CHRISTIANS (Early)
(See also Apostles; Catacombs; Martyrs)
(Note centered heading below: Quotations)
apostasy: w84 12/15 6; yb81 9; w80 8/1 18; w78 4/1 7; w78 5/15 26-27; w78 10/15 25-26; w75 201-204; w75 729-730; w74 592; w74 740; ad 91; w70 198; w69 404-405; w68 143, 207; qm 283-291; g66 9/22 29; w65 218, 268-269; w63 142; g62 4/22 6; w60 750; jp 9-11; g59 5/8 7; w57 652; qm55 283-291; rm 266-277; g31 1/7 241
attitude of ancient Rome toward: w79 6/1 9, 16
attitude toward—
abortion: w82 2/1 6
birthdays: w84 12/15 6; sj 17-18; tr 147; w80 7/15 31; g69 5/8 6; w68 571; g67 12/8 4; g62 4/22 7; g62 12/22 7
blood: w85 4/15 12-13; g84 7/8 13; tr 166-167; w78 4/15 13-14; bq 12-14; g73 5/8 28; w71 118; g70 3/22 15; w69 326; w68 589; w67 405; li 331-335; w62 31; g62 4/22 5; w61 63, 250-251, 555-556; ns 289-290; bd 9-10; w59 650; w51 138
crosses: g84 6/22 16; g70 7/22 22; g69 9/22 15; w68 93-94; w64 395; g62 4/22 9-10
emperor worship: w83 5/1 14; sj 12, 14
employment: w80 1/1 31; w69 118
financial contributions: w77 359; g74 1/8 28; g74 10/22 28; w70 101; w63 277-278; g62 4/22 9
flags: ms 356; g65 6/8 9; w64 377; g63 8/8 17; w62 700; g62 4/22 27-28; w51 139; rm 297; w49 106
gladiatorial games: w79 6/1 9
holidays: tr 147-148; g73 12/22 4, 6-7; g69 5/8 7; g69 11/8 7; w68 168; w66 189-190; g64 12/22 7; w63 245-246; g62 4/22 7; g61 4/22 24
honorary titles: g62 4/22 10
images: tr 144; w78 4/1 7; w74 48; ad 811; g70 8/8 28; w69 118; g69 5/8 5; qm 277; w64 393; g64 1/22 6-7; w63 54; g63 8/22 6-7; w62 16; yb62 23-24; g62 4/22 9-10, 27-28; w60 230; w59 711-712; w58 73; g57 12/8 7; qm55 277; w53 393; g53 8/8 11; lg 148; w51 138-139; g37 9/8 785
immortality of the soul: w68 517; g62 4/22 5-6; g61 4/22 13
marriage: w77 174, 178-179; w77 265; g62 4/22 16-17
materialism: w69 564
meat offered to idols: w77 714-716; g77 12/22 28
medicine: g61 9/8 20
military service: g85 12/22 9-10; w84 12/15 25; w83 9/15 30; uw 164-165; sj 12; g83 5/8 29-30; w82 2/1 5; g82 3/22 7-8; w81 3/15 6; g81 10/8 12; w80 11/15 10; hp 167; g79 12/8 15; w78 4/15 15; g78 12/22 9; w76 250; w76 643-644; w74 47; tp73 126-127; g73 5/8 23; g72 4/22 21-22; ad 132-133; w70 218; w68 589; qm 276-277; w66 590; li 280-283; ms 353, 357, 491-492; g65 4/22 18; g65 9/22 15; g64 5/22 12-13; g62 4/22 18-19; jp 230; w58 73; g58 4/8 8; qm55 276-277; g53 8/8 10; w51 139; rm 296; el 202-203; w49 106; g48 5/8 23; g35 9/11 784
politics: sj 12
recreation: w79 6/1 16-17
theater: w79 6/1 9
war: g85 12/22 9-10
world: w80 6/15 6-7
worship: w74 378
baptism: w70 301; g66 9/22 28; g62 4/22 5; w60 262
baptismal pool from the second century C.E. discovered in Italy: g84 7/8 29
Bible: w85 8/1 12-13; qm 282-283; w63 85-88, 249, 525, 652-653; g62 4/22 4; w61 688-690; w56 391-392; w55 294-295; qm55 282-283; w51 137; g47 8/22 27-28; ep 40-41
burial of dead: w65 416
catacombs: w68 287-288; qm 285; w57 650-651; g56 5/22 30-31; qm55 285; w51 483-486
codex: w85 8/1 12-13; w85 11/1 28; g79 10/8 6-7; w77 645; w74 554; ad 251-252; w68 426; qm 282-283; w63 87; w62 501-505; g62 4/22 12-13; g61 1/8 21-22; w58 278; qm55 282-283
conduct: w82 2/1 5-6; w65 422; g65 4/22 18-19; g65 10/8 27; g64 5/22 12-13
congregations: w77 369-371; w72 729-731; w69 287-288; w62 759-760; g62 4/22 8-9; w61 138-143, 414-415; w59 441-442; w58 435-436; yw 159; qm55 350-352; w52 72; w38 168
beginning of Christian congregation: w77 333-334
decisions of governing body: w85 1/1 10-11; w77 335-336
difficulties: w75 343-346; ad 1047; w69 255-256
direction by body of elders: w75 729
did not celebrate Jesus’ birth: w84 12/15 5-6
discussion: w82 10/1 9-11; w77 332-336; w73 213-218; ad 316-317; qm 275-283; li 191-192; g62 4/22 4-21; w58 73-75; w57 105-107; qm55 275-283; g53 8/8 9-12; w51 137-140, 168-172, 280-283, 348-350, 516-519
