“Continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost.
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.
Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.”
Justin Martyr (100-165) in “Weekly Worship of the Christians” in First Apology LXVII in The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
This excerpt comes to us from Justin Martyr’s first of two extant apologies to Emperor Antonius Pius, who ruled the Roman Empire from 138-161. They contain his case to the emperor to stop the persecution of Christians in the middle of the second century.
This specific section gives us a glimpse of life in the church on a typical Sunday. The role of the rich in the community of faith is to help the needy. The role of the leadership is linked to exhortation and reflection on the Scriptures and presiding over prayer, communion, and the distribution of provision to the needy. Deacons even serve to deliver portions to those who are absent.
Why is this significant? People often ask me how giving in modern churches compares to the early church. The major difference I see is that the early church appears to do far more distributing of money and provision to the needy among them in their weekly gatherings.
This second century testimony also illustrates the sharing of Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35. Even as “there was no needy person among them” among the first disciples (Acts 4:34), this condition persists because participation in the gospel means Christians share with one another each Sunday. And sometimes, as was the case with Barnabas it means selling a tract of land.
Speaking of selling a tract of land, please allow me to add a personal note.
After 100 days on the market, our home went under contract yesterday. We are so excited and thankful to God. Our hope in downsizing is twofold: to help Sammy and Sophie to be able to go to college and to position ourselves to live and give more generously following the example of Barnabas.