of Christ then secluded themselves in Jerusalem for ten days of prayer and fasting, waiting for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit promised by the Lord Jesus.

The day of Pentecost is one of the most signifi- cant days in the history of the early church be- cause 3,000 people (who had come to Jerusalem from all over the world) responded to Peter’s invitation to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior. These people were baptized and joined other be- lievers in fellowship, prayer, witnessing, and ob- servance of the Lord's Supper. Read Acts 2 for the story.

That first church was a closely knit group in Jerusalem. It grew rapidly; some Bible scholars believe that it had as many as 100,000 members. Excitement ran high; they expected Christ to return at any moment. Many sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church for distribution to those who were most needy; they shared all of their material goods with one another (Acts 2:44- 45; 4:34-35).

The church grew so rapidly that the apostles quickly saw the need for better organization, so they appointed seven men to distribute goods to the needy widows. These were the first deacons. Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,” was their first leader.

Christ established His church at the cross- roads of the ancient world. The Roman Empire had built a huge network of roads and bridges that made travel possible all over the then-known world. The Empire had also cleared the sea of pirates to facilitate travel by ships and trade by sea. God used these conditions to prepare the way for messengers of Christ (both official and unofficial missionaries) to spread the Gospel to other lands. When persecution erupted with the stoning of Stephen, Jerusalem’s believers started moving…and they took the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

12. Why is the first century of the church sometimes called the apostolic church?
13. Use your Bible (KJV) to answer the following details concerning the day of Pentecost:
    A. The 120 believers “were all with onein one."
    B. “…they were allwith the Holy Ghost… ” (v. 4).
    C. At this time there were devout Jews present “out of everyunder
    ."
    D. Who interrupted the confusion and began to speak God's message?
    E. He said they were seeing fulfillment of what Old Testament prophet?
    F. He had prohesied of this day as the beginning of a time when “whosoever shall
    on theof the Lord shall be."
    G. Jesus of Nazareth was described as a man:
    V. 22 — “of God among you"
    V. 23 — “by the determinate counsel…of God”
    V. 23 — “and slain ” by wicked hands
    V. 24 — “up ” by God
    Vs. 25 & 33 — at the Father’s hand in Heaven
    V. 36 — “bothand
    H. Luke’s first “state of the church ” report: (He would make nine such reports in Acts).
    V. 41 — People “gladly His Word ” & were
    V. 42 — “They continued stedfastly in the apostles’(teaching)
    and, and inof
    , and in."
    V. 43 — “And came upon every soul: and many
    andwere done by the apostles.”
    V. 44 — “ …all that believed…had all things ;"
    V. 45 — They “ sold theirand goods, and parted them
    to all men, as every man had ."
    V. 46 — They continued “with one accord in the,
    and breaking bread fromto, did eat
    their (food) with gladness and singleness of heart,”
    V. 47 — They also continued"God, and having favour with
    all the . And the Lord to the church
    such as should be."

The Heroic Age of the Church

The Lord Jesus had warned His disciples: “They have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” The first 300 years of the existence of churches involved intense persecution.

In the year 64 A.D. a terrible fire broke out in Rome. After burning for six days and six nights the greater part of the city lay in ashes. A rumor spread that Emperor Nero himself had set the fire. Anger toward Nero was bitter. He needed a scapegoat, so he accused the Christians of setting the fire. As a result of these false accusations large numbers of Christians were arrested and terrible persecution began. Many were crucified. Some were sewn up in the skins of wild beasts; then thrown to wild beasts who tore them to pieces. Women were tied to mad bulls and dragged to death. Each night Christians were burned at the stake in Nero's garden, while crowds of people were invited to watch.

It was during this time that the apostle Peter was crucified (with his head down, at his request, because he said he was unworthy to die in the same manner as his Master). Paul, a Roman citizen, was beheaded. The slaughter of Christians at this time was confined to Rome.

All of the apostles would eventually suffer a martyr's death, with the exception of John, who survived being boiled in oil and later lived through his exile on the Island of Patmos (where he received the Book of Revelation).

