Common beliefs and practices of the early church

[JohnL]

Ernie, do yall accept The Didache aka The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations? It's supposed to be from the 1st century in Koine Greek and I wonder if that would be a good addition to your search. There was a class about it but I had a schedule conflict and couldn't go. I've been meaning to find a copy or study guide for it.

I'm not sure who you are referring to by "yall". I am very unfamiliar with the Didache.

I guess you don’t speak Southern We use it as the second person plural.
I think it was JohnH said that it’s accepted by several denominations? Don’t have time to go looking for that post right now - got to finish those cabinets today. Thanks for answering my question.

[Ernie]

There definitely was enough disagreement and variety among the early church to dispel the idea that the things we read from the writers of that period were held in common among the whole church worldwide. Certainly there is significant evidence that things like the headcovering and enemy love were taken for granted for a while.

But even before Constantine, there are records of Christians in the Empirial military. There are writings that address this, enough to conclude that non-participation in the military was taught by prominent writers, but not necessarily taught in the local churches as much as we'd like to believe.
Similarly, the proper application of the headcovering wasn't agreed upon. Of particular debate was whether women veiled, or whether only married women (wives) veiled.

Baptism is similar. There are very early accounts of infant baptism, but some who wrote about it didn't write as if to give approval, or to outright ban it. So there is evidence there was not just one practice of baptism believed in common by all the churches to be the right way. Modes of baptism was a similar matter.

Prophecy was another issue with variety. Read up on the Monatists. They were essentially 2nd/3rd-Century Charismatics. They were "out there" enough that they were viewed as outsiders by many in the church, but the church wasn't really keen on labeling every new movement as a heretical cult, so they never were officially labeled that way. To this day, scholars ponder whether they were a cult following a charismatic leader or a sect of Christians that listened to the Spirit more than the rest of the church.

Keep in mind that, if we have a writing from an early church father addressing a topic, that doesn't mean his POV was commonly held by the whole church. In fact, it is somewhat likely that he was addressing the topic BECAUSE it was something the church didn't have unity on.

But again, this post addresses not common beliefs. I'm not sure why this thread has focused so far on what is not common, whenever the thread title is common beliefs and practices.
It is ok to have a discussion about what is not common, but I would like if we could start a separate thread to discuss that.

[Soloist]

But again, this post addresses non common beliefs. It is ok to have this discussion but I would like if we would start a separate thread for this topic.

Can you elaborate on what you think are common beliefs and practices?

[Ernie]

But again, this post addresses non common beliefs. It is ok to have this discussion but I would like if we would start a separate thread for this topic.

Can you elaborate on what you think are common beliefs and practices?

viewtopic.php?p=268632#p268632

viewtopic.php?p=268677#p268677

[Soloist]

OK, so you think the commonality of the early church writings reflect them raising their hands. What is there to discuss then?

[Bootstrap]

I think there are probably four different terms/definitions:

1. A common belief - "not unusual" (e.g. The right to individual land ownership in perpetuity is a common belief that can be found in many countries of the world.)

2. Commonly held belief - "widely accepted" (embraced by a large segment of a group or society but may or may not be a majority.)

And what is common in one place may not be common in another? It was common for men in the early church to wear robes, what does that mean for modern Christian practice? It was also common to recline at table. Should we?

3. Common belief - "belief held by the majority of people in a community; generally believed; commonly accepted" (The common belief at Pine Meadows Church is that...)

4. Beliefs held in common - "beliefs held by all parties/participants" (e.g. Pine Meadows Church and Pine Forest Church hold the following beliefs in common.)

I was thinking of definitions one and two when I started this thread, but I am fine with identifying beliefs that fit definition three and four as well.

In the thread this was spawned from, I thought you were saying that "primitive Christians" are people whose believe and practice align with what was generally believed and practiced in the first three centuries. I think this post probably prompted you to spawn this thread:

viewtopic.php?p=268560#p268560

Historically, "primitive" usually means going back to the NT, not the early Fathers. But beyond that, are you saying Christians should be adopting these practices and beliefs in addition to what we find in the New Testament, or simply that reading these writings shines light on the practices of the early church that can help us understand the New Testament better? I agree with the second, I disagree with the first.

[JohnH]

The early church decided to write down the beliefs and practices they thought were important and that's what ended up being the New Testament.

We should pause to consider there is a lot they decided not to put in, and perhaps we do not need to seek such things. (Infant baptism is an example of such a thing that was certainly the practice of the early church... yet it is not in the NT.)

[Ernie]

OK, so you think the commonality of the early church writings reflect them raising their hands. What is there to discuss then?

I gave one example of a practice that I think was common in the early church. You and anyone else is welcome to list others.

If there is any disagreement, than we can discuss why we think something was common, or why we don't think something was common.

We can also discuss what our conclusion should be regarding a specific belief or practice that was common.

[Ernie]

And what is common in one place may not be common in another?

Sure. This thread can be used to identify beliefs and practices that were common all around the Mediterranean, as well as ones that were more localized.

It was common for men in the early church to wear robes, what does that mean for modern Christian practice? It was also common to recline at table. Should we?

I'm not aware that these practices had religious significance in the early church, but if they did, that could be discussed in this thread.

[Ernie]

are you saying Christians should be adopting these practices and beliefs in addition to what we find in the New Testament, or simply that reading these writings shines light on the practices of the early church that can help us understand the New Testament better? I agree with the second, I disagree with the first.

Regarding the first... If a belief or practice has value in helping a person spiritually, I think it is good for Christians to adopt such beliefs and practices, no matter what era the belief/practice/value was first introduced.

Regarding the second... "yes, I agree with you"