Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 3
David argues that “the New Testament is our only inspired witness,” yet also insists the early Christian writings are uniquely valuable because they come from a time when “everywhere on earth, all Christians believed the same thing”; what does this assume about early Christian unity, and how does that assumption challenge the modern comfort with endless denominations that all claim “Bible only”?
Another way to ask: If early Christians mostly believed the same things, what does that say about church unity back then? How does that challenge today’s comfort with lots of denominations that all say “Bible only”?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
It assumes there was a meaningful, shared unity of belief in the early post-apostolic church that could be traced back to the apostles. That challenges the modern idea that contradictory “Bible only” interpretations can all be equally faithful.
- David: “The New Testament is… our only inspired witness to what the historic faith was.”
- Yet he argues early writings show what Christians believed when there was “still just one church where everywhere on earth, all Christians believed the same thing.”
- He connects unity to traceability: they “could trace it back to the days of the apostles.”
- He contrasts that with today: “thousands and thousands of different churches… [that] teach contradictory things.”
- He values writings from people “right after the apostles died,” including “men who were personally discipled by the apostles,” as a witness to early understanding.