Roman Emperors who launched persecution against believers:

1. Nero (A.D. 54-68)
2. Domitian (A.D. 81-96)
3. Trajan (A.D. 98-117)
4. Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-180)
5. Septimius Severus (A.D. 193-211)
6. Maximinus (A.D. 235-238)
7. Decius (A.D. 249-251)
8. Valerian (A.D. 253-260)
9. Aurelian (A.D. 270-275)
10. Diocletian (A.D. 284-303)
11. Galerius (A.D. 303-311)


Oppression by the Roman government would be intense through much of the first two centuries. At certain times and places the early church did not experience heavy persecution, but it was all too common for believers to be hunted down, tortured, burned alive and fed to hungry lions. In fact, Roman citizens often gathered as spectators at a sporting event to see lions turned loose on Christian families.

As the danger increased, Christians in Rome began secretly meeting in catacombs to worship together. The catacombs were underground burial chambers. Burying people within the city limits was not permitted, so these narrow tunnels were dug out of the soft stone for that purpose. In the sides of these passageways excavations were made row upon row for the dead to be laid to rest. There are so many of these long tunnels that if they were all end to end they would be about 500 miles long. Many of these subterranean passages are more than thirty feet below the surface.Markings on the walls of these catacombs still remain to testify of the persecuted believers’ strong faith in Christ and of their love for God’s Word.

Ignatius (67-110), the devoted pastor of Antioch, was a well-known Christian leader who was hauled to Rome to be murdered by wild beasts in the Colosseum. As Ignatius watched the hungry lions approach him in the arena, he loudly prayed: I thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast thus chosen to honor me. I am God’s rain, to be ground between the teeth of wild beasts, so that I may become a holy loaf for the Lord.

Ignatius had written seven inspiring letters to other Christians shortly before his death. In his letter to Polycarp, Ignatius encouraged Smyrna’s beloved pastor to “ stand firm like an anvil under the hammer.”

Polycarp would continue serving the Lord faith- fully during the next four decades before his turn would come. Polycarp was the last man alive to have sat under the teaching of the Apostle John. When he was arrested in his hometown in 156, the Roman governor demanded that the old man deny Christ. Polycarp answered:

For eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He has done me no wrong; how then can I blas- pheme my King who has saved me? You threaten the fire which burns for an hour and then is quenched; but you do not know of the fire of the judgment to come, and the fire of eternal punish- ment. Bring what you will.

Three times the herald proclaimed, “ Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian.” The crowd shouted, “ Let him be burned!”

Wood was collected and made into a pile. Polycarp asked not to be fastened to the stake. “Leave me thus,” he said. “ He who strengthens me to endure the flames will also enable me to stand firm at the stake without being fastened with nails.”

The fire was lit, but a strange wind blew the flames away from the man in the middle where he stood unharmed.

As the flames grew smaller, an angry execu- tioner drove his sword into Polycarp. To the amaze- ment of the spectators blood gushed from the aged body and extinguished the flames. But the fire was rebuilt and soon Polycarp was in Heaven! His last words were a loud prayer:

Lord God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I praise Thee that Thou hast judged me worthy of this day and of this hour, to participate in the number of Thy witnesses, and in the cup of Thy Christ.

14. Who was the first Roman emperor to launch intense persecution against Christians?
    
15. Two well-known apostles murdered by him were
    and
16. What apostle did not die a martyr's death?
17. What were the catacombs?
18. What other use did the early Christians find for the catacombs?
    
19. The catacombs make up a total of aboutmiles of tunnels, winding and
    crossing each other to form a veritable maze. Many are more thanfeet deep.

This sets forth the period when the church was crushed beneath the iron heel of pagan Rome, yet it never gave out such sweet fragrance to God as in those two centuries of almost constant martyrdom.

H.A. Ironside

Justin Martyr (100-167) a philosopher and Biblical apologist. (Justin had been given his last name for his heroic witness and defense of the faith against severe opposition.) The last fifteen years of his life were spent in Rome, where he was finally scourged and beheaded with six other Chris- tians. His last words were:

We desire nothing more than to suffer for our Lord Jesus Christ; for this gives us joyfulness before His dreadful judgment seat…I am a Chris- tian, having been freed by Christ, and by the grace of Christ, I partake of the same hope.



Foxe's Book of Martyrs (published in 1563) chronicles the deaths of tens of thousands of believers throughout the first 14 centuries of the church.

The ashes of Christians who had been burned at the stake were often thrown into the river, and the heathen said mockingly: “Now we shall see if there will be a resurrection of their bodies.” But the flames of the Gospel message spread in the wind as God used the marvelous testimony of these dedicated saints!

