The first Christian ecclessia/assembly?

[nzguy]

My Pastor did a presentation on what church is at a Student Life (Campus Crusade) conference, and asked people.. when was the first church?

Most people didn't know, some said in the Book of Acts, but what about this.. (this is what me and my Pastor believe)

The meaning of 'church' comes from the Greek word ecclessia... meaning a called out assembly. So is Jesus and His disciples the first ecclessia/assembly - church?

Here is some of what S.E. Anderson wrote in Real Churches or a Fog.

Jesus called the 12 disciples to Himself.. with called being proskalesamenos, the root kaleo- the main part of ekklessia, the word for church.

The 12 were given power to raise dead, cure sicknesses, power against unclean spirits- power before Pentecost.

They were sent out by Jesus to share the gospel.

The 12 had the gospel, that is found 123 times in the New Testament (euaggelion in the Greek)

S.E. Anderson had seven items about this first Christian ecclessia.. writing, His apostles, "fix a firm foundation of the first church. For the church is "Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20). "And God hath set some in the church: first apostles" (1 Cor.12:28)." (Real Churches or A Fog, p.37, by S.E. Anderson)

So the 12 disciples were doing real church work, with Jesus as the Head.. the perfect pastor.

So there you go, hope to hear from you all

from

NZGuy

 

[ArnautDaniel]

If you look at Acts it looks distinctly like the first Christian "church" in Jerusalem was something of a hippy commune:

Acts 2:44-45

44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds* to all, as any had need.

Acts 4:32-35

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

 

[nzguy]

that is a good principle in there, for people to share possessions.. because then if there is a struggle member of a church thru finances/material possessions, then all the congregation could help out in that way. Probably wouldn't go down to well in todays society, but how great would it be to do it?