Do you know of any documentation on the very first Christian churches founded by the apostles?

[Patrick1966]

First, please accept my apology if my question should be posted in another sub-forum.

The Bible tells us of some of the congregations that Paul started, based on his letters to them. It's my understanding that Peter started a congregation in Rome that, I understand further, eventually became the Catholic Church.

Isn't it likely that the apostles, and then their own disciples, created hundreds of additional congregations throughout the middle-east, Africa, Europe, and Asia? Do you know of any documentation on the very first Christian churches founded by the apostles?

 

[rockytopva]

First, please accept my apology if my question should be posted in another sub-forum.

The Bible tells us of some of the congregations that Paul started, based on his letters to them. It's my understanding that Peter started a congregation in Rome that, I understand further, eventually became the Catholic Church.

Isn't it likely that the apostles, and then their own disciples, created hundreds of additional congregations throughout the middle-east, Africa, Europe, and Asia? Do you know of any documentation on the very first Christian churches founded by the apostles?

Were any besides Paul interested in Gentiles?

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. - Galatians 2

 

[Enoch111]

Do you know of any documentation on the very first Christian churches founded by the apostles?

The documentation is within the New Testament. Paul speaks of "the churches" (plural) in Galatia, and elsewhere he simply refers to "all the churches". So just stick with the Bible. Churches were established throughout the Roman empire while the apostles were alive, and Thomas went to India to establish churches (which is not recorded in the Bible). Other apostles went to other parts of the world, and no doubt the saved Ethiopian established a church in Ethiopia.

 

[Patrick1966]

St. Thomas in India, per Wiki, FWIW.

Ezharappallikal, meaning seven and a royal church, are the seven major churches or Christian communities of Saint Thomas Christians across Malabar Coast of India that are believed to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century.[1] According to Indian Christian traditions, the Apostle Thomas arrived in Muziris (Kodungallur) in AD 52, established the Ezharappallikal (Seven royal churches or Seven and a half Churches) and evangelised in present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[2][3][4]

Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Patrick1966]

This congregation in India traces its roots back to St. Thomas. It is a Catholic church today. I'm curious what they called themselves prior be becoming "Catholic", which came to existence some time later, correct?



The Palayur Church,also known as St Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, is a tourist favorite near Guruvayur - 13 km from the Railway station. Located at Palayur (also spelt Palayoor), in Thrissur district of Kerala on the west coast of India this church was established in 52 AD by St. Thomas, an apostle of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest church in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who not only preached and but also started conversion of people to Christianity here.

 

[rockytopva]

This congregation in India traces its roots back to St. Thomas. It is a Catholic church today. I'm curious what they called themselves prior be becoming "Catholic", which came to existence some time later, correct?


View attachment 27798
The Palayur Church,also known as St Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, is a tourist favorite near Guruvayur - 13 km from the Railway station. Located at Palayur (also spelt Palayoor), in Thrissur district of Kerala on the west coast of India this church was established in 52 AD by St. Thomas, an apostle of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest church in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who not only preached and but also started conversion of people to Christianity here.

Yes… The church in Thyatirean times. A lot has changed since then. - The "7 Church Ages" Prophecy

 

[Enoch111]

This congregation in India traces its roots back to St. Thomas. It is a Catholic church today.

As was the case with the seven churches in Asia Minor (now Turkey) Bible truth and Gospel truth began to be replaced by the traditions of men and false doctrines crept in. And that would have been true in India also. But the important thing to note -- which is what this thread is about -- is that Bible Christianity also spread rapidly and continued alongside false Christianity. There were many churches in Europe and the Middle East which were outside the influence of the church of Rome. As we see in the book of Romans. Paul may have established New Testament churches in Spain. But eventually Spain became strongly Catholic.

 

[Patrick1966]

I don't know about the veracity of the claims here, but the author does touch on to churches being founded in the Orient.