Among the distant places that saw fierce per- secution in those days was southern Gaul, now France. A slave girl named Blandina was among those who were condemned for Christ there. Blandina had constantly encouraged many martyrs whom she had seen killed before her…to remain steadfast to the end.

Finally, Blandina was arrested and brutally tortured for an entire day. Then she was put in a net, gored by a wild bull, and burned. Still alive, her final words before they cut her throat were: “I am a Christian; among us no evil is done.”

20. Identify the following people, and briefly describe the death of each:
    Ignatius
    Polycarp
    Justin Martyr
    Blandina
    
21. What classic book records the deaths of Christians who gave their lives for the Lord
    Jesus Christ?
22. What was done with the ashes of many believers who were burned at the stake?
    

Tertullian, who was converted to Christ about 197 A.D.,
after wondering at the courage of Christian martyrs, said:
The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church!



Marcus Aurelius (161-180) was the emperor when Blandina and many others were martyred. The persecution under this emperor was the most widespread to date.

Marcus Aurelius decreed that the property of Christians be given to their accusers. This opened a den of vipers, as anyone who coveted a certain property would quickly make their accusation and claim their real estate

Churches as a whole enjoyed about seventy years of rest from persecution after the death of Marcus Aurelius, with the exception of the op- pression under Septimius Severus (193-211).

Perpetua was a twenty-two year old noble- woman when the police officers took her and her baby boy to prison. Dozens of prisoners were crowded together in a small, dirty room. The guards were rough and rude, and demanded money for not ill-treating her; but soon all she had was gone.

But Perpetua would not give up her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, despite her fears and the awful conditions she faced. After a few weeks two influential friends managed to get permission for her to sit by herself to nurse her baby in the quiet of a better room each day.

Perpetua’s parents were not Christians, but loved their daughter deeply despite the suffering she was causing the entire family. And added to Perpetua’s physical suffering, she felt deep grief because of her parents’ disappointment.

“Oh, daughter,” her father would plead when he visited. “Please have pity on my grey hairs. Do not give me over to disgrace. Think of your mother and your brothers. How will your baby live with- out you. Do not destroy us all!” Her father would then kiss her hands, and fall at her feet.

Perpetua wept as she saw her father lying on the ground, begging her to deny Jesus and live. But she would not, saying, “We are not in our own keeping, but God’s.” And her father would weep bitterly as he left the prison.

Perpetua said that, despite the pain and suf- fering in prison, she had much comfort in knowing that she was doing right.

The Christian prisoners joined together for the Lord’s Supper on the last night in prison. Curious people would come to see what sort of victims would provide their pleasure the next day.

On March 7, 203, Perpetua and her faithful slave Felicitas were gored to death by wild beasts at Carthage.



Dorothea and Her Roses

Many fascinating stories have been told of the faithful Christians of that day. And though God chose to permit tens of thousands of them to go to Heaven while young, He often manifested His power to those who witnessed the death of His martyrs.

About 300 years after the death of Christ, there was a group of young Christian ladies who had come from noble families in Caesarea. These girls were thrown into prison when Apricius was governor of the province. And although they were frightened, when they were forced to choose be- tween worshipping the Emperor or facing death…all of them chose to die for Christ.

The last of this group to face death was a girl named Dorothea, who had often been called the most beautiful woman in Caesarea. Governor Apricius agreed, and when he saw her standing before him he immediately and passionately wanted her as his wife.

But he dared not show her how he felt. Keeping his eyes on the floor, he sternly asked her if she was a Christian.

Dorothea confessed that she loved and wor- shipped Jesus, and would never worship a Roman god. So Apricius had her tortured and taken back to her cell, thinking she would be called for her execution soon.

But when the rusty hinges of the door next opened Dorothea was surprised to see two strange girls standing in front of her, with bags of money in their hands.

The girls did not seem to be able to speak without stammering, as they awkwardly gave her the message that Apricius was offering this large sum of money if she would deny Christ.

Dorothea felt sorry for their shame and em- barrassment, but gently told them she could not turn her back on Jesus, for any amount of money. Before the girls left the cell, both of them received Jesus as their Savior, and vowed to never forsake Him. When the governor heard what had happened, he had both of them put to death in the great town square…and forced Dorothea to watch. Dorothea was still waiting in her cell several days later when the governor sent for her. He told her to simply throw some incense on the heathen altar, and he would not only free her from prison but would give her everything she desired.

