Early Christian Beliefs About Christian Assemblies

Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching

...against it, such as can be brought against secret factions. But who has ever suffered harm from our assemblies? In our gatherings we are exactly what we are when we are apart from each other. As a community, we are what we are as individuals. We injure nobody. We trouble nobody. When upright people meet together, when virtuous people gather, when the godly and the pure assemble as a congregation, that should not be called a faction, but a curia, that is, the court of God.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments Supporting witness

...who had come from Rome also went with us. Aemilianus, then, did not begin by saying to me, "Hold no assemblies." That would indeed have been unnecessary for him to say. It would have been the last thing someone would do who meant to go back to what was first and most important. For his concern was not about our gathering others together in assembly, but about our not being Christians ourselves. Therefore he commanded me to stop, no doubt thinking that if I myself should recant, the others would also follow me in that. But I answered him neither irrationally nor with many words: "We must obey God rather than men," Acts 5:29. Moreover, I testified openly that I worshiped the only true God and no other, and that I could neither change that position nor ever cease to be a Christian. Then he ordered us to go away to a village near the desert, called Cephro.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments Supporting witness

Then, after some other matters, he says: “Moreover, we did not withdraw from the visible assembling of ourselves together, with the Lord’s presence. But I tried to gather together those in the city with all the greater zeal, as if I were present with them. For I was absent indeed in the body, as I said, but present in the spirit. And in Cephro, a considerable church was staying with us, made up partly of the brothers who followed us from the city, and partly of those who joined us from Egypt. There too God opened to us a door for the word. And at first we were persecuted. We were stoned. But after a time, a few of the heathen forsook their idols and turned to God. For through us the word was then sown among them for the first time, and before that they had never received it. And as if to show that this had been the very purpose of God in leading us to them, when we had fulfilled this ministry, He led us away again. For Aemilianus intended to move us to rougher regions, it seemed, and to districts more Libyan-like. And he gave orders to draw all the parties from every direction into the Mareotic territory, and assigned villages to each party throughout the country. But he gave instr

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

We meet together as an assembly and congregation, that, offering up prayer to God as with united force, we may wrestle with Him in our supplications.

1 Corinthians 5:4 Background

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits;

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ifth day until cock-crowing, break your fast at daybreak on the first day of the week, which is the Lord's Day. From evening until cock-crowing, stay awake and gather together in the church. Watch and pray, and entreat God. As you stay up all night, read the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms until cock-crowing. Baptize your catechumens, read the Gospel with fear and trembling, and speak to the people the things that lead to their salvation. End your sorrow, and ask God that Israel may be converted, and that He may allow them a place of repentance, and the remission of their impiety. For the judge, who was a stranger, washed his hands and said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see to it." But Israel cried out, "His blood be on us, and on our children." Matthew 27:24-25. And when Pilate said, "Shall I crucify your King?" they cried out, "We have no king but Caesar: crucify Him, crucify Him; for everyone that makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." And, "If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend." And Pilate the governor and Herod the king commanded Him to be crucified. And that oracle was fulfilled which says, "Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peop

1 Corinthians 14:26 Background

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

Acts 2:42 Background

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

1 Corinthians 11:33 Background

Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

And on the day of our Lord's resurrection, which is the Lord's day, meet more diligently, sending praise to God that made the universe by Jesus, and sent Him to us, and condescended to let Him suffer, and raised Him from the dead.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

XXX . On the day of the resurrection of the Lord, that is, the Lord's day, assemble yourselves together, without fail, giving thanks to God, and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon you through Christ, and has delivered you from ignorance, error, and bondage, that your sacrifice may be unspotted, and acceptable to God, who has said concerning His universal Church: In every place shall incense and a pure sacrifice be offered unto me;

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

and the reasons he subjoins. But on the Lord's day we ought not to fast, for it is a day of joy for the resurrection of the Lord, and on it, says he, we have received that we ought not even to bow the knee.

Tertullian, De Corona Supporting witness

We count fasting or kneeling in worship on the Lord's day to be unlawful.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

But the Lord's day we celebrate as a day of joy, because on it He rose again, on which day we have received it for a custom not even to bow the knee.

Hebrews 10:25 Background

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ainst me, and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad,” Matthew 12:30. Therefore do not scatter yourselves, you who are the members of Christ, by failing to assemble together, since Christ your head is present according to His promise and shares with you. Do not be careless about yourselves. Do not deprive your Savior of His own members. Do not divide His body or scatter His members. Do not prefer the affairs of this life to the word of God. But assemble together every day, morning and evening, singing psalms and praying in the Lord’s house. In the morning say Psalm 62, and in the evening Psalm 140, but especially on the Sabbath day. And on the day of our Lord’s resurrection, which is the Lord’s Day, meet even more diligently. Send up praise to God, who made the universe through Jesus, and sent Him to us, and stooped to let Him suffer, and raised Him from the dead. Otherwise, what defense will the one make to God who does not assemble on that day to hear the saving word about the resurrection? On that day we pray three times while standing, in memory of Him who rose in three days. On that day the reading of the prophets is performed, the preaching of the Gospel, the oblation