dress: g62 4/22 10
equality among: w85 8/15 5-6
exposed religious error: g74 11/22 28
family life: fl 7
flight from Jerusalem: w80 10/1 15, 25; hp 143; w79 2/1 25-26; lp 131-132; w75 340; ml 21-22; w74 426; ka 301-302; tp73 92; w72 108-109; g71 12/8 5-6; w70 45-48, 519-520, 718-719; w70 725-726; w68 746-747; g68 10/8 25-26; w66 89, 756; li 313; w64 582-583; g64 2/22 7; g64 6/8 6; w61 680; ns 375; w59 12; pa 156; w54 438-439; w53 558-559; nh 269-274
Eusebius’ comments on: w84 6/1 16; g84 8/22 8
historical references: w84 6/1 16; w84 12/1 11
loss of possessions: w77 201
generosity: w80 5/1 9-10
God: w70 494
governing body: w85 1/1 10-11; w85 8/1 12; w77 334-336
greeting one another with a “holy kiss”: ad 1010; w68 384
growth: ka 222-227; w71 399-400
homes: w68 125-126
hospitality: w68 126
identification: w75 536
Jewish arguments against: w73 214-215
life sacred: w71 344
love for one another: w77 369-371; w75 340-341; w74 47-48; g65 4/22 19; w64 489-490, 493; g64 5/22 13; g62 4/22 15
meetings: ad 1565; w70 335; g69 11/22 8; w67 269-270; qm 285; li 253-254; w64 490; w63 564-565; w62 306; g62 4/22 8, 10; qm55 285, 352; w53 747; w51 138
millennial hope: w81 4/15 10-11, 13-14
misrepresentation: w74 47-48
morals: w82 2/1 6; w81 11/1 5-6; w78 4/15 11-12; w78 9/15 31; g72 4/22 22; w70 495; w69 628; w67 485-486; g67 6/22 28; g62 4/22 14-15
neutrality: uw 164-165; g83 10/22 15; w82 2/1 5, 7; g81 6/22 8; hp 167; w78 4/15 15-16; w75 497; w74 47-48; w68 589; li 299-314
no clergy-laity distinction: w81 4/1 15; g81 10/8 12; g76 9/8 27-28; w73 51; w71 330; li 172-176; w65 268-269; w64 251, 329-330; w63 141-142; g62 4/22 10-12; w53 554; w51 138
no sacrifices, temples, statues, oracles, order of priests: w57 106; w53 393; w51 138, 484
not a sect: w83 9/15 16-17
no tithing: ad 1605
oral teaching: w69 695; w68 655
organization: w84 7/15 12-13; w65 267-269; g65 2/8 27-28; w64 300-301; w62 759; w60 470-471; w59 441-442; w58 435-436, 485-486; yw 159-160; w55 229-230; qm55 350-352; w50 447-448; w47 166, 355-362; w43 42; w38 168
overseers: w77 370
persecution: w83 5/1 12, 14; w82 4/15 17-18; g79 10/8 7-8; w74 48; w74 215-216; w74 650; w73 42-43, 46-47; w73 214; w72 415-416; g72 6/8 13-15; g72 12/8 20; w71 213; w71 447; w71 485-486, 488-489; w71 716; w70 331; w69 555-556; g68 5/8 3-4; w67 292; qm 276-281, 284-285; yl 76; g65 4/22 17-18; w64 9-10, 18-19, 492, 698, 710, 744; yb64 9-10, 24; bf 476; mg63 13; g63 8/8 17; w62 232-233; yb62 292-293; g62 4/22 20-21; ns 282; w58 73-75; w57 105-107, 681-683; qm55 276-281, 284-285; w53 141; g53 8/8 11-12; w52 62; w51 139-140, 280-281, 348-350, 516-519; rm 296; g45 1/17 17; g42 9/16 18
personality change: w73 116; g73 8/22 6
prayer: g74 6/8 7
preaching: w82 2/1 7-8; w74 61; w74 183, 185; w74 556-557; w73 51; w73 681-683, 687-688; w73 717-718; ka 222-227, 297-298; g72 11/8 8; g72 11/22 8; w71 330; w70 173-174; w69 750-751; w67 423; w65 265-269; ms 348; w64 7-10; yb64 5-9; w63 141; w62 306; g62 4/22 11-13; w61 54, 715-716; ns 282; w59 303; w53 554; w51 137
audience: w85 8/1 13
done by all: w84 5/1 17-18; w83 2/1 18; w81 1/1 14-15
informal: w85 8/1 13
places: w85 8/1 14-15
trained by Jesus: w85 8/1 10-11
use of codex: w85 8/1 12-13
progressive enlightenment: w81 12/1 18-20; w72 501-502
prophets: w52 243-244; w34 172
publishers of literature: w85 11/1 28
refused to compromise: g75 12/8 4; w71 489; ad 828; g71 9/8 14; w68 352; g68 1/22 3; g67 5/22 12-13, 15; w65 122; g65 4/22 16-18; g64 5/22 13; g63 8/8 17; g62 4/22 18; w60 325-327; w57 105-107; w53 141; w51 281, 349
emperor worship: w76 634-635
relief measures: w71 414-415; ad 1384, 1553, 1654; w65 672
respect for rulers: tr 161; w71 488; g69 5/22 28; w68 351
