What you need now more than anything else is not simply a collection of individual facts about the early Church or about anything else, but you must understand the fundamental principles of the faith. And the first principle you must grasp about the faith and about truth in general is that truth always comes first. And deception and counterfeit (heresy) come afterwards. A counterfeit can’t exist until there’s an original, it follows only after the real thing appears. Counterfeits mimic the appearance of the authentic, but lack its true substance. Experts learn to detect fake money by studying genuine bills in detail. By becoming so familiar with the real thing, they can instantly spot anything that’s not genuine. There are so many versions of Christianity, and many people mock those pastors who preach the prosperity gospel, drive sports cars, and so on — but listen: these people are not our main enemies. The true enemies are not those who are so obviously wrong that even a small child could recognize it. The true enemies are those who get some things right, but then insert terrible lies and teach them, lies that in the end lead people to hell. Good counterfeits.
This principle you must understand and deeply internalize: What comes first is true. What comes later is false. What can it means if the early Church was in perfect unity from the very beginning, if it believed, lived, and taught in complete agreement for hundreds of years, and if only after centuries the Church began to depart from that and deviate — then there is only one conclusion: to remain with the original faith, the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3) Remember this principle well. Because this was exactly the principle on which the early bishops and teachers of the Church relied in order to expose heresies and false teachings: They confronted the heretics and said to their faces, “What you are teaching is new. It was not handed down to us from the beginning. You invented it.” They did not get entangled with these heretics in discussions in order to reach some halfway peace — no, they rejected them, and first of all on the basis that their teachings did not come from the Apostles. And this is precisely why even the Catholics in later councils on the topic of icon veneration (which is an evil heresy) falsified and presented quotations from early Church Fathers — yes, this actually happened — because they themselves knew that they could not establish a doctrine on their own authority alone, but had to prove that this practice was followed from the beginning.
But do the Scriptures support this position, that the Universal teachings of the early Church are true, from God Himself and can be accepted without hesitation? This article answer this and show all the proof you need that the universal beliefs are trustworthy and if you depart from the Churches universal beliefs that you are in heresy and not a Christian – this will be supported with dozens of quotes from the Fathers after we show the Scriptures.
The Scriptures teach that the Father handed down to Christ everything He was supposed to teach:
John 7:16-17 “Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”
John 8:26 “I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
John 8:28 “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.”
John 8:40 “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.”
John 12:49-50 “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 17:8 “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.”
John 17:14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
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The Scriptures teach that the Apostles taught and preached what they received from Christ:
Matthew 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”
John 16:13-14 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
Even the Holy Spirit didn’t not speak on His own authority, and there is still this chain of doctrines being passed down. The Spirit received from Jesus what He was the teach the disciples, so the disciples were still learning from Christ, but through the Spirit. This isn’t to say the Holy Spirit is ignorant of anything but He is under the authority of the Father and Christ, he is the “Spirit of Christ” as Paul says writing to the Romans.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
John 20:21 “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””
Acts 1:1-3, 8 “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The doctrines that Jesus handed down to His apostles, the apostles then went out to make disciples of all the nations, handing down these doctrines in every church they founded and to the new believers they instructed.
Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
They continued in the apostles doctrine, but the apostles doctrine is the doctrines of Christ, because they received everything they were to teach and preach, from Jesus Himself.
Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.””
Acts 13:30-31 Paul: “But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.”
1 John 1:1-3 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Even though John refers to the written letter as what he heard that he is declaring in his letter, it still confirms the principle that the apostles only taught what they heard and received from Christ. John’s point is not just that he’s writing, it’s that what he’s writing is grounded in what he directly received from the incarnate Word of Life. Also notice what John says, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us,” it would seem like fellowship with John and the rest of the Church depended on abiding by the original teachings and what the Apostles handed down, what they saw and heard.
1 John 2:24 “Therefore let that abide (Gr. μένω Continue/ Remain) in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
John is clearly teaching that abiding in the original apostolic message—“that which you heard from the beginning”— is the means by which one remains in communion with the Son and the Father. In other words, fellowship with God is grounded in faithfulness to the original, unaltered teaching handed down from the apostles, and it therefore follows that seperating yourself from the Apostles teachings and what they handed down makes you a non-Christian, since how can you be a Christian if you have departed from what was handed down in the beginning and still have fellowship with the Father and Christ? From these two Scriptures (1 John 1:1-3, 2:24), we can take from them that to have fellowship with the Church, with true Christians, and with the Father and the Son, we need to have the right beliefs and believe what came from the beginning, what the apostles handed down to the Church. If you disagree with the early church and think they had it wrong then that should scare you! Imagine calling yourself a Christian, saying you’re born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, that you know Christ, yet your beliefs contradict the early church? Think about that. You wouldn’t even have fellowship with any Christians in the first 300 years, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us.”
