Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 16:18 "And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. [Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col 1:18] |
Bible Question: When did apostles become part of the church |
Bible Answer: Defining 'church' is the most difficult part of the question! If by 'church' you mean 'group of people who worship God', then it existed in the form of the Jewish 'church' long before the apostles; the apostles were born into it (just like Jesus Himself!). If 'church' means the 'group of people following Jesus' or 'a group of people sharing the Christian faith', then it was founded by Jesus shortly before His death, see Matthew 16:13-20. Everyone became a 'part' of it once they acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God. By the time Paul wrote his epistles, the 'church' was spread out all over Palestine; certain groups of people frequently came together to share their faith. Paul was the first to introduce a more formal organisation as well, eg. in his epistles he told the'churches of God' to collect money for the poor, and gave them instructions considering worship services. So I do not think there is a definite time when the apostles 'became part of the church'... God bless you, Zsuzsi |