1、 1 Worship in the Early Church by S. Bracefield How did the church of the early centuries (before Constantine) conduct its meetings on the Lords Day? Can we learn anything from this to help us in our worship services today? Introduction A Time of Change In the age of the Early Church (30 312 AD) the
2、 way worship was conducted underwent significant development. This development was greatly influenced by the churchs adapting to the following changes: - the churchs spread to embrace many and diverse cultures - the churchs response to heresies that arose - the rise of episcopacy There are difficult
3、ies in piecing together how and when changes occurred, and how universal they were. The New Testament doesnt give a complete description of worship and later material is sketchy and may contain inaccuracies. Nevertheless it is possible to get a general idea of patterns and developments1. 1. Worship
4、in the days of the Apostles (NT: Acts and Epistles2) Jewish beginnings As mentioned above the first Christians were Jews and lived in Palestine. They understood Jesus to be the Messiah hoped for by the Jewish people so did not initially at least see themselves to be a movement separate from Judaism.
5、 They continued to worship in the temple and synagogue along with their fellow countrymen, living as good Jews, keeping the law. Christians in Palestine did not cease worshipping in the synagogue and temple until they were barred from synagogues following the destruction of the temple in 70AD. Even
6、many of those forced out of Palestine by persecution prior to this time were able to join a local 1Ralph P. Martin, Worship and Liturgy, in Dictionary of the Later NT, Martin and Davids, Eds., (Downers Grove; IVP,1997), 1225. He cautions against harmonising: ignoring the likelihood of regional varia
7、tion, and assuming a linear development to reconstruct where there is no data. 2Names in brackets after each major heading are the most important primary sources drawn on by authors referenced in this essay 2 synagogue as synagogues existed in most major towns and cities in the Roman Empire. It is h
8、elpful here to give a description of synagogue worship because besides being an integral part of early Christian worship, when Christianity eventually broke from Judaism and in the Gentile churches founded by Paul the pattern of synagogue worship was largely carried over into Christian worship servi
9、ces. Jewish Synagogue Service 3 Open with prayer4(Shema) 2 benedictions reading of 10 Commandments (by a reader) “Amen” response of congregation 18 prayers and benedictions (by a reader) “Amen” response of congregation lesson from law and lesson from prophets (read in Hebrew) homily in vernacular be
10、nediction and “Amen” Other important details: - any Jew of age could read the lesson, offer prayer or address the congregation - the leadership consisted of president, elders (equal in rank), reader, interpreter, clerks, sexton (for humbler mechanical services) and deacons for collection of alms - s
11、ynagogues corresponded between each other - services were held on Sabbath, Monday and Thursday. Hours of prayer were 9, 12 and 3 - men and women were divided by a low wall or screen - during prayer people stood with faces to Jerusalem It is easy to see how the early Christians remained in Judaism so
12、 long. The synagogue centred around the Jewish Scriptures and the worship of Yahweh. Also because any man of age was able to pray, read and speak it was the ideal place to speak about Jesus and show how the Scriptures pointed to him. Separation from Judaism eventually happened because their unbeliev
13、ing countrymen forced them out. Differences between Christian Jews and Jews Christians worshipped Jesus as God alongside the Father. Christians had received the Spirit in a way the Jews hadnt which brought illumination: they had a different understanding of the way of salvation and rejoiced that the
14、 promises had been fulfilled and the Messiah had come, and joy: their worship was characterised by “exultant praise5”. Early Christian Practises Distinct from Judaism Alongside their Judaism the early Christians also had some of their own practises. They had their own sacraments: baptism and the Lor
15、ds Supper 3Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church Vol.1, 212,213 4prayers and songs were chiefly from the psalter: the first liturgy and hymnbook 5Ralph P. Martin, Worship and Liturgy, in Dictionary of the Later NT, Martin and Davids, Eds., (Downers Grove; IVP,1997), 1228 3 (which had been in
16、stituted by Christ), and their own meetings as described by Acts 2:42-47. they met daily in the temple and in houses (although it seems unlikely that this was sustained) continuing steadfastly in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, in the breaking of bread6, prayers7Meetings were characterised by sim
17、plicity and gladness (v47). Early Gentile Christianity While Paul first spoke at the local synagogue when he came to a new area, antagonism led to the churches he founded being completely separated from Judaism. Most of the new converts were also Gentiles rather than Jews. Paul set a pattern for the
