The Ancient Church (1859)
W.D. [William Dool] Killen
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THE ANCIENT CHURCH:
Its History, Doctrine, Worship, and Constitution,
Traced for the First Three Hundred Years.
BY
W.D. KILLEN, D.D.
Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Pastoral Theology to the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
“Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.”
PSALM 87:3.
Prefatory Note.
I cannot permit this Edition of “The Ancient Church” to appear beforethe citizens of the United States without acknowledging my obligationsto Mr Charles Scribner of New York. Mr Scribner was the first gentlemanconnected with the noble profession to which he belongs, either in theOld or in the New World, from whom I received encouragement in thisundertaking; and his prompt and generous offers aided me materially inmaking arrangements for the publication of the work in Great Britain.Every line of the present impression has been corrected by myself, andshould my life be spared, any future Edition which Mr Scribner maypublish is to appear under the same supervision. I trust that the Tradethroughout the Union will recognize the debt of gratitude which I owe tomy American friend. There is a higher law than the law of internationalcopyright, and I feel confident that no Publisher of honour andintegrity in the Great Republic will repudiate its claims.
W.D. KILLEN.
17 University Square, Belfast, Ireland,
July 1859.
Preface.
The appearance of another history of the early Church requires someexplanation. As the progress of the Christian commonwealth for the firstthree hundred years has been recently described by British, German, andAmerican writers of eminent ability, it may, perhaps, be thought thatthe subject is now exhausted. No competent judge will pronounce such anopinion. During the last quarter of a century, various questionsrelating to the ancient Church, which are almost, if not altogether,ignored in existing histories, have been earnestly discussed; whilstseveral documents, lately discovered, have thrown fresh light on itstransactions. There are, besides, points of view, disclosing unexploredfields for thought, from which the ecclesiastical landscape has neveryet been contemplated. The following work is an attempt to exhibit someof its features as seen from a new position.
The importance of this portion of the history of the Church can scarcelybe over-estimated. Our attention is here directed to the life of Christ,to the labours of the apostles and evangelists, to the doctrines whichthey taught, to the form of worship which they sanctioned, to theorganization of the community which they founded, and to the indomitableconstancy with which its members suffered persecution. The practicalbearing of the topics thus brought under review must be sufficientlyobvious.
In the interval between the days of the apostles and the conversion ofConstantine, the Christian commonwealth changed its aspect. The Bishopof Rome—a personage unknown to the writers of the New Testament—meanwhile rose into prominence, and at length took precedence ofall other churchmen. Rites and ceremonies, of which neither Paul norPeter ever heard, crept silently into use, and then claimed the rank ofdivine institutions. Officers, for whom the primitive disciples couldhave found no place, and titles, which to them would have beenaltogether unintelligible, began to challenge attention, and to be namedapostolic. It is the duty of the historian to endeavour to point out theorigin, and to trace the progress of these innovations. A satisfactoryaccount of them must go far to settle more than one of our presentcontroversies. An attempt is here made to lay bare the causes whichproduced these changes, and to mark the stages of the ecclesiasticalrevolution. When treating of the rise and growth of the hierarchy,several remarkable facts and testimonies which have escaped the noticeof preceding historians are particularly noticed.
Some may, perhaps, consider that, in a work such as this, undueprominence has been given to the discussion of the question of theIgnatian epistles. Those who have carefully examined the subject willscarcely think so. If we accredit these documents, the history of theearly Church is thrown into a state of hopeless confusion; and men,taught and honoured by the apostles themselves, must have inculcated themost dangerous errors. But if their claims vanish, when touched by thewand of truthful criticism, many clouds which have hitherto darkened theecclesiastical atmosphere disappear; and the progress of corruption canbe traced on scientific principles. The special attention of allinterested in the Ignatian controversy is invited to the two chapters ofthis work in which the subject is investigated. Evidence is thereproduced to prove that these Ignatian letters, even as edited by thevery learned and laborious Doctor Cureton, are utterly spurious, andthat they should be swept away from among the genuine remains of earlyChurch literature with the besom of scorn.
