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Bible and Early Church History  /  After the Apostles – A.D. 150  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 6
Bercot critiques the “pilgrim church lineage” claim by describing how many groups (Waldensians, Lollards, Albigenses, Bogomils, Paulicians, Donatists, Quartodecimans, etc.) are claimed by multiple modern movements that disagree with each other; what does this do to the way you evaluate claims like “we are the original New Testament church,” and what kind of evidence would you require before accepting a lineage story?
Another way to ask: If many different groups all claim the same old movements as their ancestors, how does that affect claims like “we are the original New Testament church”? What kind of proof would you need before you believe a church “lineage” story?

Direct Answer Bercot’s critique pushes you to treat “we are the original New Testament church” claims with skepticism, because competing groups use the same alleged ancestors despite holding conflicting beliefs. He suggests a lineage story should be accepted only with real primary evidence about what those groups actually believed, not just later claims or hostile reports.

Support from Transcript:

  • He recounts Watchtower’s answer that a “pilgrim church… stretches all the way back to the year 100 AD,” listing Waldensians, Lollards, Albigenses, Bogomils, Paulicians, Priscillian, Donatists, Quartesimans.
  • After leaving the Witnesses, he found “these other churches were claiming this same lineage… Anabaptists… Adventists… Baptists… Plymouth Brethren… Holiness Churches,” which “didn’t make sense” because their beliefs differ.
  • His research found “extremely little information” about many groups; what we know often comes from “what their persecutors said,” which “may or may not” be accurate.
  • He says the irony is many taught “the exact opposite” of the churches claiming them; several (Albigenses, Bogomils, Paulicians) were identified as “ascetic Gnostics.”
  • He concludes: “the pilgrim church claim just doesn’t work” as a neat denominational ancestry.
Discussion Follow-ups What sources would you demand—actual writings, consistent doctrines across centuries, independent testimonies? How should we respond when our favorite lineage story rests on thin or biased evidence?

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