[link removed.Please read forum rules regarding links in posts]

As all historians have stated that the Christian Church survived the Roman persecution and continued to exist afterwards. The church lived as one church with one faith, one baptism (Eph 4:5), common dogmas, and very closed rituals throughout the whole world for about five centuries. There were no denominations or sects in the Christian church. Churches at that time were named after a few big cities in the world not because of differences in faith, but merely to make administration of the churches achievable.

The sad division between the churches took place in year 451 AD in the Chalcedon Council. In this council, bishops representing churches from all over the world assembled to discuss matters related to the person of Christ. At the end of the meeting, a sharp division occurred among these churches. The Oriental Orthodox Churches decided on continuing to follow the same faith as it was delivered from Christ and His disciples, and these churches continue to do so until today. These churches are the Coptic Orthodox Church (Egypt), the Syrian Orthodox Church (Syria), the Indian Orthodox Church (India), The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Ethiopia), and The Armenian Church (Armenia). The other churches decided to be in the other camp, let us refer to them here as the Western Churches.

 

[Pathfinder7]

evangelised in present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Mission journey/story of Thomas is interesting..
- in Christian history of India.
---
I was in Chennai (the capital city of Tamil Nadu)..
- short trip..years ago.

 

[DJT_47]

Yeah, the book of Acts. Acts 2, the church in Jerusalem amongst the Jews and Acts 10, the church amongst the Gentiles in Caesarea.

 

[Vilianaanj]

Where is administration?
I'ts important.
Regards.

Где администрация?
Речь идет о рекламе на вашем сайте.
С уважением.

 

[Patrick1966]

The apostle Mark purportedly began the Christian church in Egypt.

 

[Berserk]

(Peter taught in Rome in the mid-60s AD just prior to his martyrdom, but did not found the church of Rome. It was already founded in the late 40s. Priscilla and Aquila (both Jewish Christians) were expelled from Rome around 48 AD due to the edict of Claudius (Acts 18:2). Suetonius reports that Claudius "expelled all Jews from Rome because of a revolt led by Chrestus." Claudius was confused about the real cause of Jewish unrest there. "Chrestus" is the Latin mispelling of "Christus." So what was actually happening is that Jewish Christians were entering synagogues in Rome and converting Jews and annoyed Jews were rioting against these Jewish Christians.

Priscilla and Aquila probably founded the original house church at Rome (Romans 16:3-5). But the best candidate as the founder of the Roman Church is Priscilla. In 4 of the 6 times the NT mentions this couple, Priscilla is mentioned before her husband, but in patriarchal society the husband would be mentioned first. Why the reversal? Evidently because Priscilla did the actual missionary work, while Aquila plied his trad as a tentmaker to pay the bills (Acts 18:3). In the earliest description of the composition of the early church of Rome, Tatian complains that it is many composed of women and children. So who converted these women? Probably Christian women. Priscilla is never given credit for founding the Roman Catholic church because of her gender!

 

[Patrick1966]

(Peter taught in Rome in the mid-60s AD just prior to his martyrdom, but did not found the church of Rome. It was already founded in the late 40s. Priscilla and Aquila (both Jewish Christians) were expelled from Rome around 48 AD due to the edict of Claudius (Acts 18:2). Suetonius reports that Claudius "expelled all Jews from Rome because of a revolt led by Chrestus." Claudius was confused about the real cause of Jewish unrest there. "Chrestus" is the Latin mispelling of "Christus." So what was actually happening is that Jewish Christians were entering synagogues in Rome and converting Jews and annoyed Jews were rioting against these Jewish Christians.

Priscilla and Aquila probably founded the original house church at Rome (Romans 16:3-5). But the best candidate as the founder of the Roman Church is Priscilla. In 4 of the 6 times the NT mentions this couple, Priscilla is mentioned before her husband, but in patriarchal society the husband would be mentioned first. Why the reversal? Evidently because Priscilla did the actual missionary work, while Aquila plied his trad as a tentmaker to pay the bills (Acts 18:3). In the earliest description of the composition of the early church of Rome, Tatian complains that it is many composed of women and children. So who converted these women? Probably Christian women. Priscilla is never given credit for founding the Roman Catholic church because of her gender!

Great post! Thank you! I'm sending you a private message.