We see this same principle echoed in Colossians 1:22–23, where Paul writes:
“…in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Paul makes it clear: in order to be presented before Christ as holy and blameless, the Colossians must remain grounded and steadfast in the original gospel they heard—the very message that was already being proclaimed “to every creature under heaven.” Earlier in verses 5–6, Paul states that this gospel had already come to them “just as it has also in all the world,” and was bearing fruit globally. In other words, there was one message, spreading everywhere, taught by all the apostles and received by all believers. That is the message they are to remain in. This means salvation is not simply about believing in Christ once, but about remaining rooted in the true apostolic gospel—the original, unaltered faith preached from the beginning. Paul doesn’t say, “as long as you interpret Scripture for yourself,” or “as long as you remain open to new revelations.” God forbid! You must continue in what was already handed down. That is the standard for faithfulness. If a new doctrine arises that wasn’t part of that original preaching—the same gospel taught across all nations by the apostles—then it is not the truth. The truth has already been delivered. Remaining in that truth is how we abide in Christ and are presented blameless before Him. Anything else is a heresy! Paul tells us: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue (Gr. ἐπιμένω, Abide/Remain) in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16) Holding to any heresy and not continuing in the Apostles doctrine is a damnable sin!
2 John 1:7-11 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
Earlier in 1 John 1:1-3, 2:24, John says to let what they heard from the beginning remain in them to have fellowship with the Father and the Son, and to have fellowship the Church, but here in 2 John 1:7–11 he strongly reinforces the central truth that right doctrine is inseparable from union with God. Just as 1 John 2:24 urges believers to “let what you heard from the beginning abide in you,” so that they will “abide in the Son and in the Father,” here John makes it unmistakably clear that to deviate from the original doctrine of Christ is to sever oneself from both the Father and the Son. This is not a minor issue of interpretation—it is concerning your very salvation. If one does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, he does not have God. A person can think they are following God, born again and filled with the Holy Spirit and yet be completely cut off from Him—not because they lack sincerity, but because they have departed from the doctrine of Christ, yet they will walk around thinking they have the light as John says about those who hate their brethren, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now…But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” John does not call such people merely misguided or weak in faith who do not abide in Christ’s doctrine. He calls them deceivers and antichrists, and warns plainly that they do not have God.
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.” — 2 John 1:9
This is not a vague or optional teaching. John is NOT simply warning against bad behavior but is drawing a line on being faithful to doctrine —a line that separates those who are united with God from those who are not. The standard is not how much sincerity or zeal, but whether one abides in the doctrine of Christ. And that doctrine is not subjective or flexible. It is the one heard “from the beginning” (1 John 2:24), handed down by the apostles, and preserved as the foundation of saving faith, that is why you must abandon any heresies you cling to and submit to the Early Church.
Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Jude 1:5 NASB1995 “Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.”
The Apostles are the ones who delivered the same faith and teachings to the Church, and no other faith or doctrines are to be received than what they handed down, if we want to be Christians, we need the same faith and beliefs as the early Church, because they taught the pure faith as will be further proven. And as the Fathers say, heretics are not Christian’s, you can profess to be a Christian but in your understanding of the faith be a heretic. The faith was not handed down in bits, a chunk within the first 70 years (while the apostles were still alive), then new teachings after they died. It was ONCE for ALL delivered to the saints!
Ephesians 4:5 “One Lord, one faith, one baptism”
God the Father
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Ephesians 4:11-14 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers [bishops], for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
This Scripture proves that the Early Church is true and condemns any innovator. The Scriptures command us to listen to the bishops who were put in charge of the Church, and it is through them that we reach the unity of the faith, as Paul says. If you aren’t listening to those God put over the Church, you won’t come to the unity of the faith but will constantly be thrown around by every wind and wave of false doctrine, by the trickery of men. You DONT come to the unity of the faith by “scripture alone”! Look where that has gotten us today. Paul says Jesus gave these teachers and bishops for the equipping of Christians, “till we all come to the unity of the faith” and knowledge of the Son of God, and that they’re given so that we aren’t tossed to and fro by heresies. Whats the implication? If you don’t have these God ordained authorities, you WILL be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. When you examine the beliefs of the Church Fathers, they’re in agreement about the faith on all the doctrines of Christ; they had that “unity of the faith” Paul talks about. It proves these men were faithful in their teachings when you see what Paul says is fulfilled in the teachers and bishops of the Early Church. You will have unity of the faith with any person if you all refer to the same authorities and submit to their universal beliefs. What Paul said can’t be applied to today’s Christianity because there is no unity — you only find that unity in the Early Church, thereby proving the authority the Early Church has. Either this Scripture was speaks of the early church or it about the “Church” today. Oh wait! There is NO unity! Was the Early Church only in unity while the apostles were alive then fell into heresy once the apostles died? God forbid. We will see from the Scriptures how that is not possible, if you haven’t been convinced by the Scriptures already shown. Also, Ephesians 4 tells us it is Jesus Himself who gave us these leaders and teachers, why wouldn’t you want to obey God ordained authorities? According to Cyprian this is how heresy begins.
The Apostles preaching is the word of God, not just the written word, they taught the same doctrines in ALL the churches, handed down the same doctrines and that the apostolic preaching must be preserved, any deviation is a heresy, all the Churches had the same faith:
1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”
This shows that Paul was obeying Matthew 28:19-20, preaching what Jesus commanded and taught the apostles. Paul didn’t teach anything of his own to the Churches. Even though Paul wasn’t there in the Great Commission, Paul learned directly from Jesus himself (Galatians 1).
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”
“Here it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit.”
