Study

Study: Knowing and obeying the Word of God. “And they were constantly devoting themselves to “the Apostle’s teaching” (Acts 2:42).
In addition to baptizing new converts, the apostles were commissioned to “teach them to obey” what Jesus had commanded (Matthew 28:19). Embedded in the apostolic calling was the mandate to transmit the faith to new Christians. This we have recorded for us in the pages of Scripture.

The apostolic teaching consistently developed the following themes:

  1. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies is shown in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
  2. By virtue of his resurrection, Jesus is exalted as Lord.
  3. God has poured out his Spirit to all believers in Christ.
  4. Christ will come again as Judge and Savior.
  5. There is an appeal for repentance, an offer of forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of salvation in their teaching.

The second century worship service included the reading of the Gospels and Epistles (Justin Martyr calls them the “memoirs of the apostles”), followed by instruction by the presiding elder on imitation.

The commitment to study the Scriptures extended beyond the teaching of the apostles and included the Old Testament.

The public reading of Scripture occupied a central place in the worship service of the second and third-century church.

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