The concept of the “church” began with Jesus Christ himself. During his earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed that he would build his church (Matthew 16:18). After his death and resurrection, the early Christian church formed and began meeting together. Here is an overview of the origins and development of the early church based on accounts in the New Testament:
Jesus Lays the Foundation
While on earth, Jesus called 12 disciples to follow him and learn from him. This small group became the foundation for the future church. Jesus taught them about the kingdom of God and explained parables to them (Matthew 13:10-11). He also gave them authority to preach, heal sickness, and cast out demons as they spread his message (Mark 3:14-15). After his resurrection, Jesus commissioned his disciples to make more disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey Christ’s commands (Matthew 28:19-20).
On the day of Pentecost, just 50 days after Jesus’ crucifixion, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers, empowering them to preach the gospel. Peter preached to the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the festival, and about 3000 people believed his message and were baptized that day (Acts 2:14-41). This marked the “birth” of the Christian church.
The Jerusalem Church
After Pentecost, the early believers regularly gathered together in Jerusalem. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer (Acts 2:42). The apostles performed many miracles, and more and more people joined the church (Acts 2:43-47).
The first Christians were Jewish and adhered to Jewish laws and customs. They went to the temple and synagogues, observed Jewish holy days, and followed kosher dietary restrictions. But they also met separately as followers of Jesus. They shared possessions and meals among themselves (Acts 2:44-45).
As the church grew, administrative needs arose. The apostles appointed seven reputable men to distribute food fairly to the widows (Acts 6:1-6). Other leaders like elders (Acts 11:30) and deacons (Philippians 1:1) were also appointed.
The Church Spreads Beyond Jerusalem
Initially, the gospel was preached primarily to Jews. But God gave Peter a revelation that salvation through Jesus was for the Gentiles too (Acts 10). Peter preached to the household of the Roman centurion Cornelius, and the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48).
Persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Wherever they went, they preached the message about Jesus, leading to new churches in Judea, Galilee and Samaria (Acts 9:31). Key leaders in the early church spread the gospel to new areas. Philip preached in Samaria and to an Ethiopian man (Acts 8). Saul (later called Paul) preached in Damascus and was sent out from the church of Antioch to preach throughout the Roman Empire (Acts 13:1-3). The apostle Peter preached in Lydda, Joppa, and Caesarea (Acts 9:32-10:48).
As the church expanded, the apostles and church leaders wrote letters to instruct, encourage, and correct the new churches. These letters are included in the New Testament and include books like Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians.
Key Characteristics of the Early Church
Here are some key traits that defined the early Christian church:
- Devotion to Jesus’ teaching, the apostles’ instruction, fellowship, communion meals, and prayer (Acts 2:42)
- Belief that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament (Acts 2:36)
- Baptism upon profession of faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13)
- The Lord’s Supper commemorating Jesus’ death (Acts 2:42; 20:7)
- Common ownership of possessions (Acts 2:44-45)
- Meeting together in homes, the temple courts, and lecture halls (Acts 2:46, 5:42)
- Leadership through apostles, elders, deacons, and overseers/bishops (Acts 6:1-6; 14:23; Philippians 1:1)
- Exercise of spiritual gifts like healing and prophecy (Acts 2:43; 1 Corinthians 12-14)
- Generous giving to help fellow believers in need (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8-9)
- Telling nonbelievers about salvation through Jesus (Acts 4:20; 5:42)
- Suffering persecution but continuing to spread the gospel (Acts 5:40-42; Philippians 1:12-14)
Challenges Experienced by the Early Church
The early church faced both external and internal challenges:
- Persecution: Jewish religious leaders persecuted the church, including killing Stephen and imprisoning Peter and John (Acts 7-12). The Roman government also began persecuting Christians, often violently, beginning in the mid-1st century under Nero.
- False teaching: Some Jewish Christians argued that Gentile believers needed to follow the Law of Moses and be circumcised, but the apostles rejected this at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Other false teachings like gnosticism also arose.
- Division: There was division over favoritism shown to widows (Acts 6:1), eating food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 8), observance of Jewish customs and holy days (Romans 14:1-6), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14), and more.
- Sexual immorality: Sexual sin occurred in the Corinthian church and had to be addressed (1 Corinthians 5-6).
- Other sins: Lying (Acts 5), hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-14), lawsuits among believers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) and other sins plagued the church.
But the same power and presence of the Holy Spirit that birthed the church enabled believers to withstand persecution, correct false teaching, resolve conflicts, and address sin.
The Church Expands in the First Centuries
In the first few centuries after Christ, the church continued to grow and face challenges:
- Christianity spread rapidly around the Roman Empire and beyond, despite continued persecution.
- As the faith expanded beyond its Jewish roots, questions arose about requirements for Gentile believers and theological issues needed to be addressed.
- Church councils like Nicea (325) and Chalcedon (451) were held to debate and define central Christian doctrines.
- Apologists like Justin Martyr defended Christianity against false charges and persecution.
- Early church fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Tertullian wrote extensively to combat heresy and explain Christian beliefs.
- The church split into eastern (Greek) and western (Latin) branches.
- Public worship moved from homes to dedicated church buildings, often funded by wealthy converts.
- The Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (313) and later made it the official state religion (380). While easing persecution, this led to many nominal converts and increased worldliness in the church.
Despite ups and downs, the church continued to grow for the glory of God.
Key Takeaways on the Origins of the Church
In summary, here are important facts to understand about the beginnings of the Christian church:
- Jesus Christ established the church through his life, death, resurrection, and commissioning of his disciples.
- The church was “birthed” at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers in Jerusalem.
- The church grew rapidly from its Jewish roots to include Gentile believers across the Roman Empire and beyond.
- Church leaders like Peter and Paul spread the gospel and established new churches throughout the known world.
- The church faced persecution from civil authorities yet continued to thrive and expand for centuries.
- Early believers devoted themselves to Jesus’ teaching, fellowship, communion, prayer, and using their gifts to build up the church.
- The church dealt with doctrinal controversies, false teaching, division, and sin but continued to advance.
- The New Testament letters provided guidance, correction, and encouragement to the early churches.
Understanding the origins of the Christian church provides insight into God’s work through imperfect people empowered by the Holy Spirit. As Christ’s bride, the church continues to proclaim the gospel and make disciples throughout the world today.