Hebrews 2:1-3 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”
Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”
2 Corinthians 11:1-4 “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!”
1 Corinthians 4:14-17 “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
This proves that Pauls message was the same everywhere, the Gospel and Doctrines of Christ remained the same in everyplace, which means the Truth was being scattered in every place, in every church Paul founded and taught, every nation he visited. Ambrosiaster says about this Scripture: “Through this one [Timothy], whom he affirms as a faithful son in the Lord, he desires them to return to the rule of truth handed down by himself; so that, reminded by his words and the example of his deeds, they might repent, recognizing that they were not wrongly taught by the Apostle, since they would learn that all the Churches hold the same doctrine.” (Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4.17-18)
2 Corinthians 13:1, 3 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” … since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
Imagine having 20 witness on any doctrine of the Early Church, is that enough to convince you it is true?
2 Corinthians 2:13-14 “I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
1 Corinthians 4:17 ”For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
Ambrosiaster, John Chrysostom, Vincent of Lerins all interpret this Scripture to mean the whole Church had the same faith and same doctrines. (You can do a word search for this scripture in this post to see)
1 Corinthians 7:17 “Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.”
1 Corinthians 11:15-16 “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”
This Scripture means that the Corinthians did not oppose the Apostles alone by being contentious about the veil, but they also opposed the whole Church, since all the churches practiced the command to veil the head. This is important when you consider Pauls other statements above, “through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place,” “as I teach everywhere in every church,” “This is what I command in all the churches.” Paul commanded the Corinthians to veil their heads, so that means this would have been the practice of the whole Church! (See our post on veiling)
1 Corinthians 11:2, 23 “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you…23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread.”
Paul delivered apostolic traditions to Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:23) and he did the same to all the other churches. (1 Corinthians. 7:17).
1 Corinthians 16:1 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also.”
1 Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…”
Acts 20:25-27 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
Romans 16:17-18 “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Is the faith doctrine the Romans received the same as the Corinthians or the Galatians and the rest of the Church? Paul says: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also.” and again, “…this is what I command in all the churches” and again “…through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” and again, “…as I teach everywhere in every church” and ….
Romans 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
Origen and Psudeo-Jerome both say that this verse means the faith of the Romans is the same faith that the apostles preached around the world.
Romans 16:16 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
1 Peter 1:1-2 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
John Chrysostom says about these two verses: “Because your faith is proclaimed in the whole world” (Romans 1:8). What then? Had the whole earth heard of the faith of the Romans? Yes, from that city it had, and there is nothing unlikely in this; for the city was not obscure, but, lying as it were upon some summit, it was visible to all everywhere. But do you consider with me the power of the preaching, how in a short time, through tax collectors and fishermen, it laid hold even of the very summit of cities, and Syrian men became teachers and guides of the Romans. Therefore he bears witness to them for two achievements: both that they believed, and that they believed with boldness—and with such great boldness that the report about them spread through the whole earth. “For your faith,” he says, “is proclaimed in the whole world”—your faith, not your word-battles, nor your disputes, nor your reasonings, although there were many hindrances there to the teaching. For they had only just received the rule of the inhabited world, and thought highly of themselves, living together with wealth and luxury; and it was fishermen who brought them the proclamation, Jews and men from the Jews, from a nation hated and abhorred by all. And they were being commanded to worship the Crucified One, the One brought up in Judea. And together with the doctrine, the teachers also proclaimed an austere manner of life to men trained in luxury and panic-stricken over present things. And those who proclaimed it were poor and ordinary men, low-born and from the lowly. But none of these things hindered the course of the word; so great was the power of the Crucified, as to carry the word everywhere. For, he says, “it is proclaimed in the whole world.” And he did not say, it is made known, but, it is proclaimed, as though all had them upon their lips. To the Thessalonians, then, when bearing witness to this, he adds something else also; for after saying, “From you the word of God has sounded forth,” he added, “so that we have no need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). For the disciples were established in the rank of teachers, instructing everyone by their boldness and drawing them to themselves. For the preaching did not stand still anywhere, but advanced over the whole inhabited world more fiercely than fire. Here, however, he says only this much: that it is proclaimed. He rightly said, it is proclaimed, showing that nothing needed to be added to what had been said, nor taken away from it; for this is the work of an angel [i.e. messanger], to convey only the things spoken. For this reason the priest also is called an angel (Malachi 2:7), because he declares not his own things, but the things of the One who sent him. And yet Peter preached there [at Rome], but Paul counts even Peter’s work as his own; so completely, as I said before, was he cleansed from every trace of envy. – Homily 2 on Romans, PG 60.401-402
Chrysostom is treating the Thessalonians as having the same Christian faith that was recognized everywhere in the Church, not some private or different faith. You can see that in the way he speaks of “your faith toward God” going out “in every place,” and in the way he says their faith was known throughout the inhabited world. He presents them as teaching others the faith, though primarily by their example, reputation, and public witness. He says they became “patterns to all who believe in Achaia and Macedonia,” that they “filled all [their] neighbors with instruction,” and that others were already speaking about them so that Paul did not need to say anything. That means their faith was not only personally held, but was also communicated outward, so that other believers were instructed, encouraged, and formed by it. The faith of the Romans and the Thessalonians was the same apostolic faith being proclaimed throughout the whole Church.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.”
Paul and the other apostles spent months and years at a time teaching the faith and preaching the word of God at the churches they planted, teaching the disciples:
Acts 11:25-26 “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
Acts 13:48-50 “Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.”
This may imply that they were preaching and teaching the word of the Lord in the region for a while before they were expelled.
