THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
PART 2: The early days of the Church
The Twelve Apostles carried on with their work in establishing branches of the Church of Jesus Christ. Since they usually could not stay in one city for long periods at a time, they appointed a faithful man as bishop or presiding elder to head the branch and gave him the authority to administer within his own city. Each bishop had equal authority with every other bishop. There was no plan that any bishop would ever preside over any other bishop. It was strictly the apostles duty to preside over the bishops.
The picture of the early Church, then, was one of many branches in many cities, presided over by local officers known as bishops or presiding elders, with men of general authority or jurisdiction, namely the twelve apostles, having overall supervision.
But trouble had appeared early in the Savior’s ministry and steadily worsened. Christ and his followers found opponents all around them. The apostles saw these difficulties coming for some time, mainly from inside the Church. After Christ’s death, false doctrine and pagan rituals took root in many of the branches. These practices were strongly disavowed in the epistles written by Peter and Paul. In addition, persecution from outside the Church became severe. Many of the members were killed, and, in due course, the apostles also were slain. With the apostles gone, priesthood keys and revelation from heaven for the Church at large vanished with them and were no longer available to the saints.
The early Christian historian, Eusebius, a bishop of Ceasaria, tells what happened then: “When the apostles had suffered death—and when those that had heard the inspired wisdom had passed away—then the league of godless error took its rise as a result of the folly of heretical teachers, who, because none of the apostles was still living, attempted henceforth to proclaim, in opposition to the preaching of the truth, the ‘knowledge’ (gnosis) which is falsely so called.” (Ecclesiastical History 3:32, 4th century)
As a building tumbles when its foundation is destroyed, so the Church of Jesus Christ broke apart. What was left was a diverse collection of scattered branches without divine guidance or a headquarters. The world entered a disastrous period of universal apostasy void of light and truth. Paul had predicted such a “falling away” from the true gospel when he warned: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come (the second coming), except there come a falling away first..” (2 Thess. 2:3–4).
The picture of the early Church, then, was one of many branches in many cities, presided over by local officers known as bishops or presiding elders, with men of general authority or jurisdiction, namely the twelve apostles, having overall supervision.
But trouble had appeared early in the Savior’s ministry and steadily worsened. Christ and his followers found opponents all around them. The apostles saw these difficulties coming for some time, mainly from inside the Church. After Christ’s death, false doctrine and pagan rituals took root in many of the branches. These practices were strongly disavowed in the epistles written by Peter and Paul. In addition, persecution from outside the Church became severe. Many of the members were killed, and, in due course, the apostles also were slain. With the apostles gone, priesthood keys and revelation from heaven for the Church at large vanished with them and were no longer available to the saints.
The early Christian historian, Eusebius, a bishop of Ceasaria, tells what happened then: “When the apostles had suffered death—and when those that had heard the inspired wisdom had passed away—then the league of godless error took its rise as a result of the folly of heretical teachers, who, because none of the apostles was still living, attempted henceforth to proclaim, in opposition to the preaching of the truth, the ‘knowledge’ (gnosis) which is falsely so called.” (Ecclesiastical History 3:32, 4th century)
As a building tumbles when its foundation is destroyed, so the Church of Jesus Christ broke apart. What was left was a diverse collection of scattered branches without divine guidance or a headquarters. The world entered a disastrous period of universal apostasy void of light and truth. Paul had predicted such a “falling away” from the true gospel when he warned: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come (the second coming), except there come a falling away first..” (2 Thess. 2:3–4).
The ancient prophet Amos had also warned of “a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord...and they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12).
This was not the first time in history that an apostasy or falling away from gospel truth had occurred. There had been repeated rejection of the gospel by the people it was intended to bless on many previous occasions. Let’s briefly examine the matter.
The Holy Bible is a 4000-year history of the Lord’s dealings with the people on the earth through His chosen prophets. The record repeatedly shows varying degrees of apostasy and rejection of His prophets and commandments beginning with Cain.
This was not the first time in history that an apostasy or falling away from gospel truth had occurred. There had been repeated rejection of the gospel by the people it was intended to bless on many previous occasions. Let’s briefly examine the matter.
The Holy Bible is a 4000-year history of the Lord’s dealings with the people on the earth through His chosen prophets. The record repeatedly shows varying degrees of apostasy and rejection of His prophets and commandments beginning with Cain.
The Bible tells of the several different periods of time in which the Lord has at least one prophet on the earth who holds the keys of the priesthood. These prophets were each given the divine commission to cry repentance and dispense the gospel and the plan of salvation to the people of their day.
The gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore, was not new and did not make its first appearance on earth in 30 A.D. Anciently, Jesus Christ (called Jehovah in the Old Testament) delivered the gospel to Adam, and then subsequently to Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses in turn. In each case, the Lord’s prophet and his message were accepted for a time and then ultimately rejected. Because of the pride of the people they would then fall into apostasy (reject the word of God) and wickedness until a new dispensation commenced and a new prophet was raised up and issued a new universal call to repentance.
When Jehovah came to earth in the flesh as Jesus Christ, Israel was again in a state of apostasy. His “new covenant” (Heb. 12:24), which was the same divine law that all the Old Testament prophets had preached, was given to the people on earth for the sixth time. The gospel of love was preached once again—only to be rejected once again.
Jesus’ defining statement on this whole issue was this: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gatherest her chickens under her wings, and yea would not” (Matt 23:37).
In summation, the gospel that was taught by Jesus Christ when he was on the earth is the very same gospel he gave to Adam, and to every other prophet since the world began. In each case, the people rejected it. The scriptures say that it will be given to the people of the earth one last time before the Second Coming (Acts 3:21).
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The gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore, was not new and did not make its first appearance on earth in 30 A.D. Anciently, Jesus Christ (called Jehovah in the Old Testament) delivered the gospel to Adam, and then subsequently to Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses in turn. In each case, the Lord’s prophet and his message were accepted for a time and then ultimately rejected. Because of the pride of the people they would then fall into apostasy (reject the word of God) and wickedness until a new dispensation commenced and a new prophet was raised up and issued a new universal call to repentance.
When Jehovah came to earth in the flesh as Jesus Christ, Israel was again in a state of apostasy. His “new covenant” (Heb. 12:24), which was the same divine law that all the Old Testament prophets had preached, was given to the people on earth for the sixth time. The gospel of love was preached once again—only to be rejected once again.
Jesus’ defining statement on this whole issue was this: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gatherest her chickens under her wings, and yea would not” (Matt 23:37).
In summation, the gospel that was taught by Jesus Christ when he was on the earth is the very same gospel he gave to Adam, and to every other prophet since the world began. In each case, the people rejected it. The scriptures say that it will be given to the people of the earth one last time before the Second Coming (Acts 3:21).
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