The Pillar of the Apostles' Teaching
Four pillars undergird the life of the church: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer, Acts 2:42. Note the definite article in all four expressions, ‘the apostle's doctrine, the fellowship, the breaking of the bread and the prayers.’
The Pillar of the Apostles' Teaching
A key component of the Apostles teaching is the Gospel of Christ. Both Jesus and the disciples give themselves to preaching. Jesus modelled a priority of preaching:
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” Matthew 4:17. Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” . . . He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach, Mark 1:38; 3:14. This is our continuing responsibility: Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation Mark 16:15.
The disciples obey this command.
Paul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God Acts 9:20. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead, Acts 10:42.
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:10
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house, Acts 20:20. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power . . . but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 1 Corinthians 1:17, 23. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8.
Jesus asserts, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31). The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. To be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ requires regular engagement with the Bible.
Again and again in Acts the expression Word refers to the 'Word of God,' 'the scriptures,' 'the word of God,' 'ministry of the word’. There is a strong emphasis on the word of God, taught and obeyed.
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness . . .
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly, Acts 4:29, 31.
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables . . . and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith, Acts 6:2, 4, 7.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went, Acts 8:4.
After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages, Acts 8:25.
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, Acts 10: 36.
The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God, Acts 11:1 . . . Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit,’ . . . Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews, Acts 11:1, 16, 19.
But the word of God continued to spread and flourish, Acts 12:24.
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper . . . who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God . . On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord . . . Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles . . . When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honoured the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed . . . The word of the Lord spread through the whole region, Acts 13:5, 7, 44, 44, 46, 48, 49.
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders . . . and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, Acts 14:3, 25.
After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe . . . But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord . . . Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing,” Acts 15:7, 35, 36.
Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia . . . Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house, Acts 16:6, 32.
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true Acts, 17:11.
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, Acts 18:5.
This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord . . . In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power, Acts 19:10, 20.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified, Acts 20:32. (Acts 2:42; 4:29, 31; 6:2, 4, 7; 8:4, 25; 10:36; 11:1, 16, 19; 12:24; 13:5, 7, 44, 46, 48, 49; 14:3, 25; 15:7, 35, 36; 16:6, 32; 17:11; 18:5; 19:10, 20; 20:32).
In the first century church there is a body of distinctive Christian teaching held as a sacred deposit from God. Clearly, early church members are taught the Bible.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrineand refute those who oppose it. (Philippians 2:14–16; Colossians 2:6–7; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Timothy 4:6; 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:13–14; 4:3; Titus 1:9}
This body of doctrinal and Christian living instruction, is variously known as ‘the apostles teaching,’ ‘the word of life,’‘the pattern of doctrine,’ the apostolic ‘traditions,’ ‘the deposit,’ the ‘sound words.’ This teaching provides the foundation of Christian ministry.
It is to be held firm (Jude 3; and especially in Hebrews 3:1; 4:14; 10:23). It is to be handed on to other believers as the apostolic men themselves had received it (see 1 Corinthians 11:23ff.; 15:3, where the verbs, ‘received,’ ‘delivered,’ are technical terms for the transmission of authoritative teaching; and utilized in the public preaching of the gospel). In fact, the term ‘gospel’ designates the same word of truth, which proclaims God’s redeeming mercy in Christ to men (Romans 2:16; 16:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1ff.).
Churches and individual Christians are to be devoted to the Pillar of the Apostles' Teaching. It is to be one of four pillars the local church and Christians are built on. The church’s mandate is to: ‘Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
Dr Keith Graham