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The New Testament church was originated on earth in first-century Jerusalem (AD 33). It was provided with an eternal purpose and mission.
Accordingly, the New Testament church was initially manifested on earth in both the large and small group setting. It gathered in the large group setting in the precincts of the ancient Jewish temple and in the small group setting from house to house. (Acts 2:46) Both the large and small group gatherings of the New Testament church were unique. Each served an equally important purpose. Large Group Gatherings The large group gatherings of the early church in the precincts of the temple were not a precursor to the large group “service” of the modern church. Instead, the large group gatherings of the early church were an event unique to the first century. They allowed the apostles to prepare the newly established ecclesia to fulfill its impending mission beyond Jerusalem. The large group gatherings of the early church provided the apostles with a venue that was conducive for the transfer of information to thousands of new believers. As a result, they were privileged to learn the fundamentals of the Christian faith. The early church did not gather in temple sanctuary proper, a special building. Instead, they gathered within the ruins of the temple’s precincts. There are two Greek words in the New Testament that refer to the temple. They include hieron (hee-er-on') and naos (nah-os'). The predominant Greek word translated “temple” in the Book of Acts is hieron. It is used 71 times in the New Testament (Gospels 45x; Acts 25x; Epistles 1x). In relation to the gatherings of the early church, hieron is used 13 times in Acts 2-5 alone. (2:46; 3:1, 3:2 (2x), 3:3, 3:8, 3:10; 4:1; 5:20, 21, 24, 25; 42) Generally, hieron does not refer to the temple sanctuary proper but to the entire area of the temple, including all its precincts. In contrast, the Greek word naos is used 47 times in the New Testament, only three of which are found in the Book of Acts. (7:48; 17:24; 19:24) Unlike hieron, it is often used in reference to the temple sanctuary proper (Gospels 19x; Acts 3x; Epistles 9x; Revelation 16x). However, naos is not used in the Book of Acts concerning the gatherings of the church. (7:48; 17:24; 19:24) It is clear from the original Koiné Greek language of the New Testament that the large group gatherings of the early church did not occur in the temple sanctuary proper. They took place in its outer precincts. During the early part of the first century, the outer precincts of the Jewish temple included the ruins of the ancient temple of Solomon. The historian Josephus informs that the early church specifically gathered in the remaining part of the ancient temple known as Solomon’s Portico or porch.1 (Acts 3:11, 5:12; cf. John 10:23) It was located on the east side of the outer court of the New Testament Temple of Herod. The New Testament reveals that much took place in Solomon’s Portico. For example, Jesus’ removal of the money changers (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:14-16); His healing of the lame and blind (Matthew 21:14); teaching (Mark 11:11; 12:35-40; 14:49; Luke 2:46; 19:47; 20:1; 21:37-38; John 7:14; 8:2); prayer (Luke 2:37); and praising God (Luke 24:53). In addition, Jesus walked in the precincts of the temple (John 10:23). By the first century, Solomon’s Portico is thought to have still been an immense structure. However, once made of cedar, it is doubtful that its walls had lasted the test of time. Consequently, there was considerable space in and around the ancient ruins. It presented a large open-air venue that was able to accommodate a significant overflow of people. Solomon’s Portico would also have been undisturbed by regular temple traffic. In addition, it was likely the only place in ancient Jerusalem suitable to accommodate a large group numbering in the thousands. (cf. Acts 2:41; 47b; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7) The early church that assembled in Solomon’s Portico consisted of Jewish apostles who had been personally prepared by the incarnate Christ and a rapidly expanding body of Jewish brothers and sisters. While many of the gathered were well-versed in the tenets of the Jewish faith, they would have had little or no knowledge of church doctrine and practice. Consequently, the thousands of new believers who comprised the young ecclesia joyfully flowed into and out of the large group gatherings in Solomon’s Porch to hear the apostles’ teaching. Once prepared by the apostles, the early church was not to remain in Jerusalem. Instead, it was called to actively serve as a witness of the indwelling God “…in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) |
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Small Group Gatherings