Acts 14:1-3 “Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Acts 14:25-28 “Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.”
Acts 15:30-36 “So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.””
Acts 18:11 “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
Acts 19:10 “And he (Paul) went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
Acts 20:28-31 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
Acts 28:30–31 “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”
If there’s anybody who would have understood what the apostles taught it would have been the early Christian’s. The earliest Christians heard more teachings of Christ than what the apostles letters teach. Do you prefer a short letter or thousands of hours of personal teaching lessons? The church fathers knew the apostles’ message because it was handed down to them from men who spent lots of time with the apostles.
God the Father
↓
Christ
↓
The Apostles
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The Church
1 Timothy 1:3 “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine.”
1 Timothy 3:15 “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
If the Church is scattered all over the world, and the Apostles taught the same message, same Truth in every region, every church, wouldn’t it make sense that “the Church of the living God” is “the pillar and ground of the truth?” Who could really refute the whole Churches teaching? The truth is literally everywhere! If anybody tried to corrupt the Church with a heresy, they have hundreds, if not thousands of Churches to get through, who all received their teachings from the Apostles themselves, and that would show that heretic is wrong, because all the Churches scattered contradict him.. Think about that.
1 Timothy 6:20 “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.”
2 Timothy 1:13-14 “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
2 Timothy 2:2-3 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
In this Scripture, we see the chain of doctrine being handed down:
God the Father – John 12:49-50 etc
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Christ
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(Holy Spirit) – John 16:13-14
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Apostles – Matthew 28:18-19, Acts 1:1-8 etc.
↓
The Church/Disciples
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New Disciples continue to pass down Christ’s doctrine.
We see an example of this is in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, his son in the faith:
Christ
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Paul
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Timothy
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Faithful men
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Disciples/Others who are taught – 2 Timothy 2:2
2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Paul would’ve taught the faith to Titus, and he would have to pass it on to the Church where he was located in Crete.
Christ
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Paul
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Titus (Paul committed to him the charge of that whole island of Crete)
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The bishops who would be across the island of Crete
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The laymen (non clergy)
Titus 1:7-9 “For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”
Tradition records Clement of Rome as a bishop of Rome, appointed by the Apostle Peter, who knew the apostles and was taught by them (or else why would Peter ordain him as bishop of Rome!). Paul writes: “And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Philippians 4:3
Christ
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Peter
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Clement
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Others who are taught
This is how doctrine was passed down, Clement himself could not invent any of his own beliefs but only hand down what he received from the Apostles. Clement was a real Christian, he labored with Paul in the Gospel, he was taught by them, his name is in the Book of Life, and we have his writings today! He says many things that contradict Protestants and others who disagree with the early church.
We have another historical example of this chain of doctrines being passed down:
Christ
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The Apostle John
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Polycarp (120 AD) He was taught by John, and was appointed as a bishop by him.
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Irenaeus of Lyons (180 AD) He was a disciple of Polycarp and heard Polycarp’s teachings.
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Hippolytus of Rome (200 AD) Disciple of Irenaeus
Getting back to Scripture:
Galatians 1:11-12, 18-19 “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ… Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”
Galatians 2:2 “And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.”
Paul learned directed from Christ Himself, he confirmed his message with the other apostles and these teaching he would have passed down to Timothy, who was to pass down these teachings to faithful men who would also pass it down to other men, and Paul told Timothy to command men to teach no other other doctrine, (as we showed earlier), and Paul taught the Churches what he learned from Christ.
The Apostles themselves were not allowed to teach contrary to what the whole Church already received from them:
Galatians 1:8-9 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.”
Instead of me explaining this verse, here is the commentary from the Fathers on what this verse means:
Tertullian: “We, however, are not permitted to cherish any object after our own will, nor yet to make choice of that which another has introduced of his private fancy. In the Lord’s apostles we possess our authority; for even they did not of themselves choose to introduce anything, but faithfully delivered to the nations (of mankind) the doctrine which they had received from Christ. If, therefore, even “an angel from heaven should preach any other gospel” (than theirs), he would be called accursed by us. Galatians 1:8-9 — (Prescription Against Heretics chapter 6)
Cyprian: “I wonder that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into grace, unto another gospel, which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any otherwise than that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be anathema.” Galatians 1:6-9 Since, then, neither the apostle himself nor an angel from heaven can preach or teach any otherwise than Christ has once taught and His apostles have announced, I wonder very much whence has originated this practice, that, contrary to evangelical and apostolic discipline, water is offered in some places in the Lord’s cup, which water by itself cannot express the blood of Christ. – (Epistle 62.10-11)
