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Bible and Early Church History  /  After the Apostles – A.D. 150  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 1
David Bercot argues that many Christians functionally believe “the church went apostate as soon as the apostles died” because they can’t find their distinctive doctrines in second-century writings; what does that assumption imply about Jesus’ ability to build and preserve His kingdom, and why does Bercot call that implication an accusation that the apostles were “failures”?
Another way to ask: If the church became unfaithful right after the apostles died, what does that say about Jesus’ power to build and keep His kingdom? Why does Bercot say that idea makes the apostles look like “failures”?

Direct Answer The assumption implies that Jesus’ kingdom and gospel could not continue in a stable, recognizable way beyond the apostles’ lifetimes—almost as if Jesus could not preserve what He started. Bercot calls this an accusation that the apostles were “failures” because it suggests Spirit-inspired, handpicked foundation leaders couldn’t accomplish what later, uninspired founders supposedly did.

Support from Transcript:

  • He says many groups must claim “the church went apostate… almost as soon as the last Apostle John died” because their distinctives aren’t found in the year 100–200 writings.
  • He argues this makes the apostles look worse than later leaders: Charles Russell’s movement “has stayed on course now for a century,” so “why couldn’t the Apostles do that?”
  • He presses the point: the apostles were “inspired teachers” and “12 men that Jesus had personally handpicked,” so immediate collapse would mean they were “such poor church planters.”
  • He contrasts this with Jesus’ kingdom parables and Great Commission promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”—not “collapse and restart.”
  • He cites Revelation’s image: the New Jerusalem has “12 foundation stones… the 12 apostles,” so total collapse would mean Jesus chose bad foundation stones.
Discussion Follow-ups If Jesus promised continuity, why do we feel safer assuming the early Christians were wrong than testing our own assumptions? What would change if we treated second-century Christianity as our baseline instead of our embarrassment?

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