Summary of First Century Beliefs
The foundations of 1st Century beliefs owes its basis in the inspired writings of Old Testament of the Bible, the Jewish scriptures. “Attached” to the Old Testament is the inspired writings of the Apostles, The New Testament, making ONE grand complete book The Holy Bible, made up of 66 books of inspired writings of God.
This summary of 1st Century beliefs provides headings for the reader of Biblical similarities of Jewish teaching & the teaching of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. From these Biblical similarities a clear picture emerges of what is biblical truth in belief and in practice.
1. God: Is a PERSON dwelling bodily in unapproachable light the Father of all. God is ONE not three (1Corinthians 8:6), God is also called “the God of Israel” because of His special purpose with that nation: past, present & future. The nation of Israel is witness to His existence today. God demands that we have a knowledge and belief in His existence. An incorrect conception of God is a lack of knowledge who God is. The vital importance of knowing who God is laid out by the Apostle Paul “ those who know not God” are amongst whose judgment will be upon (2 Thessalonians 1:8). A correct knowledge of God is to be included in God’s family, without it we cannot enter the divine family John 17:3. Gods character is just, and so He shows goodness and mercy to the obedient and severity and wrath to the disobedient. There is but one God, the creator and sustainer of all things, existing from everlasting to everlasting, who knows no equal. He has a purpose with the earth and man which will be completed when the earth is freed from every defiling influence, enabling God to dwell with men.
Read your Bible: 1Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; 1Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 17:3; Isaiah 45:5; Psalm90:2; 1Timothy 6:15-16; Numbers 14:23; Ephesians 1:9-10; Revelation 21:3-4
2. The Spirit of God: This describes the power of God which He uses to perform his will, and by which He is present throughout His creation. God is spirit in His personal substance (John4:24). There is no distinction between God and the Spirit and are one.
Read your Bbile: Genesis1:2; Job 26:12-13; Psalm 104:30; Psalm 139:7-12
3. The Holy Spirit: This is the power of God when used for particular purpose: such as performing miracles, giving special abilities for early Christian elders to enable them to witness to the truth of Christianity, and to instruct and guide the young ecclesia. Thus Holy Spirit gifts are no longer available today, but we do have in extension the lasting effects of the working of the Holy Spirit which is seen in the inspiration of God. God’s Holy Spirit moved men personally to write the word of God the Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21; Jeremiah 20:9). For us personally we read the word of God and when read this carries to us the mind of God, the quality of God Himself and has the power to change ones thinking to Gods way of thinking which will lead us to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15-16; John17:3; Romans1:16)
Read your Bible: Acts 10:38; Isaiah 61:1-3; 2 Samuel 23:2; 2 Peter 1:2; Acts 1:8; Luke1:35; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14
4. Jesus Christ: God was the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. The only begotten Son of God and a perfect manifestation of His Although a unique relationship existed between the Father and Son, Jesus never claimed equality with God nor did His disciples preach it.
Read your Bible: John 3:16; Matthew 3:17; John 14:8-11; Matthew 1:23; John 14: 24, 28; John 10: 29; John 5:30; 1Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1Corinthians 15:27-28.
Jesus was son of God because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and also Son of Man by reason of his birth by Mary. He shared the human nature common to all Adam’s descendants, with the same temptations to sin, yet he never actually sinned.
Read your Bible: Hebrews 2:14, 17; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; John 8:46 Note: The doctrine of the Trinity was unknown to the 1st Century believers.
The only passage to the A.V. that suggests a three -in-one relationship is part of 1John 5: 7-8, which is universally regarded as a forgery inserted about 300 years after the epistle was written. All latter versions omit the passage.
5. Man: Was created from the dust by God in the beginning, and returns to the dust again because of sin. Man is destitute of any trace of immortality but existing entirely by the life God has given him.
Read your Bible: Genesis2:7; Genesis 3:19, 23; Psalm 103:14; 1 Corinthians 15:47-49; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22.
Death is a state of unconsciousness, and the only hope for future lies in bodily resurrection from the dead.
Read your Bible: Psalm 6:5; Ecclesiastes 9: 5-6, 10; Psalm 146:3-4; Isaiah 38:18-19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Luke 14:14; John 11:24; Acts 24:15; I Thessalonians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:13-14; Luke 20:37-38.
Has man got immortal soul? The word soul refers to a living creature that can die, life itself or the ways life can be manifested. It never conveys the idea of immortality.
Read your Bible: All the following passages contain the same Hebrew or (in the case of the New Testament) Greek word variously translated as soul, life, or creature: Genesis 1:20, 24; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 9:4, 10; Exodus 4:19; Numbers 31:28; Job 7:15; Isaiah 53:11-12; Ezekiel18: 4; Matthew 16: 25-26; Matthew 2: 20; Acts 27: 22.
Note: The belief that man has within him an immortal soul which continues conscious existence at death is foreign to New Testament Christianity, as the above references show. The teaching was imported into the Church in the 3rd and 4th centuries by men such as Origen and Augustine, were instrumental in introducing many pagan ideas. The following quotations demon state that Bible scholars in the Church itself agree that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul is unscriptural.