Acts of the Disputation with Manes: “I wish you to know, most pious father, that in these days there has arrived in our parts a certain person named Manes, who gives out that he is to complete the doctrine of the New Testament. And in the statements which he has made there have been some things, indeed, which may harmonize with our faith; but there have been also certain affirmations of his which seem very far removed from what has come down to us by the tradition of our fathers. For he has interpreted some doctrines in a strange fashion, imposing on them certain notions of his own, which have appeared to me to be altogether foreign and opposed to the faith….those who seek to set up any new dogma have the habit of very readily perverting into a conformity with their own notions any proofs they desire to take from the Scriptures. In anticipation, however, of this, the apostolic word marks out the case thus: “If any one preach any other gospel unto you than that which you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8 And consequently, in addition to what has been once committed to us by the apostles, a disciple of Christ ought to receive nothing new as doctrine.” chapter 40 (270 AD)
Marius Victorinus: “But even if we or an angel from heaven preach anything beyond what we preached to you, let that one be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). He has drawn the necessary conclusion in a rather sharp and forceful manner: all are in error if they announce anything beyond the gospel of Christ. It is an error, even if it is we ourselves who add anything to what you have already believed. Still more: it would be an error if an angel, even an angel from heaven, would have preached differently to you—differently, clearly, beyond the gospel which we indeed preached to you. For he has said this: anything beyond what we preached to you. So if I preach differently, let me too, let an angel, even an angel from heaven, be accursed, if he announces—Paul says—anything differently from how we announced it the first time. This is what we explained above: let him be rejected, be without recompense, and instead get punished for his evil-doings. – Marius Victorinus, Commentary on Galatians
Jerome: “Now in what Paul added, “as we said before and now I say again,” he shows that at the beginning he had warned those to whom he was in any case going to preach to beware of an anathema. And now, after he has first spoken, he decrees the anathema that he had previously spoken about. So the reason he pronounced an anathema against himself, whom they were accusing of doing one thing in Judea and of teaching something else among the Gentiles, and against an angel, which it was agreed is greater even than his apostolic predecessors, is so that the authority of Peter and John should not be held in excessive regard. For it was permitted neither to himself, who had previously taught them, nor to an angel, to preach otherwise than they had once learned.“(Commentary of Galatians 1.8-9)
Severian of Gabala: ‘Even if an angel…’ Why even we? When we preached, we preached by the power of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit does not change its mind. Therefore, if we now say something different, we have abandoned the things of the Spirit. Let even the preacher be anathema if he annuls the gospel. ‘From what you received’: I did not merely preach and you not receive, but I both preached and you received. I do not regret having preached, and you should hold fast to what you received. – Severian of Gabala, Fragmenta in epistulam ad Galatas (Fragments on Galatians)
Vincent of Lerins: “Why does he say “Though we?” Why not rather “though I?” He means, “though Peter, though Andrew, though John, in a word, though the whole company of apostles, preach unto you other than we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Tremendous severity! He spares neither himself nor his fellow apostles, so he may preserve unaltered the faith which was at first delivered. Nay, this is not all. He goes on Even though an angel from heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. It was not enough for the preservation of the faith once delivered to have referred to man; he must needs comprehend angels also. “Though we,” he says, “or an angel from heaven.” Not that the holy angels of heaven are now capable of sinning. But what he means is: Even if that were to happen which cannot happen — if any one, be he who he may, attempt to alter the faith once for all delivered Jude 1:3, let him be accursed. … [24.] But, possibly, this warning was intended for the Galatians only. Be it so; then those other exhortations which follow in the same Epistle were intended for the Galatians only, such as, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit; let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another, etc.; Galatians 5:25 which alternative if it be absurd, and the injunctions were meant equally for all, then it follows, that as these injunctions which relate to morals, so those warnings which relate to faith are meant equally for all; and just as it is unlawful for all to provoke one another, or to envy one another, so, likewise, it is unlawful for all to receive any other Gospel than that which the Catholic Church preaches everywhere. [25.] Or perhaps the anathema pronounced on any one who should preach another Gospel than that which had been preached was meant for those times, not for the present. Then, also, the exhortation, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh, Galatians 5:16 was meant for those times, not for the present. But if it be both impious and pernicious to believe this, then it follows necessarily, that as these injunctions are to be observed by all ages, so those warnings also which forbid alteration of the faith are warnings intended for all ages. To preach any doctrine therefore to Catholic Christians other than what they have received never was lawful, never is lawful, never will be lawful: and to anathematize those who preach anything other than what has once been received, always was a duty, always is a duty, always will be a duty. [26.] Which being the case, is there any one either so audacious as to preach any other doctrine than that which the Church preaches, or so inconstant as to receive any other doctrine than that which he has received from the Church? That elect vessel, that teacher of the Gentiles, that trumpet of the apostles, that preacher whose commission was to the whole earth, that man who was caught up to heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2 cries and cries again in his Epistles to all, always, in all places, If any man preach any new doctrine, let him be accursed. On the other hand, an ephemeral, moribund set of frogs, fleas, and flies, such as the Pelagians, call out in opposition, and that to Catholics, Take our word, follow our lead, accept our exposition, condemn what you used to hold, hold what you used to condemn, cast aside the ancient faith, the institutes of your fathers, the trusts left for you by your ancestors and receive instead — what? I tremble to utter it: for it is so full of arrogance and self-conceit, that it seems to me that not only to affirm it, but even to refute it, cannot be done without guilt in some sort.” (Commonitorium section 22, 24-26)
