The doctrine and politics of the early church
Inception of the early church was in the Roman Empire. Hundreds lived within the borders with a far longer history with Rome under control (Lössl, 2010). The empire’s centre was the city of Rome where the government’s power was set upon the emperor. The emperor conquered all Mediterranean Sea surroundings and modern Germany partly. The territories of Rome were administered by the republic government until 27B.C until full power fell into Gaius Octavian’s hand, Julius Caesar’s nephew whom is written in Luke 2:1 (Lössl, 2010). The ancient church existed by the clarion call to all the religious groups to a simple, pure and vibrant gospel message received from the apostles directly by the primitive Christians. The three significant marks that distinguished the early church were: unconditional love, separation from the world and obedience to Jesus Christ teachings. Christian church roots back deeply into Israel history of religion. The early church was Jewish, the savior being a Jew, and the New Testament written by Jews (Lössl, 2010).
The early Christians lead life according to distinctively set of values and principles than part of the existing mankind. They refuted the entertainment of the world, riches and honors. Diognetus letter written in the second century proves otherwise about the Christians to Romans. He explains that early Christians dwell as sojourners in their countries obeying the prescribed laws and surpassing it with their own lives. They were condemned and executed for what they stood for and abound in all (Ferguson, 2006). Doctrine proves that early Christians had strong and free will belief. They held what they learnt from the prophets to be true that chastisements and rewards are received pertaining each and everyone’s actions. They believed that it is predestined to every Christian to be courteous and avoid evil by having a free choice of delectable actions.
The respected early church seer Cyprian passed across a theme addressing all his Christian friends (Ferguson, 2006). He stressed that ancient Christians were peaceful with trustworthy tranquility. The churches anchored to the firm salvation ground lifting eyes upon to heaven withdrawn from the distractions of the world through the doctrines they placed belief. Similar theme runs throughout the early Christians writings saying the church cannot have the Christ and the world at a go. The early church living in suspense and anxiety abstained from highly regarded pleasures. Simultaneous to the ancient gospel saw the surfacing of the early church as an outcome of the recognized apostles (Noll, 2000). The majority of the early Christians heavily relied on presbyters in warding off heresy. They repressed decency by appealing to the decree of faith, shared patrimony amongst the churches planted earlier by the apostles. The ancient bishoprics guarded this rule in the midst of population, and venerable amongst all is ‘’Rome’ which Paul and Peter watered with blood. The bishop expounded doctrine basing on the New Testament canon broadly identical polarizing against heretics endorsing the primacy of Rome bishop.
The early church rose in a world old with risen and fallen vast empires. Rome governed the civilized world as the greatest of the antique empires. Early Christians lived in the empire for the first centuries upon its inception (Noll, 2000). In the days of Caesar Augustus, the reign of peace struck Rome lasting for more than two hundred years. During the two centuries, early church rose out of the work and life of the Lord. It became an empire-wide witnessed gospel. The church is related to Palestine which is part of the Empire related deeply to Israel.
Reference
Lössl, J. (2010). The early Church: History and memory. London: T & T Clark.
Noll, M. A. (2000). Turning points: Decisive moments in the history of Christianity. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books.
Ferguson, E. (2006). Backgrounds of early Christianity. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdman.
