By Christian
“We are doing exactly what the first-century Christians did” is a common but rather general claim that we hear time and again when it comes to the formation of house churches, Bible study groups, or even communities that meet via the internet. In the following, I will simply call the latter a ‚Zoom congregation‘.1 But what exactly is meant by this claim? As we shall see, the challenges and full implications of this statement only become apparent when it is analyzed in more detail or applied in everyday life. Or, for example, when the community in the case of a Zoom congregation continues to grow.
I would like to emphasize one thing right at the beginning: Under no circumstances should the impression be created that it is ‚wrong‘ for believers to meet and exchange ideas using modern means of communication. Often there is no other way due to distance or health reasons. It is more like a visit of other believers at their home.
But what happens when more and more people are involved? When the size of a congregation is reached or exceeded? When talks are given to hundreds of people? When the organization is extended to meetings in other languages? Then it becomes challenging in many ways when you think you can do it ‚exactly as the first century Christians did‘. And that’s what this series is about.
It is very interesting to see what the text of the New Testament really says about this. We will start with this in this series. After that, we will take a closer look at the historical context. And finally, we will consider the consequences of actually implementing what we have learned: “We do it exactly like the first-century Christians”.
So let’s take a closer look at the first-century church. What does the New Testament text say about it?
The text of the New Testament
The congregation at the time of Jesus
Shouldn’t we first ask what Jesus himself has to say on the subject? What did Jesus say about how his followers should meet and organize themselves? Well, this:
„“
Jesus Christ to the organization of the congregation of his disciples
Or to put it another way: during Jesus‘ ministry, there was no congregation in the sense that we understand it today. We have no record at all of what Jesus himself said on the subject. Even though many followed him. And he also chose 12 apostles. And then he also chose 70 others and sent them out. And women accompanied him on his travels.
What Jesus did assure his disciples of, however, was this:
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Matthew 18:20 ESV
The Gospel of Matthew concludes with these words:
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:17-20 NIV
Of course, this was a surprising and extremely big task. But didn’t anyone ask, “And how should we do that, Lord? How should we organize the baptisms and teachings?” Perhaps they simply trusted that Jesus would be with them and explain it later. As He had always done before.
However, the closing in Mark sounds different:
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:14-16 NIV
That sounds more as if they are supposed to preach and the rest takes care of itself. As if there were no reason to think about congregations. However, this is the long ending, which, like the short ending that also exists, is probably not authentic.
In Luke, we only find this:
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:46, 47 NIV
And in the Gospel of John, we find no instructions at all for the conclusion. But perhaps there were more instructions later from the ‚helper‘ or the Holy Spirit?
The Jerusalem Congregation (Beginnings)
Since we didn’t find anything on the subject in the Gospels, it seems obvious to look at the Acts of the Apostles. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke reports on what happened after Jesus‘ resurrection and shortly before his ascension:
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:6-8 NIV
So still no further instructions. Did you notice what they were to receive through the Holy Spirit? ‚Power‘. It does not say anything about special abilities to understand the scriptures ‚correctly‘. But that is just a side note. What did the disciples do?
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) …
Acts 1:13-15 NIV
Then Pentecost came in 33 A.D.:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place
Apg 2:1 NIV
And then something extraordinary happened: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At that time, many “God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5 NIV) were in Jerusalem. They had only just received instructions to preach, and then this happened:
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:41-47 NIV
It is mentioned twice that they all came together, and that there were about 120 of them, which is quite a number for an upper room. They were in the temple, meeting in their homes for the Lord’s Supper and for meals and prayers together. And now with 30 times as many people! And there were more and more. And still no instructions on how to hold meetings! Interestingly, the synagogues are not mentioned here. But we can already record what they did:
According to the Acts of the Apostles, the Jerusalem congregation met in the temple and in homes. The synagogues are not mentioned.
In their homes, they (1) devoted themselves to the apostles‘ teaching; (2) they broke bread together; (3) they prayed together; (4) they ate together; (5) they shared everything in common.
“Everything was done with great joy and sincere warmth.”
In Acts 4, we find another interesting clue:
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Acts 4:32-35 NIV
We note:
So the 12 apostles played a crucial role.
„All the believers were one in heart and mind.“
„No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.“
However, it was not long before problems arose:
At that time, when the number of disciples was constantly growing, there was also discontent in the congregation. The Hellenists [Greek-speaking Jews who were born outside Israel and only moved to Jerusalem in old age] complained about the Hebrews [Jews born in Israel who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic] because their widows were overlooked in the daily care.
Acts 6:1 NEÜ
So there were problems despite the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Despite the ‚manifest guidance of the Spirit‘? What should one do? There were still no instructions from Jesus. Did the Holy Spirit take care of that in this case?
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:2-6 NEÜ
The 12 apostles led the congregation in Jerusalem.
Later, 7 men (no women) were selected for other tasks.
With growth came problems and discontent.
By the way: Did you notice that it was she who called the whole gathering of disciples together? So, with 120 in the upper room, no problem. But we had read about 3000 and even more… And what about ‚guidance by the Holy Spirit‘ here? Read again and think about it.
We read further in the Acts of the Apostles that James, a brother of Jesus, and other elders were later in the Jerusalem congregation: “On the next day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.” (Acts 21:18)
Shortly after the first congregation was established in Jerusalem, perhaps as early as 34, Stephen was stoned, a wave of persecution began, and the Jerusalem congregation changed:
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.
Acts 11:19 NIV
Not long after, there was the stoning of Stephen, the persecution of the congregation in Jerusalem, and many were scattered and went far away.
What effect did this have? What do we learn about the churches in apostolic times? We will look at this in the next episode.
- I do not receive any compensation from Zoom for using the term. It is just one of the well-known and frequently used tools for such online meetings. ↩︎