From its earliest times, there have been people who challenged the teachings established by Jesus and His apostles. Jesus’ teachings were radically new and different. They centered on His deity. Many have tried to re-interpret it or blend it with other views. Yet the “chain of custody” for His teachings and the gospel as J. Warner Wallace refers to it is clear.
The apostles died in the first century, many as martyrs. They taught the faith to the early church leaders, known as the ‘apostolic fathers’ who passed the story on to many that came after. The written documents that we know as the NT served to ensure that the story was passed down accurately. As Christians, we consider the NT to be the authoritative guide that God’s Holy Spirit inspired guide (literally God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16)) for believers of all ages. The traditions preserved from the Christian leaders through the early centuries of the church help us understand how the church applied Jesus’ message to their circumstances. They show how the core teachings have been maintained.
Heresies
What about those who taught teachings that opposed or contradicted that of the apostles? Counterfeits are often developed around things of real value. False teachings started early, even in the days of the apostles (Galatians 1:6-9, Romans 16:17-18, I John 4:1-3, II Peter 2:1-2). The Christian faith was initially seen as a sect of Judaism. Most of the first believers were Jews. As non-Jews came to Christ, many of the Jewish believers naturally wanted the non-Jews to basically adopt the Jewish faith and practices. This added to the gospel and was false teaching. Those promoting it are known as “Judaizers”. This conflict extended through the first century.
Another important set of divergent views was known as Gnosticism. They believed that they held a secret knowledge that was above the apostle’s teachings. Even in writing his gospel, John wrote against the early roots of this heresy. Gnosticism grew into more mature forms through the second century with leaders such as Marcian, Valentinus, and Basilides.
Heresies like Montanism had its followers in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Montanism (also known as Cataphrygianism or New Prophecy) taught that the Holy Spirit was continuing to give additional scriptures. They were stern moralists and taught that Jesus would return very soon. As Britannica.com reports, “It also became clear that the claim of Montanus to have the final revelation of the Holy Spirit implied that something could be added to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles and that, therefore, the church had to accept a fuller revelation.” The additional revelations contradicted the apostles’ teachings.
Beginning in late in the 3rd century, a new flavor of heresy arose: Arianism. Arianism denied the deity of Jesus. Athanasius of Alexandria was an early church leader who defended true Christianity that reached back to the apostles against this heresy.
Skeptics
Skeptics like Lucian and Celsus came along, attacking Christianity. Skepticism is not a new phenomenon. It is not that the people of these early centuries were all superstitious simpletons, and that modern skeptics are vastly more sophisticated. There were always highly intelligent people who were followers of Christ and others who were skeptics. It is not about the intelligence of the people. It is about what really happened and who is Jesus.
Archaeological Discoveries
This timeline also notes some recent archaeological discoveries that show that the recognition of the deity of Christ was a clear part of theology and was widespread. More detailed information on these finds can be found here:
Megiddo Inscription, dating from around 230 AD, located in Israel near the ancient city of Megiddo, this says “To God Jesus Christ”. Nothing subtle about that.
Frankfurt Silver inscription, an amulet dating from the 230 to 270 AD period, found near Frankfurt, Germany, refers to “Jesus Christ, Son of God” and quotes from the book of Philippians.
Egyptian Christian hymn, fragment dated to near the end of the 3rd century, though some date it to be somewhat older. It was found in Egypt and it refers to the “Father and Son and Holy Spirit”.
The New Testament texts were much earlier than these, yet these concrete discoveries serve to show that the apostles’ teachings were believed and past down over a broad area. Should one accept the claims of those whom the early church considered heretics? The best information that we have about who Jesus is and what His gospel means comes from the chain of testimony that came through the church and linked back to eyewitnesses.
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