Oldest Christian Denomination

[messianist]

Holy Spirit teaches

 

[Albion]

I'm sorry, you felt I was avoiding your question....

No, I wasn't thinking that. You were merely giving one usage. That's the one you prefer. I was pointing out that it also has other meanings and uses which can be found in one segment of Christendom or another.

 

[messianist]

Sorry, Albion my answer was in relation to what church was, the op does state denomination, my sincere apologies, I should have paid more attention.

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

I read somewhere that the Ethiopian Coptic church considers itself the oldest, tracing back to the Ethiopian eunuch baptised by Philip. I think I read that in Beasley-Murray’s book baptism in the NT

Yeah, that's what I've heard, too. Aside from the church in Jerusalem, the next two oldest were the churches in Syria and Ethiopia, and between those two, only the Ethiopian one seems to have had an uninterrupted and flourishing existence from that time, until now.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Yeah, that's what I've heard, too. Aside from the church in Jerusalem, the next two oldest were the churches in Syria and Ethiopia, and between those two, only the Ethiopian one seems to have had an uninterrupted and flourishing existence from that time, until now.

Actually The Armenian Church is also very old. Jerusalem was first then Antioch.

 

[JESUS=G.O.A.T]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

I would say no aside from historic implications of how churches were during the first 2-3 centuries the Orthodox Church is considerably different from the church of acts in the Bible. Everyone has something on this subject though. This first “church” was killed out or sort of diminished by 400 AD or so cause they were deemed heretics basically . Drastic changes started in 300 AD

 

[sponsachristi]

Catholics St Ignatius 107 AD

See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

hello all I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

The apostolic Church, not the modern versions, but the Churches in Scripture, the Churches Paul wrote to, Corinthians, Romans, and so on. Of course there were problems in the visible Church from the beginning, I mean all we have to do is read Paul's letters to know this. The true Church has always been a royal priesthood of believers, those chosen by God before the foundation of the world. With the spreading of the Gospel to different nations through those chosen of God, we have different flavors within the visible Church. Different brides, same groom.

 

[ViaCrucis]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

The oldest "denomination" (which doesn't really fit here) is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; or just the Church. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox (of which the Coptic Orthodox are part of), and the Assyrian Church all lay claim to being that Church, and all are, in their own way, correct. Others, such as Anglicans and Lutherans, also understand themselves to be part of that same continuum of the historic catholic Christian Church.

The question is immensely complicated because different groups of Christians have different understandings of what it means to be the Church.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Marvin Knox]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

The church at Antioch was the first "Christian" church according to the scriptures.

 

[dqhall]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

The churches have changed in the past 20 centuries. According to Eusebius, Mark went to Egypt to preach where he was martyred. Peter preached in Jerusalem. Paul went to the Greeks and elsewhere. Some of their writings remain. The Holy Spirit is doing works of teaching and inspiration to this day.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

 

[buzuxi02]

I read somewhere that the Ethiopian Coptic church considers itself the oldest, tracing back to the Ethiopian eunuch baptised by Philip. I think I read that in Beasley-Murray’s book baptism in the NT

The Ethiopians along with the Armenians are considered the first to adopt christianity nationwide. Usually at about 300 AD. The leaders of the Ethiopian Axumite Kingdom along with some sporadic subjects had adopted christianity. But their Chutch was not established until the Bishop of Alexandria ordained a bishop for them.
The first city to adopt Christianity was Edessa early 3rd century .
There were about 45 apostolic local churches (church communities found by apostles); most still exist. Some of these communities became extinct between 1915-1924 with the dissolution of the Ottomon Empire when the native christian communities were sent into exile out of Anatolia.

 

[SolomonVII]

Various apostles established many churches in a few short years after Pentecost. The Coptic church is one of these, but so are the churches established around the Mediterranean, and even into India, by some reports.

 

[buzuxi02]

Just to clarify an apostolic church was established in Alexandria of which the Coptic (non-chalcedonian) AND Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria are its direct successor.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem is recognized by both the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority as descendant from the original community headed by James. The Church in Antioch relocated to Damascus and merged with it located on the Street called Way after the Muslim conquests. The Churches in Corinth, Thessaloniki, Cyprus, Borea, etc etc are all still thriving in an unbroken succession. You can jump on an airplane visit those cities. The Churches of Anatolia such as the 7 of Revelation became extinct in 1923 but bishops are still appointed for some of those cities and those bishops constitute the Synod of Constantinople.

