History of the New Testament Church (Lessons Not Presented Due to Special Events)

 March 10 and March 17, 2024 NS had special events.

Here is some background information that if we had time, might be of interest to many of our classmates.

Part I - Historical Evidence of Jesus Christ

It is important for us to know the historically, at the least Jesus was a real person, who walked on this earth and interacted with people.  Often times, nay-sayers try to claim that He is a fictious character, but that just is not what history bears out.

Both Pagan and Jewish records present the evidence of a historical Jesus.

The most often-cited Jewish reference is from Josephus.   He was a brilliant writer of the first century, the son of Matthias. He took the name of Flavius in honor of the Flavian emperiors.  He was born around 37 or 38 A.D.  Specifically, Josephus wrote, "At that time lived Jesus, a wise man, if he may be called a man; for he perfored many wonderful works. He was a teacher of such men as received the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him many Jews and Gentiles. This was the Christ. And when Pilate, at the institgation of the chief men amoung us, had condemned him to the cross, they who before had conceived an affection for him did not cease to adhere to him. For on the third day he appeared to them alive again, the divine prophets having foretold these and many other wondeful things concerning him. And the sect of the  Christians, so called from him, subsists to this time." (Antiquties, Book 18, Chapter iii, Section3).

For additional reading on the historical Jesus check out Josh McDowell's website.  He also has a number of great books on the subject.

Part II - The Rapid Growth of the Early Church

Old Testament Reveals:

We have already laid out that the church of Christ began on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2).  On this day, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles and the Gospel in its completeness was preached for the first time.   Dr. Luke writes in the book of Acts that 3000 were buried with Christ in baptism.

The Old Testament prepared the way for Jesus and the church.  Paul wrote in the letter to the church at Ephesus, that the myster of Christ had not been made known to other generations (Eph 3:4) but rather is was hid in God and was to be revealed according to His enternal purpose (Eph 3:11).  Yet in the Old Testament we can read about the phophetic revelations that were made about the kingdom (church). Daniel shows that it would be set up during the days of the kings of the Roman Empire (Daniel 2:44). Isaiah states that the virgin will bear a son and it will be called Immanuel, God with us (Isa. 2:2-3, and 7:14). In chapter 53, Isaiah reveals that this Immanuel will bear the our sins.  David puts the crucifiction in the present and crys out, "My God, my God, why has thou foresaken me" and in vidid description of the suffering on the cross, adds, "they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22).  As we review back at these prophecies we see clearly God's plan to send his own son into the world as a sacrifice for sin that the church might be purhased by his own blood (Acrts 20:28).

The Gospels Prepare:

John the Baptist came in fulfilment of God's plan to "make ready the way of the Lord" (Matthew 3:3).  His task was to prepare a people in heart and mind to receive the Christ as the Son of God.

Take a look at Matt. 3:5-6, Acts 10:4, Romans 7:1-7; Matt. 4:17, 23.

The kingdom, or church as not in its completed form during the personal ministry of Jesus as seen in the statements Jesus made to His disciples to keep the Law (Matthew 23:2-3).  Matthew 16:18, he reference the future of the church - meaning it was not here yet.

The Church:

We have established that the birthday of the church as the day of Pentecost. Jesus told the Apostles, after His resurrections, to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Hold Spirit (Luke 24:49). The promise had been given to the Apostles earlier (John 14:26).  The Holy Spirit was to guide them into all truth (John 16:13).  This was fulfilled on Pentecost when the Apostle began teaching in languages they had never studied. Peter's sermon in Acts 2 explains it all.  People repented of their sins and the Bible says 3000 were baptized and we have the church (Acts 2:38).  Some doubters ask how this many could be baptized on one day.  Interestingly enough, the place with this assembly took place was called Solomon's Porch, it was on the Eastern side of the temple area. It was about 912 feet long.  The area had multiple pools, called Solomon's pool that were constructed for the city water supply and would have made a perfect place to hold these baptisms.

The Rapid Growth:

The new converts were dedicated. Acts 4:4 says they had favor with all of the people and soon the mumber of men came to be 5000.  Acts 5:14, 42, 16:5; 19:20 all continue to tell the story of how the new called out group grew in numbers.

The group grew so fast that we see the Jewish leaders organize efforts to extinguish the church. Acts 7 tells of the first Christian marytr, Stephen.

But we see the church taking root in many places. Barnabus foudn teh Apostle Paul and took him to Antioch of Syria, where a strong church had already been developed.  From Antioch, Paul made multiple journeys to preach the message to fellowships of Christians, many of these churches were established by Christians leaving Jerusalem at Pentecost and then returning to their homeland.  Non-inspired history (tradition) tells about enough of the work of the early evangelists that we get the picture that they spread out to various parts of the world to establish individual congregations of the church.

The New Way

The books of Acts and the apostles letters to the churches lay out a pattern of something new. The old law is gone and a new law of grace and truth are in place.   What many have called the pattern of New Testament Christianity is established in  these books of the inspired word of God.

We learn about what one must do to be saved (and thus, added to this body, we call the church).

We learn how they set up their fellowships - how they are organized.

We learn about what the members do - how they treat each other, the laws of the land, and worship God. 

Reference:

Mattox, FW. The Eternal Kingdom)1955

Stewart, Pattern of the New Testament Church. 2006