Author Archives: History of the Christian Church

Christianity is not a formless spiritual ideal but a divine life embodied in history. Though animated by the power of the Spirit, it also assumes visible shape through Word, sacrament, and office. Christ, in founding his Church, did not establish a rigid legalism but a living organism—endowed with ministers, sacraments, and spiritual authority, yet governed always by the law of love, the liberty of the Spirit, and the shared priesthood… Read more

The rich and contentious development of Christian church polity has produced a vast and multifaceted body of literature—stretching from the apostolic era to the 19th century. This scholarship reflects not merely ecclesiastical theorizing but the living pulse of the Church as it struggled, adapted, and asserted its structure amidst changing historical and theological landscapes. From apostolic letters to episcopal treatises, from the fires of Reformation controversy to the calm analysis… Read more

Time, like space, belongs to God. Yet while every hour is touched by eternity and all days are his, divine wisdom has ordained sacred rhythms—holy hours and appointed days—to train the soul, gather the Church, and sanctify earthly life. Chief among these is the Lord’s Day, rising from the tomb of the Sabbath with the dawn of the Resurrection, and bearing within it rest, rejoicing, and the promise of eternal… Read more

Though the heavens cannot contain the glory of the Lord, and the whole cosmos is his dwelling, the human heart yearns for tangible spaces where the divine may be reverently sought. Sacred places arise not from any limitation in God, but from the frailty and beauty of human devotion—a sanctifying of place for the sake of shared worship, holy memory, and embodied communion with the Eternal. The Spiritual Universality of… Read more

On the eve of his Passion, beneath the shadow of the cross, Christ instituted a sacred mystery that would nourish the Church until the end of the age. The Lord’s Supper, born in solemnity and divine self-giving, is not merely a ritual of remembrance but a sacramental participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is the Church’s most intimate sanctuary, where thanksgiving, communion, and mystery converge, offering… Read more

Baptism is the sacrament of Christian initiation, instituted by Christ, signifying repentance, forgiveness, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Though immersion was the apostolic norm, various modes developed. While infant baptism is not explicitly commanded, it has strong theological and historical support when practiced in the context of Christian nurture and faith. 1. The Idea of Baptism Baptism, instituted by Christ before His ascension (Matt. 28:19), is the Christian sacrament… Read more

The worship of the apostolic church was vibrant, participatory, and profoundly spiritual. It sprang from the transforming presence of the risen Christ, structured by Jewish tradition, yet reformed and revitalized by the gospel. Below are the principal elements of early Christian worship. 1. Preaching The heart of early worship was preaching, especially missionary proclamation. It centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, calling hearers to repentance and faith.… Read more

Christian worship is the living heartbeat of the church. It is not merely a ritual, but the reverent communion of redeemed souls with their Lord, a dynamic blend of praise, proclamation, and spiritual transformation. Rooted in ancient Jewish practice yet reformed by the gospel of Christ, worship in the early church gradually took shape as a distinct and universal expression of divine adoration “in spirit and in truth.” Definition and… Read more

The synagogue stands as the bridge between the ancient covenant and the new, between Judaism and Christianity. It was more than a place of worship; it was a center of religious instruction, legal justice, communal life, and national preservation. In its origins, architecture, organization, and services, the synagogue not only shaped Jewish religious identity during and after the exile, but also laid the institutional and liturgical groundwork for the Christian… Read more

The apostolic age, though radiant with the light of divine revelation and apostolic power, was not without moral struggle and imperfection. The Church, then as now, was composed of redeemed yet fallible men. The dream of a sinless, unblemished apostolic church is dispelled by the very writings of the apostles themselves, which bear constant witness to the imperfections, temptations, and failures of the earliest Christian communities. What we see instead… Read more