The ancient church: its history, doctrine, worship, and constitution, traced for the first three hundred years

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THE

ANCIENT CHURCH:

Preface

It is not to be wondered at that in an age which busies itself about the beginnings of things, there should be given renewed attention to the early history of the Christian Church. They who deem religious life in a decaying state must find it difficult to reconcile with their view the amount of learning and of mental activity devoted to this department of knowledge. If the law of demand and supply works with the uniformity commonly ascribed to it, there never were so many persons as in our time keenly interested in the Genesis of the Christian Church. In England, in Germany, even in France, and in our own country, the foremost minds are occupied with questions regarding the institutions, the development, and the early struggles of a community now making itself felt in every part of the world where there is any intellectual life, or indeed any human activity. It is not surely presumptuous to hope that permanent good will come from so many minds being brought again into contact with the Son of God on earth, and with His apostles, at that crisis of human history when their words and their deeds were the germs of permanent and blessed institutions.

It is the special commendation of History, that it widens the field of our observation, and enables us to see how great principles — which, like great bodies, move slowly — work themselves out in congenial results. It would have been difficult, probably, to convince a well-to-do young Hebrew in the later years of Solomon's reign, when the precious metals were as stones in the street, when foreign fashions were ruling society in Jerusalem, that God-fearing was essential to prosperity, and that the religion of the fathers must be maintained in order to national dignity and prosperity. But it is only needful to glance over the history of Solomon's successor to see how soon evil seeds bring forth evil fruit, and how departure from God in-

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IV PREFACE.

volves the loss of the best social and national blessings. Just so it may sometimes seem to a hasty reader of the Epistles, as if little things attracted disproportionate attention from the apostles — as for example, the eating of "things offered to idols " — but a moderate study of the early Church's history corrects the impression, and shows that a trifling trend in one generation may be a decided and irresistible movement in the next. A " false view " of a quarter of an inch at the muzzle of the gun will mean the striking of the shot many feet from the target.

For many reasons it is desirable that those who forego any approach to an oligarchy in the Church, and who hold by a Government at once independent of the State, and in the line of popular civil self-government, should be acquainted with the annals of the early Church. The foregoing description does not by any means include Presbyterians only. The overwhelming majority of the Protestant Christians of the United States are agreed as to the parity of the clergy, and the seeming exception in the Methodist Episcopal Church is more apparent than real, for a bishop in that great and useful branch of the Church is not much different in form and power from the " superintendents " in whom Reformers in Scotland saw no peril, indeed, not essentially different from synodical missionaries working in concert with Boards and Presbyteries in the newer fields of the West. 1 Whatever may be guarded in name from the appearance of legislative or executive authority, in an " Association " among our Baptist and Congregational brethren, any Presbyterian admitted thereto by courtesy finds the substance of the action of his Presbytery reproduced, even as the New England deacon is the exact counterpart of an oldworld Presbyterian Elder. Perhaps it is not the mere hope of an eager partisan, that, as independent activity of mind makes itself felt throughout the country, the moral influence of the Association or the Presbytery will be found more and more important to the preservation of such denominational unity as renders close and comfortable organic co-operation possible. But whether this hope be realized or not, whether or not it be justifiable, every intelligent Presbyterian must be glad that in

1 The Wesleyan Methodists of England, after much discussion, have admitted others than ministers to the governing council of the denomination.

PREFACE. V

the working of the churches, the lines of his church government are followed so closely by those who, like our Baptist brethren, hold so much in common with him of the great Evangelical system of truth.

The author whose Ancient Church herewith goes to a second American edition, after a brief but remarkably useful pastoral life, was called to the Professorship of Church History in the Presbyterian College, Belfast, and a large proportion of the clergy of the Irish Presbyterian Church have caught the spirit of his Lectures on " Church History " and " Pastoral Theology." The associate of Dr. Wilson, a clear writer on Baptism, of Dr. Cooke, as earnest and evangelical as he was eloquent, and of Dr. Murphy, who still lives to do the work of a good teacher and an able commentator, and of others likeminded, he has helped to train a body of ministers inferior to none in Christendom, and to guide the counsels of a church which, under many forms of social repression and political disadvantage, has made Ulster a vivid exception to the unrest and the misery of the other three provinces of Ireland, and from which no mean element of American Presbyterianism has drawn its blood and its inspiration.

