Israeli authorities have uncovered a Christian meeting place possibly dating from the third century, which would make it one of the earliest "churches" to have been discovered. Christians didn't have churches as we know them today, those edifices began to be constructed after the Emperor Constantine officially sponsored Christianity around 320 A.D.
Among the evidences that the building predates Constantine is the use of the fish symbol (which I also use to mark my blog) that was used to signify Christianity. In Greek, the first letters of the words in the phrase "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" form the word for fish, Ichthys. One of the mosaics found in the building also tell of a woman who donated a table used for Christian ceremonies. It is believed early Christians used tables instead of altars.
Interestingly, I'm reading letters and writings of early church leaders right now, including Ignatius' letters to the churches as he was on his way to Rome and the Didache. It all sounds scholarly, I know, but actually these are fairly short works.
Some noteworthy things I've noticed:
1) There is definitely a place for apostles, prophets, bishops (pastors), and teachers, though I have yet to read any mention of an evangelist. Deacons and presbyters (elders) are also mentioned frequently in Ignatius' letters.
2) "Widows" are still a big deal, and the church is also to provide for prophets, apostles, and those that teach, though slaves are not to desire to have their freedom bought through the common fund.
3) There is a heavy emphasis on Jesus' humanity by noting his mother, Mary, and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor under whom Jesus was sentenced. But I found no evidence that Mary was venerated as in Roman Catholic teaching.
4) A lot of the teaching centers on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where we get famous quotes such as "Love your enemies" and "Give, and it will be given to you" and the Beatitudes.
5) Ignatius emphasizes the authority of the bishop in each city, and even says the Eucharist (or Communion) should not be administered without his consent. This should not be a basis for Catholic practice, however, because it is clearly in the context of maintaining unity in the church and as a measure against divisive persons.
All in all, it's extremely cool stuff. I don't think we should form doctrine according to these writings, but it is helpful to inform us.
2 comments:
Fascinating! Thank you. I am really impressed by the archeological find. I would love to visit the Holy Land some day, as the rest of my family has been fortunate enough to do. There's a good link on my blog today, you will be interested.
Thanks for regularly posting such compelling news (this daily WP reader missed the story...!), and sharing your ideas/analyses. God's footprints are present in antiquity, creation, consciences and more places than we imagine.
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