{"id":4262,"date":"2024-12-31T15:45:20","date_gmt":"2024-12-31T15:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthreallymatters.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=4262"},"modified":"2025-12-31T16:29:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T16:29:07","slug":"blog-archive-2023-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/truthreallymatters.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=4262","title":{"rendered":"Blog Archive: 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n178. 1\/1\/23 How did Christianity succeed in its first hundred years?
\n179. 2\/1\/23 The God Hypothesis
\n180. 3\/1\/23 Money, Greed, and God
\n181. 4\/1\/23 How Goes Your Quest
\n182. 5\/1\/23 Progressive Christianity: Old-Fashioned Apostasy
\n183. 6\/1\/23 Scientism is not Science
\n184. 7\/1\/23 Against the Flow
\n185. 8\/1\/23 Why bother believing?
\n186. 9\/1\/23 Identity, History, Reality
\n187. 10\/1\/23 The Miraculous Cell
\n188. 11\/1\/23 The Air We Breathe
\n189. 12\/1\/23 Intellectuals<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n178. How did Christianity succeed in its first hundred years?
\nJanuary 1, 2023
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

What factors contributed to the spread of the Gospel in the decades following the Resurrection?\u00a0 Did God prepare political and economic factors to facilitate the multiplication of Christian churches?\u00a0 How do conditions today compare with those of the 1st<\/sup> century with regard to sharing the Gospel?<\/p>\n

I recently read The First One Hundred Years of Christianity:\u00a0 An Introduction to its History, Literature, and Development<\/em>, by Udo Schnelle in 2019, translated into English in 2020 by James W. Thompson.\u00a0 It\u2019s a large tome, packed with details and analysis, but written mostly from the perspective of a secular historian sympathetic to the Christian faith, but discounting its supernatural character.\u00a0 The author seems to treat the New Testament as equivalent to other historical documents . . . there is no apparent appreciation of its Holy Spirit-inspired character.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I found some interesting nuggets, especially as summarized in Schnelle\u2019s brief final chapter, \u201cFifteen Reasons for the Success of Early Christianity.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019ll paraphrase each one and make some comments.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The unity of the Roman Empire\u2019s cultural and political control was crucial to Christianity\u2019s early success.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In world-historic terms, the Roman Empire was only recently established when Jesus of Nazareth was born.\u00a0 The early spread of the Gospel was enabled by the peace (Pax Romana) enforced across southern Europe and northern Africa, allowing safe and rapid travel via Rome\u2019s system of roads and control of the Mediterranean Sea.\u00a0 We should not take for granted Paul\u2019s missionary journeys which established churches in nations that were once both independent and testy about foreign influence.<\/p>\n

    How much greater is our own opportunity to spread the Gospel in a world that is knit tightly together electronically, and travel is cheaper and faster than ever before?\u00a0 If only Christians in the West would use their freedom and resources to do more than show up once per week for a \u2018worship show\u2019 and a winsome talk.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The widespread knowledge of the Greek language advanced the expansion of Christianity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      First and foremost, the New Testament in Greek could be read by most people across the Empire.\u00a0 Doubtless, Christians would copy and distribute the Gospel accounts and the epistles from town to town from Egypt to Turkey to Greece to Rome and Gaul and Spain and, ultimately, beyond to Persia and India and Africa.<\/p>\n

      This is why there are tens of thousands of manuscripts of the New Testament that have survived from all over Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa.\u00a0 Common use of Greek certainly enabled evangelists to show up in towns, even in Germany and Britain, and share the Gospel.\u00a0 From Greek, the message would be translated into more far-flung local languages.<\/p>\n

      What is the universal language today?\u00a0 Certainly English!\u00a0 The modern missionary movement of the last two and a half centuries has been providentially sourced in the English speaking world, first from Britain and then America.\u00a0 The best Gospel tracts ever created are available in English and almost every other language on Earth.\u00a0 Yesterday there was a fellow at WalMart in the line ahead of me, apparently from Latin America.\u00a0 He accepted the tracts I offered him (check them out at ThinkTracts.com<\/a>), but his slight discomfort provoked me to reach for one of the Chick tracts in Spanish that I keep handy for just these occasions.\u00a0 He responded positively to that offer \u2013 he knew how to read Spanish!\u00a0 This is all so easy to do!<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Hellenistic Judaism was widespread, giving Paul a place to start in the cities he visited.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The apostle Paul would start with the Jews, whose theology shared a Biblical foundation.\u00a0 Paul\u2019s witness to the pagan Gentiles would have to begin farther back, philosophically, explaining the God of creation.\u00a0 Many Jews were readily converted (many, alas, were not), and became local Gospel evangelists.<\/p>\n