Ambrosiaster: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel to you contrary to what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: if anyone preaches a gospel to you contrary to what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9 Let no one be surprised that the Apostle, who used to temper harsh conduct with gentleness, is thus stirred up; for it is out of concern for the salvation of the Galatians that he is indignant against the enemies of Christian teaching. For this indignation shows that it is no light sin to turn to the Law after receiving the faith: indeed, he asserts that the Gospel he preached to them is so firm and true that even if they themselves—that is, the apostles—should perchance change and preach differently, they should not be heeded, though their reputation as apostles of Christ had spread throughout every place. Or if perchance the devil, disguising himself as an angel of God so that he might more easily be heard, were to appear from heaven preaching against these things, it would be known to be contrary and regarded as abomination. Therefore, if the apostles of Christ, whose renowned reputation lay in the working of signs and wonders, and an angel from heaven, whom a spiritual understanding might recommend, are to be anathematized if they teach differently from what they were taught by the Apostle Paul, how much more should those be rejected whom no testimony can commend to lead others astray? For this reason he repeats the declaration, so that he may confirm them in the original tradition; for a repeated law makes the negligent more attentive. – Ambrosiaster, Commentary on Galatians 1:8-9
Theodoret of Cyrus: Having left the gospel, you will not find another, for the Lord does not proclaim one gospel through us and a different one through the other apostles. Rather, all of us who are lovers of the truth preach the same message. Those who think differently offer you nothing divine; they only seek to corrupt the divine. Then, inflamed by the memory of his opponents and burning with righteous zeal, he calls anyone who attempts to proclaim a different gospel alien to godliness and cries out: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel to you contrary to what we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Because those men were claiming that the divine apostles kept the Law, the blessed Apostle left them aside—lest he seem to act out of envy or hostility—and turned instead to a greater assertion, encompassing all by means of the greater statement, and even placing himself under the curse before all others. He mentioned angels—not as if suspecting that any of the holy angels might teach contrary to the divine gospel, for he knew that such a thing is impossible—but through this he reprehended every novelty of humanity.…“But I make known to you, brothers, the gospel that was preached by me, that it is not according to man.” That is, it is not composed of human reasoning. How so? “For I neither received it from man nor was I taught it.” But from whom did you receive instruction? “But through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” He has most wisely said “through a revelation,” for the Lord Christ had already ascended and was no longer visibly present to all. But to Paul He was revealed on the road, and he was deemed worthy of the ministry of preaching. These things he set forth again in response to their slanders, teaching that he is in no way inferior to the other apostles—just as they received their instruction from Christ, so too did he have Christ Himself as his teacher. Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on Galatians 1:8-9, PG 82.464, 465
Its obvious that Galatians 1 is referring to doctrine as well because all the doctrines of Christ are connected to the Gospel. Who is Jesus Christ? What did he accomplish on the cross? How does His death and glorious resurrection effect us and bring out our salvation? How could they be saved if repentance wasn’t taught and explained? How could they obey the gospel command to be baptized if theydon’t know what baptism is and what it does? Theres much more that can be said.
Colossians 1:5-6 “…because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth”
If the gospel “is bringing forth fruit” then it’s spreading and being taught. The gospel to first travel to the whole world is the true gospel the apostles preached by the Holy Spirit, and cannot be contradicted by anybody, not even an angel from heaven, since it’s the gospel that came first. (Gal. 1:8-9) We apply this same reasoning to any doctrine of Christ; the doctrine that the Universal Church received from the apostles who preached by the Spirit, as they did with the gospel, is the true doctrine, since it’s what came first.
Tertullian in 208 AD uses this Scripture to make this point:
Tertullian: “I am accustomed in my prescription against all heresies, to fix my compendious criterion (of truth) in the testimony of time; claiming priority therein as our rule, and alleging lateness to be the characteristic of every heresy. This shall now be proved even by the apostle, when he says: “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which has come unto you, as it is unto all the world.” Colossians 1:5-6 For if, even at that time, the tradition of the gospel had spread everywhere, how much more now! Now, if it is our gospel which has spread everywhere, rather than any heretical gospel, much less Marcion’s, which only dates from the reign of Antoninus, then ours will be the gospel of the apostles. But should Marcion’s gospel succeed in filling the whole world, it would not even in that case be entitled to the character of apostolic. For this quality, it will be evident, can only belong to that gospel which was the first to fill the world; in other words, to the gospel of that God who of old declared this of its promulgation: Their sound is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” – (Against Marcion, Book 5, chapter 19)
- According to Tertullian, the clearest mark of the true gospel is its antiquity and universality. The gospel first preached by the apostles and spread throughout the world from the beginning is the only one that can rightly be called apostolic and therefore the true gospel. Even if a false gospel — like Marcion’s — were to reach every corner of the earth, it would still be disqualified, because it came later. Truth belongs to what is original and apostolic, not to what is recent and novel. And since Tertullian appeals to the rule he gave in his Prescription Against All Heretics, this reasoning applies far beyond the gospel itself — it extends to every doctrine. The first universally accepted teaching in the Church carries apostolic authority. Later innovations, even if they gain wide acceptance, lack that foundation. Therefore, on any doctrine, if it bears the marks of antiquity and universality, it is the truth. This is a very short summary of the Rule Tertullian’s gives in his book “Prescription Against All Heresies.”
- So to remind you, the Apostles received all the doctrines and traditions of Christ and faithfully handed them down to the Church, teaching the truth in every Church they planted and to every Christian they discipled. Therefore, if the Universal Church is in agreement about any doctrine, then that doctrine is the truth — for when the Church speaks with one voice on a matter, such unity cannot be false. They could not all have been led into the same error, for Satan is the author of confusion, not of unity (Ephesians 4:11-14). The gospel that was received first is not a false gospel, and the same principle applies to every other teaching that all Christians universally believed from the beginning and held everywhere. John Chrysostom and Augustine use Colossians 1 to briefly make similar points to Tertullian.