Attempt to Destroy all Churches

Decius was the first emperor who organized a widespread persecution with the definite purpose of completely destroying all Christian churches. Happily, his reign only lasted two years, from 249- 251.

Seven years later Valerian initiated seven years of persecution. Afterward, believers had about forty years of tranquility.

The most severe persecution would come under the emperor Diocletian and his successor Galerius, from 303-311. The tortures inflicted upon Chris- tians during this time were too gruesome to de- scribe. Bibles were burned. Church buildings were destroyed. Millions of believers were put to death in a determined attempt to wipe all Christian churches off the face of the earth.

But in 311, Emperor Galerius became deathly ill with a painful and incurable disease. From his deathbed, he issued an edict recalling his persecu- tion demands and granting permission for Chris- tians to hold their assemblies again. He asked the Christians to pray for him and for the empire.

Although this law only granted half-hearted toleration, it was probably the first favorable law for the churches. It was the end of the periods of persecution from the Roman Empire. Two years later, Christianity won a mighty victory over paganism.

But Dorothea would not listen to him. She told him she was the bride of Jesus, and would have flowers in Heaven which never faded.

When Apricius saw that nothing would change her, he exploded with anger. He called an officer, and ordered her to be tortured immediately…and to schedule her death at sunset.

As the sun was setting Dorothea walked through the busy streets of Caesarea to meet her death. In the crowd was a young man named Theophilus. Having heard about her statement to the governor, Theophilus mocked her asking her to be sure and send him some of those “heavenly” flowers.

“Your prayer is granted, O Theophilus,” she said with a gentle smile.

Moments later the beautiful girl mounted the scaffold steps and knelt in front of the executioner. Looking up to say she was ready, Dorothea saw a young boy standing beside her holding a basket of roses, finer than she had ever seen.

She told him to take the basket to Theophilus and tell him that Dorothea sent them.

Theophilus and his friends had forgotten all about the latest Christian being martyred, and were feasting when the strange boy came to them. He gave Theophilus the message, left the basket, and vanished.

A short while later, Theophilus turned to the Lord Jesus and would soon give his life for his new Master!



Why were Christians
Hated and Persecuted?

1. Satan hates the Lord Jesus Christ, even Christ living His life within believers. Since the first promise concerning Jesus given in Genesis 3:15, the seed of the Serpent continues to attack the seed of Christ. Since this is true, why do many believers today NOT feel the sting of persecution? Let Satan and his followers see Christ in any life and they will always attack, in one way or another!

2. The life and testimony of believers was a rebuke to the idolatry and sensuality of the Romans, just as it was a rebuke to the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. The Romans perceived Christians as anti-social outcasts because the believers shunned the wicked activities of the day.

3. The spread of Christianity was also damaging to the heathen economy. First, Christianity meant death to the business of making idols. And, second, Christian slaves and servants, though hard workers and trustworthy, would no longer do the dishonest and immoral jobs many masters demanded.

4. Even in that day, Christians were “politically incorrect”, because believers are of a “kingdom which is not of this world.” The Roman empire was never tolerant of those who did not recognize it as the only kingdom.

5. Christians were not tolerant of other faiths. Jesus said, “I am the way”—the only way!

23. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” is a quotation from
    A. Marcus Aurelius
    B. Nero
    C. Tertullian
    D. Decius
    
24. Who begged Perpetua to deny Christ so she could be released?
    A. the emperor
    B. the governor
    C. her father
    D. Dorothea
    
25. In what place was Perpetua and her servant murdered?
    A. Gaul
    B. Smyrna
    C. Caesarea
    D. Carthage
    
26. Who was the young man who was saved after Dorothea’s murder?
    A. Apricius
    B. Theophilus
    C. Tertullian
    D. Diocletian
    
27. The Roman emperor who both led in and stopped the most severe persecution was
    A. Valerian
    B. Decius
    C. Galerius
    D. Diocletian
    
28. What prompted him to call a halt to the persecution?
    
29. Briefly give five reasons Christians were persecuted by the pagans:
    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.
    E.
    
