CHRISTIANS (Early)
(See also Apologists; Apostles; Apostolic Fathers; Disciples)
(Note centered headings below: List by Name; Quotations)
absence of prejudice: g 8/09 7-8
accusations against: w04 11/1 15; w93 7/1 5-6, 15
antisocial: w93 11/15 10
atheism: w93 7/1 15-16
altars not used: it-1 85-86; w03 2/15 30
apostasy: w24.02 3-4; it-1 127; rr 97-98; jv 34-35
antichrists: w15 6/1 14-15; si 256-257, 259
beginning: re 29-30; sh 279; g89 6/22 24-26
Hymenaeus and Philetus (2Ti 2:17, 18): it-1 1164; it-2 627; w06 12/1 5
“restraint” against (2Th 2:6, 7): w24.02 3; mwb19.07 4; it-1 130; it-2 311; w90 2/1 12
architecture: it-1 161
art: it-1 181
Asia Minor: w07 8/15 8-11
attitude in 60 C.E.: w98 1/1 7
attitude of ancient Rome toward: w93 7/1 5-6, 14-16; w90 11/1 26; w86 2/1 12
attitude toward—
abortion: g88 4/8 27; g87 4/8 15
Apocrypha: it-1 408
birthdays: ijwbq article 35; ijwfq article 39; it-1 319; lvs 177; wp17.6 15; w15 12/1 15; bhs 166-167; ed 15-16; bh 157; lv 150-151; rs 69; g86 12/8 22
blood: it-1 346; w04 6/15 21, 29; w00 6/15 29; w91 6/15 10; hb 5-6; rs 72; g86 9/8 24
childbearing: w88 3/1 19-21
Christian Scriptures: it-1 409
Gentiles: it-1 851
idolatry: it-1 1172; sh 93-94
images: w21.10 20; g 10/14 15; g 8/08 21; w02 7/1 3; w92 2/15 6
Mary: rs 259; g88 11/8 11
military service: ijwbq article 195; ijwfq article 23; it-1 175-176, 442; lv 52; w13 7/1 5; g 11/09 11; w05 3/15 6-7; g02 5/8 21; g02 8/8 8-10; w98 12/1 6; g98 10/22 6; g97 5/8 23; w93 7/1 15; jv 192; w90 10/15 21; w90 11/1 26; sh 347; rs 272-273; w88 4/15 17; w88 5/1 28; g87 2/8 27; tp 123-124
Millennium: w99 12/1 5-6
observance of Law: w23.12 4-5; bt 182-184; w18.10 24-25; it-2 1163-1164; w16.09 14-15; w11 7/15 27, 30; w03 3/15 20-25; g02 10/8 19
other religions: w93 7/1 6-7
patriotic ceremonies: rs 275
politics: ijwfq article 37; mrt article 38; lvs 61; lv 52; w12 5/1 22; w04 5/1 3; jv 190; rs 273-274; g87 2/8 27; tp 123-124
Roman entertainment: it-1 888; w02 7/15 23
shedding blood: w90 2/1 17
slavery: it-2 979; g01 9/8 21; si 242
social customs linked with paganism: w93 11/15 10
superior authorities: w96 5/1 5-8, 12-13; w94 7/1 19-20; w93 7/1 4
taxes: w02 7/15 24-25
unexpected difficulties: w23.04 16-17
war: ijwfq article 23; w12 3/1 5; g 11/09 11; w05 3/15 6-7; w02 7/15 24; g97 5/8 23; g94 10/22 6; w93 7/1 15; g93 4/22 6; rs 272-273
baptism: w89 1/15 11-14, 17
dedication symbolized by: w89 1/15 13-14
immersion: it-1 252; w02 4/1 11; w02 7/15 19-20; w93 4/1 5
no infant baptism: it-1 251; w89 1/15 13; rs 55
Bible:
catalogs: it-1 121; si 302-304
personal ownership: w11 6/15 18; w07 12/1 32
publication of: it-1 354-355; w04 9/15 30-31; w97 8/15 8-10; si 315
reliance on: ti 5; w87 3/1 10-11
use of Septuagint: w97 8/15 9
Bible terms for: jv 149
Bithynia:
comments by Pliny the Younger: bt 26; it-1 320; g16.5 4; w10 5/15 3; w07 8/15 11; w03 6/15 5; w01 4/1 12
burial:
embalming not practiced: it-1 722
Christianity chosen rationally: g88 8/8 5-7
Christmas not celebrated: ijwbq article 35; ijwfq article 18; w15 12/1 15; bhs 166; ed 15-16; bh 156-157; w04 12/15 4; w00 12/15 5; w94 12/15 4; g89 12/8 14; g88 12/8 17-18; g87 11/22 7; g86 12/8 22
codex pioneered by: it-1 354-355; w15 2/15 22; w07 8/15 19; w04 9/15 30-31; w99 8/15 23; si 315
comments by—