18、 churches he established based on the pattern of Jewish synagogue worship but divested of its Jewishness as set out in the table below8. Many of these churches were well established and exerting great influence by the time Jewish Christians were expelled from the synagogue. Christianity became a glo
19、bal movement based on Pauls model and Christianity within Judaism died out. Judaism Christianity Worship (holy) day 7thday (creation) 1stday (resurrection) Sacraments Circumcision, Passover Baptism, Lords Supper Festivals Several including Passover IVP,1997), 1228 Some people see this reference to p
20、rayers to suggest a continued adherence to the Jewish temple liturgy 8Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church Vol 1, 213 (I put the information in table form) 9J.G. Davies The Early Christian Church: A history of the first five centuries (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965), 63 (first 6), Philip Schaff
21、 History of the Christian Church Vol 1, p 214,5 (last 3) 10as it was the day of the resurrection- which was the central theme of their messages to their countrymen as it showed Jesus to be the Messiah. 11Earle E. Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Grand Ra
22、pids: Zondervan, 1954), 83 He suggests they met both morning and evening and that the love feast and Lords supper was celebrated in the evening 4 love feast followed by the Lords Supper. a homily was delivered (Acts 20:7) letters from leading Christians were read (Col 4:16) (and due to ties with the
23、 synagogue (Christianity having emerged from Judaism) it is likely that there were also lections from the OT.) collection for charity (1 Cor 16:2) kiss of peace (as a symbol of solidarity) (1 Cor 16:20) prayer: petition, intercession, thanksgiving (offered in childlike confidence to a reconciled Fat
24、her in the name of Jesus, for all classes and conditions, freely from the heart as moved by the Spirit, according to needs and circumstances) song: psalms but also new songs rejoicing in the birth and death of Jesus etc confession of faith based on Peters confession that Jesus was the Christ Martin
25、considers Acts 20 suggests a two-part arrangement of public speaking and a meal occasion with some more discourse to follow12. Whether or not there were non-sacramental meetings is unclear. Davies supposes this is likely citing 1 Corinthians 14 as a possible example.13Baptism Baptism was related to
26、Jewish purification ceremonies but was made a sacrament by Jesus. He commanded disciples to be baptised as the sign and seal of initiation into his church (similar to circumcision being the rite of entry into the Old Covenant community). Baptism signified regeneration but was not confused with conve
27、rsion. Simon Magus was baptised but later shown to be unconverted. Baptism in Acts took place directly upon profession of faith (Acts 2:41, 8:36-39, 9:18, 10:47,48 etc). There was no prior catechising period. Baptism was to be with water but the mode is not specified in the NT. It was to be in the n
28、ame of the Father, Son and Spirit. It was administered to a person only once. While most baptisms recorded in the NT were adults, household baptisms and the carry over into the NT of promises of a special relationship of God to children of believers suggest children were also proper subjects. Davies
29、 comments that there was a practice (which may not have been universal) of following baptism with the laying on of hands signifying identification with the community by action of its representative.14Lords Supper Initially the Lords Supper followed the same pattern as the Last Supper in being at the
30、 end of a meal (love feast). The Bible describes it as a time of gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46). 12Ralph P. Martin, Worship and Liturgy, in Dictionary of the Later NT, Martin and Davids, Eds., (Downers Grove; IVP,1997), 1231 13J.G. Davies The Early Christian Church: A history of the fi
31、rst five centuries (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965), 60 14J.G. Davies The Early Christian Church: A history of the first five centuries (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965), 59 5 The Lords Supper understood to be the thankful remembrance and appropriation of the atoning death of Christ and the living union of bel
32、ievers with him and each other15. Spiritual Gifts, Informality and Liturgy The worship of the early church was marked by informality and spontaneity. It was an age of the Spirit: people empowered by the Spirit spoke in tongues and prophesied bringing the message of God to the people. Any who felt le
33、d were able to bring a word, psalm, tongue etc, similar to the synagogue model but regulated by two guiding principles: 1) edification and 2) God is not a God of confusion but of peace16. This system was not without its problems. A major issue in Pauls letter to the Corinthians was dealing with peop