Dr. Killen is a pronounced Presbyterian, but not from mere hereditary leaning ; but, as the lawyers say, " for cause." It will be found, however, that the views here illustrated from the early centuries of our era are not now confined to scholars of his class. No more evangelical teacher ever preached and wrote in the pale of the English Church than Dr. Thomas Scott, whose Commentary combines in a high degree just interpretation with devout feeling and moderation of judgment. He did not hesitate, while a minister of the Anglican Establishment, to commit his Commentary to the truth, that among Ephesian and Philippian Christians in Paul's time, Presbyter and Bishop were names of the same church officer. Scott, indeed, was not recognized as a great scholar. Since the issue of Dr. Killen's first edition of this work, however, a marked change has taken place from a variety of causes, not among historians only, but among critics. The language of the earlier traditions and chronicles — formulated when diocesan Episcopacy had become as thoroughly established as the doctrines of Rome, and which gave to every believing man mentioned in

VI PREFACE.

th# New Testament a place as " Bishop " — this language had been read without hesitation in the prelatic sense. The honest admissions however of Ellicott, Lightfoot, and others of undoubted scholarship, in which Scott's views are endorsed, and prelacy in the Church is made to be post-apostolic, have entirely changed the form of expression, and even in Great Britain, where the Episcopal system is deeply rooted, and incorporated with the State, have given some color to the suggestion, that England would ultimately come to a modified Presbyterianism. The opening sentence of Dean Stanley's chapter on "the clergy" {Christian Institutions), expresses the received views of scholars. " It is certain that throughout the first century, and for the first years of the second, that is, through the later chapters of the Acts, the Apostolical Epistles, and, the writings of Clement and Hermas, Bishop and Presbyter were convertible terms, and that the body of men so called were the rulers — so far as any permanent rulers existed of the early Church." And while there is much in statement and in omission in this last work of Dean Stanley, to grieve evangelical people who were attracted by his genial character, there is timely truth in the sentence i 1 " It is certain that in no instance before the beginning of the third century, the title or function of the Pagan or Jewish Priesthood is applied to Christian pastors." With much learning, and with some natural desire to make the best showing possible for modern " orders," Mr. Hatch, of Oxford, yet shows that, " when the organization of the churches was more complete, it is clear that the jurisdiction belonged to the council of Presbyters." 2 So, " it is clear," he concludes, " that the Presbyters of the primitive churches did not necessarily teach. They were not debarred from teaching, but if they taught as well as ruled, they combined two offices." Nor is it improper to quote the following sentence from Mr. Hatch, as embodying the very idea which Dr. Killen delights to illustrate. " When the Episcopal system had established itself, there was a bishop wherever in later times there would have been a parish church. From the small province of Proconsular Asia, which was about the. size of Lincolnshire, forty-two bishops

1 "Christian Institutes," p. 208.

2 " The Organization of the Early Churches," Bampton Lecture, 1880.

PREFACE. Vll

were present at an early council : in the only half-converted province of North Africa, four hundred and seventy Episcopal towns are known by name." 1 In other words the teaching elder of each congregation was a bishop ; he had no earthly superior. Hence Mr. Hatch justly adds : " It is therefore reasonable to expect that the bishop, as the chief officer of the community, presided wherever the community met together." It is not only reasonable, it is certain. Just so the Reformed Churches of the Presbyterian order have it until this day, in Europe, Asia, and America. In the same line with Stanley, Mr. Hatch says : " The names by which they (church officers) are designated are various but interchangeable ; and their variety is probably to be explained by the fact that the same officer, or officers having equivalent rank, had various functions." In the course of the second century indeed, one of the names comes to be appropriated to a single officer. We are now in the second century of American Independence. If in future ages, we should in the matter of government, become copyists of European monarchies, it will be enough surely for the opponents of the policy to show the principles that ruled us from 1776 to 1876, and to claim that model as the original Republic, the primitive United States ; and their argument would not be impaired by its being shown that undue power was allowed to pass into single hands in the course of the second, or the third century of our history.

