Communal Christianity?

[Sophie]

When did the Catholic Church cease to be communal in the way they lived? Jesus taught His followers they had to give HIm everything they owned as did the apostles as in Acts 5:32 - “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.” And Acts 5:34 - “There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.” I’m doing research on the early Church and can’t find this answer.

 

[Fidelis]

These passages have often been interpreted as seeing the early Church as a form of collectivist society. Many scholars, however, point out that that this description only means that all in the early Jerusalem community were generous with their personal goods to the point that none went hungry or were in need, selling their own possessions if necessary to provide for their brothers and sisters. And it does seem like the Church in Jerusalem were a needy bunch, as we hear later from the Apostle Paul that he was going around the new Gentile church communities taking up a collection for them.

It has also been suggested that the early Church in Jerusalem may have been very ascetical in their lifestyle (like their contemporaries the Essenes and the followers of John the Baptist) so that they gave away their possessions out of both generosity and from being led by God to practice radical detachment from material goods, like many monks and nuns, for example.

Finally, one interesting theory I heard (from Scott Hahn, I believe) was that since Jesus predicted to them the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, the members of the community saw the futility of holding on to material goods (especially real estate) that would all be gone within a very short time (as it turned out in 70 AD).

So there are several possible implications from these passages, not just the communal living theory.

 

[Sophie]

Thanks for your answers. So basically we just have suggestions and theories on these scripture passages about the early Christians sharing everything in common? No one knows for sure?

 

[Fidelis]

Thanks for your answers. So basically we just have suggestions and theories on these scripture passages about the early Christians sharing everything in common? No one knows for sure?

Since it isn’t clear from the Scriptures, you may want to look at the writings of the Early Church Fathers (especially those in the first 200 years or so of the Church), you can get a little more of a glimpse of it. For example, in the Didache (an early Church document written around 60 AD) we find:

Be not a stretcher forth of the hands to receive and a drawer of them back to give. If you have anything, through your hands you shall give ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate to give, nor complain when you give; for you shall know who is the good repayer of the hire. Do not turn away from him who is in want; rather, share all things with your brother, and do not say that they are your own. For if you are partakers in that which is immortal, how much more in things which are mortal?
earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

Unfortunately, the early Church wasn’t that keen on providing us with more detail on their day to day life. Writing materials were expensive and time -consuming. Most of the writings from that period are teaching of moral or doctrinal truth, or to address specific heresies or to offer encouragement in times of distress.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Sophie,

Acts recounts what the early Christians did, but does not state that all Christians should live tĥis way. In fact, it is clearly understood that the Christians Luke knows do not live this way.

But, for all this, one must not think that there have been no more Christians who have lived this kind of life. Religious orders do. Their members live together and observe the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Members do not personally dispose of any property.They do not marry. They obey the rules of their order and the wishes of their superiors. They are bound to strive for perfection as Jesus said, “Be perfect as your heaveny Father is perfect.” If we exclude possibly martyrs, most saints of the Church have come from religious orders.

Verbum