 

[SolomonVII]

My vote for the earliest church would be the Samarian church established at the well when Jesus talked to that women at the well, and the whole town ended up converting to him.
The Samarian church went on for many centuries. I don't think that it was until well into Muslim times that that church was knocked off its feet.

 

[RadiantGrace]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

Denominations generally refer to movements within protestantism, that have set dates of the beginnings of movements, or splits from an existing movement. Christianity began in Israel, obviously, and flourished in the Middle East, spread throughout Europe, North Africa, into Ethiopia, remained in small pockets of India and made it to China (although it died out there, to later revive with modern missionaries).

Christians in India and Ethiopia became separated, not by their own choice, but due to borders and formed their own culture and practices. The rest of Christianity met every few generations or so in councils starting in the fourth century by the leader of the local region, called a bishop. During the fifth century, church leaders in North Africa left a council believing the rest of the bishops were moving the Church in error. They spoke the Coptic language and had a distinct culture. Years after, they were overrun by the Islamic Caliphate and became their own distinct Church.

Most of the Middle East was soon overrun by the Caliphate. Western European Christians used Latin as their primary language, but the Roman Empire in the west collapsed and they became a mess of independent countries. In the east, Christians used Greek as the primary language of faith and communication. Rome was the original capital of an empire that converted to Christianity and the bishop, the Pope, was considered the head of Christians, although they never worked out what that really meant.

A newer capital, Constantinople, in the Greek region, had its own bishop, of secondary rank within Christianity to the Pope. Constantinople remained the capital of the Empire and the emperor continued to call Christian bishops to meet in councils whenever an important matter within Christianity needed to be discussed. Islam continued to advance on Christians in the east and the Pope sent a cardinal (bishops who elect Popes) to discuss forming a combined front against Islam. The Pope died and the cardinal, feeling insulted (and there were many differences and rivalries between eastern and western Christianity at this time) proclaimed the bishop of Constantinople, the second position of honor in the Church, to be outside the Church. Outranking the cardinal, the bishop of Constantinople responded in kind. The two sides stopped talking, functioning as a Church. Constantinople was eventually overrun by the Muslims. No longer did there exist a Christian emperor to call the bishops into councils. The Catholic (mean universal, whole) and Orthodox (meaning remaining true) Church found itself in parts. A remnant Church remained in India (Thomas Christians, Syro-Malabars) until later encountered by western explorers, and the same thing occurred in Ethiopia (Ethopian Orthodox). Western Christians who used Latin as the primary language and under the Pope continued to call their Church the Catholic Church. Eastern Christians, who were of the eastern Greek Christian influence and held the Bishop of Constantinople as the first, among equals (that is, bishops being equal), called themselves the Orthodox Church.

 

[ViaCrucis]

The church at Antioch was the first "Christian" church according to the scriptures.

If we are talking Christian communities, then the earliest and first is Jerusalem. Antioch is where Christians were first called "Christians", but it's not the earliest community of Christians or "church" in the local assembly or community sense. Jerusalem had the distinction and honor as "Mother of all Churches" for this very reason.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[GirdYourLoins]

I expect you will find the Eastern Orthodox claim it is them, the Catholics claim it is them and a few others will as well.

 

[Grip Docility]

Uh huh.....so where is that body? Lutheranism. Methodist? SDA? Messianic? Where exactly do I find that body so I can be a part of it?

We are each members of the “Body”... or little bricks that are founded on the “Corner Stone”.

We are the Body.

Labels and Theologies that divide are hogwash.

The Question... in regards to it all... whatever it is... has only one answer. The truth isn’t any theological doctrine or building founded by humanity... there’s only one Human founder of the Body... and He is God... too.

The answer... “Jesus”.

 

[Tom 1]

We are each members of the “Body”... or little bricks that are founded on the “Corner Stone”.

We are the Body.

Labels and Theologies that divide are hogwash.

The Question... in regards to it all... whatever it is... has only one answer. The truth isn’t any theological doctrine or building founded by humanity... there’s only one Human founder of the Body... and He is God... too.

The answer... “Jesus”.

That’s the only answer that really makes sense to me. I mean even the apostles weren’t all that clear about the details and practices of ‘the church’, whereas there are now plenty of groups who claim to have it all nailed down - who’s right? God’s grace is sufficient for all.