Partnership One With Another
Chapter 6 House Churches In The New TestamentThere
is much to be learned from observing the recorded churches in the New
Testament. A look at their unity amid great diversity will give us a
model to grow toward. A look at their simplicity of structure and
freedom in Christ gives us a model uncomplicated by the world. A look
at their explosive growth despite agonizing persecution will give us a
model to reach forward to.
The household is the basic social
unit that God has set in place. It is no accident that in the New
Testament the church that moved the gospel across the continent of
Europe was made up of diverse household churches.
In the Old
Testament, the household was the basic unit of the society. It is the
one social institution that has stood throughout history. God gave Eve
to Adam and set up the first household, the only social entity that God
has initiated. The Jews were of the household of Abraham according to
the flesh. The church (ekklesia) is the household of God, and Christ
Jesus is the head of the family. We are God's "called out" family. Each
local assembly (ekklesia) of believers is a household in the family of
God, with elders. (shepherd)
The New Testament
churches flourished as they followed God's established order of
households. Since God is the same now as He was then, and we are still
in the age of grace, the order has not changed. If we are to experience
the power and explosive results of the early church, we must follow
God's order and arrangement.
Every church mentioned in the
bible is a household church. There were no church buildings built until
the late third century when governments began to take control of the
church
The Churches at Jerusalem:
It was in Jerusalem
that about 3000 people were born again on the day of Pentecost. Acts
2:41 tells us that they "continued ... from house to house." Simple
arithmetic makes it plain that there were at least fifty to sixty house
churches to accommodate that number of people. In Acts 4:4 we see
another 5000 "men" saved. The fact that the Word points out that it was
5000 "men", indicates that along with these men came their households.
We don't know how many people were part of the growth explosion in the
early part of the book of Acts, but we know there were many households.
It was in this context that in Acts 5:42 we are told that "daily ... in
every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
The churches at Philippi:
Throughout
the New Testament, the churches mentioned are all groups of God's
called out people meeting together in households. It is significant to
note that the first church in Europe was in the household of a woman
named Lidia. In Acts 16:34 it is called "the house of Lidia." If she
was not the head of the household it would have been called the house
of Lidia's husband's name. Lidia was a single, business woman who was
the head of her own household. It is worth taking note that God chose
her to provide the home and leadership for the first church in the
European continent. We could profit much by reading Galatians 3:28
again and realizing that with God there is neither male nor female in
the church of grace.
Soon to follow was the house of the
Philippian jailer. (Acts 16:34) By the time the letter to
the Philippians was written there were more churches , as can be known
from the introduction of the letter. It is addressed to saints,
bishops, (plural) and ministers. (plural)
The Churches at Corinth:
In
the area of Corinth there are four churches specifically mentioned. How
many more there were we don't know. The Bible only tells us about these
four. In Acts 18:1-4 we learn of the church that was in the
household of Pricilla and Aquilla. This husband wife team was an
important part of the advance of church in three key European cities;
Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth. Paul considers them to be sunergous or
co-workers, trusted and able to live and carry the gospel just as Paul
himself.
Also mentioned is the church that met in the house of
Gaius, where Paul stayed when he wrote the letter to the Romans.
(Romans 16:23) The household of Stephanas is greeted in the
first chapter of First Corinthians. It is also mentioned in I
Corinthians 16:15,16 as a model church that the believers should
pattern themselves after. Paul wrote that the household of Stephanas
had "addicted themselves to the ministry." (I Cor. 16:15) What a
commentary to their believing. What a pattern for us in this lethargic
time. Another church mentioned in Corinth is the household
of Choe, which was embroiled in contention. (I Cor. 1:11)
The Churches at Ephesus:
When
Paul came to Ephesus he found twelve men who were believers. Twelve men
equals twelve households. We don't know how many of these households
hosted meetings of the church. We do know that Paul stayed in Ephesus
for two years and three months and taught the word of God. The Bible
tells us that all of Asia heard the gospel during that time. Paul
didn't personally speak the word to every person in Asia. Each person
that received the gospel and believed knew that part of being a
believer was to carry the message they had been called out to carry.
