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The First Church Council

The thorny question that forced the elders and apostles to meet in A.D. 49 was, “What should we do with Gentile converts.” Should Gentiles males undergo circumcision and should the law of Moses be obeyed? Many well-educated Pharisees who had converted to Christianity pressed this conflict hard! “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.’ The apostles and elders met to consider this question.” (Acts 15: 5,6, emphasis mine) It is interesting to note that it took approximately twenty years after Jesus ascended before the church answered these questions. Do not forget, the apostles and elders were Jewish converts themselves and now Paul’s success among the Gentiles forced them into deciding, once and for all, whether male Gentiles would have to be circumcised and if the laws of Moses should be obeyed.


The apostles and elders thoughtfully and prayerfully agreed that circumcision was not necessary – not on the basis of a majority vote, but rather on the basis of God’s actions. In other words, the apostles and elders did not construct a new church doctrine by their own “authority.” Rather, they listened to the revelations given to Peter (Acts 10) and Paul (Galatians 1: 12; 2 Corinthians 12), and after considering the details and miracles that confirmed these revelations (Acts 14:30, the council concluded that the ‘everlasting covenant of circumcision” given to Abraham (Genesis 17) had been terminated.

They reached this conclusion on the grounds that (a) the biological offspring of Abraham had clearly rejected Messiah (John 1:11; Acts 3), and (b) they had broken the covenant which God had made with them. (Exodus 19: 5,6; Leviticus 26; Matthew 23: 37, 38) Therefore, since circumcision was a sign of the old covenant, circumcision could not be required under the new covenant! (Luke 22:20; Hosea 8:1; Hebrews 8:8; 1 Corinthians 11:25) When you consider the Jewish origin of the elders and apostles, this was a huge decision. Christianity was based on a new covenant (Hebrews 9:15), and because God had declared that Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ are heirs together in the promises He gave to Abraham (Ephesians 2: 11-20; Galatians 3: 28, 29), the elders concluded that as far as God was concerned, circumcision of the heart was all that mattered. (Romans 2: 28, 29) They concluded that God redefined Israel when He established the new covenant and James acknowledged this transition at the beginning of his epistle. He addressed Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ calling them “the twelve tribes.” (James 1: 1; 2:1) For these and other reasons, the elders and apostles concluded that God no longer required circumcision of the flesh.

The council also discussed certain life-style issues as they pertained to exalting the name of Jesus. They decided that certain behaviors were important for Christian conduct and important for Christian living. Therefore, in an effort to keep peace between Jewish and Gentile converts, the councils agreed that incoming Gentile must adhere to four rules if they wanted to become members of the church.  These four rules are recorded in Acts 15:19 and they are:

 

1.      Abstain from food polluted by idols

2.      Abstain from sexual immorality

3.      Abstain from the meat of strangled animals

4.      Abstain from drinking animal blood

When you review this list, consider the nature and seriousness of these four rules. They reflect four serious problems that faced the early church. Other than sexual immorality, Christians today are not widely troubled with the other three problems mentioned in this list. Why is this an important point? Many Christians read the New Testament without any knowledge of these problems that have just been considered, so when they read Romans 14, it becomes easy to lift Paul’s words out of the specific controversies occurring within the early church and place them within current issues today! The result is that the intent of Paul’s words is grossly distorted. Paul ends up “saying things” that he never intended to say! 

Two more points need to be highlighted before we continue. First, these four rules did not represent the totality of Christian doctrine nor did the elders attempt at this council to define the totality of Christian beliefs. Revelations were still coming from Jesus (for example, the book of Revelation and the gospel of John had not been written yet), so this short list was a beginning place for order within the church. The apostles and elders said nothing in Acts 15 about obvious issues such as believing in Jesus, using God’s name in vain, loving their neighbors, murder, dishonoring parents, clean and unclean food, stealing or lying! This short list of four rules simply represented a threshold on disputable matters.

New believers were required to meet these obligations to become part of the church. The bottom line was blunt and simple: Christians could not live like pagans or barbarians and remain members of the church. (See 1 Corinthians 6; Revelation 2: 12-16.) There was no room in the church for superstition, defiling conduct or sexual immorality. Second, it is important to understand that the elders did not impose these four rules on the Gentiles for the purpose of granting salvation to the Gentiles. Rather, these four rules were stated for the purpose of fostering spiritual and physical health, peace and social harmony within a growing, but diverse church. The apostles and elders understood that no one but God has the authority to set the terms and conditions for salvation. They also knew that no one but Jesus can save a sinner.


The Church at Corinth

The council meeting in A.D. 49 was pivotal. For the first time, Christians had taken a corporate position that circumcision was unnecessary. This was truly a landmark decision when you consider the biological heritage of the leaders of the church. Second, the council ruled that the laws of Moses were no longer obligatory. This was another landmark decision. However, at the grass roots level, these decisions did not go over very well in various churches (Ephesus, Galatia, Colossus, Corinth, Rome, etc.). Controversy sprang up because many Jewish converts were not sure the elders and apostles had made good decisions.

