Worship in the Early Church

by Ralph P. Martin

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 1974

Overview

Worship in the Early Church sheds light on how the earliest Christians worshiped God, including several elements into their worship that reflected their Jewish heritage. Prayers and praises, singing, creeds and confessions, preaching, offerings, and sacrament—these are the chief features of early Christian worship examined by Professor Martin. Pastors, ministers, Sunday school teachers and laypersons will benefit from this lucid account of why believers do what they do when they gather together to worship.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Worship is a noble word. The term comes into our modern speech from the Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe. This later developed into worthship, and then into worship. It means, ‘to attribute worth’ to an object.” (Page 10)

“Christian worship, then, is the happy blend of offering to God our Creator and Redeemer through Jesus Christ both what we owe to Him and what we would desire to give Him.” (Page 17)

“J. Alan Kay observes:^* ‘Worship is man’s response to the nature and action of God,’” (Page 12)

“In fine, the Church of Christ is summoned into being by God in order to be a worshipping community.” (Page 10)

“C. E. B. Cranfield in a valuable article on the theological significance of Christian worship stresses the fact that ‘throughout the Bible it is assumed that the initiative in true worship is God’s’.^* From Exodus 29:38–46 it seems very clear that it is God who takes the first step in proposing the way in which He is to be approached and it is His promised presence to an obedient people which ensures the communion. Worship which is man-devised and conducted according to human dictates and whims, however impressive and aesthetic it may appear, is not acceptable.” (Pages 12–13)

Product Details

• Title: Worship in the Early Church
• Author: Ralph P. Martin
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 1964
• Pages: 144

About Ralph P. Martin

Ralph P. Martin (1925–2013) served as scholar-in-residence at several schools, including Fuller Theological Seminary, Haggard School of Theology, and Azusa Pacific University. He was a professor emeritus of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary and an associate professor in biblical studies at the University of Sheffield in England.

Martin earned degrees at University of London and King’s College. He has written several commentaries and books, including Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, the commentaries on 2 Corinthians in the Word Biblical Commentary series, and many more!