In addition to their large group gatherings, the early New Testament church assembled from house to house throughout the city of Jerusalem. In the intimate environment of the common house, they emphasized the cultivation of small group community. The primary activity of the early New Testament church in small group community was the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (Agape Meal or Love Feast) as a full meal. While celebrating and eating together with the living (zoe) Christ, the new believers had the opportunity to discuss, apply, and practice the apostle’s teaching they had received earlier in the day. Thus, small group community from house to house allowed the early church to move beyond simply learning about their new faith and experience living it. “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple [precincts] (Solomon’s Portico), and breaking bread (celebrating the Lord’s Supper) from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47a) Beyond Jerusalem The large group gatherings of the early church were not suitable for the fulfillment of its impending mission. As indicated, they were accommodative of transferring information to a large group of people but little else. Consequently, the large group gatherings of the early church were never intended to last beyond Jerusalem. Two years after the origination of the New Testament church on earth, near the middle of AD35, a profound event occurred. Persecution forced most of the church to disperse. As Jesus had prophesied, they left Jerusalem and became His witnesses “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8; 8:1) For nearly 300 years after being forced from Jerusalem, the eternal New Testament church gathered exclusively in small group communities from house to house. It is evidenced not only by apostolic teaching and tradition but church history. In addition, the gatherings of the early church in small group community alone is supported by archeological discovery. According to archeologist Graydon F. Snyder, “The New Testament church began as a small group house church (Colossians 4:15) and it remained so until the middle or end of the third century. There are no evidences of larger places of meeting before [AD] 300 …”2 By design of God, the small group communities of the early church outside of Jerusalem were suitable for the fulfillment of its eternal purpose and mission. First, they were effective for cultivating and protecting shared life fellowship with Jesus Christ. Further, the small group communities of the early church were supportive of His immediate headship and ministry of eternal life (zoe) to His body. Additionally, they were inviting, flexible, mobile, inexpensive, and able to traverse cultural boundaries and survive persecution. Directly related to their emphasis of small group community, the mission of the church in the ancient world outside of Jerusalem was amazingly effective. It is believed they grew at the amazing rate of nearly 40% per decade. The large group gatherings of the early church in Solomon’s Portico were an important event in the history of the church. They served to prepare the church for its mission on earth. Nevertheless, the large group gatherings of the early church were inadequate to serve in the fulfillment of the mission of the church beyond Jerusalem. |
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Small Group Emphasis
The New Testament was written almost exclusively in the context of small group community. Beyond the gatherings of the early church in Jerusalem, it never emphasizes intentional large group gatherings. As previously indicated, the original Jewish church did indeed assemble in both the large and small group setting in Jerusalem. However, they emphasized the importance of small group community. (Acts 1-7, approximately two years). (Acts 2:46; 5:12; 25; 42) The Book of Acts also reveals that the predominantly Gentile expansion of the early church was no different. In fact, it gathered exclusively in small group community. (Acts 8-28, approximately 35 years). (8:3; 12:12; 16:40; 17:1-9; 18:5-11; 20:20; 21:7-10; etc.) Beyond the Book of Acts, the New Testament epistles provide specific references to the early church gathering in small group communities from house to house. There were small group church communities in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colossae, Thessalonica, etc. In addition, the Apostle Paul specifically refers to the gathering of small group community in the houses of Prisca and Aquila; Nympha; and Philemon. (Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 2; cf. 2 John 10) The New Testament emphasizes gathering in the intimacy of small group community. Beyond the direct evidence mentioned above, much of its teaching and tradition (i.e., the celebration of the Lord’s Supper; interactive spiritually gifted ministry; church discipline; etc.) is impractical and even nonsensical when viewed apart from the context of small group community. Community The ancient world of the New Testament did not have buildings big enough to accommodate large group church gatherings. However, it was not the fundamental reason the church outside of Jerusalem gathered only in small group communities. The common house presented the venue most compatible with church purpose and mission. Gathered in the intimate environment of the common house, the New Testament church could find rest from the