WE HEAR the word "when," and we think in terms of the time, occasion, or point that something happens. The word can be used to state a fact that such has taken place or is anticipated. Like the word "whenever," it can sometimes indicate that it happens every time. It can imply that what takes place is the ordinary and expected course of action or is usual under the circumstances. This is especially obvious when our background knowledge of such occurrences all points in this direction. What we know has simply been verified.
With all of this in mind, let us look into several verses of Scripture that make use of the word "when" in this way. Things are spoken of taking place as a matter of course, as that which is expected, and as that which is usual. This study should make the truths considered more emphatic and obvious. The Lord intended for them to be universal and commonly practiced.¾Editor
MAKING a study of the early church is very worthwhile and absorbing. And as we further pursue this series of articles involving the word "when," we find this word repeatedly used in connection with the church coming together. A decided pattern of time and practice unfolds before us.
Therefore, with our minds fixed upon this word, let us enter into a study that should prove both practical and informative. Then, upon learning the truth of what is taught, let us be diligent to put it into practice. I. THEY WERE COMING TOGETHER The brethren in the early church not only were a community of believers, they were a community of believers that assembled together. The apostle Paul in his I Corinthian letter makes several references to this: l "For first of all, when ye come together in the
church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it" (I Corinthians 11:18). l "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper" (I Corin- thians 11:20; more will be said about this later). l "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbeliev- ers, will they not say that ye are mad?" (I Corinthi- ans 14:23) l "How is it then, brethren? When ye come to- gether, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doc- trine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an in- terpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying" (I Corinthians 14:26). Notice the "when" in these references. It is plainly implied that they were coming together as an ordinary and usual practice (as they did all of the time as Christians), although there may have been some problems and abuses in the Corinthian as- sembly which needed correcting. While upon this earth the Lord had said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). It is of interest to note what Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the tem- ple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" The "ye" in this verse is plural. God was dwell- ing in them collectively. One manifestation of this was when they assembled together. The writer of Hebrews admonished, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one an- other; and so much the more, as ye see the day ap- proaching" (Hebrews 10:23-25). The book of Acts records the early church coming together regularly and at different times under different circum- stances. James 2:1 and following speaks about visi- tors coming into the assembly of Christians and how they are to be treated. So, it is quite apparent that the believers were regularly meeting together in public assembly as Christians. The word "when," as well as the other Scriptures, makes this evident. II. WHEN THEY WERE COMING TOGETHER The First Day of the Week Let us examine Hebrews 10:25 a little more closely where the writer said, "Not forsaking the as- sembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." In their dili- gence to be found faithful, they were to exhort one another to not forsake the assembly. This was to be done in view of them seeing "the day approaching." What does "the day approaching" mean? Different possibilities have been presented as to what day this is. (1) Some have suggested the sec- ond coming of Christ. (2) Others point toward the destruction of Jerusalem 70 A.D. (3) Then others strongly say it must mean the Lord's day, the first day of the week. Perhaps in a sense all of these possibilities could be true, but the Lord's day (the first day of the week) is the most basic in our consideration. Other Scrip- tures bear this out. The early church did make a practice of assem- bling on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7 reads, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disci- ples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and con- tinued his speech until midnight." As already pointed out, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about "when" they came together. Then specifically in I Corinthians 16:2, he said, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him¼" The first day of the week was nothing new with these Christians as this day had been the center of focus since the beginning of the church. In Acts 2:42 we can find the worship of the church on the day it was established, the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1). What day was the day of Pentecost? It was a Jewish holiday that fell upon the first day of the week (Seven Sabbaths followed the Passover, and the next day after the seventh Sabbath was Pentecost, meaning 50th day¾Leviticus 23:15,16). The first day of the week also was made great because it was tied in with the resurrection of Christ (Mark 16:9; John 20: 1,19,26; Psalms 118:22-24; Acts 4:10-12). What a day for Christians perpetually to assemble! And with the Psalmist exclaim, "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Other Times of Meeting Yes, the early church met on the first day of the week, the Lord's day, but that was not the only time they came together. In the early days of its initiation, the church met on a daily basis. Those were exciting days. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be [were being] saved" (Acts 2:46,47). The language of Acts 11:26 may indicate that this expe- rience was repeated in the first Gentile church in the early days of its inception, "And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disci- ples were called Christians first in Antioch." In times of gospel meetings and revival the modern church has practiced meeting on a protracted basis. How wonderful when there is the enthusiasm and spiritual appetite for extended periods of coming to- gether!
