The more things change...

I was having a discussion over lunch with a friend when we got on to the subject of how the early church worshiped.  Interestingly enough, there are some letters and other documentation existing from the first and second centuries that fill us in on how the early church went about 'having church'.


One glimpse into the past is courtesy of Pliny the Younger, who was a Roman ruler in Asia Minor around the turn of the second century. He wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan in 111-113 AD asking what to do with all of these Christians. He was executing those who refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, but was that the right thing to do? When he asked the Christians what they did, this was their reply:

"...They (the accused Christians) asserted, however, that the amount of their fault or error was this: that they had been accustomed to assemble on a fixed day before daylight and sing by turns a hymn to Christ as a god; and that they bound themselves with an oath, not for any crime, but to commit neither theft, nor robbery, nor adultery, not to break their word and not to deny a deposit when demanded; after these things were done, it was their custom to depart and meet together again to take food, but ordinary and harmless food; and they said that even this had ceased after my edict was issued,..."

So, it sounds like they got together, sang a song, listened to a sermon to be good, and then broke for lunch. Just like what happens every Sunday - except we typically wait until after day break.

Another interesting passage in this letter talks about the extent of the growth of Christianity.

"The matter seemed to me to be worth deliberation, especially on the account of the number of those in danger. For many of every age, every rank, and even of both sexes, are brought into danger; and will be in the future. The contagion of that superstition has penetrated not only the cities but also the villages and country places;..."

It is amazing to think that so much growth in the church had occurred that the Roman rulers were afraid they would have no one left to rule if they had to execute all the Christians. And all of that in less than 80 years since the death and resurrection of Christ.

Posted by: jcallery at 09:49 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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