Colossians 1:22-23: “…in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Paul makes it clear: in order to be presented before Christ as holy and blameless, the Colossians must remain grounded and steadfast in the original gospel they heard—the very message that was already being proclaimed “to every creature under heaven.” Earlier in verses 5–6, Paul states that this gospel had already come to them “just as it has also in all the world,” and was bearing fruit globally. In other words, there was one message, spreading everywhere, taught by all the apostles and received by all believers. That is the message they are to remain in. This means salvation is not simply about believing in Christ once, but about remaining rooted in the true apostolic gospel—the original, unaltered faith preached from the beginning. Paul doesn’t say, “as long as you interpret Scripture for yourself,” or “as long as you remain open to new revelations.” God forbid! You must continue in what was already handed down. That is the standard for faithfulness. If a new doctrine arises that wasn’t part of that original preaching—the same gospel taught across all nations by the apostles—then it is not the truth. The truth has already been delivered. Remaining in that truth is how we abide in Christ and are presented blameless before Him. Anything else is a heresy! Theodoret of Cyrus explains that Paul is saying “You will be holy and blameless and above reproach, provided you remain in what you were taught from the beginning and keep the doctrine delivered to you as firm…” (Commentary on Colossians 1, PG 82.601)
Galatians 1:8-9 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,…… heresies, ….. those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Titus 3:10-11 “A man who is a heretic must be rejected after the first and second admonition, he that is such is perverted, and commits sin, as a self-condemned man.”
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch and student of the Apostles says: Do not be misled, my brothers and sisters: those who adulterously corrupt households will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Now if those who do such things physically are put to death, how much more if by evil teaching someone corrupts faith in God, for which Jesus Christ was crucified! Such a person, having polluted himself, will go to the unquenchable fire, as will also the one who listens to him.” – Ignatius to the Ephesians, chapter 16
“But now they [heretics] persist in imbuing innocent souls with their pernicious doctrines, not knowing that they shall receive double condemnation, both they and those that hear them.” – Clement of Rome, 2 Clement chapter 10
1 Timothy 4: “6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. … 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. …16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue (Gr. ἐπιμένω Abide/Remain) in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
Believing heresies and being a heretic is a sin that will cost you your salvation. Heresy is poison to the soul. Don’t gamble with your salvation and put off obeying the early church because it will be difficult, it will be too lonely, this is YOUR eternal salvation! Abandon every heresy and obey the Early Church! Paul warns, “Heresies… those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). What is a heresy? It is whatever contradicts the universally established Christian doctrine that came from the beginning. Heresy isn’t whatever you personally think disagrees with your interpretation of Scripture; it’s whatever departs from the “faith once delivered to the saints” and preserved by the Church. If you reject the Early Church, you forfeit the right to even use the word “heresy,” because it stands as a witness against you. You have no foundation for your beliefs, you can say it’s only the Scriptures but every heretic says that, you are no different.
You might say,
“I don’t follow men, I follow Christ.”
“The Bible is my only authority.”
“I don’t need Church history — I have the Holy Spirit to guide me.”
“The early Christians were still figuring things out.”
“The Church Fathers made mistakes like anyone else.”
“The Bible interprets itself.”
“Tradition is man-made; Scripture is God’s Word.”
“Those writings aren’t inspired, so I don’t have to listen to them.”
“The Church went off the rails after the Apostles died.”
“All I need is what’s written in Scripture, not what men added later.”
“I can read the Bible for myself; I don’t need ancient commentators.”
“The early Church started corrupting the gospel right away.”
“Those were different times; they didn’t understand the Bible like we do now.”
“They were influenced by Greek philosophy, not the pure Word of God.”
“I’m not bound to what the early Church believed — only to the Bible.”
“The Fathers are interesting historically, but not authoritative.”
“You can’t trust post-apostolic writings; only Scripture is infallible.”
Such stupidity. What reason do you have to reject the early church when the Scriptures tell you you must have the faith of the early Church to even be in Christ? The Scriptures teach that the Apostles all preached the same doctrines in every Church, doctrines handed down from the Father to Christ, and from Christ to the Apostles, so that the truth of God was spread throughout the world. We are commanded to believe what was handed down to the Church. Do you really think that truth was corrupted right after the Apostles died? That hundreds, if not thousands, of churches across the world, filled with disciples who learned directly from the Apostles, were all deceived at once? Think about that. Is it possible that all of them got it wrong immediately after the Apostles departed? Are you going to give Satan that much credit, that he somehow succeeded in deceiving the entire Church to universally hold the same beliefs, without even producing different versions of those beliefs? That would be a miracle of deception! If you claim to be “Scripture alone,” then obey Scripture and submit to the Early Church, because the Scriptures command you to do so. Otherwise, you’re not really following Scripture alone but your opinions alone, what you decide the faith is. Let’s be honest: you don’t reject the Early Church because of Scripture; you reject it because you hate authority.