It is not of course contended by Dr. Killen, or any other intelligent Presbyterian, that the Presbytery, with moderator, clerk, and all minute details of arrangement, are set down in the pastoral Epistles. All that is contended for is that principles are indicated, guarded, illustrated, and enforced, the development of which in a body of Christian people, uninfluenced by outside forces like the State, or by unspiritual aims like the love of pre-eminence, or the desire to be like civil governments, would imply parity of the ministry, plurality of elders in a single congregation, and the representation of the people in church courts. There is in the nature of the case in any community a principle of evolution ; but it does not reverse elementary principles. There was no State-house, nor capitol at Washington, when the Thirteen States were constituted a Nation, but

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nothing since that time has been allowed to reverse the Constitution of the Republic.

We venture to hope that Dr. Killen's book, as it is intelligible by the ordinary capacity, will have an interested body of readers outside the ranks of students and ministers. Intelligent adhesion to a church is desirable. It is only by intelligent adherents that the machinery and the aggressive work of a church are likely to be sustained. Such adherence to a denomination is a healthy tie to religion itself. The men who can be counted upon as fit for important offices in the church, are usually such as know wherefore they are in the denomination, and have sympathy with its distinctive aims and its honored traditions. They whose connection is only casual and loose do not, commonly, add to a church's power ; and it is not too much to say that information on subjects of this kind does not narrow, but widen the sympathies. It is commonly the ignorant and unreasoning who are afflicted with bigotry.

Nor is it entirely unworthy of notice that some connection is commonly found between reverent loyalty to the word as touching church-organization on the one hand, and deference to it in the inculcation of doctrine on the other. A mistaken view of the nature and history of the Church, is a fit preparation for the acceptance of error regarding the doctrines to be believed. Let the people hold that the apostles appointed three orders of ministers — bishops, priests, and deacons — who always and everywhere trace their commission to the apostles ; that God is pleased to forgive sins in the Church by the priests of the Church ; that the Greek, Roman, and Anglican Churches make up the Church Catholic ; that all outside these are sectaries cut off from the Catholic Church : and it will be easy to believe in a sacrifice to God the Father in the Lord's Supper ; in the cleansing efficacy of Baptism, in which the seed of spiritual life is sown in the soul ; that there are other lesser sacramental rites, namely, Confirmation, Holy Order, Absolution, and Holy Matrimony ; that the bishop takes the apostles' place ; that " the sects " were founded not by Jesus Christ, but by erring men ; that apostolical succession is like the meshes of a large net, but unbroken in the Greek, Anglican, and Roman Churches ; and that the Protestant sects have abandoned the Catholic ministry and sacraments. 1

PREFACE. IX

But the Presbyterian and allied Churches of America do not mean to accept principles such as these ; and they do aim at the instruction of the people in the truth of God's word, as it justified the Reformers' separation from the Roman and Greek Churches. They know the history of apostacy, and of the Dark Ages. They know the conditions of populations given up to sacerdotalism. They understand how ignorance, and the reaction against priestly rule in the name of a " Catholic Church," which all too often takes shape in infidelity, have long contended for the minds of the nations of Europe. They have high historic authority for the belief that the Protestantism of Calvin and of the Puritans saved liberty to England, and gave it a home in America ; and they mean to preserve an independence of churches so corrupt that it was a duty to leave them, which shall be as real and as secure as the independence of the nation.

If the issue and the circulation of Dr. Killen's Ancient Churchy with its fearless statement of historic fact and Scriptural principle, should, through God's blessing, in any degree promote these aims, the venerable author will rejoice with a joy which the present writer — one of his grateful and appreciative students — may be permitted to share. To many Christians in these United States, Dr. Killen's work will recall memories of early lessons, of parental convictions, and of church homes, in which self-reliance as to any creature, and absolute dependence upon the infinite power and grace of the Creator, were inculcated ; and, possibly, tracing the prosperity God has given them to these early teachings, they will renew their resolve to transmit the same heritage of faith, and fearless doing of the right for Christ's sake to their sons and daughters. So the real links are kept bright and strong by which we are bound to the true Church of the living God in all its members and branches ; and so parents and children, pastors and people, in the Church below are trained for the service and the happiness of the Church triumphant.

