Outline Studies in the New Testament for Bible Teachers Part 16

2.) _Mental effect._ There came to these disciples a revelation, once and for all, of Christ's kingdom, not as a political state, but as a spiritual inst.i.tution; a society of believers of which Jesus in glory is the invisible yet real head.

3.) _Spiritual effect._ This was the personal presence of the Holy Spirit with each member; an indwelling life given not merely to the apostles, but to each and every disciple; a divine enthusiasm, giving guidance, enlightenment, power. Nor was that divine life limited to that company. It has dwelt ever since in the church of Christ, and in each member of the church, (1 Cor. 3. 16; 6. 19).

3. =The Testimony of the Gospel.= 1.) The first effect of this new endowment of the Holy Spirit was a strong testimony to the gospel of Christ; a proclamation of _Jesus as the Messiah King_; and this testimony was the conquering weapon of the church. 2.) This testimony was given by _all_ the members. It is a mistake to suppose that the church settled down in Jerusalem with Peter as its pastor and preacher.

Peter was the leader, but not the ruler of the church. Find four addresses of Peter sketched in Acts 2-5; not "sermons" after the modern method, but ardent declarations of Jesus as the Messiah; and similar testimonies were given by all the members everywhere, in synagogues, in houses, publicly and privately.

4. =The Apostolic Miracles.= 1.) At the opening of the history of the church we read of a _number of miracles_. a) A lame man healed. (Acts 3.

1-10). b) A miracle of judgment (Acts 5. 1-10). c) More miracles of healing (Acts 5. 12-16). 2.) We can see the _purpose of these_ miracles and how they were needed by the church in the day of its weakness. (a) They attracted _attention_ to the gospel. (b) They gave _authority_ to the apostles as teachers. (c) They were _ill.u.s.trations_ of the spiritual work of the gospel; i. e., healing of the lame man a type of salvation.

5. =The Persecution of the Apostles.= It was inevitable that the preaching of the apostles and the growing prominence of the church should arouse opposition from the men who a few months before had crucified Jesus. A persecution was begun, at first upon Peter and John, then upon all the apostles. It was not sharp, murderous, crus.h.i.+ng out the church. The apostles were first threatened (Acts 4. 17), then imprisoned (Acts 5. 18), then scourged (Acts 5. 40). The persecution only attracted greater notice to the gospel, and led to increasing numbers of believers.

6. =The Growth of the Church= went on through all these experiences.

Beginning with 120, on the day of Pentecost 3,000 were received by baptism (Acts 2. 41). There was a daily growth after (Acts 2. 47). Soon the number grew to 5,000, besides women and children (Acts 4. 4).

Another increase is named in Acts 5. 14; also again in Acts 6. 7.

7. The last event in this period was =the Appointment of the Seven=.

Read the account in Acts 6. 1-7. Notice for the first time in this history a reference to the two great cla.s.ses of Jews. 1.) _Hebrews_, Jews whose ancestors had lived in Palestine, and who spoke the Hebrew tongue, though with Syriac admixture. 2.) _Grecian Jews_ (frequently called h.e.l.lenists). Jews descended from exiles who had remained abroad in foreign lands, otherwise "Jews of the Dispersion." Everywhere except in Palestine these foreign Jews were far more numerous than the Hebrews, and they were also the richer and more intelligent. They spoke the Greek language.

Note also that the seven men named in this account are nowhere spoken of as "deacons." From Acts 21. 8 we learn that they were called "the seven." They were not an order in the church, but a committee appointed for a service.

Blackboard Outline

Per. 1. Ch. Jud. 2. Ch. Trans. 3. Ch. am. Gen. 4. E. A.

=Ch. in Jud.= 1. =Ev. Per.= 1. =Foll. Ch.= 1.) Num. 2.) Meet-pl. 3.) Rel. Con.

2. =Out Sp.= 1.) Phys. eff. 2.) Men. eff. 3.) Spir. eff.

3. =Tes. Gosp.= 1.) Jes. Mess. K. 2.) By all.

4. =Ap. Mir.= 1.) Num. mir. 2.) Pur. Att. Auth. Illus.

5. =Per. Ap.= 6. =Gro. Ch.= 120, 3,000, 5,000. "Mult.i.tude."

7. =App. Sev.= Heb. Gre. (h.e.l.len.)

Review Questions. Part One

How long a period is embraced in the history of the New Testament church? Name four periods in the history, and the events with which each begins and ends. How long a time is embraced in the first period?

By what name is the first period called? State in order the seven events in the first period. What was the number of Christ's followers in Jerusalem immediately after his Ascension? Where did they meet?

What was their religious condition? What took place ten days after the Ascension of Christ? On what day did this outpouring occur? What were the physical effects of this outpouring? What were the mental effects? What were the spiritual effects? What testimony was given by the apostles and church? How many addresses of Peter at this time are mentioned?

What miracles were wrought? How did these miracles benefit the church? What persecution arose? What was the nature of this persecution? Against whom was it directed? Did it harm the church? What is said of the growth of the church during this epoch? Who were "the seven"? How were they chosen? For what were they appointed? What two cla.s.ses of Jesus are named? Define each cla.s.s.

PART TWO

II. Having studied the history we now look at the =General Aspects of the Pentecostal Church=.

1. =Its locality=: entirely in Judea, and apparently in and around Jerusalem. There is no mention during this early period of churches in Galilee, although most of the earliest members were Galileans (Acts 1.