"No doctrine of the natural or unconditional immortality of a part or nucleus of the human organism, called the soul, has any right of place within the precinct of revealed Christian truth. It is a philosophic doctrine or theory, older than Christianity, often very ingeniously sustained, and as often very effectively contested." (Dr. F. S. M. Bennett, Dean of Chester, The Resurrection From the Dead, p. 115.)
Speaking of Augustine the same writer says: "It was he who took Plato's doctrine of the inherent immortality of the soul . . . and gained for it the general credence which it has held to this day" (p .24). "Another consideration of the highest importance is that the natural immortality of the soul is a doctrine wholly unknown to the Holy Scriptures, and standing on no higher plane than that of an ingeniously sustained, but gravely and formidably contested, philosophical opinion . . . The doctrine of natural, as distinguished from Christian, immortality ... crept into the Church by a back door, as it were" (W. E. Gladstone, Studies Subsidiary to the Works of Bishop Butler, pp. 195, 197).
6. Sin: Is a failure to do the will of God and causes estrangement from Him, and finally death. Adam sinned in the beginning, and all his descendants have inherited a physical principle that makes them prone to sin. The effects of sin is death.
Read your Bible: 1 John 3: 4, (RV more accurate); 1 John 1:8; Romans 3: 23; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; Romans 7:14-23;James 1:15; Romans 3:9.
7. The death of Jesus: Is the God-appointed way by which sin will be removed and man reconciled to Him.
Read your Bible: John:1:29; Galatians 1: 4; Romans 3: 25; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 2:16; Romans 5:6-10; 1 Corinthians 15.3; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 3: 18; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 5: 9.
8. The Devil or Satan: Is not a superhuman being that attempts to draw man away from God, but is a personification of sin. The word devil ('diabolos' in the original Greek) means 'false accuser' or 'slanderer' and is used of people and human organisations, but most frequently to describe the sinful desires of man which prompt him to be disobedient to God. This 'devil', or power of sin, has been conquered by Christ's sacrifice. Similarly 'satan' means 'an adversary' or 'one who opposes', and is used of sin, people, organisations, angels, and even of God Himself.
Read your Bible: Individuals: 1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 3: 3; Titus 2: 3 (where 'diabolos' is translated 'slanderer' or 'false accuser'); Matthew 16:23; Numbers 22:22 ('satan' in original Hebrew); 1 Chronicles 21:1 with 2 Samuel 24:1. Organisations: 1 Peter 5: 8; Revelation 2: 10, 13 (the persecutor of the early Christians was the Roman power, not a superhuman being). Sinful desires that bring death: John 6: 70; John 13:2; Hebrews 2:14 with Romans 6:23;James 1:14-15; l John 3:5 with 3:8.
9. Forgiveness of sin: Available through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Read your Bible: Isaiah 53:4-6, 10; Matthew 26:28; Acts 5:30-31; Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; l John 1:7; Revelation 1:5.
10. Belief (faith) in Jesus: The first step to obtaining forgiveness of sins and consequently eternal life.
Read your Bible: John 3:15-16; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43; Acts 16:31; Acts 26:18; Romans 3:25; l John 3:23.
11. Obedience: Acceptance of God's supremacy by striving to do His will is the basis of God's offer of eternal life. This includes obedience to His representative, Jesus.
Read your Bible: Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 19:17; John 14:15, 21; Romans2:7.
12. Baptism: Is the first act of obedience required of a believer, and relates him to the redemptive work of Jesus. Baptism copies the act of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (John 6). It doesn’t make us sinless or less responsible to God but having been forgiven of our sins through the waters of baptism makes way to a new beginning, a new person, a new way of life as it were coming out of the water of baptism “resurrected” with Christ and living a Christ like life.
Read your Bible: Mark 16:15-16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12, 36-38; Acts 18: 8; Galatians 3: 27-29.
Baptism is a complete immersion in water, a 'burial' with Christ. All past sins erased. The sprinkling of a young baby or child who has not believed is not Baptism.
Read your Bible: John 3: 23; Acts 8: 38; Romans 6: 3-6; Acts 22:16.
13. Christian life: Is a life that endeavours to obey Christ, and is a time of probation in which respect for his commandments will be the basis of acceptance at His return. Jesus is the example to follow. Reading Gods word and being in sphere of others of like minded will help towards this end.
Read your Bible: Matthew 7:21-27; Matthew 19:17; Matthew 24:45-51;Matthew 25:34-46; John 14:15, 23-4; John 15:10, 14; Ephesians 5: 3-6; Colossians 3: 1-5; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 Peter 2: 21; Revelation 22:12.
14. The mediatorship of Christ: Those 'in Christ' have access to God by prayer, and through Jesus will be forgiven their sins upon genuine repentance. Christ's own recollection of temptation makes him an effective advocate.
Read your Bible: 1 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:24-25.
15. Resurrection: As death is a state of unconsciousness a future life is dependent upon bodily resurrection. This was first experienced by Christ, whose resurrection is a guarantee and foretaste of a similar experience for others. The resurrection of the dead will take place at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Read your Bible: Acts 2:24; Acts 5:30-31; Acts 26:23; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-23; 2Corinthians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16; John 5:21; John11:23-25.