After the council, Paul traveled throughout Asia Minor defending the decisions of the council and this conflict made him a target for hostility. Paul found himself constantly dealing with Pharisees in every church. Many devout Pharisees had joined the Christian church because there was advancing truth and there were miracles. The miracles were compelling evidence that “the way of Christ” was the work of God. However, the Pharisees brought into the church a host of theological problems that Paul was constantly opposing. Paul had established a church at Corinth and two books of the New Testament are directed to this church because of certain controversies that simmered between Jews (the Pharisees) and Gentiles in Corinth. Here are two passages that need our attention [insertions mine]:


“[As believers in Christ] Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom [from the law of Moses] does not become a stumbling block to the weak [new converts to Christ]. For if anyone with a weak conscience [for example, a recent convert who formally worshiped idols] sees you [doing the very things that he once did] who have the knowledge [of freedom in Christ that] eating in an idol’s temple [is nothing], won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols [all over again]? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, [will possibly return to his old superstitions and pagan ways because he will lose his faith in Christ. See how he] is destroyed by your [freedom and] knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Therefore, if what I eat causes my [weaker] brother to fall into [the] sin [of worshiping idols], I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall. Am I not free [from slavery and don’t I have the rights and privileges of a Roman Citizen]? Am I not an apostle [appointed by the Lord Himself]? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord [in person]? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? …. Though I am [truly blessed and fully] free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible [to Christ]. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.  To those under the law [of Moses] I became like one under the law [of Moses] (though I myself am not under the law [of Moses]), so as to win those [who unfortunately continue to live] under the law.  To those not having the law [of Moses] I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s [Ten Commandments, His moral] law but am under Christ’s law [that we love one another as He loved us]), so as to win those not having [any knowledge of] the law [of Moses].” (1 Corinthians 8: 9; 1: 19-21)

After making it clear to the church in Corinth that no one should use their freedom from the law of Moses in an offensive way [that is, Jews who knew that idols were nothing, should not torment new Gentile converts who were turning away from past superstitions and idol worship; and conversely, Gentiles should not torment Jewish converts who were concerned about eating something unclean], Paul went to the core of the food problem:

“You cannot [come to church and] drink the [communion] cup of the Lord [then go to various temples and drink] the [communion] cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table [in church] and [also drink from] the table of demons [at their temples]. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy [by serving other gods]? Are we stronger than he? [Because we are now free from the obligations stated in the law of Moses] ‘Everything [that God has declared moral] is permissible’-but not everything is beneficial. “Everything [that God has declared moral] is permissible’-but not everything is constructive [to the mission and goals of the church]. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. [When you get together for lunch] Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience [that is, don’t ask if the meat was offered to idols], for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. [We know that an idol is nothing and an idol owns nothing. We have this superior knowledge through Christ our Lord, but new believers do not understand these things.]’ If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice [to the gods],’ then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience sake – the other man’s conscience, I mean, not yours.

[Consider this conflict from a practical point of view] For why should my freedom be judged [be condemned] by another’s conscience? If I take part in a meal [without asking where the meat came from, but I receive it] with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for [since I know that an idol is nothing. Why should I be concerned about eating food that is permissible unless it causes my weaker brother to stumble]? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or [within] the church of God.” 91 Corinthians 10: 21-32)

Sixty-five years after Jesus returned to Heaven, the church was still struggling with the problem of food offered to idols. Today, this ancient controversy is not significant in the United States because the controversy does not exist. However, it was a significant problem in the early church and you have to understand the seriousness of this problem to properly understand the writings of Paul. If Paul’s words are lifted out of their context, Paul’s counsel becomes distorted.

To some extent, Paul’s efforts to correct the ways of the early church went unheeded. The issue of food offered to idols was not completely terminated until Jesus spoke to the seven churches of Asia Minor through the apostle John in A.D. 95. Jesus told the church at Pergamum: “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.” (Revelation 2:14) When the message to Pergamum was published among the churches, the controversy finally died. Jesus Himself had spoken. I hope you understand by now that this topic created a lot of friction in the early church. The antagonism between Gentiles and Jews made the early churches contentious. Paul appealed to both sides that they love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul knew that if the members of the church would just be patient with each other, the church would eventually overcome these conflicts because they were disputable matters that the Holy Spirit would resolve.


When in Jerusalem, Do as the Jews Do

Paul’s efforts to steer the Christian movement away from Jewish traditions eventually created a backlash among the brothers in Jerusalem. From Paul’s point of view, it began to look ass though a Christian version of Judaism was developing, and of course, Paul, a former Pharisee himself, was strongly opposed to that. (Galatians 2) Eventually, Paul returned to Jerusalem. He wanted to meet with the elders, encourage them with his reports on church growth and explain some of the controversies in which he was embroiled. Paul realized the church at Jerusalem was not moving forward with Christian doctrine, as it should because there were too many Jewish paradigms controlling “the headquarters of Christianity.” Therefore, he went to Jerusalem to “help the brethren” align their gospel with revelations that had been given him, and during his visit, the four rules imposed on the Gentiles in A.D. 49 were reviewed. (See Acts 21.)