30. Discuss why you think American churches do not have more severe persecution today?
    (Give both negative and positive reasons)
    
31. Do you believe Americans will have more servere persecution in the future?
    (Explain your answer)

Growth of Early Churches in Knowledge
of God’s Word, 33-430 A.D.

A true church can only be destroyed from the inside. Although it can be hindered and damaged, it can not be destroyed by attacks from the outside. That principle was firmly established and illus- trated in the early history of churches.

Despite horrible persecution (first from the Jews and then from the Roman empire), churches continued to grow stronger largely because of their steadfast emphsis on searching and learning doctrinal truth from Scripture. Their strength developed as their wisdom from God’s Word in- creased.

Gifted men devoted their lives to searching and defending truths found in the Scriptures. They helped develop the early church in many ways: by discovering and explaining God’s truths, by exposing and combating false teachings, and by establishing God’s system of organization and church government.

After the time of the apostles, churches and their pastors were often served by these men, sometimes referred to as “church fathers.” These men had no authority over local church pastors, but were servant-leaders whom God raised for a special purpose during this era.

Some historians divide the church fathers into four groups:

1. The apostolic (or postapostolic) fathers. (95- 150 A.D.). These were leaders who had been personally taught by the apostles. Clement of Rome; Polycarp of Smyrna; Ignatius of Antioch; and Barnabas of Alexandria, were among the most nobable.

2. The apologists (140-200 A.D.). These men wrote books to defend Christians against pagan charges. Churches grew stronger with the greater understanding of Scripture that resulted from the diligent study of these men. And apoligists, like Justin Martyr and Tatian, also wrote to win the pagans to Jesus Christ.

3. The polemicists (180-225 A.D.). While apolo- gists warded off outside attacks, these men helped fend off attacks inside the church. They used the New Testament Scriptures to counter false teaching and to clarify Scriptural positions. Some out- standing polemicists were Irenaeus, Cyprian and Tertullian.

4. The scientific theologians (225-430 A.D.) were the fourth group. They applied contemporary thinking to theology and developed methods for Biblical interpretation. Jerome, Augustine (bishop of Hippo), Origen, Athanasius, Ambrose and Chrysotom were among those held in high esteem.

Note: The term “father” is used in a general sense here, referring to those leaders who God used to “pioneer” as expounders of Scriptures. The leaders of the early local churches were called pastors. Erring churches would later call their church leaders priests, and would address them as “Father.” This clearly violates Matthew 23:9, which teaches that no person is to be called father in a spiritual sense; that title is reserved for God alone.

The apostolic (or postapostolic) fathers were
A. the first monks.
B. the bishops of Rome.
C. the early martyrs.
D. leaders personally taught by the apostles.


The apologists were
A. writers who countered false teaching within the church
B. writers who kept records of the martyrs.
C. writers who defended Christianity against pagan attacks.
D. writers who developed methods for Biblical interpretation.


A New Day for Christianity

Constantine was one of four contestants for the Roman throne after the death of Galerius in 311. The following year, Constantine marched into Italy with an army of forty thousand men, expecting to face his arch-rival, Maxentius, who also wanted to rule the Roman Empire. The army of Maxentius was three times as large as that of Constantine, and contained the famous Praetorian Guard.

On the evening before the great battle would take place at the Milvian Bridge, Constantine knew he was in a dangerous situ- ation. He felt he must have su- pernatural help. Since he was a worshipper of Mithra, the Per- sian sun-god, legend says he looked to the sun as it set in the west. It was then that Constantine claimed to see a fiery red cross above the sun. In letters of light the cross bore words which mean, “In this sign, conquer.” Constantine interpreted this to mean that he should become a Christian.

Constantine’s victory the following day is con- sidered one of the most decisive battles in the history of the world. It led to Constantine’s undisputed rule over the Roman world. He attrib- uted his success to Christianity.

In the city of Milan, in the year 313, Constantine issued an edict that set up Christianity as the official and only religion of the Empire. Under his edict, the Christian religion moved from a poor and persecuted minority to a wealthy and estab- lished majority.

The Roman Empire through its emperor sought a marriage with Christianity. Constantine was convinced the spiritual power of Christianity helped him to gain and rule the world. And he rewarded Christianity by giving the temporal power of the world.

In the organization of the new hierarchy, Christ was temporarily dethroned as head of the churches, and emperor Constantine was enthroned in His place.of Christians has been done by Judaism or Pagan- ism. Now comes a serious change. Christians (in name) began persecuting Christians.

