To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 15:20:21 -0500
Subject: HF045 - The Early Christian Concept of a Millennium #2
Hebraics,
I wish to provide a second part to Bible Study HF045 - The Early
Christian Concept of a Millennium. In the original study, I shared
quotes from a range of early writers. In part #2, I want to add some
additional information concerning writings of the earliest believers. I
will limit my documentation to the very earliest of the Christian
writers, which will cover the period immediately following the
apostles up to the year 200 A.D. If anyone has doubts as to
whether the early Christians believed in a thousand year reign, this
study should help dispel those doubts.
Also in part #2, I'll draw attention to various sayings by the early
Christians that are not necessarily in regard to the millennium
teaching, but so that you can see just how very apostolic these
disciples were in their thinking.
Perhaps we should address the reason the writings of the earliest
believers are important to us today. These writings are important as
a second witness. When we read the disciples who immediately
followed the apostles, it lets us know how these disciples
understood the apostolic teachings. For the sake of repeating
myself, who would know more about what the apostles taught than
those who were first and second generation believers? And who
would know better what the apostle John had to say about a
millennium than someone who sat directly under his teaching?
Let me again draw attention to the earliest writers. Papias,
Polycarp, Irenaeus, Ignatius, along with others, are considered sub-
apostolic writers. The reason is that these men were born in the
first century. Some of them knew the apostles personally. Papias
is a good example. Papias actually sat at the feet of the apostle
John. How can we discount what this man has to say. He heard
John for himself.
While there are only fragments of the writings of Papias available
today, there are a number of early writers who quote from Papias.
The importance in this is that Papias was not only a student of
John, but he had friendships with a great many other early
disciples who had known the Lord and his apostles.
Once again listen to what Papias says that John taught about the
millennium, as provided by the early church historian Eusebius:
"Among these things, Papias says that there will be a millennium
after the resurrection from the dead, when the personal reign of
Christ will be established on this earth."
But Papias does not stand alone. We have the writings of another
disciple who sat at the feet of the apostle John. I speak here of
Polycarp. Then we have the writings of one of Polycarp's disciples,
Irenaeus. The point being that all these early disciples received the
teaching from John, that there was to be a millennium on the earth
in which Christ would personally be present.
What does Irenaeus say about his mentor Polycarp? He says,
"Polycarp was instructed by the apostles, and was brought into
contact with many who had seen Christ."
A point to be made is that the authenticity of these early writings
are attested to in church history and by a great many theologians
through the ages. Their preservation has come to us through
painstaking care. In fact the early Christians held these second-
witness writings on a second level to the apostolic writings.
But another point needs to be made. Not one of these early writers
ever placed what they had to say on par with the apostles.
Polycarp said, "For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up
to the wisdom of the blessed and glorified Paul. He, when among
you, accurately and steadfastly taught the word of truth in the
presence of those who were then alive." (Epistle of Polycarp to the
Philippians.)
What I would like to do now is share some samplings from the
early writings so that you can hear how these first believers took to
heart the teachings of the apostles. The following excerpts are not
necessarily about the millennium.
Polycarp to Philippians: "For whosoever does not confess that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist, and whoever does
not confess the testimony of the cross, is of the devil; and
whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and
says that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgment, he is the
first-born of Satan."
Clement to the Corinthians; "Love unites us to God. Love covers a
multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in all
things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits
no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in
harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect;
without love nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love has the Lord
taken us to Himself. On account of the Love he bore us, Jesus
Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh
for our flesh, and His soul for our soul."
Mathetes to Diognetus; "Every foreign land is to (Christians) as
their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of
strangers. They marry, as do all others; they beget children; but
they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but
not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after
the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of
heaven."
Mathetes to Diognetus; "...having been a disciple of the Apostles, I
am become a teacher of the Gentiles. I minister the things
delivered to me to those that are disciples worthy of the truth. ...
This is He (Jesus) who was from the beginning, who appeared as if
new, and was found old, and yet who is every born afresh in the
hearts of the saints."
First Apology of Justin; "And on the day called Sunday, all who live
in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the
memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as
long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the
president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these
good things."
May the Lord bless you. If any member has an area they wish a
study to be provided on, please let me know.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)