Because Paul was a controversial figure at the headquarters church (Jerusalem), the elders encouraged Paul to show some Jewish solidarity. They wanted Paul to participate with some Jewish believers in “an old fashioned” Jewish cleansing ritual which required going into the temple of the Jews. The elders thought this act would assure the church leaders in Jerusalem that Paul had not abandoned Jewish customs altogether. Although Paul knew this ritual could not purify the soul or the flesh, he had no problem going through this ritual to demonstrate one of his most controversial doctrines: “As far as possible, in matters of conscience toward God, when in Rome, do as the Romans, and when in Jerusalem, do as the Jews.” 

One day, while Paul was in the temple participating in the ritual with Jewish believers, some Jews who were also worshiping there recognized him. They shouted, “Men of Isreal, help us [catch this man]! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought [uncircumcised] Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21: 28, insertions mine) Paul was immediately arrested by temple guards and later, handed over to secular authorities because he was a Roman citizen. Eventually, he ended up in Rome because he had the right, as a Roman citizen, to have Caesar review the details of his arrest. Paul’s appeal to Caesar was his best hope for freedom. He had been arrested on religious charges trumped up by religious zealots, but he had done nothing against the laws of Rome. Instead of being set free, Paul was beheaded. Legend says that Nero, an avowed enemy of Christians and Jews alike, beheaded him because in order to appeal to Caesar, one had to first confess that Caesar was God.

The apostle Paul left behind an incredible legacy for Christians. He wrote fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. He did not teach that “unclean” meat (as defined in Leviticus 11) became “clean” meat after the cross. Paul does say that idols are nothing, and clean meat offered to idols is not contaminated. (1 Corinthians 8:4-8) However, if those who eat clean meat offered to idols offend immature believers in the local church, then stop eating meat for their sake! If Paul, “a Pharisee of the Pharisees,” had known that foods such as pork and shrimp became permissible after the death of Jesus, he would have plainly said so – just as he clearly said that circumcision became unnecessary after the cross. (Galatians 5: 2-6)

Paul never condoned lawless behavior, but his writings are often used to defend lawlessness. Many Christians think that the Ten Commandments and the laws of Moses were nailed to the cross because Paul says so. This is not true. Some Christians distort Paul’s writing with purpose. They want to eliminate the “Jewish Sabbath” and the only way to do this is through the elimination of the other nine! Often, when Christians say the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross, they turn around and assert that nine of the commandments should be obeyed. Paul knew the laws of Moses had been nailed to the cross and he plainly said so in Colossians 2:14 and Ephesians 2:15.  Paul also knew the Ten Commandments had not been nailed to the cross and he said so. “Let no doubt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments [which God Himself spoke], ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13: 8-10, insertion mine)

Paul had been a devout legalist. As such, he earnestly sought salvation through perfect obedience. After he became a Christian, Paul did not abandon the necessity of obeying the Ten Commandments. Rather, Paul, put obeying God’s commandments into proper perspective. Paul found that salvation comes through faith in Christ and love for God and man. Faith and love do not eliminate God’s law. No, the law remains and love fulfills the intent of the law.

Extracting Christianity from Judaism was a complicated process, but God raised up a brilliant man to explain the process. For this reason, surface readers of the Bible find Paul to be confusing and conflicted. However, in his defense, you would have had to live at that time to appreciate the obstacles he faced. I will close this segment with Paul’s counsel to the Romans (which is consistent with everything he said to the troubled believers in Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus and Colossae):

“Accept him [new converts] whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters [such as food offered to idols or the observance of feast days]. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything [that is clean], but another man, whose faith is weak, [avoids meant that may have been offered to idols and] eats only vegetables. The man who [knows that idols are nothing and] eats everything [that God allows] must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything [that God allows] must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge [condemn] someone else’s servant?

To his own master he [the servant] stands [justified by his actions] or falls [condemned by his actions]. And he [the sincere servant] will stand [justified], for the Lord is able to make him stand [justified]. One man [for example, a Jewish believer] considers one day [like Nissan 15, the date for Passover] more sacred than another [day]; another man [for example, a Gentile has no regard for Passover. He] considers every day alike. Each should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats [clean] meats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains [from clean meant because it may have been polluted by idols], does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14: 1-6)  

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God [the establishment of the church] for the sake of food. All food [which God allows] is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat [any] meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” (Romans 14: 19-21)

“For everything God created [to be eaten] is good, and nothing is to be rejected [even if offered to idols] if it is received with thanksgiving because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:4,5)