The Early Christian community and the contemporary Church (part 1)

Greek: Didache = apostles’ teaching 

Greek word ‘Koinonia’= fellowship + to have communion with others or take part in something 

verse (Acts 2:42-47)  44-45: 

'All believer were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need'

defined fellowship in the early church as:

. having possessions in common /sharing food /praying together 

Overall a collaborative  effort to let the holy spirit live within them and in their lives

Two Different interpretations: 

-in recognition/inspired by  The Last Supper  (Acts 2:42)

'They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer'

-A shared meal suggested by Acts 2:46 

'Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts'

Overall, Both practices reflect cohesive relationships with each other and union with God

Apostles & followers continued to adhere to Jewish custom & went to the Temple to pray  3 times a day 

(Acts 2:46)

'Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts'. 

(Acts 3:11 and Acts 5:12) -they met 'in Solomon's portico'(porch), where gentiles/followers would worship this shows: 

. Pentecost experience = so intense that it compelled them to seek constant fellowship with God and with each other

. Allowed pious Jews to be introduced to Jesus as the Messiah + Resurrection

. They were aware that prayer was the main source of their strength as a community- includes praise, adoration, thanksgiving, petition, confession and giving God glory

Early Christians sold their possesions & goods for the less fortunate 

Acts 2:44-45

. 'All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need'

. BUT there was no sign of religious communism or enforced distribution of wealth or class warfare & communal wealth not compulsory 

. What Luke is testifying to is the voluntary, loving, and selfless disposition of the early Christians

. The Holy Spirit  acting in their lives caused them to care for the less fortunate & practice almsgiving