John Hall,

Minister, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, N. Y. Feb. 8, 1883.

1 Every one of these statements is found in these words in a " Protestant " catechism circulated in New York.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO THE PRESENT EDITION.

Upwards of twenty years ago the following work appeared contemporaneously in London and New York. These English and American editions soon found their way into the hands of readers ; and a second edition, undertaken by a firm in Great Britain, has since been exhausted. The work has been for some time out of print ; and, from various quarters, a desire has been expressed for its republication. The present edition has been carefully revised by the author, and twenty years of additional reading have enabled him to introduce into it considerable improvements. The great facts and principles which it originally enunciated remain unchanged, but several points are illustrated in a somewhat different manner, and, throughout, fresh confirmatory testimonies are subjoined.

College Park, Belfast, August, 1882.

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Prefatory Note To The Second Edition

When the First Edition of this Work appeared, the author was not aware that his views respecting the Ignatian Epistles had the support of Dr. .Bentley. He has since been* delighted to discover that he is, in this matter, sustained by the authority of the greatest of English critics.

In two instances the writer has ventured to dispute the accuracy of the textus receptus of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts ix. 31, p. 224, and Acts xv. 23, p. 75). A communication, received some time ago from Dr. Tischendorf, informs him that both the readings here adopted are those of the recently-discovered Codex Sinaiticus.

The author has been much encouraged by Reviewers of various denominations who have given this volume their approving testimony ; and he begs to call attention to the fact that, though he has often left the path trodden by preceding historians, no attempt has hitherto been made to prove that he has misled his readers.

Belfast, April $0, 1861.

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*

Preface To The Original Edition

The appearance of another history of the early Church requires some explanation. As the progress of the Christian commonwealth for the first three hundred years has been recently described by British, German, and American writers of eminent ability, it may, perhaps, be thought that the subject is now exhausted. No competent judge will pronounce such an opinion. During the last quarter of a century, various questions relating to the Ancient Church, which are almost, if not altogether, ignored in existing histories, have been earnestly discussed ; whilst several documents, lately discovered, have thrown fresh light on its transactions. There are, besides, points of view, disclosing unexplored fields for thought, from which the ecclesiastical landscape has never yet been contemplated. The following work is an attempt to exhibit some of its features as seen from a new position.

The importance of this portion of the history of the Church can scarcely be overestimated. Our attention is here directed to the life of Christ, to the labors of the apostles and evangelists, to the doctrines which they taught, to the form of worship which they sanctioned, to the organization of the community which they founded, and to the indomitable constancy with which its members suffered persecution. The practical bearing of the topics thus brought under review must be sufficiently obvious.

On the interval between the days of the apostles and the conversion of Constantine, the Christian commonwealth changed it aspect. The Bishop of Rome — a personage un-

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xvi PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION.

known to the writers of the New Testament — meanwhile rose into prominence, and at length took precedence of all other churchmen. Rites and ceremonies, of which neither Paul nor Peter ever heard, crept silently into use, and then claimed the rank of Divine institutions. Officers for whom the primitive disciples could have found no place, and titles, which to them would have been altogether unintelligible, began to challenge .'attention, and to be named apostolic. : It is the duty of the historian to endeavor to point out the origin, and to trace the progress of these innovations. A satisfactory account of them must go far to settle more than one of our present controversies. An attempt is here made to lay bare the causes which produced these changes, and to mark the stages of the ecclesiastical revolution. When treating of the rise and growth of the hierarchy, several remarkable facts and testimonies which have escaped the notice of preceding historians are particularly noticed.

