Religions of the world : Christianity - The world's largest religion [ Original christianity and the following epochs ]

In the church history, the various epochs which followed the begin-fling of the Christendom are very well described by the historians. We shall therefore in this exposition deal only briefly with these eras. The time span could be arranged like this: firstly, the time of the church at its beginning up to the year 100 A.D., then the following space of the post-apostolic time with the developments right until the council ofNicaea 325 A.D., the establishing of the Roman state church, the space into the dark ages, the Reformation as a new beginning, the revival movements after, the introduction to the full gospel and the bringing back of the church into its original position before the return of Christ.

The church historical writings do not give an unanimous picture. Many had some presumptions which they spoke about, others made legends of them and then there were of course those who thought they were facts. It is also obvious that a Catholic oriented writing is totally different from a protestant one. An overall picture about the different epochs and the developments therein is necessary to be able to compare things with the original at the very beginning. Only from the apostles have we received the apostolic doctrine. A brochure which was found in a convent in 1883 and was peradventure backdated to the years 80-120 A.D. carries the title “Doctrine of the twelve apostles” or “Didache”. It has certainly nothing to do or in common with the apostles of the Lord. So also the so-called apostolic creed which came into existence 300 years after the apostles and was formulated at various councils. This can certainly not be attributed to the apostles. In such a way, without intending it, the false things began to creep in. Only in the Book of Acts and in the epistles written by the apostles of the New Testament, we do have the true teaching. The apostles were men who had heard the Word directly from their Lord and by His commission gave unto us what they had received from Him. Through them, the New Testament church has received the pure, unfalsified Word of God which alone carries His seal. Paul was called in a supernatural way, chosen to be a special tool and
was placed with the original apostles of the Lord. He could say that to him a direct commission was given. Therefore, he could make the statement, “For Ihave received ofthe Lord which I also delivered unto you... “(I Cor. 11:23). He has written the majority of all the epistles, exactly 100 chapters with 2,325 verses where as Peter has written only 8 chapters with 166 verses. Paul had received the gospel in the same way as the prophets have received the Word by divine revelation (Gal. 1: 11-12). Therefore, he had to give the admonition which goes right through the bones, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed” (Gal. 1: 8).
Whatever does not agree with the original gospel preached by the original apostles is under a curse. Ifwe look at it like this we are facing the fact that there exists a Christianity falsified and under a curse. This must have been the Christianity the critics were looking at when writing. The four evangelists give testimony of the Redeemer. They described His life, His ministry, and actually everything from His birth until His death, His resurrection and His ascension to heaven. The Synoptists
Matthew, Mark and Luke give a complementary report and an overall picture. John does not refer even to Bethlehemnor to the genealogies but he directly flies into the heights and shows in his very first verse in the first chapter who Christ really is. The four gospels record the accomplished salvation on the earth, God being in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. These records are trustworthy because the reportswere given by true eye and ear witnesses as a testimony for all (II Pet.1: 16-18; I Jn. 1:1-3).
The Book of Acts introduces to us how the original church was supernaturally founded by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost (chapter 2). It was indeed an event that came right from heaven. In his first sermon, the Spirit filled apostle Peter spoke, by the commission of God, to those who would be converted and come to the faith. He spoke about the necessity of repentance and the Biblical water baptism (vs. 38) and also about the experience of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost as experienced by the hundred-and-twenty. He proclaimed, “For the prom ise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord, our God, shall call” (Acts 2: 39). God alone saves and adds to the church those who believe (Acts 2:47). The original church consisted of men and women who truly had an experience with God. Those who believed and were baptised in water were also in a supernatural way baptised with the Holy Ghost as members into the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12: 13) in which the spiritual gifts are in operation (I Cor. 12 + 14) and also the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23). As God was in Christ, His Body being the temple He dwelled in and did all He was pleased to do, so also the original church with the
redeemed was the body of the Lord (I Cor. 12: 12). He is the Head (Col. 1: 18). So He could continue His service through His church. He said, “As the Father hath sentme, even so send Iyou” (Jn. 20:21). Through the great commission, many things were to be taken care of. So He placed apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors and evangelists into the church (Eph. 4: 11).
In the original church, were not dignitaries but there were only men of God who were called by the highest calling and in dignity they served the Lord and His people under the leading and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The original church did not know about the priests or any clergy taking an office, but the whole body of the redeemed, those who were born again, together formed the holy priesthood and the holy people of God (I Pet. 2: 9, Rev. 1: 6). As already mentioned, the fivefold ministry is meant for the church as a whole and is not restricted to a local assembly. The leaders or the elders of the sovereign local churches had their responsibilities. Those among them who took leadership were called bishops, and they had to be married (I Tim 3: 1-7; Tit. 1: 5-8). There was also a local church with more than one bishop, that is to say, with at least two leading elders in the local assembly (Phil. 1: 1). This agrees with James 5: 14 where it is written that if somebody gets sick he should call the elders of the church to pray for him. Paul and Barnabas were received in Jerusalemby the assembly, the apostles and the elders (Acts 15:4). In the original church, this divine order was in existence. To take care of practical things connected to a local church there were also deacons, and they had to be married as well (I Tim. 3: 8-18). It was necessary for the bishops and the deacons to be married to understand and to counsel in a practical way from their own experience, belonging to the local church and having family problems and so forth. The New Testament church did not know the office of a bishop as it is being practised in some churches today. According to I Tim 3: 15, the body of believers make up the House of God which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Both, the foundation and the pillar of the truth. Private interpretations and false things have no place therein, The true church is God’s habitation on earth and through it His will is being done as in heaven and so on earth. At the beginning since the foundation of the New Testament church, the pure proclamation of the true gospel, the true teachings and the apostolic practice was found in it. The original church was penetrated by
