The Ante-Nicene ChurchDoing Church before 300 A.D.

Copyright 2006 NOBTS & Rex D. Butler

House of Worship

• New Testament Pattern:

House to house in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46)John Mark’s mother’s house in Jerusalem

(Acts 12:12) Jason’s house in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5) Titius Justus’ house in Corinth (Acts 18:7) Stephanas’ house in Corinth (1 Cor. 16:15) House of Aquila & Prisca in Ephesus

(1 Cor. 16:19) Nympha’s house in Laodicea (Col. 4:15) Philemon’s house in Colossae (Philemon 2)

House of Worship•Evidence in the Early Church: Acts of Justin Martyr (165): “I have been living above the baths for the entire period of my sojourn in Rome, and I have known no other meeting place but here”

Celsus, True Discourse (178): “We see in private houses, workers in wool and leather, and fullers, and persons of the most uninstructed and rustic character . . . pour forth wonderful statements” to women and children “that they may attain to perfection.”

Clementine Recognitions (211): “Theophilus . . . consecrated the great palace of his house under the name of a church . . . and the whole multitude assembl[ed] daily to hear the word.”

House Churches Today

House Churches Today

Dura-Europos

• Private residence converted into church, prior to 256• Oldest complete church building extant• Wall of dining room removed to create larger room

for worship

Dura-Europos

• Canopied baptistery with frescoes of Adam and Eve, Good Shepherd, Three women at empty tomb, David & Goliath, the woman at the well

Dura-Europos

• Benches installed around interior courtyard for place of instruction

Day of Worship

• Early Christians in Jerusalem kept the Sabbath and added celebration on Sunday

• Pagans worshiped the sun on dies solis; Christians worshiped Sun of Righteousness(Mal. 4:2)

• New Testament – Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2)

• Ignatius: Commemoration of resurrection

• Justin: First day of creation and new creation

Offices of the Church

•Servant leadership – Matt. 20:25-27

Apostles (those sent out)Deacons (servants)Elders (presbyters, priests)Overseers (bishops)Pastors (shepherds)Teachers

Offices of the Church

• Ordained ministry in the 2nd century:

BishopsPriests Deacons

• Ignatius (107): “Do nothing without the bishop and presbyters . . . . Neither presbyter, nor deacon, nor layman, do anything without the bishop.”

Sunday Service

• Scripture Reading• Sermon• Prayer• Eucharist• Offering

Scripture Reading• “The memoirs of

the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits.”

Sermon• “The president in a discourse admonishes

and urges the imitation of these good things.”

Prayer• “We all rise together and send up prayers.”

Singing• “The people sing out their assent, saying

the ‘Amen.’”

Eucharist

• “Bread is presentedand wine and water.”

• “A distribution and parti-cipation of the elements for which thanks have been given is made to each person.”

Eucharist

• New Testament - Acts 2:46, “breaking bread . . with gladness and sincerity of heart”

• 1 Cor. 11:26 – “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

• Eschatological joy, celebration, unity (“communion”), thanksgiving (“Eucharist”)

Offering• “Those who have means and are willing,

each according to his own choice, gives what he wills.”

• “What is collected is deposited with the one presiding.”

• “He provides for the orphans and widows, those who are in need on account of sickness or some other cause, those who are in bonds, strangers who are sojourning, and in a word he becomes the protector of all who are in need.”

Baptism

• Pre-baptismal instruction (catechesis)

• Prior to the ceremony: Prayer Fasting Humility Nightlong vigil Confession of sin Renunciation of Satan

Baptism

• Water: running, pool, poured

• Invocation of God; water consecrated by descent of Holy Spirit, who imparted to the water sacramental power

• Triple immersion in name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; baptismal creed

• Administrator: bishop; authorized pastor, deacon, or layman – not laywoman!

Baptism

• Candidate was baptized naked

• Then anointed with oil, signed with cross

• Administrator imposed hands in welcome of the Holy Spirit

• Newly baptized given white robe

• After ceremony, joined the congregation for prayers and Eucharist, including milk & honey, symbols of the Promised Land

Spread of theAnte-Nicene Church

The Extent of the Spread

• The Church became predominantly Gentile, no longer identified as a Jewish sect

• By 200, it had permeated the Roman Empire, from Spain to India and possibly into China

• Christians were concentrated in large cities

• By 325, it is estimatedthat there were 7 million Christians

The Causes of the Spread• Christianity gave meaning to life: answered basic

Greek, Roman, Hebrew questions

• Endorsement by Constantine

• Easily adaptable to all races/nations

• Arose during decline of Roman Empire

• Possessed moral, transforming power

• Radical nature of resurrection evoked strong faith response

• Christians treated each other as brothers & sisters

• Martyrdom: their witness attracted new believers