Timeless Apostolic Traditions - PowerPoint Presentation

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Timeless Apostolic Traditions

The Practice Of The Early Church Steve Atkerson ~ Atlanta, Georgia New Testament Reformation Fellowship

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“We are not aiming at mere technical correctness. It is spiritual reality we are after . . .

— Watchman Nee, Concerning Our Missions (Introduction, p. g – h)

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It is wearisome to me, if not actually repulsive, to talk with folk who aim at perfect outward correctness, whilst they care little for that which is vital and spiritual . . .

— Watchman Nee, Concerning Our Missions (Introduction, p. g – h)

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It is death to have a wineskin without wine . . .

— Watchman Nee, Concerning Our Missions (Introduction, p. g – h)4Slide5

It is loss to have wine without a wineskin . . .

with those to whom life and reality are a matter of supreme importance, the temptation is to throw away the divine pattern of things, thinking it legal and technical. They feel that they have the greater and can therefore well dispense with the lesser. As a result . . . He considers that he himself has authority to decide on outward matters, and rather fancies that to ignore God’s commands regarding them is an indication that he has been delivered from legality and is walking in the liberty of the Spirit . . . 5Slide6

God prizes the inner reality, but he does not ignore its outward expression . . .

God has revealed His Will, not only by giving orders, but by having certain things done in His Church, so that in ages to come others might simply look at the pattern and know his will . . .” — Watchman Nee, Concerning Our Missions (Introduction, p. g – h)

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tHE traditions of the

apostLes: obsolete?The Practice Of The Early Church

www.NTRF.org

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Ways of the Apostles

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Ways of the Apostles

Some other way9Slide10

Ways of the Apostles

Some other way10Slide11

“Our assumption, along with many others, is that unless Scripture explicitly tells us we must do something, what is merely narrated or described can never function in a normative way”

— Fee and Stuart, How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth p. 97, first edition

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1 Corinthians 4:14-171 Corinthians 11:34

Titus 1:5Argument One: Following Apostolic Traditions is Logical

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Form Follows Function

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Function = Sell Fertilizer

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Form = Call on Farmers

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Not ballet studios!

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The function

of a New Testament church is best carried out by the New Testament form of the church.17Slide18

“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might

straighten out what was left unfinished” — Titus 1:5 (NIV)18Slide19

“The rest I will set in order

when I come” — 1 Corinthians 11:34 (KJV)19Slide20

“They (the Apostles) have taught us by

example how to organize and govern churches. We have no right to reject their instruction and captiously insist that nothing but positive command shall bind us. Instead of choosing to walk in a way of our own devising, we should take pleasure to walk in the footsteps of those holy men from whom we have received the word of life . . . respect for the Spirit by which they were led should induce us to prefer their modes of organization and government to such as our

inferior wisdom might suggest” — J.L. DaggManual of Church Orderp. 84-86

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1 Corinthians 11:2Titus 1:5

Argument Two: Following Apostolic Traditions is Praiseworthy

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Teachings

— versus —Traditions?22Slide23

“teaching”

didachésomething that is taught,a precept or doctrine

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And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles‘

teaching (didaché) . . .— NAS Acts 2:42

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“teaching”

didachésomething that is taught,a precept or doctrine

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paradosis

(not didaché)“Traditions” (ESV, NAS)26Slide27

“Tradition”

In English, a tradition is usually thought of as a custom or way of doing things that is handed down.27Slide28

“Tradition”

In English, a tradition is usually thought of as a custom or way of doing things that is handed down.Webster’s says it is an inherited pattern of thought or action.28Slide29

“Traditions”

paradosis29Slide30

“Traditions”

paradosis“that which is handed down”(be it information or custom)— Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, Danker, p. 615

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Practice

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Practice

Teaching32Slide33

paradosis

1. Handed down practice“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on (paradidomi) to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread . . .”— 1 Corinthains

11:23 (NIV)33Slide34

paradosis

2. Handed down teachingParadosis was also a technical term in first century Judaism for the oral transmission of religious instruction.

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paradosis

2. Handed down teachingParadosis was also a technical term in first century Judaism for the oral transmission of religious instruction.

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Summary

That which is handed over could be:1.) The tradition of a certain custom or way of doing things (such as Lord’s Supper). 2.) The tradition of a certain teaching (as in Judaism)

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In his commentary on 1 Corinthians, Gordon Fee pointed out that although the Greek word for tradition,

paradosis, is “a technical term in Judaism for oral transmission of religious instruction. In this case it almost certainly does not refer to ‘teachings’ (as it does in 15:3), but to the ‘traditions’ that have to do with worship” — New International Commentary on the New Testament, p. 499

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What application could be drawn from the fact that the word “tradition

s” (1Co 11:2) is in the plural?38Slide39

Paul had in mind more than the

one tradition of head coverings. 39Slide40

Paul had in mind more than the

one tradition of head coverings. He was pleased that the church held to all of his traditions for church practice.

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“Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

— Jesus, Matthew 15:2 (NIV)

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Jesus blasted

the Pharisees for holding to the tradition of the elders.42Slide43

Jesus blasted the Pharisees for holding to the tradition of the elders.

Paul blessed the Corinthians for following the traditions of the apostles.43Slide44

Some Jewish traditions went against the commands of God (Mt 15).

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Some Jewish traditions went against the commands of God (Mt 15).

All apostolic traditions are consistent with the commands of Jesus.45Slide46

DISCLAIMER

We do not advocate the supposed apostolic tradition found in church history as claimed by Greek Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. 46Slide47

DISCLAIMER

We do not advocate the supposed apostolic tradition found in church history as claimed by Greek Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. Instead, we promote only those apostolic traditions that can be found in the pages of the New Testament.