16. The judgment seat of Christ: All the resurrected ones, together with some still living, will face a tribunal at which their faithfulness will be assessed, and rewards or punishment given.
Read your Bible: Matthew 25:14-46; Luke 3:17; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5: 10; 2 Timothy 4:1.
17. Immortality: Is the gift given by God after the judgment to the faithful and forgiven believer, whose mortal decaying body will be changed to be like Christ's now perfect body. The only ones who have this immortality is God, Jesus Christ & the Angels.
Read your Bible: Matthew 25:46; Daniel 12:2; John 6:40; Romans 2:7;1 Corinthians 15:53-54; John 17:2; 1 John 2:17; Romans 6:23;1 Corinthians 3:12-14; Philippians 3: 21.
18. Death: The grave is the eternal destiny of all unforgiven sinners. This is true both of those who do not know or believe the gospel and of those who are rejected at Christ's judgment for being knowingly unfaithful.
Read your Bible: Isaiah 26:13-14; Proverbs 21:16; 2 Corinthians 4:3; Psalm 49:20; Ephesians 4:17-18; Galatians 6:8; Matthew 25:46; Psalm145:20; Psalm 104:35; 2 Peter 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Psalm 37:10, 34-38.
19. The second coming of Christ: The literal return of Jesus to the earth is an essential feature of the Christian hope. Resurrection and judgment will take place at this time.
Read your Bible: Acts 1:10-11; 2 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 16:27; Acts 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28.
20. The Kingdom of God: At his return Jesus will punish the world for its wickedness, establish the Kingdom of God in place of the Kingdom of Men, take over the rulership of the world, and introduce a time of blessing when all the evils resulting from the reign of sin will be removed. The capital of the Kingdom of God is Jerusalem.
Read your Bible: Acts 17:31; Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 2:2-4; Psalm 72; Psalm 2; Isaiah 11:9; Revelation 11:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26; Luke 1: 32-33.
21. The promise to Abraham: This time of blessing under the perfect rule of Christ was first made known to Abraham when God promised him:
(a) a descendant who would rule over all opposition,
(b) a personal eternal inheritance of the land of Canaan,
(c) innumerable descendants to share that eternal possession with him.
'I'his promise will be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God when:
(a) Jesus returns to rule the world,
(b) Abraham is resurrected and given eternal life, and
(c) when all those who have shown Abraham's faith will share the possession of the earth with him.
Read your Bible: Galatians 3:8, 16; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 22:15-18; Hebrews 11:8-9; Luke 1:68-73; Luke 13:28-29; Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:29; Micah 7:20; Hebrews 6:13-19.
22.The promise to David: God promised that David's throne in Jerusalem will eventually be restored and occupied eternally by a descendant of David who will rule the world in righteousness. Christ 11 that son of David and he will fulfil this promise when he returns to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God.
Read your Bible: 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 132:11; Ezekiel 21:25-27; Isaiah 9:7;Jeremiah 33:15, 19-21; Luke 1:31-33; Mark 15:2; Acts 2:29-30; Acts 13:22-23.
23. The reward for the righteous: All those who are accepted at Christ's judgment seat and are made immortal will share the inheritance of the earth with Abraham and Christ, and assist in his government of the world. There is no reward for us in leaving this earth and dwelling in heaven.
Read your Bible: Psalm 37:29; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 25:34; Revelation 3: 20-21; Revelation 5: 9-10; Revelation 20: 4, 6; 2 Peter 1:11.
Note: The belief that heaven is the reward for the righteous at death, or that hell torments are the punishment of the wicked found no place in original Christianity. 'Hell' in the Bible simply means 'the grave' in the vast majority of cases. In a few New Testament references there is an allusion to the continually burning rubbish heaps outside the walls of Jerusalem; and this place, Gehenna, is used as a symbol of• the complete destruction that awaits the wicked.
Read your Bible: In the following, hell and the grave are both used as
renderings of the one Hebrew word sheol, showing that they are interchangeable: Job 14:13; Ezekiel 32:27; Psalm 9:17; Psalm 116:3.An allusion to gehenna is found in: Isaiah 66: 24; Mark 9: 43.
This rejection by original Christians of heaven-going and torment in hell is illustrated in the writings of Justin Martyr in the middle of the second century: "If you have fallen in with some who are called Christians and who say that there is no resurrection of the dead, but that their souls, when they die, are taken to heaven; do not imagine that they are Christians." (Quoted by Professor Nygren in his book Agape and Eros.)
comment: "In putting souls in heaven, hell and purgatory, you destroy the arguments wherewith Christ and Paul prove the resurrection."
24.The Gospel: The term given to the 'good news' about God's plan of redemption for the earth and man, embracing the setting up of the Kingdom of God on earth and the sacrifice of Jesus as the way by which individuals can attain it. There is, as Paul says, only one gospel.
Read your Bible: Galatians 1:6-9; Galatians 3:8; Matthew 4:23; Mark16:15;Matthew24:14;Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians15:1-3.