The Early Church teaches that the Bishop is the Church.
With no Bishop, there is no Church.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Matthew 5:48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
So how are we made “perfect as our Father in Heaven”? By the various trial and tribulations that we face!
Count it all joy my friends! Blessings to all.
Why we believe the Early Church
There are a variety of denominations today, which means there are a variety of different interpretations. The Apostle Paul warns against the preaching of a different Gospel, of a different Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians1:6,8). The church is fervently warned concerning the end times and the rise of false teachers and a great falling away from the truth. Peter says that these destructive heresies will be secretly brought into the church, and many will follow their destructive ways (2 Peter 2:1-2).
With so many warnings concerning false teachers and destructive heresies what remedy did the church have to protect the flock from falling away? How do we know who has the correct interpretation? The Apostle Peter said that the Word is not open for private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). So, what did Jesus leave us, that gives us the assurance that we are in the truth? The Apostle Paul called them the “traditions” (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6).
Part of the last move of God is going back to the original blueprint, the original church, the one and true Gospel. The traditions, as the Apostle Paul calls them, are the revelations, or interpretations of the Word of God that Jesus gave His disciples after the resurrection. In the Gospel of Luke (after the resurrection), it was said that “He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27) and we know that the Jesus said that “I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,)” (Hebrews 10:7).
Jesus interpreted the entire Word of God to his disciples; however, these revelations were not written down. The Apostle Paul mentions traditions that were written, and others were oracularly transmitted. Jesus did say to His disciples “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12) It was after the resurrection that Jesus had given these traditions, and these are the traditions Paul emphasized that we needed to hold true.
The Ante Nicene Fathers were the stewards of these traditions and were much more familiar with them than we are. Past revivalists understood this and sought to understand those revelations that Jesus imparted after the resurrection. John G Lake had a powerful gift of healing, and the Lord used him in revival. He stated concerning the early church:
“The crucifixion of Jesus was but the entrance into the greatest of His divine revelations. Jesus not only rose from the dead, but He determined in His own soul to take captive that power that had been captivating men and subjecting them to death’s control. So, Jesus entered into the grave. The early church was much more conversant (familiar with or knowledgeable about something) with this phase of the Lord’s victory than we are. The literature of the early church fathers is full of the wonder of what took place in the life and ministry of Jesus after He was in the grave.” ~John G Lake July 15, 1920 Chicago, Illinois of Pentecostal Assemblies (Collection of his teachings).
There are revelations that were taught after the resurrection that were sought after, as these revivalists understood their true power and the importance of returning to them. This is an unspoken pattern among the movers and shakers of the faith. George Whitfield, who was the leader of the first Great Awakening revival in America, accredited the revival to the preaching of John Wesley. John Wesley, who is known as the Father of the Methodist and Pentecostal churches, said this:
“Can any who spend several years in those seats of learning be excused if they do not read the Fathers, the most authentic commentators on Scripture, as being both nearest the fountain, eminently endued with the Spirit by whom all Scripture was given. It will be easily perceived; I speak chiefly of those who wrote before the Council of Nicea.” ~John Wesley “Advice to the Clergy” 1756
The pattern has been set and we follow after the pattern that Jesus Christ had first established with His apostles. When you read the writings of His apostles, you can see how far the church today has fallen from its original path. Part of the last move is restoring the early church teachings back to the church as a key part of preparing the church for the coming glory. The early church prophesied about the time we are in now and how we should be prepared.
Paul warns that many shall fall away from the truth, and many will follow the doctrines of demons and heap up teachers after their itching ears (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Paul prophecies about the great falling away in 2 Thessalonians and he instructs us to adhere to the traditions that he has given by word of mouth or by epistle (2 Thessalonians 2:2-15). We are now in the end times and have gone back to the original “water well”, to follow the original teachings, in order to be found pure and not fall into the great deception at the end.
The Didache
The Didache, also known as “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” is an ancient Christian text believed to have been written in the first century AD. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the beliefs and practices of the early Christian community. The Didache provides insight into early Christian worship, ethics, church organization and end-time prophecy, offering a glimpse into the formative period of Christianity. Its significance lies in its role as a window into the early development of Christian doctrine and practice, aiding scholars and believers in understanding the foundational teachings of the faith, and provides the basis for the transformation process of becoming a Christian and walking it out.
The Apostolic Constitutions
The Apostolic Constitutions is a collection of early Christian writings dating back to the late 4th century. It consists of eight books that compile church regulations, liturgical instructions, and teachings attributed to the apostles. The importance of the Apostolic Constitution lies in its preservation of early Christian traditions and its role in shaping the organizational structure and liturgical practices of the early church. It provides valuable insights into the governance, worship, and beliefs of early Christianity, offering a historical and doctrinal resource for understanding the development of the Christian faith and how the church was to judge and govern itself.