L.Some may, perhaps, consider that, in a work such as this, undue prominence has been given to the discussion of the question of the Ignatian Epistles. Those who have carefully examined the subject will scarcely think so. If we accredit these documents, the history of the early Church is thrown into a state of hopeless confusion ; afnd men, taught and honored by the apostles themselves, have inculcated the most dangerous errors. But if their claims vanish, when touched by the wand of truthful criticism, many clouds which have hitherto darkened the ecclesiastical atmosphere disappear; and the progress of corruption can be traced on scientific principles. The special attention of all interested in the Ignatian controversy is invited to the two chapters of this work in which the subject is investigated. Evidence is there produced to prove that these Ignatian letters, even as edited by the very learned and laborious Doctor Cureton, are utterly spurious ; and that they should be swept away from among the genuine remains of early Church literature with the besom of scorn.

Throughout the work very decided views are expressed on a variety of topics ; but it must surely be unnecessary to tender an apology for the free utterance of these sentiments ; for,

Preface To The Original Edition. Xv11

when recording the progress of a revolution affecting the highest interests of man, the narrator can not be expected to divest himself of his cherished convictions ; and very few will venture to maintain that a writer, who feels no personal interest in the great principles brought to light by the Gospel, is, on that account, more competent to describe the faith, the struggles, and the triumphs of the primitive Christians. I am not aware that mere prejudice has ever been permitted to influence my narrative, or that any statement has been made which does not rest upon solid evidence. Some of the views here presented may not have been suggested by any previous investigator, and they may be exceedingly damaging to certain popular theories ; but they should not, therefore, be summarily condemned. Surely every honest effort to explain and reconcile the memorials of antiquity is entitled to a candid criticism. Nor, from those whose opinion is really worthy of respect, do I despair of a kindly reception for this volume. One of the most hopeful signs of the times is the increasing charity of evangelical Christians. There is a growing disposition to discountenance the spirit of religious partisanship, and to bow to the supremacy of TRUTH. I trust that those who are in quest of the old paths trodden by the apostles and the martyrs will find some light to guide them in the following pages.

PERIOD I.

FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, A.D. IOO.

Section I. History Of The Planting And Growth Of The Apostolic

CHURCH.

Chapter I. The Roman Empire At The Time Of The Birth Of Christ

The boundaries of the Empire, . . . . . . . I

Its population, strength, and grandeur, 2

Its orators, poets, and philosophers, 5

The influence of Rome upon the provinces, 6

The languages most extensively spoken, ...... 6

The moral condition of the Empire, 7

The influence of the philosophical sects — the Epicureans, the Stoics,

the Academics, and Plato, 7

The influence of the current Polytheism, 8

The state of the Jews — the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes, 9

Preparations for a great Deliverer, and expectation of His appearance, 9

Chapter II. The Life Of Christ

The date of the Birth of Christ, II

The place of His Birth, II

The visit of the angel to the shepherds, 12

The visit of the Magi — the flight into Egypt — and the murder of the

infants at Bethlehem, 1. 12

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xx CONTENTS.

The presentation in the Temple, 13

The infancy and boyhood of Jesus, 14

His baptism and entrance upon His public ministry, . . . .15

His mysterious movements, 16

The remarkable blanks in the accounts given of Him in the Gospels, . 16

His moral purity, 17

His doctrine and His mode of teaching, 18

His miracles 19

The independence of His proceedings as a reformer, .... 21

The length of His ministry, 22

The Sanhedrim and Pontius Pilate, 22

The Death of Christ, and its significance, 23

His Resurrection, and His appearance afterward only to His own followers, 25

His Ascension, 26

His extraordinary character 27

Supplementary Note on the year of the Birth of Christ, . 28-30

Chapter III. The Twelve And The Seventy

Our Lord during His short ministry trained eighty-two preachers — the

Twelve and the Seventy, 31

Various names of some of the Twelve, 32

Relationship of some of the parties, 34

Original condition of the Twelve, 34

Various characteristics of the Twelve, 34

Twelve, why called Apostles 36

Typical meaning of the appointment of the Twelve and the Seventy, . 37

In what sense the Apostles founded the Church, 39

Why so little notice of the Seventy in the New Testament, . . 41

No account of ordinations of pastors or elders by the Twelve or the

Seventy , .... 42

No succession from the Twelve or Seventy can be traced, ... 42 In what sense the Twelve and Seventy have no successors, and in what

sense they have, 43~44

Chapter IV. The Progress Of The Gospel From The Death Of Christ To The

DEATH OF THE APOSTLE JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JOHN —

