NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES

THE CHURCH AT ROME

INTRODUCTION

• One of the most celebrated cities in the universe, the capitol of Italy, and once of the world, on the river Tiber

• Founded by Romulus 753 years before the Christian era.

• History quite interesting, commercially, architecturally, politically, and religiously.

INTRODUCTION

• Gibbons spent 20 years and wrote five volumes about Rome.

• Important history– Acts 28:30,31

• Rome, because of its universal power, played an influential part in the complete apostasy of the Church and the formation of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

• Occasion of Paul’s writing can be gathered by the epistle itself.

• Paul learned the status of the Christians at Rome from Aquila and Priscilla. Probably also from other Jews who had been driven from Rome by decree of Claudius.– Acts 16:3– Acts 18:2

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

• Finding that consisted partly of heathen converted to Christianity, partly of Jews, with many remaining prejudices, believed in Jesus as the true Messiah.

• Many contentions arose from the claims of the Gentile converts to equal privileges with the Jews and from the absolute refusal of the Jews to admit these claims, including circumcision. Paul wrote to settle the differences.

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• Origin of the church:–Obscurity envelops founding of the church

at Rome–Who planted the gospel there is not known– Not appeared that any apostle was

employed in that work– Probably by some who were converted in

Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost– Proselytes to the Jewish faith from every

nation were there, Acts 2:5.

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• Origin of the church:– Strangers from Rome in Jerusalem, Acts

2:10–Most reasonable to believe, especially

since we have no evidence of it being done otherwise.

– Catholicism teaches Peter established the church in Rome

– Yet, it’s disputed by ALL the actual evidence in the case…

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• Origin of the church.– Peter’s own epistles:– Not addressed either to or from Rome– Peter did not consider himself the head

of the church anywhere– A fellow elder on equality with others,

1 Peter 5:1– Exhort elders to tend the flock without

exercising lordship, 1 Peter 5:2

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• Origin of the church.– Appeals to Paul for confirmation of

teaching, not conscious of having superior authority. 2 Peter 3:15

– Taught all members of the church constitute a “Holy” or “Royal Priesthood”, 1 Peter 2:5,9

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• Origin of the church.– Paul’s writings disprove Peter’s connection with

the church in Rome– Wrote epistle to the Romans, sending personal

salutations to 26 people in Rome by name and does NOT mention Peter.

– Luke’s writing disproves papal tradition. He records Peter’s work in Jerusalem, Samaria, Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea, Antioch but does not mention Peter going to Rome or having any connection with it.

– Peter’s being bishop of Rome, solely as a Catholic tradition with no EVIDENCE to support it!

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• Origin of the church.– Paul did not establish the church at Rome– Had desire to go, Acts 19:21– Never been there when epistle was written,

Romans 1:10-13– Been hindered from coming, Romans 15:22– Church already in existence when he finally

reached Rome– Brethren from Rome went out some 52 miles

to greet him on his arrival, Acts 28:15.

ITS CHARACTER

• Cosmopolitan in character

• People gathered from many parts of the world– Romans 16

“Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our

fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet

Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those

who are of the household of Aristobulus.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Composed of both Jews and Greeks

• Equality of both in Christ– Romans

3:29,30; 10:12

“Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of

the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,

since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith

and the uncircumcised through faith.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Disturbed by divisions

• Contrary to the doctrine of Christ– Romans

16:17,18

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions

and offenses, contrary to the

doctrine which you learned, and avoid

them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ

through faith...”

ITS CHARACTER

• Well taught church

• Indoctrinated with truth– Romans

15:14

“Now I myself am confident

concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of

goodness, filled with all

knowledge, able also to admonish

one another.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Jews in membership considered more favored by God

• Does not recognize the fleshy seed of Abraham– Romans

2:28,29

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly,

nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is

a Jew who is one inwardly; and

circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the

letter; whose praise is not from men but

from God.”

ITS CHARACTER

• All accepted in faith like Abraham

• Walked in the steps of faith– Romans 3:9

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all.

For we have previously charged

both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.”

ITS CHARACTER

• All accepted in faith like Abraham

• Walked in the steps of faith– Romans 4:6-9

“Now to him who works, the wages

are not counted as grace but as debt.

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Gentiles also among members who considered that the Jews had been rejected evidenced by Paul’s admonition– Romans

11:1

“I say then, has God cast away

His people? Certainly not!

For I also am an Israelite, of the

seed of Abraham, of the

tribe of Benjamin.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Gentiles also among members who considered that the Jews had been rejected evidenced by Paul’s admonition– Romans

11:13-24

“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I

am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my

ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast

away is the reconciling of the world, what will their

acceptance be but life from the dead?”

ITS CHARACTER

• Yet a church characterized by great faith in God and Christ– Romans

6:17,18

“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you

obeyed from the heart that form of

doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became

slaves of righteousness.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Obedient in attitude– Romans

16:19

“For your obedience has

become known to all. Therefore I am

glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning

evil.”

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

• History of this world-renowned church is sad because of prominence and influence in the apostasy that took hold of the church.– Romans

1:20

“For since the creation of the world

His invisible attributes are clearly

seen, being understood by the

things that are made, even His eternal

power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

• Great influx of Christians into Rome, after death of Claudius when his decree became inactive, rapid growth of the church followed.– Romans

1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

• Being principal city in the world the church in Rome exerted great influence.

• Sadly, instead of being Gibraltar like influence for good-sweeping tide of human innovations became the Roman Catholic institution!– Romans

16:16

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet

you.”