Celsus: it-2 672; w12 3/1 8; jv 548
Josephus, Flavius: it-1 441-442; jv 32
New Catholic Encyclopedia: w93 7/1 13
Pliny the Younger: bt 26; it-1 320, 442; g16.5 4; g 9/12 14; w10 5/15 3; w07 8/15 11; re 42; w03 6/15 5; w01 4/1 12
Suetonius: it-1 441; g 9/12 14
Tacitus: ijwbv article 30; it-1 441; re 101; w90 8/1 17; si 237; gm 61
common people primarily: it-2 672; jv 547-548; w88 7/1 28-30; g88 8/8 5-6
conduct: w87 10/15 6
congregation problems: si 211
apostasy: si 256-257
corrupting elements: si 261-263
false apostles: it-1 512; it-2 869; si 214
hurt feelings: w99 10/15 13-14
Judaizers: bt 103; it-1 880, 882; it-2 821; w06 3/15 10, 12; w90 11/15 23; si 218
lack of respect for Lord’s Evening Meal: it-2 271
standards lowered: si 249
congregations: od 26-27; w07 4/15 22-23
considered a sect: it-2 886; w93 7/1 6
contributions (monetary): scl 14; od 124; it-1 918-919, 939-940; w13 7/1 4; w04 11/1 20; w03 11/1 26-27; w02 12/1 4-6; w94 12/1 16-17; w92 1/15 16; w86 12/1 29-30; w86 12/15 30
after Pentecost 33 C.E.: bt 27, 35; it-1 503, 939-940; w09 11/15 19; w89 12/15 16; w86 12/1 29
by Macedonians: it-2 289; w01 3/15 30
for Christians in Jerusalem and Judea: bt 74, 76, 169, 182; w19.11 26-27; w18.01 20; it-1 487-488; it-2 631, 769, 1111; kr 209; w12 11/15 8; w03 6/1 6; w02 11/15 13; w02 12/1 5-6; w01 3/15 29-31; w00 11/1 28; w98 7/15 7; w98 11/1 24-26; w98 11/15 30; w89 12/1 24-26; om 158-159
not for unbelievers: it-1 919
Paul’s management: w92 1/15 17
Tertullian’s comment: jv 341-342; w92 1/15 19
criticized: w93 7/1 5-6
cross not used by: g17.2 15; w08 3/1 22; rs 92; w87 8/15 21, 24
divine name used by: w10 7/1 5-6
evidence from Babylonian Talmud: w93 11/1 30-31
evidence from the Tosefta: nwt 1737-1738; w12 3/1 7; w08 8/1 20
education: w20.10 24; it-1 684-685; it-2 672; g98 3/8 19-20
effect of Greek culture: w08 12/1 18-21
emperor worship refused by: it-1 1196; it-2 533, 536, 824; w13 1/15 11; w10 5/15 5-6; w96 5/1 6; w93 1/15 24; jv 673; w90 11/1 26; rs 275
expectations of end: g95 6/22 5-6; w93 6/1 15; w89 10/1 30-31
expectations regarding Kingdom adjusted: w90 10/15 14-15
faith: w90 8/1 16-17
basis for: si 342
flight from Jerusalem: w25.05 14-19; w24.09 10; w22.01 4-5; it-2 47; w15 7/15 15; w12 4/15 25-26; w12 10/1 15; g 4/11 12; w09 5/15 9, 13; w07 4/1 9-10; kp 20-21; lr 44-46; w98 9/15 3-4; w96 6/1 15-16; jv 715; w90 10/15 7; w86 8/15 19
Encyclopaedia Judaica: w90 10/15 7
Gentiles accepted: w02 4/1 22
conversion of pagans: sh 262
Cornelius: w25.03 9-10; bt 69-72; od 163; it-1 513; lfb 226-227; w02 3/1 17-18
equality with Jews: si 206-207
Jerusalem Christians acquiesce (Ac 11): bt 72-73
governing body: od 17; it-2 549-550; w17.02 24-25; jl lesson(s) 20; w13 7/15 17-18; w10 9/15 13; w07 4/1 23; w98 3/15 20-21; w97 5/15 15-17; w95 7/1 31; jv 29; w87 3/1 11; w87 8/1 11-14; je 6
growth: bt 221; w04 1/1 12; w01 4/1 9-14
hated: w98 12/1 10-13
hell fire not taught by: ijwbq article 66
homes: w10 1/1 16-18
hospitality: w05 1/15 22-23
incense:
not burned to emperor: it-1 1196; w13 1/15 11; rs 275
not used in worship: it-1 1196; w03 6/1 29
Jehovah’s guidance: w24.02 22
Jerusalem: it-2 46-47
Judea: it-2 134
literacy: w08 9/1 12-15
love: w12 3/1 6; g98 10/22 5-6; jv 304
“brother” and “sister” used: it-2 627; si 242
“holy kiss”: it-2 177; w90 8/1 25