        Today we cross paths with many who have been raised in some branch of Christendom, and so share or at least are aware of some Biblical truths.\u00a0 If they engage in conversation, it is at least easy for them to comprehend that they have missed something, namely salvation by grace through faith.\u00a0 Most \u2018religionists\u2019 today, like most Jews and pagans of old, hope to be judged righteous enough for Paradise.\u00a0 It\u2019s not hard to quote and explain some basic Bible verses to show them their lost condition and need for forgiveness.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Existing religions were weak and local or regional. Pagan cults were in decline and not connected from region to region.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          This enabled the Biblical Gospel to stand out in uniqueness and power.\u00a0 The message of one Creator, whose Son was born into mankind, is something that seems \u2018old hat\u2019 now, but was unique then.\u00a0 The message of forgiveness and the new birth offered an assured hope not found in any cult.\u00a0 And Gospel truth was rooted in the history of the times and the prophecies of the Old Testament.\u00a0 The Gospel was grounded in historical reality.<\/p>\n

          Today\u2019s cults and religions and philosophies abound with thinly veiled false hopes.\u00a0 The truth of the Gospel can still shake loose the weak foundations of worldly philosophies, and the Holy Spirit is still committed to the Great Commission so that we know <\/em>that while we convey truth verbally (or by tract), the Holy Spirit draws the heart.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Monotheism enjoyed an appeal lacking in the polytheistic cults of the time. As the story spread about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, many sought and found a new understanding of God.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            For someone yearning to find life\u2019s meaning, polytheism simply does not have the \u2018ring of truth.\u2019\u00a0 How can you wholly commit to just one or a few of the dishes on a large smorgasbord?\u00a0 Ultimate truth demands one ultimate God who defines Truth, who has all the power, and in whom we can trust with all our being.<\/p>\n

            People are no different today.\u00a0 Individuals choose a false religion or vacant philosophy because it\u2019s comfortable, it justifies a sinful lifestyle.\u00a0 But those who want to find TRUTH, will find the \u2018ring of truth\u2019 in the Gospel.\u00a0 Our job is to convey the message compellingly and compassionately.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Christianity was new<\/u> in that it was not just an additional religion added to the culture \u2013 the Gospel made an exclusive <\/em>claim that required renunciation of other worldviews. It was all or nothing regarding salvation and the conduct of one\u2019s life.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              This was the feature that provoked such persecution.\u00a0 Other religions coexisted, usually peacefully, within the Roman Empire, and were even willing to allow claims of godhood by the Roman emperor.\u00a0 The Christian faith necessarily declared other faiths false.<\/p>\n

              The same tension and conflict persists today.\u00a0 Accordingly, \u2018tolerance\u2019 seems to be available for all other perspectives except Biblical Christianity.\u00a0 Since Christians and their faith are despised by false religionists, secularists, post-modernists, and everyone else under the sun, we may as well be bold and vocal about the TRUTH.\u00a0 There is no point in compromise.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures valued dialogue, debate, and regularly entertained novel intellectual ideas. This opened the door for Christian missionaries to engage in the synagogues and marketplaces.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Open debate on serious issues wasn\u2019t always friendly, but it wasn\u2019t usually shocking.\u00a0 (Although there are notable exceptions in the book of Acts.)\u00a0 The culture valued listening to alternative points of view.\u00a0 We see this throughout the book of Acts, when Paul visited the synagogues to challenge the Jews and on Mars Hill where he engaged with the pagan intellectuals.<\/p>\n