Throughout the work very decided views are expressed on a variety oftopics; but it must surely be unnecessary to tender an apology for thefree utterance of these sentiments; for, when recording the progress ofa revolution affecting the highest interests of man, the narrator cannotbe expected to divest himself of his cherished convictions; and very fewwill venture to maintain that a writer, who feels no personal interestin the great principles brought to light by the gospel, is, on thataccount, more competent to describe the faith, the struggles, and thetriumphs of the primitive Christians. I am not aware that mere prejudicehas ever been permitted to influence my narrative, or that any statementhas been made which does not rest upon solid evidence. Some of the viewshere presented may not have been suggested by any previous investigator,and they may be exceedingly damaging to certain popular theories; butthey should not, therefore, be summarily condemned. Surely every honesteffort to explain and reconcile the memorials of antiquity is entitledto a candid criticism. Nor, from those whose opinion is really worthy ofrespect, do I despair of a kindly reception for this volume. One of themost hopeful signs of the times is the increasing charity of evangelicalChristians. There is a growing disposition to discountenance the spiritof religious partisanship, and to bow to the supremacy of TRUTH. I trustthat those who are in quest of the old paths trodden by the apostles andthe martyrs will find some light to guide them in the following pages.
Contents.
* * * * *
PERIOD I.
FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE
DEATH OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, A.D. 100.
* * * * *
SECTION I.
HISTORY OF THE PLANTING AND GROWTH OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
CHAPTER I.
THE ROMAN EMPIRE AT THE TIME OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
The boundaries of the Empire,
Its population, strength, and grandeur,
Its orators, poets, and philosophers,
The influence of Rome upon the provinces,
The languages most extensively spoken,
The moral condition of the Empire,
The influence of the philosophical sects—the Epicureans, theStoics, the Academics, and Plato,
The influence of the current Polytheism,
The state of the Jews—the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes,
Preparations for a great Deliverer, and expectation of His appearance,
CHAPTER II.
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
The date of the Birth of Christ,
The place of His Birth,
The visit of the angel to the shepherds,
The visit of the Magi—the flight into Egypt—and the murder of the infants at Bethlehem,
The presentation in the Temple,
The infancy and boyhood of Jesus,
His baptism and entrance upon His public ministry,
His mysterious movements,
The remarkable blanks in the accounts given of Him in the Gospels,
His moral purity,
His doctrine and His mode of teaching,
His miracles,
The independence of His proceedings as a reformer,
The length of His ministry,
The Sanhedrim and Pontius Pilate,
The Death of Christ, and its significance,
His Resurrection, and His appearance afterwards only to His ownfollowers,
His Ascension,
His extraordinary character,
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE on the year of the Birth of Christ,
CHAPTER III.
THE TWELVE AND THE SEVENTY.
Our Lord during His short ministry trained 82 preachers—the Twelve and the Seventy, 36
Various names of some of the Twelve, 37
Relationship of some of the parties, 39
Original condition of the Twelve, ib.
Various characteristics of the Twelve, 40
Twelve, why called Apostles, 42
Typical meaning of the appointment of the Twelve and the Seventy, 43
In what sense the Apostles founded the Church, 45
Why so little notice of the Seventy in the New Testament, 46
No account of ordinations of pastors or elders by the Twelve or the Seventy, 47
No succession from the Twelve or Seventy can be traced, 48
In what sense the Twelve and Seventy have no successors, and in what sense they have, 50
CHAPTER IV.
THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL FROM THE DEATH OF CHRIST TO THE DEATH
OF THE APOSTLE JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JOHN.—A.D. 31 TO A.D. 44.
The successful preaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem, 52
The disciples have all things common, ib.
The appointment of the deacons, 54
The Apostles refuse to obey the rulers of the Jews, 55
The date of the martyrdom of Stephen, ib.
The gospel preached in Samaria, 56
The baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch, and of Cornelius the centurion, 57
The conversion of Saul, his character, position, and sufferings, 59
His visit to Jerusalem, and vision, 62
His ministry in Syria and Cilicia, 63
His appearance at Antioch, ib.
Why the disciples were called Christians, 64
Paul and Barnabas sent from Antioch with relief to the poor saintsin Judea, 65
The Apostles leave Jerusalem—why no successor appointed onthe death of James the brother of John, 66
Why Paul taken up to Paradise, 68
CHAPTER V.
THE ORDINATION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS; THEIR MISSIONARY TOUR IN
ASIA MINOR; AND THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM.—A.D. 44 TO A.D. 51.
Previous position of Paul and Barnabas, 70
Why now ordained, 71
Import of ordination, 73
By whom Paul and Barnabas were ordained, 74
They visit Cyprus, Perga, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, and otherplaces, 75
Ordain elders in every Church, 76
Opposition of the Jews, and dangers of the missionaries, 77
Some insist on the circumcision of the Gentile converts, and areresisted by Paul, 79
Why he objected to the proposal, ib.
