The Continuing Church of God put together this sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:
1:13:48
Asia Minor and Early Apostolic Succession
According to the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul, was it possible for one city to be the continuous headquarters of the true Christian church for centuries? Where did Hippolytus of Rome and ‘Fox’s Book of Martyrs’ say that the original apostles went? What about Europe, the British Isles India, China, Malaysia, Egypt, Africa, Iran, Antioch, and Asia Minor? Where were most of the books of the New Testament written to or from? Where did the last of the twelve apostles die? What were some of the early apostolic teachings that many changed? What about the change to Sunday? Were Gentiles keeping the Sabbath in the late second century? What about Passover on the 14th? Was Justin Martyr faithful or heretical? What about Melito and Polycrates? Was the Ephesian-dominated era replaced by that of Smyrna? What about binitarianism, millenarianism, and Sabellism? Who were the two possible groups with apostolic succession according to Tertullian? Were there bishops or elders in early Rome? Could apostolic succession passed from John (believed to be the the last of the original apostles to die) to Polycarp of Smyrna? Which early leaders had apostolic succession? Could the headquarters of the most faithful church have moved from Jerusalem to Antioch to Asia Minor to Arsinoe to Antioch to Armenia to the Balkans to elsewhere in Europe to the British Isles and then to North America? Dr. Thiel address these matters and more.
Here is a link to the sermon: Asia Minor and Early Apostolic Succession.
If you are interested in church history and what happened with the original church, you may also wish to read the book, which is available free online at the following link: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church.
The Continuing Church of God is NOT Greco-Roman Catholic, but neither is it Protestant. For some of the reasons why we are NOT Protestant, check out the free online book, Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance? Here are links to two related sermons: Early Church: Jerusalem, Rome, and Apostolic Teachings and Asia Minor and Early Apostolic Succession.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church. Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs.
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Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how they develop love, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. There are links to literature is about 160 different languages there.