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Matthew 12:30 Do not you therefore scatter yourselves abroad, who are the members of Christ, by not assembling together, since you have Christ your head, according to His promise, present, and communicating to you.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Short Version) Supporting witness

Let widows not be neglected. Be, after the Lord, their protector and friend. Let nothing be done without your consent; neither do anything without the approval of God, which indeed you do not, as you are steadfast. Let your gatherings be frequent: seek after everyone by name. Do not despise either male or female slaves, but neither let them be puffed up with conceit. Instead, let them submit themselves more, for the glory of God, so that they may receive a better freedom from God. Let them not long to be set free from slavery at the public expense, so they are not found to be slaves to their own desires.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Long Version) Supporting witness

...t; nor should you do anything without God's approval, which you indeed do not. Be steadfast. Gather together frequently and seek out everyone by name. Do not look down on either male or female slaves, yet do not let them become conceited, but rather have them submit themselves even more, for the glory of God, so they may obtain better freedom from God. They should not wish to be freed [from slavery] at public expense, so that they are not found to be slaves to their own desires.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Short Version) Supporting witness

Let your assembling together be of frequent occurrence: seek after all by name.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Long Version) Supporting witness

Be thou stedfast. Let your assembling together be of frequent occurrence: seek after all by name.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

... whose commands and warnings we ought to keep, describes the honor of a bishop and the order of His Church in the Gospel. He says to Peter: “I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” From there, through the changes of times and successions, the ordering of bishops and the arrangement of the Church continues on. So the Church is founded upon the bishops, and every act of the Church is directed by these same rulers. Since this is founded on divine law, I am amazed that some, with reckless boldness, have chosen to write to me as if they were writing in the name of the Church, when the Church is established in the bishop and the clergy, and in all who stand firm in the faith. Far be it from the mercy of God and His unlimited power to allow the number of the lapsed to be called the Church, since it is written, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” Matthew 22:32. For we do indeed desire that all may be made alive, a

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

... Jesus prevail throughout the whole world for the conversion and reformation of men. He also caused Churches to be established everywhere in opposition to the assemblies of superstitious, licentious, and wicked men. For that is the character of the multitudes who constitute the citizens in the assemblies of the various cities. But the Churches of God, which are instructed by Christ, when carefully contrasted with the assemblies of the districts where they are situated, are like beacons in the world. For who would not admit that even the inferior members of the Church, and those who in comparison with the better are less worthy, are nevertheless more excellent than many of those who belong to the assemblies in the different districts?

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

For example, the Church of God at Athens is a gentle and steady body, because it desires to please God, who is over all things. But the assembly of the Athenians is given to unrest and division, and it is not at all to be compared with the Church of God in that city. You may say the same thing about the Church of God at Corinth and the assembly of the Corinthian people, and also about the Church of God at Alexandria and the assembly of the people of Alexandria. If someone who hears this is fair-minded, and examines things with a desire to find the truth, he will be filled with admiration for Him who not only formed this design, but was also able in every place to establish Churches of God alongside the assemblies of the people in each city. In the same way, if you compare the council of the Church of God with the council in any city, you would find that some council members of the Church are worthy to rule in the city of God, if there is any such city in the whole world. But the council members in all other places show in their character nothing worthy of the accepted superiority they seem to have over their fellow citizens. So also, you must compare the ruler of the Church in each

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

Whereas the Churches of God which are instructed by Christ, when carefully contrasted with the assemblies of the districts in which they are situated, are as beacons in the world;

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

but building for themselves dens of thieves, they hold their assemblies in them unceasingly, night and day directing their calumnies against Christ and against us.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

But, however, because all the separate assemblies of heretics call themselves Christians in preference to others, and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, it must be known that the true Catholic Church is that in which there is confession and repentance, which treats in a wholesome manner the sins and wounds to which the weakness of the flesh is liable.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...hat you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 6:29 Therefore, make every effort never to leave the Church of God. But if anyone neglects it and goes either into a polluted temple of the heathens, or into a synagogue of the Jews or heretics, what excuse will that person make to God on the day of judgment? He has forsaken the oracles of the living God, the living and life-giving oracles, which are able to deliver from eternal punishment, and has gone into a house of demons, or into a synagogue of the murderers of Christ, or into the congregation of the wicked. He has not listened to Him who says, "I have hated the congregation of the wicked, and I will not enter with the ungodly. I have not sat with the assembly of vanity, neither will I sit with the ungodly." And again, "Blessed is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he will meditate day and night." But you, forsaking the gathering together of the faithful, the Church of God, and His laws, show respect to those dens of thieves. You call holy the things that He has called p

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...inst Him is cursed. These gatherings are full of confusion and wrongdoing. These excuses for coming together cause disorder, as men and women mix together for the sake of looking at one another. In this way, the gathering has already shown itself to be bad. For when the eye is lustful, desires grow hot. Eyes that get used to looking boldly and shamelessly at their neighbors during leisure stir up sexual desires. Therefore, spectacles and plays that are full of vulgarity and endless gossip must be forbidden. For what shameful act is not shown in the theaters? And what shameless word is not brought out by the clowns? Those who take pleasure in the evil found in these things impress clear images of it on themselves at home. On the other hand, those who are resistant to these things and are not affected by them will never stumble when it comes to pleasures of luxury.