                Modern culture has shifted during my lifetime away from fair, intellectual debate.\u00a0 Emotions drive political and religious positions, making it more difficult to engage peacefully.\u00a0 Nevertheless<\/em>, most of the world is still open to a Gospel witness, one-to-one, especially in America.\u00a0 Whenever you can separate individuals from the mob, you are likely to get a hearing.\u00a0 The response may be cold, but there are still souls open to truth, consciences still open to conviction.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. A successfully communicative network of house churches included five pillars: letters, travel, coworkers, reciprocal material support, and a culture of hospitality.\u00a0 The New Testament is rich with examples.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  In this culture true discipleship thrived.\u00a0 Every Christian had the opportunity and the obligation to evangelize the lost and to encourage the other believers, to develop gifts and to grow to spiritual maturity.\u00a0 You will search the New Testament in vain to find the names of megachurch pastors . . . which, unfortunately, are the focus of modern Christianity.<\/p>\n

                  The house church system <\/em>(with its \u2018pillars\u2019) was designed by God to define church life until the Lord Jesus returns.\u00a0 But modern Christendom has despised God\u2019s design in favor of huge facilities with salaried clergy and scripted meetings.\u00a0 And so the worldly culture disintegrates and wickedness abounds because the Christians have not \u201cturned the world upside down\u201d (Acts 17:6) in this generation.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. Christians were both members in a local congregation, but also part of a worldwide fellowship of Christians. Regardless of station \u2013 slave or nobleman or tradesman \u2013 a traveling Christian would quickly find a group of believers to welcome him.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    This is all the more remarkable considering the distances and time delays for communication between cities in ancient times.\u00a0 Yet the New Testament record is clear that genuine believers would quickly recognize each other and help those in need no matter the level of sacrifice.<\/p>\n

                    In doing street evangelism I have often encountered Christians and had sweet fellowship, if only for a few minutes.\u00a0 I learned early on that it is not difficult to discern genuine believers from those who have a false religious hope.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve also been distressed to observe the isolation of church from church within a single community.\u00a0 Even churches located across the street from each other see themselves as competitors, not at all as part of a local network.\u00a0 This clearly hinders the Gospel and violates God\u2019s New Testament plan.\u00a0 The clergy in charge of megachurches or megachurch wannabes seem sadly motivated to acquire their own little empires and staffs and resources, even at the expense of \u2018competitor\u2019 churches.\u00a0 Personally, I\u2019ve found that Christians who are dedicated members of a given church have no interest in making friends of Christians who are not members of their church.<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. The Christian ethic of love for God and for others \u2013 even enemies \u2013 stood apart from pagan culture.\u00a0 Startling was the acceptance of all classes into house church fellowships, and so multitudes from all classes became Christians and joined together.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      The New Testament is clear and repetitive on this topic.\u00a0 It makes sense \u2013 we\u2019re all sinners who are saved the same way, by God\u2019s grace, contingent on our humble repentance and faith.\u00a0 All believers are born again as spiritual babes, including those rich and powerful in the world, and including those who are simple laborers or even impoverished.\u00a0 Joined together in the same spiritual family by the grace of God, we are obligated to encourage, help, and build up one another, both spiritually and temporally.<\/p>\n

                      Oh that Christians today would join together in the same spirit, facilitated by God\u2019s intended design of city-wide house church networks, multiplying the Gospel block by block throughout a region, with member-evangelists who are part of every societal niche.<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. Baptism, the Lord\u2019s supper, and house church culture created strong bonds within each fellowship, amplified in the early days by miracles and the Holy Spirit moving in power throughout a community to validate Gospel truth.\u00a0 The bonds within and the openness to all those without made the Christian faith attractive to unbelievers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        And so the Gospel spread quickly throughout the Greco-Roman world and beyond to cover the globe.\u00a0 It is clear from the Bible that God\u2019s plan has not changed, even if market-oriented and culture-empathetic Western church leaders think they can do better.\u00a0 It was far easier to distinguish the true from the false converts in ancient times under persecution;\u00a0 similarly for professing Christians under duress in parts of the world today.\u00a0 It is much harder to distinguish the wheat from the tares in the West today, yet the Bible is filled with warnings about this dichotomy, along with challenges to \u201cexamine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith\u201d (2 Cor 13:5).<\/p>\n

