House Church Talk - Pattern or simply an adaptation?

[R.L. Johnson]

I took this information from x?x's "Pagan Christianity."   I have
also heard it expressed in Seminary classes from the Southern Baptist
Convention.

RJ

-----Original Message-----
From: House Church Talk -bounces at housechurch.org
[mailto:House Church Talk -bounces at housechurch.org]On Behalf Of David Miller
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 3:11 PM
To: 'House Church Talk'
Subject: RE: House Church Talk -  Pattern or simply an adaptation?


Cliff wrote:
> Rick, Your historical fact about the church not meeting
> in buildings until 340 are you sure?

Hi Cliff. This is common misinformation spread among home church
enthusiasts, but it really is an erroneous assertion based upon the fact
that Constantine began building churches at an enormous rate that was
unprecedented before that time.  However, the basic assumption is
faulty.  An increase in church building activities and making church
buildings more elaborate does not mean that such never existed at all
before that time.

The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, page 307,
Canon 24 "Excursus on the Minor Orders of the Early Church," speaks
about special church buildings existing as early as the second century.
It speaks of minister assistants who were forerunners of the special
door keepers being necessary and even being considered "holy" along with
the church buildings since about 225 A.D.

In the Scriptures, we see that the earliest believers continued within
the existing religious institutional system of the Jews, meeting in the
Temple and also in the synagogues as well as from house to house.  Acts
19:8-10 gives a succinct picture of how believers began separating from
the Jewish system under Paul's direction.  Notice how here in Ephesus,
Paul and other believers met for three months in the synagogue, then
Paul divided the believers from there and they met in the school of
Tyrannus for the next two years.

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three
months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of
God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of
that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the
disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this
continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in
Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." (Acts
19:8-10 KJV)

Peace be with you.
David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida.




        ------- <><><> -------