Deputation to Jerusalem about this question, 81
Constituent members of the Council of Jerusalem, ib.
Date of the meeting, 82
Not a popular assembly, 83
In what capacity the Apostles here acted, 85
Why the Council said “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us,” 86
The decision, 87
Why the converts were required to abstain from blood andthings strangled, 88
Importance of the decision, 89
CHAPTER VI.
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL INTO EUROPE, AND THE MINISTRY OF
PAUL AT PHILIPPI.-A.D. 52.
Date of Paul’s first appearance in Europe, 90
History of Philippi, ib.
Jewish Oratory there, 91
Conversion of Lydia, ib.
The damsel with the spirit of divination, 92
Paul and Silas before the magistrates, 93
Causes of early persecutions, ib.
Paul and Silas in prison, 94
Earthquake and alarm of the jailer, 95
Remarkable conversion of the jailer, 96
Alarm of the magistrates, 98
Liberality of the Philippians, 99
CHAPTER VII.
THE MINISTRY OF PAUL IN THESSALONICA, BEREA, ATHENS, AND CORINTH.
—A.D. 52 TO A.D. 54.
Thessalonica and its rulers, 100
The more noble Bereans, 101
Athens and its ancient glory, ib.
Paul’s appearance among the philosophers, 102
His speech on Mars’ Hill 104
Altar to the unknown God, ib.
The Epicureans and Stoics, 105
The resurrection of the body, a strange doctrine, 106
Conversion of Dionysius the Areopagite, 107
Corinth in the first century, ib.
Paul’s success here, 109
Works at the trade of a tent-maker, 110
Corinth a centre of missionary operation, 111
The Corinthian Church, and its character, 112
Opposition of Jews, and conduct of the Proconsul Gallio, ib.
Paul writes the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, 113
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CONVERSION OF APOLLOS; HIS CHARACTER; AND THE MINISTRY OF
PAUL IN EPHESUS.—A.D. 54 TO A.D. 57.
Paul’s first visit to Ephesus; 115
Aquila and Priscilla instruct Apollos, 116
Position of the Jews in Alexandria, ib.
Gifts of Apollos, 117
Ministry of Apollos in Corinth, ib.
Paul returns to Ephesus, and disputes in the school of Tyrannus, 118
The Epistle to the Galatians, 119
Paul’s visit to Crete, and perils in the sea, 120
Churches founded at Colosse and elsewhere, 121
Temple of Diana at Ephesus, and the Ephesian letters, ib.
Apollonius of Tyana, and Paul’s miracles, 122
First Epistle to the Corinthians, 123
Demetrius and the craftsmen, 124
The Asiarchs and the town-clerk, 125
Progress of the gospel in Ephesus, 127
CHAPTER IX.
PAUL’S EPISTLES; HIS COLLECTION FOR THE POOR SAINTS AT JERUSALEM;
HIS IMPRISONMENT THERE, AND AT CAESAREA AND ROME.—A.D. 57 TO A.D. 63.
Paul preaches in Macedonia and Illyricum, 128
Writes the First Epistle to Timothy, and the Second Epistle tothe Corinthians, 129
Arrives in Corinth, and writes the Epistle to the Romans, 130
Sets out on his return to Jerusalem; and, when at Miletus, sendsto Ephesus for the elders of the Church, 131
The collection for the poor saints of Jerusalem carried byseven commissioners, 132
Riot when Paul appeared in the Temple at Jerusalem, 134
Paul rescued by the chief captain and made a prisoner, ib.
Paul before the Sanhedrim, 136
Removed to Caesarea, ib.
Paul before Felix and Festus, 137
Appeals to Caesar, 138
His defence before Agrippa, 139
His voyage to Rome, and shipwreck, 142
His arrival in Italy, 145
Greatness and luxury of Rome, ib.
Paul preaches in his own hired house, 148
His zeal, labours, and success, 149
Writes to Philemon, to the Colossians, the Ephesians, and thePhilippians, 150
CHAPTER X.
PAUL’S SECOND IMPRISONMENT, AND MARTYRDOM; PETER, HIS EPISTLES,
HIS MARTYRDOM, AND THE ROMAN CHURCH.
Evidences of Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment, 152
His visit to Spain, 153
Writes the Epistle to the Hebrews, 154
Revisits Jerusalem, and returns to Rome, 155
His second Roman imprisonment, ib.
