The word Christian is used only three times in the New Testament, most importantly in Acts 11:26 (see also Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16). Until this time, the followers of Jesus referred to themselves as brothers (Acts 15:1,23), disciples (Acts 9:26), believers (Acts 5:12), and saints (Romans 8:27). Now, in Antioch, they were called Christians.

The name Christian is noteworthy because these followers of Jesus were recognized as members of a separate group. They were distinct from Judaism and from all other religions of the ancient world. They are ones who follow the Christ.

If a Christian is one who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then Christianity is a movement of people who have personal relationships with Jesus Christ. This may sound simplistic, but from a biblical perspective, this is the proper starting point.

The Birth of the Church#

Scripture refers to both the universal church and the local church.

The universal church is a company of people who have one Lord and who share together in one gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 1:4; Jude 3). It may be defined as the ever enlarging body of born-again believers who comprise the universal body of Christ, over which He reigns as Lord. The way one becomes a member of this universal body is to simply place faith in Christ.

The word church is translated from the Greek word ekklesia. This Greek word comes from two smaller words.

• The first is ek, which means “out from among.”

• The second is klesia, which means “to call.”

Combining the two words, ekklesia means “to call out from among.” The church represents those whom God has called out from among the world and from all walks of life. All are welcome in Christ’s church.

Scripture indicates that the universal church was born on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2; compare with 1:5; 11:15; 1 Corinthians 12:13). We are told in Ephesians 1:19-20 that the church is built on the foundation of Christ’s resurrection, meaning that the church could not have existed in Old Testament times. The church is thus called a “new man” in Ephesians 2:15.

The one universal church is represented by many local churches scattered throughout the world. For example, we read of a local church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2), and another in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1). Only a few local churches existed at first, but due to the missionary efforts of the early Christians, churches soon cropped up around the globe.

The New Testament strongly urges believers to attend local churches. The Christian life as described in Scripture is to be lived in the context of the family of God and not in isolation (Acts 2; Ephesians 3:14-15). Moreover, by attending church, we become equipped for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12-16).

The Spread of Christianity#

Christianity experienced phenomenal growth following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We learn in Acts 1:15 that about 120 Jewish believers in Christ gathered in Jerusalem. A bit later, after Peter’s powerful sermon, 3000 people became believers on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). The number soon grew to 5000 (Acts 4:4). Soon enough, the Samaritans—whom the Jews considered “unclean”—were added to the church (see Acts 8:5-25), as were the Gentiles (see Acts 10; 13–28).

In Acts 1:8 the Lord instructed His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The rest of the book of Acts is a historical account of how Paul, Peter, and others empowered by the Holy Spirit spread Christianity among both Jews and Gentiles around the northern Mediterranean, including Samaria (Acts 8:5-25), Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch (9:32–12:25), Phrygia and Galatia (13:1–15:35), Macedonia (15:36–21:16), and Rome (21:17–22:29). Despite persecution by Roman authorities, Jewish authorities, and others (2:13; 4:1-22; 5:17-42; 6:9–8:4), Christianity spread like wildfire.

The apostle Paul went on three missionary tours (Acts 13:1–14:28; 15:36–18:22; 18:23–21:17), spreading God’s Word in strategic cities like Antioch, Perga, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, and Miletus. Local churches popped up one after another.

Christianity has continued to grow and expand from the first century to the present, and it is now variously represented in some 300 denominations in the United States alone. And this number is constantly in flux as new denominations form and other denominations disappear from the religious landscape.

What is a Denomination?#

The English word denomination comes from the Latin word denominare, which means “to name.”

Though the church experienced some sectarianism even in early New Testament times (see 1 Corinthians 3:3-7), formal denominations are actually a relatively recent development. One reason for this is that in many countries of the world, governmental authorities believed that civic harmony hinged on religious conformity. When denominational groups did emerge in some of these countries, persecution soon followed.

What are Protestants?#

The three major divisions of Christianity are the Roman Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, and the Orthodox Church.

The great majority of denominations in this book — including those affiliated with the Methodists, the Baptists, the Presbyterians, and the Lutherans — are Protestant. Therefore, an introductory history of Protestantism may be helpful.

The term Protestant was first coined in 1529 at the Diet of Speyer, an imperial assembly. Just three years earlier, another diet (or formal assembly) had granted tolerance to the Lutherans, allowing them to determine their own religious position. At the Diet of Speyer, the Roman Catholic majority of delegates rescinded this tolerance. Consequently, six Lutheran princes and the leaders of fourteen German cities signed a protest against this action, and it was then that Lutherans became known as Protestants.

Protestantism is not simply a reactionary, negative movement. To be sure, the early Reformers did take a stand against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. But Protestants predominantly testify to what they consider to be the truth.

Distinctive Emphases of Protestantism#

Protestants have strong convictions on quite a number of doctrines, but three are particularly important. These three serve to distinguish Protestantism from Roman Catholicism.

1. The Exclusivity of the Bible#

Protestants view the Bible as the only infallible rule of the Christian life and faith. It is considered the sole source for spiritual teachings. This is in obvious contrast to Roman Catholicism, which places heavy emphasis on the authority of tradition and the ex cathedra pronouncements of the pope.

2. Salvation by grace alone through faith alone#

Protestants have always emphasized that the benefits of salvation are by grace alone through faith alone (Romans 4; Galatians 3:6-14; Ephesians 2:8-9). By contrast, Roman Catholics have historically placed a heavy emphasis on meritorious works in contributing to the process of salvation. This is not to say that Protestants view good works as unimportant. They simply believe good works are by-products of salvation (Matthew 7:15-23; 1 Timothy 5:10,25).

3. The priesthood of all believers#

In Roman Catholicism, the priest is the intermediary between the believer and God. By contrast, Protestants believe each Christian is a priest before God and thus has direct access to Him without need for an intermediary (see 1 Peter 2:4-10).

Divisions Within Protestantism#

The independent spirit intrinsic to Protestantism has been both a strength and a weakness.

• It has been a strength in that it has had a revitalizing effect on church members who are free to directly interact with God and serve Him freely in the church.

• It has been a weakness in that such independence has led to numerous denominational splits throughout history.

Today, Protestantism includes many denominations—each having some distinctive beliefs and histories.

• Lutheran churches emerged out of the reforming work of Martin Luther in the early sixteenth century in Germany.

• Churches in both the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions emerged largely from the Calvinistic side of the Reformation.

• The Methodist church grew out of the holiness teachings of John Wesley.

The work of several influential Christian leaders gave rise to new denominations.

Influential Religious Leaders

Styles of Church Government#

National church: The statet or nation rules over the church

Episcopal: A church hierarchy rules the church. Bishops play a key role.

Presbyterian: The congregation vests power in a ruling board of elders.

Congregational: All decisions are by congregational vote.