11; 2. 7). Individual believers doubtless were to be found throughout the land, but outside of Jerusalem they were not yet gathered together in a.s.semblies and not yet endowed with the Spirit.

2. =Its members.h.i.+p= was composed wholly of Jews. As yet not a single Gentile had been received, and apparently there was no thought of Gentile believers. Christianity began as a Jewish society. Three cla.s.ses of Jews were embraced in its members.h.i.+p: 1.) _Hebrews_, or Palestinian Jews. 2.) _Grecians_ or h.e.l.lenists, Jews of the Dispersion. 3.) _Proselytes_, or Gentiles who had embraced Judaism and received circ.u.mcision (Acts 6. 5).

3. =The qualifications for members.h.i.+p= were: 1.) _Repentance_, which meant not so much sorrow as decision for Christ. 2.) _Faith in Jesus_ as Christ; i. e., submission to Jesus as the true King of Israel. 3.) _Baptism_ in the name of Jesus the Christ as the outward form of consecration.

4. =The spirit of the Pentecostal Church.= 1.) In theory, and for the most part in fact, every member _possessed the Holy Spirit_, an abounding, directing spiritual life. Every member was conscious of the immediate presence of G.o.d, and lived in this fellows.h.i.+p. 2.) This inspired a _Christian fellows.h.i.+p_, the love of the brotherhood. 3.) As a result of this divine and human fellows.h.i.+p came _liberal giving_ to each other's needs. There was a voluntary and limited "community of goods,"

the rich giving freely to aid the poor; which led to some insincere imitation. See the contrast of Barnabas and Ananias (Acts 4. 34-37; 5.

1-11).

5. =Doctrines.= The doctrinal aspects of Christianity at that early period were less prominent than its spirit. As yet there was no such theological system as arose later. Three great doctrines were held fervently: 1.) _The resurrection of Jesus_; that he had risen and was living. 2.) _The Messiahs.h.i.+p of Jesus_; that he was the prince of the true spiritual kingdom of Israel. 3.) _The return of Jesus as Christ_; that he would soon come again to earth.

6. =Wors.h.i.+p and inst.i.tutions.= These were: 1.) _The temple wors.h.i.+p_ attended by the disciples of Christ as by all wors.h.i.+ping Jews (Acts 2.

46; 3. 1). 2.) _The synagogue services_, twice each week; held everywhere throughout the city; with Scripture reading, prayer and testimony. 3.) "_The upper room_" was for a time the headquarters of the church; but Solomon's porch in the temple soon took its place (Acts 5.

12). 4.) "Breaking bread," which was the Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper; at that time observed not in public a.s.semblies but as a family ordinance, at home (Acts 2. 42, 46). 5.) _The baptism_ of new members.

7. =Government.= Scarcely any government or discipline was needed in a church where the Spirit of G.o.d was recognized as dwelling in each member. The apostles were revered as leaders, but were not exactly rulers over the body of believers. "The Seven" (Acts 6. 3) were not officials or "deacons," but laymen charged with specific duties.

8. =Literature.= 1.) _The Old Testament_; familiar to all, read in the synagogue, was seen now in a new light and with new meaning. 2.) _The teachings of Jesus_, as yet unwritten, were in the memory of most of the members who had heard his words; and especially in the memory of the apostles; but no books of the New Testament were by this time in writing.

9. =Leaders of the church.= 1.) Throughout this period _Peter_ stands at the front as the ruling spirit of the church, by his endowments of mind, and especially by his promptness in word and act. 2.) With him stands _John_ (Acts 3. 1; 4. 19). 3.) _Barnabas_ won notice by his liberality and gifts of preaching (Acts 4. 36, 37). His name means "the speaker" or "the preacher." 4.) At the end of the period _Stephen_ comes into notice.

Blackboard Outline

II. =Gen. Asp. Pen. Ch.= 1. =Loc.= Jud. Jer.

2. =Mem.= Jews. 1.) Heb. 2.) Gre. Hel. 3.) Pros.

3. =Qual. Mem.= 1.) Rep. 2.) Fai. 3.) Bap.

4. =Spir.= 1.) Poss. H. S. 2.) Chr. fell. 3.) Lib. giv.

5. =Doc.= 1.) Res. Jes. 2.) Mess. Jes. 3.) Ret. Jes.

6. =Worsh. and Inst.= 1.) Tem. 2.) Syn. 3.) "Up. ro" 4.) "Bre.

br." 5.) Bap.

7. =Gov.= Sp. Apos. Sev.

8. =Lit.= 1.) O. T. 2.) Tea. Jes.

9. =Lead.= 1.) Pet. 2.) Jo. 3.) Bar. 4.) Ste.

Review Questions. Part Two

Where was the church located during the Pentecostal period? Were there churches or members in Galilee? To what race did all the members belong? What were the three cla.s.ses in its members.h.i.+p? Who were Hebrews? Who were Grecians? By what other name were they called?

Who were the "proselytes"? What were the requisites for members.h.i.+p in the church? What is said of the spirit of this church? How did this spirit lead the members to regard each other? What is said of their gifts to each other? Were doctrines made prominent in the church? What three doctrines were held by the members? What inst.i.tutions of wors.h.i.+p were maintained?

What other inst.i.tutions were observed? What is meant by "breaking bread"? Where was this service held? What is said as to the government of the church? What was the position of the apostles? What were "the seven"?

What literature did the church possess at this time?

What knowledge did they have of the teachings of Jesus? Who were the leaders of the church in this period?

FOURTEENTH STUDY

The Church in Transition