Direct Answer
The transcript does not directly describe how early Christians approached apostolic teaching. It only says that to discover the “course of performance” of the New Testament churches, Christians must go to primary sources rather than depend on later denominational, academic, or reference-book systems.
Support from Transcript
- Bercot’s stated aim is “to find out what the practices or course of performance was of the New Testament churches.” - He says the first instinct may be to consult a “commentary or Bible encyclopedia,” but calls that “the wrong place to go.” - He argues that Christian reference writers are not usually “blank slates” independently seeking truth. - Such writers may be shaped by “seminary or university indoctrination.” - He says they often must adhere to “some type of theological or intellectual orthodoxy.” - His conclusion is that “to find the truth about historic Christianity, you must go to the primary sources.”
Discussion Follow-ups
Any contrast between early Christians and modern denominational systems goes beyond what the transcript explicitly proves. Still, Bercot’s method implies that the practices of the earliest churches should be investigated directly rather than assumed through later systems.