Here with one point lets just show the absurdity of this heresy that right after the apostles died the Church immediately started to become corrupted:
Earlier we citied Colossians 1:5-6, 22-23 “…because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.” … “…in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Polycarp, disciple of the Apostle John, ordained bishop of Smyrna by the Apostles, he used this language Paul uses of the Colossians, and he uses it when writing to the Philippian Church, the same Church the Apostle Paul wrote to. He wrote this about in the early 2nd century, a few decades after the last Apostle (John) died:
“I also rejoice because your firmly rooted faith, renowned from the earliest times, still perseveres and bears fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Polycarp to the Philippians chapter 1
Remember Paul told the Colossians: of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, … if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard.” Polycarp is using this same language with the Philippian Church, saying that they still have the same faith that the Apostles originally preached unto them. This is a man who was personally taught by the Apostles, telling you that the Phillipian Church was still faithful and continuing in the faith, decades after the apostles died.
“When [Paul] was with you in the presence of the people of that time, he accurately and reliably taught the word concerning the truth. And when he was absent he wrote you letters; if you study them carefully, you will be able to build yourselves up in the faith that has been given to you, which is the mother of us all.” — Polycarp to the Philippians ch. 3
“Therefore let us leave behind the worthless speculation of the crowd and their false teachings and let us return to the word delivered to us from the beginning;” — Polycarp to the Philippians chapter 7
“…Or do we not know that the saints will judge the world, as Paul teaches? But I have not observed or heard of any such thing among you, in whose midst the blessed Paul labored, and who are praised in the beginning of his letter. For he boasts about you in all the churches—the ones that at that time had come to know the Lord…” — Polycarp to the Philippians chapter 11
At least by the early second century, the Philippians were still praised by an Apostolic man as being faithful, still rooted, and still bearing fruit in the same faith first preached to them. That Church was not corrupted. Polycarp, who had been instructed by the Apostles and appointed bishop in Smyrna by apostles in Asia, testifies that Paul had accurately taught the Philppians the word of truth, that Paul’s letter to them could build them up in the faith, and that Christians must return to the word handed down from the beginning. Polycarp’s disciple, Irenaeus, tells us he personally heard Polycarp teach the faith and recount the things he learnt from the Apostles and those who has seen the Lord. … Irenaeus tells us the whole Church has the same faith and hands down what she received from the Apostles and their disciples, one of which is Polycarp. The man who is saying this is one who learnt from the lips of someone he personally knew, who was also taught by the Apostles. Irenaeus also tells us that Polycarp always taught the things he had learned from the Apostles, the same things the Church handed down as true. Therefore, the idea that the Church immediately collapsed into universal corruption right after the Apostles died is just ridiculous. We are not dealing with a lost faith that vanished overnight, but with churches still preserving, confessing, and handing down what they had received, such as the Philppians in the early 2nd century, there is much to say about this stupidity, but the Scriptures do not support this insanity.
We’re supposed to be united in the faith, not divided:
Ephesians 4:1-6 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
John 17:21-23 ‘…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
Philippians 2:2 “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Acts 4:32 “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”
Romans 15:5 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.”
When we see Unity in the early church this Unity can only be from God.
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”
1. The Apostles are commanded to make disciples of all the nations.
2. They are commanded to teach those disciples to observe everything Christ commanded them, that is, the Apostles.
3. Christ → Apostles → disciples.
4. This means that in all the nations where the Apostles preached, Christ’s doctrines were being taught everywhere.
5. Therefore, if from the beginning the Church universally taught a doctrine, as found in the writings of the Fathers, many of whom were disciples of the Apostles, what else can that be except what the Apostles received from Christ and handed down as received tradition to their disciples scattered around the world? How is this doctrine not from Christ? The burden is on you to explain how their universal consensus concerning the Faith can be wrong. We will simply believe Christ, His Apostles, and the Church.
Athanasius: “But, beyond these sayings, let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept. Upon this the Church is founded, and he who should fall away from it would not be a Christian, and should no longer be so called. … “ [Briefly explains the Trinity then says:] “… And that they may know this to be the faith of the Church, let them learn how the Lord, when sending forth the Apostles, ordered them to lay this foundation for the Church, saying: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ The Apostles went, and thus they taught; and this is the preaching that extends to the whole Church which is under heaven.” – Athanasius, Epistle One to Serapion, Chapter 28
Old Testament commands:
Deuteronomy 32:7 “Ask your fathers and they will tell you, your elders and they will declare unto you.”
Proverbs 22:28 “Do not remove eternal boundaries, which your fathers set up.”
Sirach 8:8-9 “Do not neglect the discourse of the wise, but busy yourself with their proverbs; For in this way you will acquire the training to stand in the presence of princes. Do not reject the tradition of the elders which they have heard from their ancestors [i.e. fathers]; For from it you will learn how to answer when the need arises.”
Sirach 39:1-4 “He who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be concerned with prophecies; he will preserve the discourse of notable men and penetrate the subtleties of parables; he will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs and be at home with the obscurities of parables. He will serve among great men and appear before rulers.
“Condemn the truth if you have the heart, but only after you have examined it.” – Tertullian (197 AD)
The true Christian faith is that which was revealed by the Father to Christ, passed on to the Apostles, and preserved in the Church. Any doctrine that contradicts the original deposit is to be rejected, for truth is from the beginning, follow it.
See this post for all the quotes from the church fathers affirming what was discussed in this post.
See this post for only the Scriptures listed that we cited.
If you believe we must obey the early churches teachings as our authority and/or if are interested in learning about the early Church and want to be a Christian, or if you are inquiring and have questions, join our discord server and we can talk to you.
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