resurrection: w72 242; w69 696; g62 4/22 5-6
Sabbath: ad 1426-1427; w61 526
separate from world: uw 163-165; sj 7; w78 1/15 28; w75 358; w74 48; tp73 126-127; w70 198, 218, 494-495; w68 306, 589; qm 275-278; li 303-307; g66 9/22 6; w65 421-422; g65 4/22 17-19; w64 300-301; w62 517-519, 659-660; g62 4/22 16-19; w60 671; w59 64; w58 73; g58 4/8 8; w57 105-107; g57 10/8 26; w56 645; qm55 275-278; w53 687; g53 8/8 10; w51 137-140; rm 296; w50 445; el 202-203; w34 189
singleness: w82 6/15 11
slaves: bw 70-71, 75-76; g76 12/22 27-28
testimony from outsiders: w74 48; w71 330; is 63-66; w67 80; qm 279-283; w65 421-422, 690-691; g65 4/22 17-19; g65 9/22 15; w64 489, 493; g63 8/8 17; g62 4/22 12, 14-15; w58 73-75; qm55 279-283; w51 137-140, 280-283; g45 1/17 17-18
The Way (Ac 19): ad 1649; w69 40; g66 11/22 13; w64 615
traditions: ad 1610-1611
Trinity not taught by: g62 4/22 4-5
unity: g84 5/8 10; w74 540, 542-543; w71 549-550; w68 703
unselfishness: w67 422-423
use of term “brother”: g65 4/22 19; w64 493
watchfulness: w84 12/1 10-12
Wells’ (H. G.) comment on organization of: w82 12/1 23
who resemble them today: w79 7/1 24
zeal: w72 210; w70 174; w69 26; g62 4/22 12-13
Quotations
abstained from public amusements: g79 12/8 15
all Christians were “missionaries”: w83 2/1 18
blameless lives, irreproachable morals, good citizenship: w78 9/15 31; w76 216
Church of Christ, in her purity, knows nothing of intolerance, and therefore can never be guilty of persecution: g83 11/8 9
cross did not become the supreme symbol of Christianity until the IVth century: g84 6/22 16
during first three centuries Christians opposed serving as killers in Roman armies: g78 12/22 9
each Christian community was governed by a body of elders: g76 9/8 27
earliest Christians did not serve in the armed forces: w83 9/15 30
even in the second century, Christianity had affirmed that “it is not right to be a man of the sword”: g83 10/22 15
even the most simple members spread the truth: w79 7/15 15
everybody felt called to tell the Good News: w84 5/1 17-18
infant baptism unknown: w81 3/1 23
kingdom to which they looked was not of this world: sj 7
most were persons of humble origin: w83 2/1 22
preferred the Kingdom of God to any kingdom that they might serve on earth: sj 12
prior to about A.D. 174 it is impossible to speak of Christian soldiers: g82 3/22 8
record of the early church is evidence that they took evangelism as seriously as they did literally: w84 5/1 18
refused to illuminate houses in honor of national triumphs: g79 12/8 15
refused to sacrifice to the emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag: sj 14
refused to salute the emperor’s statue, which meant the same to Roman society that a nation’s flag does to citizens today: sj 12
refused to take any part in the civil administration or the military defence of the empire: g81 6/22 8
strangers and pilgrims in the world around them: sj 7
the central content of their faith and hope was the Kingdom of God: w84 12/1 12
their citizenship was in heaven: sj 7
the whole Empire became a seedbed of the new religion: w84 5/1 18
to the decade 170-180 there is no evidence whatever of Christians in the army: w83 9/15 30; g82 3/22 8
triumphs of Christianity were seen in making good men: w78 9/15 31
viewed themselves as citizens of the Kingdom of God: w82 2/1 7
want of interest in public affairs came from the outset to be a noticeable feature in Christianity: sj 7; w78 1/15 28
war is an organized iniquity with which the followers of Christ can have nothing to do: g82 3/22 6
we alone are without crime: g82 7/22 9
would not hold political office: uw 164-165; sj 12
would not serve in the Roman army: sj 12
zealous preachers of the Gospel: w82 2/1 7-8