Constantine wanted all Christians to join him in his new idea of state religion. When he learned of the many believers who conscientiously op- posed this serious departure from New Testament teachings, he began using the power of govern- ment to compel. Thus began centuries of hard and bitter persecution against all Christians who were actually being loyal to Christ and His Word!

The hierarchy organized under Constantine rapidly developed into what is now known as the Catholic church. Not content to be simply an executive to carry out the completed laws of the New Testament, this church began to be legislative, amending or annulling old laws and enacting new ones utterly unknown to the New Testament.

One of its first legislative enactments, and one of the most subversive in its results, was to establish by law “infant baptism.” By this new law, estab- lished in the year 416, the baptism of infants became compulsory. (Infants had been infrequently baptized for about a century before this). When this new law became effective, two vital New Testament laws—“believer’s baptism” and “vol- untary personal obedience in baptism”—were ab- rogated

An inevitable consequence of this new doc- trine and law was that the erring churches were soon filled with unconverted members. So the great spiritual affairs of God’s great spiritual kingdom were soon in the hands of an unregenerate temporal power. What can we expect next?

This hierarchy was the definite beginning of what is now known as the Catholic, or “universal” church. It’s indefinite beginnings were probably near the close of the second and beginning of the third century, when the new ideas concerning bishops and preacher-church government began to take shape.

It’s important to remember that when Constantine made his call for the council to estab- lish the new hierarchy, very many Christian (Baptists) individuals and churches declined to respond. They wanted no marriage with the state, and no centralized religious government, and no ecclesiastical government of any kind that was higher than an individual church. Neither these Christians (Baptists) nor their churches ever en- tered the hierarchy that became the Catholic denomination.

When this hierarchy was created, Constantine, who was made its head, was not a Christian himself. He had agreed to become one. But since the erring churches which had joined his new organization had adopted the error of baptismal regeneration, a serious question arose in the mind of Constantine: “If I am saved from my sins by baptism, what is to become of my sins which I may commit after I am baptized?”

When Constantine could not find a satisfac- tory answer to this question, he decided to unite with the Christians…but to postpone his baptism until just prior to his death.

Constantine’s action in replacing the pagan religion with Christianity for the entire Roman Empire incurred the hot displeasures of the Ro- man Senate. They repudiated, or at least opposed, his course. And their opposition finally resulted in the removal of the seat of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, an old city rebuilt and renamed Constantinople for Constantine. Thus, there came to be two capital cities of the Roman Empire— Rome and Constantinople. These two rival cities centuries later became the ruling centers of the divided Catholic church—Roman and Greek.Up until the organization of the hierarchy and the wedding between church and state, persecution

Loyal Christians and churches rejected this new law. “Believer’s baptism” as taught in the New Testament was the only law for them. They not only refused to baptize their own children, but believing in the baptism of believers only, they refused to accept the baptism done within the churches of this unscriptural organization. If a member from a church in the new hierarchy at- tempted to join one of the loyal churches that had not become a part of the hierarchy, that person was required to give a testimony of salvation and be rebaptized.

This course soon incurred the hot displeasure of the state religionists, most of whom were not genuine Christians. But the name “Christian,” was now denied those loyal churches who refused to accept these new errors. They were now called by many other names, such as “Montanists,” “Tertullianists,” “Novationists,” “Paterines,” etc. And already some of them, because of their practice of rebaptizing those who had been baptized in infancy, were now referred to as “Anabaptists.”

In the year 426, just ten years after the legal establishment of infant baptism, began the awful period known as the “Dark Ages.” For the next twelve hundred years the trail of loyal Christianity is largely washed away in its own blood.

We Need to Get Back to God’s Script!