Writes Second Epistle to Timothy, ib.
Date of his martyrdom, 156
Peter’s arrival in Rome, ib.
His First Epistle written from Rome, 157
Why Rome called Babylon, 158
Peter writes his Second Epistle, ib.
His testimony to the inspiration of Paul, 159
His martyrdom, 160
Circumstances which, at an early period, gave prominence to theChurch of Rome, ib.
Its remarkable history, 162
CHAPTER XI.
THE PERSECUTIONS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, AND ITS CONDITION AT THE
TERMINATION OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
The Jews at first the chief persecutors of the Church, 163
Their banishment from Rome by Claudius, 164
Martyrdom of James the Just, 165
Why Christians so much persecuted, 166
Persecution of Nero, ib.
A general persecution, 167
Effect of the fall of Jerusalem, 168
Persecution of Domitian, 169
The grandchildren of Jude, ib.
Flavius Clemens and Flavia Domitilla, 170
John banished to Patmos, 171
His last days, and death, 172
State of the Christian interest towards the close of the firstcentury, ib.
Spread of the gospel, 173
Practical power of Christianity, 174
SECTION II.
THE LITERATURE AND THEOLOGY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
CHAPTER I.
THE NEW TESTAMENT, ITS HISTORY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF ITS VARIOUS PARTS.—THE EPISTLE OF CLEMENT OF ROME.
Why our Lord wrote nothing Himself, 176
The order in which the Gospels appeared, 177
Internal marks of truthfulness and originality in the writings ofthe Evangelists, 178
The Acts of the Apostles treat chiefly of the acts of Peter and Paul, 179
On what principle the Epistles of Paul arranged in the New Testament, 180
The titles of the sacred books not appended by the Apostles orEvangelists, and the postscripts of the Epistles of Paul notadded by himself, and often not trustworthy, 181
The dates of the Catholic Epistles, 182
The authenticity of the various parts of the New Testament, ib.
Doubts respecting the Epistle to the Hebrews, and some of thesmaller Epistles, and the Apocalypse, 183
Division of the New Testament into chapters and verses, 184
All, in primitive times, were invited and required to study theScriptures, ib.
The autographs of the sacred penmen not necessary to prove theinspiration of their writings, 185
The Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, 186
The truth of the New Testament established by all the proper testswhich can be applied, 187
CHAPTER II.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
Same system of doctrine in Old and New Testaments, 188
The New Testament the complement of the Old, ib.
The views of the Apostles at first obscure, 189
New light received after the resurrection, 190
In the New Testament a full statement of apostolic doctrine, ib.
Sufficiency and plenary inspiration of Scripture, 191
State of man by nature, 192
Faith and the Word, ib.
All the doctrines of the Bible form one system, 193
The Deity of Christ 194
The Incarnation and Atonement, 195
Predestination, 197
The Trinity, ib.
Creeds, 198
Practical tendency of apostolic doctrine, ib.
CHAPTER III.
THE HERESIES OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE.
Original meaning of the word Heresy, 200
How the word came to signify something wrong, 201
The Judaizers the earliest errorists, ib.
Views of the Gnostics respecting the present world, the body ofChrist, and the resurrection of the body, 202
Simon Magus and other heretics mentioned in the New Testament, 205
Carpocrates, Cerinthus, and Ebion, 206
The Nicolaitanes, ib.
Peculiarities of Jewish, sectarianism, 207
Unity of apostolic Church not much affected by the heretics, 208
Heresy convicted by its practical results, ib.
SECTION III.
THE WORSHIP AND CONSTITUTION OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
CHAPTER I.
THE LORD’S DAY; THE WORSHIP OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH; ITS
SYMBOLIC ORDINANCES, AND ITS DISCIPLINE.
Christians assembled for worship on the first day of the week, 210
Our Lord recognized the permanent obligation of theFourth Commandment, 211
Worship of the Church resembled, not that of the Temple, butthat of the Synagogue, 214
No Liturgies in the apostolic Church, 215
No instrumental music, 216
Scriptures read publicly, 217
Worship in the vulgar tongue, ib.
Ministers had no official dress, 218
Baptism administered to infants, 219
Mode of Baptism, 220
The Lord’s Supper frequently administered, 221
The elements not believed to be transubstantiated, 222
Profane excluded from the Eucharist, ib.
Cases of discipline decided by Church rulers, 223
Case of the Corinthian fornicator, ib.
Share of the people in Church discipline, 226