The Spirit of Early Christianity

I. Introduction: Each time I study the life of the early Christians, whether from the New Testament or the writings that have been preserved from the first few centuries of the church, I am encouraged and humbled by their dedication, service, and love. As we consider how these faithful early Christians lived the principles taught by Jesus and the apostles we can be encouraged and taught to live a life that is more concerned with spiritual things than earthly things; a life that is not at home in this world.

II. Before they became Christians, these people embodied a lifestyle influenced by the carnality of the world

1. Romans 1:21-31
2. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
3. Ephesians 2:1-5
4. 1 Peter 4:1-5
5. Even if we are not as bad as we could be, we are still alienated from God

III. Their conversion meant a total change in their life from the inmost thoughts to external actions

1. One’s speech and behavior no longer mirrors the behavior of the old man
2. Priorities change from a focus on this world to a focus on heaven and serving brethren
3. The sharp contrast from self-seeking, materialistic immoral people to self-sacrificing and humble people seeking to live pure lives in a morally filthy world is a distinguishing mark of Christianity.
4. We see this reflected in the attitude of the early Christians

IV. Hijacked Christianity

1. Sadly, much of what is called Christianity contrasts what Jesus and the apostles taught
2. Jesus did not permit divorce and remarriage except for someone whose mate was unfaithful but many churches teach that it is fine for Christians to divorce for any reason and remarry.
3. Jesus taught that the way to salvation was narrow and only through Him yet many churches claiming to be Christians and leading teachers such as Billy Graham teach that you can be saved by following religions opposing Christianity if you live what they would consider is a good moral life.
4. Fringe religious groups claiming to follow Christ protest funerals, allow a man to have multiple wives, and support their prejudice against other races in the name of Christ.
5. Historically, people have used the cause of Christ to advance their political and worldly power goals and claimed that their wars were fought to the glory of God. This has caused many to curse the name of Christ.
6. In short, many claim to follow Christ but they do not, by word or deed, follow his teachings.
7. We must make sure our lives are based on what God did teach, not what others said He taught.

V. Early Christian life reflected in the scripture

1. Not all verses that could be used but representative of how they lived and their attitude quoted
2. Acts 2:42-47
3. Devoted to God’s word
4. Devoted to supporting one another spiritually and materially
5. Sacrificed possessions to take care of each other
6. Daily worship
7. Thankful to God
8. Acts 4:32-34
9. United in heart and soul
10. Forsook a claim on material possessions preferring to meet the needs of their brethren
11. They enthusiastically preached the gospel even amidst persecution
12. Acts 5:42, 6:7 – They enthusiastically taught the gospel
13. Acts 8:4 – those scattered from the persecution preached
14. Acts 11:19-25 – Passion for the gospel led to growth
15. Acts 13:2-3 – Sent preachers into foreign places
16. Acts 17:6 – their teaching turned the world upside down
17. They helped brethren in need in faraway places
18. Acts 11:27-30 – Judean famine
19. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – Giving of themselves then of their wealth
20. Summary
21. They rejected the immorality of the world, repented of their wickedness, and tried to live pure and holy lives, Titus 2:11-14
22. They encouraged one another to live holy lives.
23. They were united.
24. They enthusiastically preached the gospel to others and sent messengers throughout the world.
25. They willingly sacrificed what they had to relieve the need and suffering of their brethren
26. They did all of this without formal programs or man-made organizations: They fervently loved God and one another and it was expressed in their teaching and practice
27. The brethren continued these practices as recorded by early writings. Let us reflect on their example coupled with what we have already read from the scriptures

VI. Early Christian writings

1. Aristides - delivered the Apology around the year 125, when Hadrian visited Athens1
2. Apology SectionXV. Wherefore they do not commit adultery nor fornication, nor bear false witness, nor embezzle what is held in pledge, nor covet what is not theirs. They honour father and mother, and show kindness to those near to them; and whenever they are judges, they judge uprightly. They do not worship idols (made) in the image of man; and whatsoever they would not that others should do unto them, they do not to others; and of the food which is consecrated to idols they do not eat, for they are pure. And their oppressors they appease (lit: comfort) and make them their friends; they do good to their enemies; and their women, O King, are pure as virgins, and their daughters are modest; and their men keep themselves from every unlawful union and from all uncleanness, in the hope of a recompense to come in the other world. Further, if one or other of them have bondmen and bondwomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction. They do not worship strange gods, and they go their way in all modesty and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their homes and rejoice over him as a very brother; for they do not call them brethren after the flesh, but brethren after the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each one of them according to his ability gives heed to him and carefully sees to his burial. And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted on account of the name of their Messiah, all of them anxiously minister to his necessity, and if it is possible to redeem him they set him free. And if there is among them any that is poor and needy, and if they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply to the needy their lack of food.; and they escort his body as if he were setting out from one place to another near. And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins. And further if they see that any one of them dies in his ungodliness or in his sins, for him they grieve bitterly, and sorrow as for one who goes to meet his doom.

VII. Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus: tutor of the emperor Marcus Aurelius and taught around 130-200 AD

1. For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

VIII. Tertullian 195 AD - Roman lawyer converted in Carthage and became a defender of the faith

1. …for our discipline carries its own evidence in itself, nor are we betrayed by anything else than our own goodness, just as bad men also become conspicuous by their own evil. Else how is it that we alone are, contrary to the lessons of nature, branded as very evil because of our good? For what mark do we exhibit except the prime wisdom, which teaches us not to worship the frivolous works of the human hand; the temperance, by which we abstain from other men’s goods; the chastity, which we pollute not even with a look; the compassion, which prompts us to help the needy; the truth itself, which makes us give offence; and liberty, for which we have even learned to die? Whoever wishes to understand who the Christians are, must needs employ these marks for their discovery.
2. Regarding the entertainment of the theater (Paraphrase by David Bercot, Heretics p.31): “The father who carefully protects and guards his virgin daughter’s ears from every polluting word takes her to the theater himself, exposing her to all its vile language and attitudes. How can it be right to look at the things that are wrong to do? How can those things which defile a man when they go out of his mouth not defile him when going in through his eyes and ears?”

IX. Lactantius - Prominent Roman rhetoric teacher (260-330)

1. Regarding the entertainment of his day (Paraphrase by David Bercot, Heretics p.31): “I am inclined to think that the corrupting influence of the stage is even worse [than the senseless bloodlust of the arena -rfd]. The subjects of comedies are the deflowering of virgins or the loves of prostitutes…Similarly the tragedies parade before the eyes [of the audience] the murder of parents and acts of incest committed by wicked kings… Is the art of the mimes any better? They teach adultery by acting it out. How do we expect our young people to respond when they see that these things are practiced without shame and that everyone eagerly watches?
2. Lactantius likewise condemned the bloodlust and thirst for violence that characterized the arena where the crowds voiced their excitement at the tragedy that befell men and beast and when blood was not shed quickly enough, would become impatient and angry. The love of violence as entertainment was rejected by these Christians.

X. The faithful of the early Christians did not let culture dictate their entertainment choices. (Bercot)

XI. Summary

1. These selected accounts, there are others that could have been read as well, testify to the love, faithfulness, purity, integrity, and self-sacrifice of the early Christians.
2. They did not value the material things of this world, power among men, nor the fleshly defilements of this world.
3. This world was not their home and their actions towards God, the brethren, and their fellow man reflected it: Hebrews 11:13-16
4. They let nothing come between them and Jesus, just as He taught them
5. Matthew 10:34-38
6. Mark 8:34-38
7. The Christian life described in the first century is what God wants us to live today. Will you?

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A. 1 http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/aristides-kay.html