God has not changed. It is still our responsibility to carry out the
ministry of reconciliation. There must have been many
household churches scattered across Asia at the end of that two year
period.
The Churches at Colosse:
The church in the house of
Archippus, which Philemon was a member, is mentioned in Philemon
chapter two. The book of Colossians speaks of Nymphas and the church in
her (1) house.
The Churches at Rome:
The sixteenth
chapter of Romans is rich with information about the nature of the
early church. Great unity was intermixed with great diversity. Careful
study of this chapter will reveal much for us to strive for in our
relationships with one another.
There are five Roman
households mentioned in the Bible. The first is Priscilla and Aquilla's
house. The second is the household of Aristobulus. Another is the house
of Narcissus. The fourth is "Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas,
Hermes and the brethren with them." Fifth, "Philologus and Julia,
Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saint which are with
them."
In the sixteenth chapter of Romans there are
twenty-seven believers named. A close look at the names will reveal
much more about the diversity of the church. There are sixteen Greek
names, six Roman, four Hebrew and one Persian. Six of the twenty-seven
are women. There are great Roman nobility alongside slaves, and
freemen. Unity and love among such a diverse group of people is only
possible if they are walking according to the Spirit and not the
flesh. Below is the list:
Phoebe 16:1,2 Greek, literal: moon god, woman,
called diakonos, prostatis (minister or elder)
Priscilla 16:3 Roman, literal: little Prisca, woman
(of the Prisca family, royalty) called sunergous (coworker)
Aquilla 16:3 Hebrew, literal: eagle, called sunergous (coworker)
Epaenetus 16:5 Greek, literal: praised
Mary 16:6 Hebrew, literal: bitterness
Andronicus 16:7 Greek, literal: man of victory, called apostolos.
Junia 16:7 Roman, woman, called apostolos
Amplias 16:8 Roman, literal: enlarged
Urbane 16:9 Greek, literal: to enlarge
Stachys 16:9 Greek, literal: head of grain
Apelles 16:10 Roman Form of Apollo
Aristobulus 16:10 Greek, literal: Best counselor
Herodion 16:11 Hebrew, named for Herod
Tryphosa 16:12 Greek, literal: luxurious or feeble, woman
Persis 16:12 Persian, literal: Persian woman
Rufus 16:13 Roman, literal: red
Asyncritus 16:14 Greek, literal: not compared
Phlegon 16:14 Greek, literal: blazing
Hermas 16:14 Greek, literal: messenger (Mercury)
Patrobas 16:14 Greek, literal: father of life
Hermes 16:14 Greek, literal: messenger (Mercury)
Philologus 16:15 Greek, literal: fond of words (talkative)
Julia 16:15 Roman, literal: curly haired, woman of the house of
Julius, Roman Nobility
Nereus 16:15 Greek literal: wet, or boat
Olympas 16:15 Greek, literal: heavenly (Greek God)
Location of other Household Churches:
Athens Acts 17:22
Amphipolis Acts 17:1
Antioch of Pisidia Acts 13:14
Antioch of Syria Acts 13:1
Apollonia Acts 17:1
Asia I Peter1:1
Laodicea Colossians 4:15
Lystra Acts 14:20
Berea Acts 17:10
Bithynia I Peter 1:1
Caesarea Acts 21:8
Cappadocia I Peter 1:1
Crete Titus 1:5
Derbe Acts 20:4
Galatia Galatians 1:1
Iconium Acts 16:2
Neapolis Acts 16:11
Tarsus Acts 9:11
Thesalonica Acts 17:1
Troas Acts 20:5
There
were many churches and individual believers not mentioned in the Bible
who stood, lived and died for their believing. Each of those believers
was a key to God's plan to proclaim the gospel. Each believer today, as
part of God's called out household is key to God's plan to move His
word to the people around them.
Let's experience again the
power of God in Christ in us. Let us take hold of God's order for the
church and make it live. Once again we can really say, "I'm a part of
the household of God.)
Link to Chapter 7
By Neil Tolman
1996