The successful preaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem, ... 46

The disciples have all things common, 46

CONTENTS. XXI

The appointment of the deacons, 47

The Apostles refuse to obey the rulers of the Jews, . . . . 48

The date of the martyrdom of Stephen, 49

The Gospel preached in Samaria, 50

The baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch, and of Cornelius the centurion, 51

The conversion of Saul, his character, position, and sufferings, . . 52

His visit to Jerusalem, and vision, . 55

His ministry in Syria and Cilicia, * 56

His appearance at Antioch, 56

Why the disciples were called Christians, 57

Paul and Barnabas sent from Antioch with relief to the poor saints in

Judea, 57

The Apostles leave Jerusalem — why no successor appointed on the

death of James, the brother of John, 58

Why Paul taken up to Paradise, 60

Chapter V. The Ordination Of Paul And Barnabas; Their Missionary

TOUR IN ASIA MINOR; AND THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM —

Previous position of Paul and Barnabas, 62

Why now ordained, 63

Import of ordination, 64

By whom Paul and Barnabas were ordained, 65

They visit Cyprus, Perga, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, and other

places, 66

Ordain elders in every Church, 67

Opposition of the Jews, and dangers of the missionaries, ... 68 Some insist on the circumcision of the Gentile converts, and are resisted by Paul, 70

Why he objected to the proposal, 70

Deputation to Jerusalem about this question, . . ... .71

Constituent members of the Council of Jerusalem, .... 72

Date of the meeting, 73

Not a popular assembly, .73

In what capacity the Apostles here acted, 75

Why the Council said, " It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us," 76

The decision, 77

Why the converts were required to abstain from blood and things

strangled, 77

Importance of the decision, 78

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Chapter VI

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL INTO EUROPE, AND THE MINIS- TRY OF PAUL AT PHILIPPI. — A.D. 52.

Date of Paul's first appearance in Europe, 80

History of Philippi, .80

Jewish Oratory there, 81

Conversion of Lydia, 81

The damsel with the spirit of divination, 81

Paul and Silas before the magistrates, 82

Causes of early persecutions, 83

Paul and Silas in prison 83

Earthquake and alarm of the jailer, 84

Remarkable conversion of the jailer, 85

Alarm of the magistrates 87

Liberality of the Philippians 88

Chapter VII

THE MINISTRY OF PAUL IN THESSALONICA, BEREA, ATHENS, AND CORINTH. — A.D. 52 TO A.D. 54.

Thessalonica and its rulers 89

The more noble Bereans, 91

Athens and its ancient glory, 92

Paul's appearance among the philosophers, 92

His speech on Mars' Hill, 92

Altar to the unknown God 92

The Epicureans and Stoics, 93

The resurrection of the body, a strange doctrine, .... 94

Conversion of Dionysius the Areopagite 95

Corinth in the first century, 95

Paul's success here .96

Works at the trade of a tent-maker, 98

Corinth a centre of missionary operation, 99

The Corinthian Church, and its character, 100

Opposition of Jews, and conduct of the Proconsul Gallio, . . . 100

Paul writes the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, . . 100

Chapter VIII

THE CONVERSION OF APOLLOS ; HIS CHARACTER | AND THE MINISTRY OF PAUL IN EPHESUS. — A.D. 54 TO A.D. 57.

Paul's first visit to Ephesus, 102

Aquila and Priscilla instruct Apollos, 102

CONTENTS. xxm

Position of the Jews in Alexandria, ........ 102

Gifts of Apollos, 103

Ministry of Apollos in Corinth, 103

Paul returns to Ephesus, and disputes in the school of Tyrannus, . 104

The Epistle to the Galatians, 105

Paul's visit to Crete, and perils in the sea, 106

Churches founded at Colosse and elsewhere, 107

Temple of Diana at Ephesus, and the Elphesian letters, . . . 107

Apollonius of Tyana, and Paul's miracles, 108

First Epistle to the Corinthians, 109