the Life of Jesus Christ and was led by the Holy Spirit as a living organism but not as an organised denomination. After some time, Paul and the other apostles had to deal with heresies and with deceivers. Pluralistic developments began and a number of
different directions started running parallel. But there was always one group ofbelievers that stayed with the true Word, the true gospel, the true doctrine and practice as originated with the apostles. The apostle John has also written about the different directions coming into existence at that time. He states, “We are of God. He that khoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (I Jn. 4: 6). Already at that stage, there were various mixed Christian directions putting their own interpretations to theWord ofGod which later became doctrines. Such men the Holy Scriptures describe as false brethren who came in unaware without having a divine call to the ministry. Paul speaks very definitely concerning this subject. “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in secretly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage” (Gal. 2: 4). These were men who preached another Jesus, who had received another spirit and who were preaching another gospel (II Cor. 11: 4). Peter warns the believers of false brethren who secretly introduced damnable doctrines (II Pet. 2: 1-3). The apostle Jude has also spoken about these Christian directions. “Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error ofBalaamfor reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah” (vs. 11). The false brethren brought fourth falsifications and those who went astray pulled their group after them and as a result the various spiritual directions came into existence. As these groups deviated more and more, John saw the beginning of the antichrist movement. Anti means against, and therefore, everything that is against Christ and His Word must be called antichrist. He writes,
“They went out from us, but they were not of us;for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be manifest that they were not all of us” (I Jn. 2:19). The apostle Paul also gave a very clear warning when he made the statement, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). In Revelation 2, verse 2, the apostle John writes like this: “... and thou hast tried them who say they are apostles, and are not, and hastfound them liars. “How were they able to test without fail that these men who claimed to be apostles were not? They gave them the Word-test and checked if these men preached what Peter and Paul had already preached. The examination must always be done with the apostolic proclamation and practice. That is the only valid measuring rod. The question now arises:What is truth and what is falsification? It had already started in the early Christian age.
From the Bible passages already mentioned, it is obviously that parallel to the true church of Jesus Christ false directions began to establish themselves. Already before the turn of the first Christian century, there were different teachings and mixtures. One group believed in the doctrines of Balaam, the others held with the teachings of the Nicolaitanes, others listened to a woman named Jezebel who called herself a prophetess (Rev. 2:20) and so it went on and on, as it is confirmed in church history.
In order that we know which is right and which are the pure and true doctrines of the apostles, they are clearly given to us in the Holy Scriptures. Also the various teachings which were brought in by unauthorised persons are mentioned therein. The challenge “Prove all things; holdfast that which is good” still holds good for today. Many have taken for granted that their practice and doctrine is right without proving and checking it. Others judge things from their own point of knowledge and doctrine as well as their own practice and have totally neglected to consider that the only valid measuring rod to prove all things is the entire testimony of God’s holy Word.
In the following century, all these groups developed along the side of the church of the living God which always believed what Christ and His apostles taught. Those movements which deviated from God’s Word gained more and more prominence. The narrow way was broadened and the gate was widened. Everyone of these movements had the aim to get as many members as possible just as it is among denominations of today.
To the true church of Jesus Christ, the same promise applies in all the ages, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12: 32). Those belonging to the little flock of the Lord will only listen to the voice of the good Shepherd Who gave His life for the sheep. They will hear only His Word. This is the ecclesia, the called out church at all times and the little flock which listens without compromise to the voice of the good Shepherd.
In the post apostolic times, Polycarp (t 155) who knew and was together with the apostle John, and Ireneus (t 202) who was a student of Polycarp are known to have fought for the true faith. Even so, if one examines thoroughly their teachings it becomes obvious that the pure and original doctrines and the beliefs of the apostles were not foundwith them in its entirety. The step down from the divine organism to a human organisation became evident in that age itself.
The developments until the council of Nicaea, 325 A.D., were very controversial. Apparently the majority of the so-called Christian religion established itself until the recognition of Constantine and then it became a very strong force in the whole of the Roman empire. The so-called Christian faith was made into a new philosophy. Oriental beliefs were mixedwith Hellenistic thoughts to destroy the original faith. At that time, the debates of the so-called Christology began and the tree of life was
exchanged for the tree of knowledge.

article from Traditional Christianity by E. Frank --> Read the book here