The Apostles' Doctrine (Part 1)

I. Introduction

What is the Church of Jesus Christ?

• Jesus’ Promise of the Church

• The Apostolic Gospel

• The Body of Christ

• The Apostles' Doctrine (Part 1)

II. The activity of the original church

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Definition of “devote” from Louw-Nida: to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty– ‘to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in.’

III. The Apostles?

A. Who were they and where do they get their authority? (Mark 3:13-19)

B. How can we be sure that what they have preached, taught and written is from Christ?

1. Christ promised that the Triune God would be with them to witness to the world. (John 14-16)

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

2. Signs and Wonders accompanied their ministry.

Acts 14:3 ESV

3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Hebrews 2:1–4 ESV

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

3. The word of the apostles had to survive the apostles to reach the world!

A. The Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:12–15 ESV

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

1 Corinthians 14:37 ESV

37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

B. What are the actual Scriptures? Who wrote them?

1. Matthew – the Apostle Matthew

2. Mark – the interpreter of the Apostle Peter

“This also the presbyter said: Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not indeed in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ.9 For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord’s discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.” These things are related by Papias concerning Mark.[1]

[1] Eusebius of Caesaria, “The Church History of Eusebius,” in Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, trans. Arthur Cushman McGiffert, vol. 1, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1890), 172–173.

3. Luke – the companion of the Apostle Paul

Colossians 4:14 ESV

14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

2 Timothy 4:11 ESV

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Philemon 24 ESV

24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Luke is also the writer of the Acts of the apostles.

Luke 1:1–4 ESV

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Acts 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4. John – the Apostle and brother of James, the son of Zebedee, one of the sons of Thunder.

5. Romans - Philemon (13) – the Apostle Paul

6. Hebrews – the author is unknown but is attested by Timothy who was the companion of the Apostle Paul and those who received the letter.

Hebrews 13:22–23 ESV

22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.

The Catholic Epistles (as early as the 4th century; see Eusebius, H.E. 2.23.25)

7. James – the brother of the Lord, the most prominent James in the early church aside from the Apostle James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, who was martyred early by Herod (Acts 12:2).

8. 1 & 2 Peter – the Apostle Peter

9. 1, 2, & 3 John – the Apostle John

10. Jude – the brother of the Lord

Mark 6:3 ESV

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

11. Revelation – the Apostle John