34、le desiring the “showy” gifts for their own prestige rather than the up building of the church as a whole, and the resulting chaos. There was still a tendency to use some fixed liturgical forms17. These include the Lords Prayer, benedictions (1 Cor 16:23), doxologies (Rom 1:25), and hymns (Col 3:16)
35、. Many scholars see examples of liturgy in the text of the epistles18but have varied views as to the extent. Leaders establishing worship services and putting in place the system of government. Pauls letters were also circulated amongst them. Paul however did not elevate uniformity21. He did not sta
36、mp a fixed brand of culture on all. To the Jews he was a Jew and to the Greeks, a Greek, 15Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church Vol.1, 219 16J.G. Davies The Early Christian Church: A history of the first five centuries (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965), 63 17J.G. Davies The Early Christian Church
37、: A history of the first five centuries (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965), 64 18eg Phil 2:6-11, Col 1:18-20, 1 Tim 3:16, Eph 5:14 Martin LH 19Michael A. Smith, Clement of Rome, in Lion Handbook “The History of Christianity”, Dr Tim Dowley, Ed. (Tring, Lion Publishing, 1997), 125 20Ralph P. Martin, Worship
38、 and Liturgy, in Dictionary of the Later NT, Martin and Davids, Eds., (Downers Grove; IVP,1997), 1225 21eg not uniformity but unity in diversity is seen in Pauls concept of a church (Eph 4, 1 Cor 12) 6 adapting his message to find a starting point that captured his audience. Paul made much of Christ
39、ian liberty. He accepted Jewish Christians could live under the law but insisted it should not be imposed on Gentile converts. Instead they should use biblical principles to guide them in working out their salvation. Similarly regarding worship, Pauls writings dont contain detailed instructions, but
40、 gave the guiding principles mentioned above. 2. Worship in the 2ndCentury (Didache, Justin, Iraneus, Ignatius, Theophilus) By this time the Jewish Christian model was gone, Christianity was multinational and most Christians were Gentiles. Justin Martyr and the Didache give information about mid 2nd
41、century worship services22: Held on Sunday Started with reading of the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets for a period as long as time permits An exhortation or homily on the reading given by the president Congregation stands for prayer Kiss of peace23 Celebration of Lords suppe
42、r- elements dedicated by bishop with thanksgiving and prayers24. People respond with Amen Collection for aid to widows etc. Meeting dismissed Both informality and room for individual contribution have lessened; “worship gradually became more formal and stereotyped after Pauls death”25. There is no l
43、onger mention of prophetic gifts. Shelley comments: “The church was no longer a place where the spirit of prophesy could be heard It was not that the church had ceased to believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. The difference was that in the first days the Holy Spirit had enabled men to write the s
44、acred books of the Christian faith; in the later days the Holy Spirit enabled men to understand, interpret, and to apply what had been written.”26Liturgy was used to unify belief and combat heresy. Examples include songs written by Ignatius to combat Docetism27and the Apostles Creed. 22Ralph Martin,
45、 Cairns, Davies etc all quote from these documents 23Bruce L. Shelley Church History in Plain Language 2ndEdition (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1995), 42 according to Shelley slanders were disseminated about early Christians being involved in gross immorality: “the kiss (of peace) became so susceptible
46、to abuse that the churches almost completely abandoned it” 24The Didache contains lengthy prayers (liturgy) thought to be for the love feast and the Eucharist. A call to self scrutiny before partaking in the Lords Supper was included in this liturgy. 25Ralph Martin, How the First Christians Worshipp
47、ed in Lion Handbook “The History of Christianity”, Dr Tim Dowley, Ed. (Tring, Lion Publishing, 1997), 124 26Bruce L. Shelley Church History in Plain Language 2ndEdition (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1995), 64-66 27Ralph P. Martin, Worship and Liturgy, in Dictionary of the Later NT, Martin and Davids, Ed
48、s., (Downers Grove; IVP,1997), 1230,1 7 By the end of 1stcentury the love feast had disappeared and Lords Supper was celebrated in the morning28. Leaders A pattern was emerging of a powerful, holy clergy and a passive, less spiritual laity. From early in the 2ndcentury a new, three-office structure
49、(bishop, elder and deacon) appears. Ignatius was bishop of Antioch in 110 but this phenomenon was not widespread until later in the century. He was concerned about schism so called on the churches to rally around the bishop and his officers. It is in this context that the Lords Supper rose to be the churchs focal point. Cairns comments “Emphasis on the monarchical bishop who, it was believed, derived his authority by apostolic succession, led many to think of him as a centre of unity, t
