The First Advance

Top Highlights

“So there had come to be a recognized place in the synagogue for non-Jews who believed in God and led worthy lives. We should call them ‘adherents’. In the New Testament they are called ‘men that fear God’ (see Acts 13:16).” (Page 16)

“These false stories began quite early. They may lie behind the words in 1 Peter 2:12: ‘They speak against you as wrong-doers’” (Page 71)

“In the year 95, the Church at Corinth was divided and quarrelling, as so often before” (Page 65)

“House-churches such as these were the only churches that Christians had, not only throughout the New Testament period, but through most of the second century. One report says that a church building was set up at Arbil, east of the river Tigris, before 148 (see p. 99 and map 4). There is more evidence that there was a church building in Edessa, 300 miles west of Arbil, sometime after 180 when the King of Edessa became a Christian. The building was destroyed by flood in 201 (see p. 89).” (Page 21)

“The decline of the Empire was in striking contrast to the advance of the Church. The Church’s organization had spread through every province and to lands beyond. Disputes between Christians were brought to their own bishops, never before non-Christian magistrates. Christian charities helped, not only their own poor, but others besides. If a Christian had to travel to distant places, he carried letters of introduction, and was at once among friends. This was what non-Christians meant when they said that the Christians were ‘imperium in Imperio’, a ‘state within the State’. They believed that the State ought not to have any rival. That was why Decius decided to destroy the Church.” (Page 78)