By Vance Havner

GOD NEVER PLANNED OR PROMISED that churchianity nor a churchless Christianity, but true Christians would ever be anything more Christ the Head living afresh in His body, the than a persecuted minority…scorning the values church.of this world and living under rigid discipline,In our zeal to make the Gospel acceptable swimming against the stream of this world’s and fashionable we have put the ark on a Philis- thinking and living. As long as they followed tine cart instead of carrying it on dedicated that pattern they turned the world upside down.shoulders. We thought to speed it up by putting Then Constantine became a church member it on modern wheels, but we actually stop the and made it fashionable to be a professed Chris-procession, as happened with David, and we tian. We have never fully recovered from that suffer tragedy as did Uzzah.It is time to return awful blunder. Now and then a new company to our roots and begin at the beginning.The gait gets back to roots,and revival restores some-of Galilee and the pattern of Pentecost call forthing of that primitive glory of the early church.fresh study.What the world needs is neither a Christless

32. What new Roman emperor would change the course of history beginning in 313 A.D.?
    A. Valerian
    B. Decius
    C. Galerius
    D. Constantine
    
33. What does legend say this man saw in the sky while marching with his forces?
    A. a pillar of fire
    B. a bright star
    C. a fiery red cross
    D. God
    
34. What words were written on this vision?
    
35. Who was temporarily enthroned as head of the church when this alliance and hierarchy
    was formed?
36. The indefinite and unofficial beginnings of the Catholic church were near the close of
    thecentury and beginning of thecentury.
37. Very many of the (Baptist) Christians wanted no part of…
    A.
    B.
    C.
    
38. What serious question arose in Constantine's mind when the new organization adopted Baptismal regeneration?
    
39. What personal decision did Constantine finally make concerning this matter?
    
40. What action did the Roman Senate take in oppostion of Constantine's course of action?
    
41. When some Chrstians did not join Constantine's new idea of state religion, he began to
    use “theofto."
42. This newly developing “church” joined to a temporal government was no longer “simply
    anto carry out the completed laws of the New Testament, but
    began to be, amending and annulling old or
    enacting new ones utterlyto the New Testament.”
43. What new law was established in 416 A.D.?
    
44. What two vital New Testament laws were no longer in effect if this law was accepted?
    A.
    B.
45. What was the inevitable consequence of this new doctrine and law?
    
46. What churches were denied the use of the name “Christian”?
    
List five names sometimes given to these “genuine” Christians?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

The “Dark Ages” began inA.D.
For more than a thousand years, “the trail of
loyal Christianity is largely
away in its own."


Let’s Review

47. Sir Isaac Newton said,“The are the only body of known Christians
    that have never symbolized with."
48. The root meaning of Ekklesia is
49. The Marks of the true New Testament Church:
    Its Head and Founder —
    Its only rule of faith and practice — The
    . Its name — “.""
    Its polity — — all members equal.
    Its members — onlypeople.
    Its ordinances —, followed by
    the.
    Its officers —and.
    Its work — getting folks,them in a
    Scriptural manner, them “to observe all things” He
    has commanded.
    Its financial plan — and
    Its weapons of warfare —, not
    Its independence — separation ofand
    
50. was the first Roman emperor to persecute the Christians.
51. What is the truly great significance of the day of Pentecost?
    
52. When was the true New Testament church founded?
    
53. What was the unusual manner in which the apostle Peter was crucified?
    
54. Match the Roman emperor with the description given in the right column:
    Nero
    A. followed Nero in persecuting believers
    Tiberius Caesar
    B. Emperor when New Testament church started
    Domitian
    C. accused Christians of starting fire in Rome
    Marcus Aurelius
    D. decreed that property of Christians be given to their accusers
    Septimius Severus
    E. called halt to terrrible persecution when he became deathly ill
    Decius
    F. embraced Christianity; wedded church and state
    Valerian
    G. seven years of intense persecution
    Diocletian
    H. next to last emperor to inflict severe persecution of believers
    Galerius
    I. two-year-reign was first attempt to destroy Christian churches
    Constantine
    J. Emperor when Perpetua was murdered.
    
55. Who was Blandina? How did she die? What were her final words?
    
56. How did these people die? (Lettered items will be used more than once)
    
    John the Baptist
    Paul
    Peter
    Thomas
    Mark
    Stephen
    James
    Matthias
    Ignatius
    Polycarp
    Justin Martyr
    Perpetua
    

    A. crucified
    B. stoned
    C. beheaded
    D. burned to death
    E. pierced with lances
    F. dragged through the streets until dead
    G. murdered by lions or other wild beasts
    

    A real fire brand is distressing to the devil and when a wide-awake believer comes along, taking the Gospel seriously, we can expect sinister maneuvering for his downfall.

    — Vance Havner

    When a Christian is martyred, tremendous things begin to happen.

    — Ian Rennie