The first Christian communities themselves understood the impact produced by Jesus

[Grape]

“At the same time fundamentalism neglects an important fact: The way in which the first Christian communities themselves understood the impact produced by Jesus of Nazareth and his message. But it is precisely there that we find a witness to the apostolic origin of the Christian faith and its direct expression.”

In what way did the first Christian communities understand the impact produced by Jesus of Nazareth and his message?

 

[Maranatha]

“At the same time fundamentalism neglects an important fact: The way in which the first Christian communities themselves understood the impact produced by Jesus of Nazareth and his message. But it is precisely there that we find a witness to the apostolic origin of the Christian faith and its direct expression.”

In what way did the first Christian communities understand the impact produced by Jesus of Nazareth and his message?

There was heresy from the beginning and Christians were concerned about adhering to the authentic teachings of the apostles. Some groups that went against these teachings included Judaizers (that maintained justification required adherence to the Jewish laws), Gnostics (that justification was based on special secret knowledge) and Arians (that did not maintain that Jesus was both man and God -two natures in one person).

I’m not sure where the initial quote came from but we can see from the beginning the Christians organized in to a hierarchical structure with Bishops, Priests and Deacons. If there were doctrinal disagreements within a local church, it was settled by the Bishop. Doctrinal disagreements between local churchs were settled by and Synod of Bishops or the Bishop of Rome.