stressful circumstances of the world. Rather than worldly duty and debt, the house was associated with family, friendship, food, fellowship, and relaxation. It was a place where formality could be discarded, pretense abandoned, and Christ could be central. With Christ central, the intimate environment of the common house was conducive for the ecclesia to grow progressively deeper together in the knowledge and experience of divine life (zoe). Therefore, it was favorable for every practice of the New Testament church, including the celebration of the Lord’s Supper as a full meal; prayer; the fellowship of the Spirit; interactive, spiritually gifted ministry; participatory worship in song; personal discipleship; giving to those in need; loving, corrective church discipline; and team-oriented outreach. Sharing life with God in Christ, the small group communities of the early New Testament church were representational of divine life (zoe) on earth. Alive to God, they offered a warm, inviting atmosphere that was advantageous for the practice of shared life. As a result, they were a welcoming beacon of life (zoe) and light in the cold darkness of the fallen world that only offered individualism, fear of intimacy, and loneliness. God manifested the early New Testament church exclusively in small group communities. Characterized by the cultivation and practice of intimate, shared life fellowship, they facilitated the fulfillment of its eternal purpose and mission in the most efficient manner possible. Temporal Church Contrary to eternal plan, the modern, religious church or temporal church commonly gathers in a formal, large group setting. It is without biblical precedent. The temporal church with its emphasis on the large group setting originated in the fourth century AD, nearly 300 years after the founding of the New Testament church. Introduced by the marriage between church and Roman state, it was the product of religiosity, civic precedent, practicality, and convenience. The origination of the temporal church was characterized by a complex organizational form and function. Its predetermined organizational form was a physical congregation. It was the logical form to accommodate the religious function of the temporal church with its large group gatherings, evolving doctrine, organizational law, and religious performance. The corresponding mission of the temporal church was simply to enlarge the organization. Its form, function, and large group manifestation on earth naturally supported the fulfillment of its mission. As a result, success could be measured by the numeric growth of adherents. The large group manifestation of the temporal church was natural and reasonable for the transference of information and the performance of religious activity for God. Nevertheless, it was contrary to the plan of God for the living (zoe) church of the New Testament. |
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Distinct Contrast The eternal church and the temporal church can be contrasted as follows: |
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Sadly, church for most Christians in the world today involves little more than participation in a large group meeting. It is typically characterized by the transference of information from church leadership to inactive church members. As a result, most Christians never experience significant spiritual growth. Instead, they remain in the informational stage of church life.
Informational Christians possess knowledge about God but have little to no understanding about how to interact with Him or their brothers and sisters in the church. While they can sometimes argue the finer points of church doctrine, they do not understand what it means to be an earthen vessel created to accommodate the treasure of divine life (zoe). God does not force ignorant or reluctant Christians to grow. Instead, He gently guides and encourages them to become discontent with the emptiness of information alone. For the willing, it signals the beginning of growth from law to life (zoe). In contrast to informational large group meetings, God designed small group communities as vessels to share His life (zoe) on earth. Representational of His life (zoe) around the world, they constitute the most effective means of fulfilling church purpose and mission. The informational, large group gatherings of the early church were not meant to continue beyond Jerusalem. Nevertheless, they have continued to exist for for the last 1700 years. The continued existence of the legalistic, large group church testifies to the influence of spiritual opposition, historic religiosity and the church’s ignorance of apostolic teaching and tradition. The fact that only the small group, house-to-house communities of the early eternal church were intended to survive is often misunderstood today. The large group gatherings of the early church in the precincts of the ancient temple were important to its origination on earth. While important to its founding, however, they were not expedient for its growth beyond Jerusalem. © 2023 James Hiatt |
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