Apostolic Christian Movement And Theology
The term "Apostolic Christian Movement" generally refers to the early Christian community that formed immediately after the ascension of Jesus Christ, guided by the apostles. This movement's theology is primarily derived from the teachings and actions recorded in the New Testament, particularly the Gospels and the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts, for instance, records the "labors and triumphs of the Apostolic Church" [2].
A core aspect of Apostolic theology is the nature of God, often termed "Theology Proper" in systematic discussions. This includes the biblical teaching on God's being and attributes, as well as the "threefold personality of the Godhead," affirming that the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct persons, yet "the same in substance and equal in power and glory" [1]. This Trinitarian understanding, though articulated more fully in later creeds, has its roots in the apostolic witness to Jesus's baptism and his commission to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a foundational theme in Apostolic theology. While the Book of Acts is not solely designed to prove the resurrection, it is a "prominent theme in the Apostolic discourses" [2]. The apostles consistently preached Christ's resurrection as central to their message, demonstrating its significance for salvation and the establishment of the new covenant. John Chrysostom refers to the Book of Acts as a "school" for understanding "Apostolic miracles," which further underscored the power of God at work through the resurrected Christ [2].
Another significant theological concept is the atonement, which addresses how Christ's work removes the curse of sin [3]. While the doctrine of atonement has seen historical development through Patristic, Scholastic, and Reformation periods, its fundamental elements are present in the apostolic writings, which speak of Christ's death as a sacrifice for sins (e.g., Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:22).
The Apostolic movement also emphasized eschatology, the study of last things. This includes the expectation of Christ's Second Advent, the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven [4]. The apostles taught about the future return of Christ as a personal event, the calling of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews, all leading to the ultimate end of the world and the consummation of God's plan [4]. Early Christian communities lived with a keen awareness of these future events, shaping their ethical conduct and missionary zeal.
The theology of the Apostolic Christian Movement is not merely a collection of abstract doctrines but is deeply intertwined with the lived experience and mission of the early church. It provided the theological framework for understanding the person and work of Christ, the nature of God, the path to salvation, and the future hope of believers, all rooted in the direct witness of those who had seen the resurrected Lord and received the Holy Spirit.
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 14: § 4. Christian Theology . As science, concerned with the facts of nature, has its several departments, as Mathematics, Chemistry, Astronomy, etc., so Theology 32 having the facts of Scripture for its subject, has its distinct and natural departments. First — Theology Proper, Which includes all the Bible teaches of the being and attributes of God; of the threefold personality of the Godhead, or, that the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct persons, the same in substance and equal in power and glory; the relation of God to the world, or, h”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: miracles: and of the Apostolic miracles this Book is the school.” 8 The statement that the Acts is a “Demonstration of the Resurrection” has a certain profound truth, but is incorrect if intending to assert that such was the conscious purpose of the author. The resurrection of Jesus is a prominent theme in the Apostolic discourses but the book is no more designed primarily to prove the resurrection than are the Epistles to the Romans and Corinthians. The immediate purpose of the book is to record the labors and triumphs of the Apostolic Church as sup”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 108: CHAPTER IX. THEORIES OF THE ATONEMENT. The history of this doctrine is commonly divided into three per nods, the Patristic; the Scholastic; and the time of the Reformation and from that event to the present day. The method which the writers on this subject have usually adopted, is to pass in review in chronological order the distinguished theologians living during these several periods, and present a general outline of the teaching of each. The two great objects to be accomplished by the work of Christ are, the removal of the curse under”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 105: The Scriptural Doctrine. 2. History of the Doctrine. Second Advent. 1. Preliminary Remarks. 2. The Common Church Doctrine. 3. The Personal Advent of Christ. 4. The Calling of the Gentiles. 5. Conversion of the Jews. 6. Antichrist. The Concomitants of the Second Advent. 1. The General Resurrection. 2. The Final Judgment. 3. The End of the World. 4. The Kingdom of Heaven. 5. The Theory of the Pre-millennial Advent. 6. Future Punishment. Indexes Index of Scripture References Greek Words and Phrases Hebrew Words and Phrases Latin Words and P”