We find the Jerusalem church coming together for a prayer meeting in Acts 4:23-31. Again we find the church in a prayer meeting in Acts 12. James had been killed and Peter was imprisoned. We read, "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (12:5). We see the nature of the prayer meet- ing. "Many were gathered together praying" in the house of Mary the mother of John Mark (12:12). Prayer meetings of the church, whether on a set ba- sis or a called basis, are always in order. The "when" may be on a Wednesday night or other times. The "when" in reference to the meeting of the church can also be seen in Acts 15. Here they had a special called meeting in the Jerusalem church to deal with specific problems (15:4f). Likewise meet- ings were called among the Gentile churches to read the special communiqué from the Jerusalem church (15:30). Therefore, all things considered, we conclude that the early church met regularly upon the first day of every week and at other times when the leadership esteemed it needful and profitable for all concerned. Thus, with the Hebrew writer, we admonish you to not forsake the assembling of your-selves together (as the manner of some still is). Be found faithful. III. WHY THEY WERE COMING TOGETHER In the other considerations we have somewhat touched upon why the early church came together. But now let us more specifically look at it. Worship is involved. Edification is involved. With Christians worship is a way of life (Romans 12:1,2; James 1:27), but it is also something more specific having to do with time and place. They assembled for this pur- pose, and at the very center of their worship was Christ. Worship and edification go together. The Lord's Supper The early church met for the express purpose of partaking of the Lord's supper on the "first day of the week" (and every week has a first day). As al- ready noticed, Acts 20:7 states, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them¼" The "when" indicates this was their regular practice. The record could have said that they met to hear the apostle Paul preach, but that is not what it says. Al- though on the surface it may sound just the oppo- site, the weekly observance of the Lord's supper is taught in I Corinthians 11:20, "When ye come to- gether therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper." Read the rest of the chapter to see what is meant. They were making a regular meal, bordering on the riotous, out of the Lord's supper. That is not what the Lord's supper is all about, nor why they were supposed to be coming together, but it should have been for a very solemn and sacred religious observance (not just to "eat" the Lord's supper). Aside from the Bible, it is a matter of public record that the Lord's supper was observed every Lord's day by the church in the early centuries. And New Testament Christians will reverently and lov- ingly do the same today. Acts 2:42 Acts 2:42 contains many things that were en- gaged in by followers of Christ as they met upon the first day of the week. "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Teaching and learning the apostles' doctrine, fellowship (which includes giving and sharing, Philippians 1:3-5; 4:15- 18; I Corinthians 16:2), the Lord's supper, and pray- ing are all very important. Each category deserves our special study and care. As we can see, worship and edification are interwoven. I Corinthians 14:26 Although some of the things mentioned in I Cor- inthians 14:26 have to do with the passing charis- matic gifts that were much in evidence in the early church, we can see what they did when they came together. "How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doc- trine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an in- terpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Abiding principles involving the assembly can be seen here in statements like, "Let all things be done unto edifying." Then later in this chapter (14:40), "Let all things be done decently and in order." To Hear God's Word Some interesting and informative Scripture is found in I Timothy 4:13-16. It starts out by saying (Paul to Timothy), "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine [teaching]¼" The word "reading" here has reference to the public reading of God's Word (then the exhorting and the teaching are tied in with it). Much of the New Tes- tament constitutes letters that were to be read to assembled churches. Paul said in Colossians 4:16, "And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodi- ceans¼" Notice I Thessalonians 5:27. How that the reading, preaching, and teaching of God's Word is needed today. This is what will build our souls up and give us a home in heaven (Acts 20:32). But some churches are bored by this and prefer to come together for other reasons.
Other Considerations This little article is not an extensive treatment of this subject, but the church came together at other times and for various reasons. Protracted meetings
for preaching and teaching have already been named. Besides the prayers at the regular assem- blies, there were special prayer meetings (Acts 4:23- 31; 12:4-25). The church met specifically to address church problems (Acts 15), as well as dealing with problems when they regularly met (I Corinthians 5:4,5). The truth of I Corinthians 14:26 ("Let all things be done unto edifying") and 14:40 ("Let all things be done decently and in order") governed their gatherings. CONCLUDING REMARKS Considering the word "when" involving the as- sembly of the church has led us down some interest- ing paths. From it we have concluded that the early church came together as a regular practice. That led us into identifying the "when." They met on the first day of the week and at other appointed times as was regarded needful. In view of their divinely established practice of assembly, the writer of Hebrews admonished, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approach- ing" (Hebrews 10:25). Yes, we need the Lord. We need one another. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in these days of the church. To forsake the assembly is to forsake Christ and the strength and fellowship much needed in these evil times.
Re-printed from Sword & Staff March 1994
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The Sword And Staff VOLUME 32 — 1994 — NUMBER 3
By JAMES E. GIBBONS
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