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DISCLAIMER

We do not advocate the supposed apostolic tradition found in church history as claimed by Greek Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. Instead, we promote only those apostolic traditions that can be found in the pages of the New Testament. It is our privilege to leave the muddied water of church history and drink at the pure spring water of inspired New Testament writings.

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The Paradigm Principle

Mosaic legislation was paradigmatic in nature.

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We argue that adherence to apostolic traditions is paradigmatic in nature.

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We argue that adherence to apostolic traditions is paradigmatic in nature.

If we observe that the apostles were pleased when churches followed specific traditions, then we are expected to apply that example to other patterns we see modeled by the apostles in their establishment of churches.51Slide52

1 Corinthians 11:161 Corinthians 14:33-36

Argument Three: Following Apostolic Traditions is to be Universal

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“The pivot point hangs on whether or not God has revealed a universal pattern for the church in the New Testament. If He has not, then anything will do so long as it works. But I am convinced that nothing so dear to the heart of Christ as His Bride should be left without explicit instructions as to her corporate conduct. I am further convinced that the 20th century has in no way simulated this pattern in its method of ‘churching’ a community . . . it is incumbent upon me, if God has a pattern for the church, to find and establish that pattern, at all costs.”

— Jim ElliotShadow of The AlmightySlide54

Philippians 4:8-9

Argument Four: Following Apostolic Traditions Brings God’s Peaceful Presence

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“Acts is the ‘genesis’ of the church’s history, and the Church in the time of Paul is the ‘genesis’ of the Spirit’s work . . . we must return to ‘the beginning.’

Only what God has set forth as our example in the beginning is the eternal Will of God. It is the Divine standard and our pattern for all time . . . God has revealed His Will, not only by giving orders, but by having certain things

done in His church, so that in the ages to come others might simply look at the pattern and know His will”— Watchman NeeThe Church And The Work: Rethinking The Work , p. 8-9

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“Acts is the ‘genesis’ of the church’s history, and the Church in the time of Paul is the ‘genesis’ of the Spirit’s work . . . we must return to ‘the beginning.’

Only what God has set forth as our example in the beginning is the eternal Will of God. It is the Divine standard and our pattern for all time . . . God has revealed His Will, not only by giving orders, but by having certain things

done in His church, so that in the ages to come others might simply look at the pattern and know His will”— Watchman NeeThe Church And The Work: Rethinking The Work , p. 8-9

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2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

Argument Five: Following Apostolic Traditions Is Commanded

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What conclusion can be drawn about God’s desire for the modern church to follow New Testament patterns for church practice?

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FEE & STUART REVISED

“unless Scripture explicitly tells us we must do something, what is only narrated or described does not function in a normative way — unless it can be demonstrated on other grounds that the author intended it to function in this way”— Fee & Stuart How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth

p. 106, 2nd ed.

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FEE & STUART REVISED

“unless Scripture explicitly tells us we must do something, what is only narrated or described does not function in a normative way — unless it can be demonstrated on other grounds that the author intended it to function in this way”— Fee & Stuart How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth p. 106, 2

nd ed.

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What are some apostolic traditions

that should still be followed today?62Slide63

1. Communion

a. An actual meal Rehearsal dinner for the marriage banquet of the Lamb. A sacred, covenant feast, a holy meal b. A time of fellowship and encouragement

c. Celebrated weekly d. The main reason for gathering each week

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2. “Worship Services”

a. Style: Participatory (not a service at all) b. Goal: Mutual edification (not just worship)

c. Emphasis: One Another (not one man)

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3. Church Polity (Government)

Elder-led congregational consensus (Not simply elder rule) (Not majority rule)65Slide66

Smaller Churches

House Churches or Church Houses? Smallish churches vs. mega churchesNot too small, not too big

5. Gathering weekly on the Lord’s Day

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Support for

Full-Time Workers (missionaries, pastor-teachers, evangelists, etc.)67Slide68

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6. Distinguish church meetings from ministry meetingsSlide69

APPLICATION

We argue for consistency. Most churches already follow a few of these patterns, but not all. 69Slide70

APPLICATION

We argue for consistency. Most churches already follow a few of these patterns, but not all. Our question is: Why not? 70Slide71

APPLICATION

We argue for consistency. Most churches already follow a few of these patterns, but not all. Our question is: Why not? This consistency is especially important since the apostles expected for all churches to follow their traditions “just as” (1Co 11:2) they were handed down.

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CONCLUSIONSSlide74

CONCLUSIONS

1. God directs by pattern as well as precept, by traditions and well as teachings.Slide75

CONCLUSIONS

1. God directs by pattern as well as precept, by traditions and well as teachings.The church-life patterns in the New Testament are generally applicable in all ages and places.Slide76

CONCLUSIONS

1. God directs by pattern as well as precept, by traditions and well as teachings.The church-life patterns in the New Testament are generally applicable in all ages and places.Apostolic traditions are consistent with apostolic teachings.Slide77

CONCLUSIONS

1. God directs by pattern as well as precept, by traditions and well as teachings.The church-life patterns in the New Testament are generally applicable in all ages and places.Apostolic traditions are consistent with apostolic teachings.

The most important traditions: Lord’s Supper, Participatory Meetings, Church Government, Home-based, Home-sized Churches.Slide78

CONCLUSIONS

1. God directs by pattern as well as precept, by traditions and well as teachings.The church-life patterns in the New Testament are generally applicable in all ages and places.Apostolic traditions are consistent with apostolic teachings.

The most important traditions: Lord’s Supper, Participatory Meetings, Church Government, Smaller Churches.

5. Without Christ at the center, any pattern is legalism and death, a hollow form, an empty shell. We need the proper wineskin, but more importantly we need the wine. Yet both have their place. Either one without the other is problematic.

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