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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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 Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: The first century church |
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Hi all,
The early church in general is so interesting to me for several reasons:
1. They had no real NC/NT writings to beat each other up with.
2. Many were persecuted which in my opinion caused true fellowship among them and their complete reliance on God.
3. They didn't have huge buildings to heat/repair/play music in, etc. Which also probably caused a truer/simpler form of fellowship and worship. I mean writing church bulletins can be a pain in the neck.
4. They lived in joyful hope fixing their eyes on Jesus and not on some organized religion complete with controlling leaders.
5. They lived by faith in God's loving mercy.
I'm sure there are many more differences I could come up with.....but has anyone contemplated the early church in such a way? Just wondering.
Love to you in Him,
Di |
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MoJo
Moderator
Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 3148
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:49 am Post subject: |
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hi Di. What do you mean by this?
1. They had no real NC/NT writings to beat each other up with.
According to Luke, which is dated around 59 - 62 AD:
Luk 1:1 ¶ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Luk 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
Luk 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Luk 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
This reads that Luke has taken the written records of the eyewitnesses who were from the beginning and his own eyewitness testimony and set them into one organized and in order book.
So these writings did exist before Luke set the testimony in order in his book. They also had the OT and the letters written by Paul who told them to send his letters to be read by the other churches as well. One can assume that James and Peter's letters made the rounds as well.
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Yes, that's true Mo. But there wasn't a Book of 64 little books.
No chapters and verses in toto. Ya see what I mean?
Love,
Di |
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:56 am Post subject: |
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To clarify: they didn't have chapter numbers and verse numbers. Ya know how we can give a number reference when scripture is quoted. They probably just said: It is written in Isaiah.
Well anyway....I guess what I'm saying is that those times were more simpler to my perception.
Love,
Di |
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FFT
Emperor of the Galaxy
Joined: 26 Mar 2005
Posts: 5701
Location: Memphis
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| They were actually Jewish, for one, so none of this "the old laws don't actually matter" crock Pauline Christians popularized. |
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Dear FFT,
That is an interesting statement you made. I've always believed in my heart that the Judeaizers won the church over by and large. Paul's gospel of grace has been lost in a very complicated set of new Christian laws. Do you see this, too?
The Letter to the Galatians spelled this out very clearly to me. Does anyone else see this?
Love in Him,
Di |
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Steven3
Lion King
Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 1205
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 12:29 am Post subject: Re: The first century church |
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Hi Diane
Hello  | Diane wrote: | | 1. They had no real NC/NT writings to beat each other up with. |
As Nobby has mentioned - they clearly did have "many" records of Christ's teaching, including the 2 inspired witnesses preserved in Matthew and Mark.
You seem to think the 27 books of the NT are better suited to "beating each other up" than the 39 books of the OT, but the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Therapeutae were quite able to "beat each other up" with only the 39 books - plus some myths.
| Quote: | | I'm sure there are many more differences I could come up with.....but has anyone contemplated the early church in such a way? Just wondering. |
They certainly had many differences - one was meeting in homes as you say.
Another would be having several bishops per church, not one pastor.
Another would be that they were pacifists.
And so on...
God bless
Steven |
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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Hiya Steven
Your point about the Pharisees, etc. is quite true......and that is really is my point. There is a Pharisaical approach in many areas of present Christian church life.
Where do you go to church?
Do you believe this?
This is wrong.
That isn't correct.
Etc, etc.
Perhaps I'm romanticizning the early church......they were just as messed up as we are 
But be led by the Spirit. Now that is music to my ears.
Thanks for your input.
Love to you in Christ,
Di |
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Steven3
Lion King
Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 1205
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: |
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Hi Diane | Diane wrote: | | Where do you go to church? |
I'm a member of the Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christadelphians.
http://www.theonetruth.org/location.htm
| Quote: |
Do you believe this?
This is wrong.
That isn't correct.
Etc, etc.
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Um, well some things have got to be right. But the words of Jesus and his apostles are the final word on that. It makes life a little easier when a church doesn't have pastors. Not that there aren't good pastors, but the 1Tim and Titus system works better.
God bless
Steven |
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:34 am Post subject: |
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Hello again Steven,
I wasn't asking you what church you attend. I think you misunderstood me. 
My point is that we as the Body of Christ often decide to fellowship based on those questions I stated above and those are only a few examples.......rather than on the Spirit Who guides us into all His truth.....and Has made us One in Him.
Thank you and God bless you.
Love,
Di |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6342
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:54 am Post subject: |
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HA Diane you wrote:
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Perhaps I'm romanticizning the early church......they were just as messed up as we are |
1Cr 3:1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.
1Cr 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
1Cr 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Cr 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Cr 3:5 ¶ Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Cr 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Cr 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Cr 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Cr 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.
hugs
Lone |
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:47 am Post subject: |
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| lone-traveler wrote: | HA Diane you wrote:
| Quote: |
Perhaps I'm romanticizning the early church......they were just as messed up as we are |
1Cr 3:1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.
1Cr 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
1Cr 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Cr 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Cr 3:5 ¶ Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Cr 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Cr 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Cr 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Cr 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.
hugs
Lone |
Yes, beautiful words, Lone (my fellow laborer).
Mega hugs right back at ya
Di |
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atoz
Emperor of the Solar System
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4189
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: Re: The first century church |
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| Diane wrote: | Hi all,
The early church in general is so interesting to me for several reasons:
1. They had no real NC/NT writings to beat each other up with.
2. Many were persecuted which in my opinion caused true fellowship among them and their complete reliance on God.
3. They didn't have huge buildings to heat/repair/play music in, etc. Which also probably caused a truer/simpler form of fellowship and worship. I mean writing church bulletins can be a pain in the neck.
4. They lived in joyful hope fixing their eyes on Jesus and not on some organized religion complete with controlling leaders.
5. They lived by faith in God's loving mercy.
I'm sure there are many more differences I could come up with.....but has anyone contemplated the early church in such a way? Just wondering.
Love to you in Him,
Di |
Hi Di,
They were also as you see them as as above.
But if you look at the churches in rev 2 &3, either as consecutive or as all involved in the church thru out history,
you'll see that it is just like it is today:
A few pure Lovers,
the rest a mix of Love & Hate.
1. Ephesus: Lost their first Love.
2. Smyrna: Left first Love.
3. Pergamos: Lost first Love.
4. Thyatira: Lost first Love.
5. Sardis: Lost first love.
6: Philadelphia: Kept first Love.
7. Laodicea: Lost first Love: Luke warm: mixing Love with Hate and Hate with Love.
with Love,
atoz |
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atoz
Emperor of the Solar System
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4189
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| Diane wrote: | Hiya Steven
......
Perhaps I'm romanticizning the early church......they were just as messed up as we are
But be led by the Spirit. Now that is music to my ears.
Thanks for your input.
Love to you in Christ,
Di |
That's it!
Love and r,
atoz |
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Diane
Cobra
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:46 am Post subject: |
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post removed due to stupidity....mine
Last edited by Diane on Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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