                        Persecution serves to purify and strengthen the bonds among believers.\u00a0 Where persecution is absent or light, as in the West, the \u201cglue\u201d that serves is the Great Commission, a shared purpose that is worthy of our devotion and that provokes prayer, study, mutual encouragement, training, and rejoicing together.\u00a0 If a church doesn\u2019t use this \u201cglue\u201d it will be devoid of Holy Spirit power.<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        1. The Gospel accounts and the epistles introduced a new literature into the world, provoking discussion, study, and debate, along with a new perspective on the ancient Hebrew Scriptures \u2013 the Old Testament.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          The themes included startling non-intuitive paradoxes . . . in death is life; the poor are rich; the oppressed will rule.\u00a0 Given the claim that the Old and New Testaments were the very word of God, these apparent paradoxes made sense, engendering hope and purpose that transcended the harsh realities of life, and yet provided practical guidelines for daily life.<\/p>\n

                          Throughout its history, the Christian faith has embraced study and open discussion, despite regular attempts to squash dissent from clergy-approved doctrines.\u00a0 Modern emotionally-driven movements (Pentecostalism, the emergent church, entertainment-oriented evangelicalism) also work to diminish or destroy Biblical discipleship \u2013 the root word is \u2018discipline\u2019 regarding study, thought, and discussion, which Christians must still strive for, despite whatever local church culture they find themselves in.\u00a0 See my \u2018church\u2019 essays in the Discipleship section of this site.<\/p>\n

                            \n
                          1. Jesus wrote nothing himself.\u00a0 (The author cites similarity to Socrates and Pythagoras in this case, a trivializing note in my opinion.)\u00a0\u00a0 But the writings of the New Testament constrained the interpretation on Jesus\u2019 life and teachings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                            Indeed.\u00a0 The Christian commits to the Bible as the Holy Spirit-inspired word of God, thereby constraining Christian doctrine to that delivered by God himself.\u00a0 Despite this, varied interpretations abounded but, I believe, only because people deliberately misinterpreted or allegorized or mixed pagan ideas with Scriptural truths.\u00a0 The New Testament is rich with warnings to hold fast to Scriptural doctrine.<\/p>\n

                            Consider my essay \u201cThe 10 Most Deadly Heresies Affecting American Churches in These Last Days,\u201d at http:\/\/truthreallymatters.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=84<\/a><\/p>\n

                            I contend that the differences among \u201cChristian\u201d denominations and sects are easily resolved with a straightforward, but serious reading of the Bible.\u00a0 It\u2019s just not that hard to get the fundamentals right!<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            1. The split into different movements \u2013 the author identifies the Jerusalem church, a \u201cJesus movement\u201d in Galilee, Antioch & Paul, and a Johannine school \u2013 was crucial to survival in a dangerous political \/ religious climate.\u00a0 If one group were to be obliterated, Christianity would still survive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              I think the author has missed this one completely.\u00a0 The emphasis was to evangelize and establish local churches everywhere<\/em>.\u00a0 \u201cMovements\u201d with divergent doctrines or interpretations were problems, not solutions.\u00a0 The New Testament emphasis is to teach and to spread and to \u201cearnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints\u201d (Jude 3).\u00a0 Fragmentation into sects has consistently damaged the Gospel and turned multitudes into false converts.<\/p>\n

                                \n
                              1. Christians had direct access to God \u2013 there was no priestly class.\u00a0 All believers are children of God, and see each other as brothers and sisters.\u00a0 Scriptural promises destroyed the capriciousness of fate and the fear of death, with a promise of personal resurrection because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                The boldness of believers in the first few centuries, even at risk of martyrdom, speaks to their assured hope of resurrection and eternal life in a restored Kingdom of God.\u00a0 Martyrs around the world today prove the sincerity of their faith in God\u2019s promises.\u00a0 How much more should we in the West thank God for our liberties and resources by doing everything we can to share the Gospel.<\/p>\n

                                A better analysis of what the 1st<\/sup> century was all about, why Jesus was born when he was, and where he was, and what led up to that event and what shook out from it, is delightfully expounded in J. Warner Wallace\u2019s 2021 book, Person of Interest:\u00a0 Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible.<\/em><\/p>\n

                                The book is outstanding and should be on every Christian\u2019s bookshelf \u2013 after a careful read.\u00a0 It\u2019s one of the best apologetics books ever written, serving both to encourage believers and to convince skeptics.\u00a0 I won\u2019t review the book on this site, but I do heartily endorse it.\u00a0 Wallace uses his career experience as a cold-case detective to weave the apologetics narrative in parallel with a cold case that he once solved.\u00a0 Fascinating!<\/p>\n