When did the church begin ?
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The Church Age began in Matthew as Jesus began His ministry.
Matthew 16:18
New International Version
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
But the Church as the body of Christ began with Adam and Eve.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
English Standard Version
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
The body consists of all God's people. The Old Testament was those having faith in God the Father to bring the promised Messiah. That faith saved them as they were seen as righteous. The New Testament was those who put their faith in the Messiah who had come as Jesus the Christ, Lord, and Savior. The sins of the world had been forgiven in the past, present, and future for all those who would put their faith in Him. The faith of the OT had been answered in the birth of Jesus Christ. Now our faith is in the resurrection and Kingdom to come.
The Church being this body of Christ is like the bride waiting for her groom. The waiting can feel as if the groom will never show up as we are excited and maybe nervous as we do not know what to to expect. But once the groom shows up, everything else will fall to the wayside as we come face to face with our loving Savior.
Matthew 16:18
New International Version
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
But the Church as the body of Christ began with Adam and Eve.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
English Standard Version
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
The body consists of all God's people. The Old Testament was those having faith in God the Father to bring the promised Messiah. That faith saved them as they were seen as righteous. The New Testament was those who put their faith in the Messiah who had come as Jesus the Christ, Lord, and Savior. The sins of the world had been forgiven in the past, present, and future for all those who would put their faith in Him. The faith of the OT had been answered in the birth of Jesus Christ. Now our faith is in the resurrection and Kingdom to come.
The Church being this body of Christ is like the bride waiting for her groom. The waiting can feel as if the groom will never show up as we are excited and maybe nervous as we do not know what to to expect. But once the groom shows up, everything else will fall to the wayside as we come face to face with our loving Savior.
The word "Church" in the Greek is "Ekklesia". It means, "the gathering of the select ones". But the Church is also the Body of Christ and the Temple of God, and the Church is the bride of Christ. So we have to find a point of "gathering", when Christ's BODY became the Temple, and Eve is presented from His wounded side. This all only happened ONCE - on Christ's resurrection day. In Luke 24:33-35 the disciples were gathered, in John 20:22 they received the Holy Spirit as promised in John 14 and became the Father's House and His Temple, and this was Christ and the Church (2nd Cor.11:2; Eph.5:32)
It appears below, that the Church was active during the life of the Lord as seen below, church order was instructed and in action?
Matthew 18:15-22KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:15-22KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Acts
11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Some put this at AD 46-ish.
Depends on what you mean when you say 'church'.
11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Some put this at AD 46-ish.
Depends on what you mean when you say 'church'.
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You could say from the preaching of John the Baptist forward, since Jesus put a point of demarkation between John the Baptist being the last of the prophets and the least in the kingdom of God being greater than him.
This I believe was still a prophetic statement that would be practically fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh including women would mark a new dynamic showing God's purpose to gift the members with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that would be used to grow, and mature the church.
The choosing of the 12 might even be considered a starting place but they were told to wait until they were endued with power from on high before the attempted to follow the command to Go, teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Therefore you could say From the foundation of the World, and include everyone who has ever had faith, and be correct (remembering that there was a church in the wilderness)
or you could say Pentecost and be correct.
For your argument I will say Pentecost.
This I believe was still a prophetic statement that would be practically fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh including women would mark a new dynamic showing God's purpose to gift the members with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that would be used to grow, and mature the church.
The choosing of the 12 might even be considered a starting place but they were told to wait until they were endued with power from on high before the attempted to follow the command to Go, teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Therefore you could say From the foundation of the World, and include everyone who has ever had faith, and be correct (remembering that there was a church in the wilderness)
or you could say Pentecost and be correct.
For your argument I will say Pentecost.
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