Author	Thread: the teachings of early Christianity
Vlad View Profile History	the teachings of early Christianity Posted : 10 Oct, 2009 12:43 AM An indepth dialogue on the teachings of early Christianity and the spirituality of eastern Orthodoxy, still little known in the West. A rare source of mystical wisdom. :applause: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kMhvqwbx_M&feature=related Post Reply
Phoebe2 View Profile History	the teachings of early Christianity Posted : 10 Oct, 2009 09:27 AM Thanks for the link ! I live in the Middle East , yet, know very little about the Orthodoxy & it's doctrine. Post Reply
View Profile History	the teachings of early Christianity Posted : 13 Oct, 2009 12:13 PM The Teachings of the Early Church are found in the Ante-Nicene Fathers. These men are of the first 300 years of Church history prior to the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the False Teachings of Calvinism. There is a wealth of knowledge and some of these men were the direct Disciples of John and Paul the Apostles. You can download all their writings for free. If you have the e-sword Bible program which is free you can add them into that program. www.e-sword.net These men are not infallible nor are their teachings inerrant. However we do see what was handed down to them by the Apostles of Jesus and we can see consistent teachings passed down from one disciple to the next. There are no better commentaries anywhere then what we have through these men of God. Here are some interesting facts. What you will and will not find in their writings. 1) No discussion of any Pre-Trib Rapture as that concept was non-existent until the late 1700s AD.ALL authors who wrote of "end time" events ALWAYS placed "The Church" being persecuted by the Antichrist during the Tribulation and expected a future coming Millennial Kingdom where Christ would literally and physically reign on Earth. So they were Pre-Millennial as well as Post-Tribulation Rapture. 2) None of the concepts and ideas or theology of Calvinism was ever taught. Not a one! Neither was "Once Saved Always Saved" as that theology did not exist until the 1500s. 3)ALL of the concepts, ideas and theology of what we call Arminian theology today was taught by them, consistently. That God has given man a Free Will, that God and Christ does draw all men to Himself and not just an "elect" few and that man can choose to accept the Gospel message or resist the Holy Spirit and not accept Christ. That even after initial salvation man still has the Free will to abandon his Faith in Christ and commit apostasy and permanently forfeit his/her salvation. 4) They taught that we are saved BY God's grace and not of works but that Baptism is not considered a work and that it is the normal location where and when God chooses to save a person. It is the point in time where we enter into the "Covenant" relationship with Christ. It is where we are "Baptized into Christ". It is where salvation occurs according to Christ's commandment. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 and John 3:3-5. These are some of the teachings of what was taught by the earliest Christian leaders of the Churches. Personal Disciples of John: Polycarp and Ignatius Polycarp was the Pastor of the church of Smyrna when John wrote the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation. It was one of the good Churches. :) Ireneaus was the disciple of Polycarp and wrote extensively defending against many heresies. Believed to be the Disciples of Paul: Clement and Barnabas. Blessings! In Christ, Walter Post Reply
Vlad View Profile History	the teachings of early Christianity Posted : 17 Oct, 2009 12:17 AM Yes, the Ante-Nicene Fathers are Holy Fathers in Orthodox Church. Thanx :applause: Post Reply