love feasts: it-2 279-280; w97 9/1 16-17; w91 4/15 31
Tertullian’s comment: w12 3/1 6; g98 10/22 5; jv 304; pe 232
loyalty rewarded by Constantius I: w90 8/15 12
James: bt 12, 78; it-1 467; w90 6/1 20; si 291-292
Polycarp: w09 7/1 28-29; re 38; w89 11/15 21-23
Stephen: bt 12, 48, 50-51; it-2 1034; lr 132-133; w99 6/15 29-30; w90 6/1 16-17; si 201
meetings: lff lesson 10; od 59-60; it-1 198-199; it-2 875-876; w16.04 21-22; w10 10/15 20, 23; w02 7/15 20-21; w02 11/15 7-8; w93 6/15 28; jv 236, 251
features from synagogues: it-1 198, 500; it-2 1051-1052; w10 4/1 18
meeting places: od 116; it-2 875-876; w02 11/15 7
note-taking: it-2 876
private homes: bt 80, 118; it-2 627
public reading: it-2 714
Memorial: kr 180; w94 3/15 4-5
change from Nisan 14: w94 3/15 4-6
change to celebrating Jesus’ resurrection: g92 4/8 7
Quartodecimans: w06 4/15 17, 19; w03 2/15 14; w94 3/15 4-6; w93 3/15 5; w90 2/15 13
miraculous gifts: it-1 937-939; it-2 665; jy 170-171; gt chapter 72; w88 7/1 16-17
end: ijwbq article 150; it-1 128, 937; it-2 665; w09 5/1 28; w92 6/1 5; w92 7/15 30-31; w92 8/15 5; gm 85; rs 159-160, 403-404; g89 3/8 10
healing: w92 6/1 5; rs 157-160
knowledge: w92 7/15 30-31
prophesying: it-2 693, 697-698; w92 7/15 30-31
purpose: it-2 413-414; w10 4/15 9; rs 159-160; w87 12/1 5-6
tongues: ijwbq article 150; it-2 697; w10 10/1 29-30; w92 8/15 4-7; rs 400-404; g87 4/8 22-23
missionary activity: g94 10/22 19
possible eastern reach: w09 1/1 20-23
morals: w97 7/15 9-11; sh 236, 262
music: it-2 453, 667; w17.11 4; kr 178; w10 12/15 22; g 5/08 23; w97 2/1 26
name Christian: jv 149-150
“by divine providence” (Ac 11:26): bt 74; it-1 440; w00 7/15 25-26; jv 149-150; w90 6/1 19
neutrality: it-1 175-176; lv 52; wt 162-163; g02 8/8 8-10; jv 673; w90 2/1 17; w90 11/1 26; sh 347; w88 4/15 17; w88 5/1 28; w87 10/15 6; g87 2/8 27; tp 123-124
choice of Pella for flight from Jerusalem: w25.05 16-17; w86 8/15 19
Jewish revolt (66-73 C.E.): w90 10/15 6-7
military service: lv 52; w13 7/1 5; g 11/09 11; w05 3/15 6-7; g02 5/8 21; w98 12/1 6; g98 10/22 5-6; g97 5/8 23; jv 192; w90 11/1 26; rs 272-273
New Year’s Day not celebrated: g90 12/22 14
not Communists: mrt article 36; bt 27; w90 12/1 24-25
ownership of land: it-2 200
organization: w24.04 8; od 25-27; w16.11 11; w14 5/15 24-25; w11 6/1 14; w07 4/15 25-27; w03 9/1 4; w00 1/1 30-31; jv 28-29; pe 194-195; je 6-7
no clergy-laity distinction: sh 267, 269; g88 8/22 27
no pope: g89 2/8 8-9
persecution: w23.04 17; bt 44, 90, 92; it-2 610, 825; w11 11/15 18; re 101; w04 11/1 15; w03 10/1 11-12; w02 7/15 21-22; w99 5/1 4-5; w93 11/15 8-11; jv 30-32, 642; si 201-202, 251, 291-293; gm 16
after Stephen’s death: w90 6/1 17
by Caesar Galerius: w12 6/1 21
by Emperor Diocletian: g 12/11 5; w92 6/15 28-30; w90 5/1 14
by Emperor Nero: it-1 441; re 101; w93 11/15 9; si 237; w88 5/1 29
by Emperor Trajan: it-1 442; w10 5/15 5-6; re 62
by Jews: w10 12/1 20; w93 11/15 8-9; si 244
by pagan worshippers: w98 12/1 11
by Roman rulers: it-2 533
by Saul (Paul): bt 200; it-2 586; w05 5/15 26-27; w05 12/1 27; w99 6/15 29-31
comment by Suetonius: it-1 441
description by Tacitus: it-1 441; re 101; w93 11/15 9; w90 8/1 17; si 237
for name Christian: w86 2/1 12
for not worshipping Roman deities: w10 5/15 3, 5-6
in Jerusalem: lfb 222-223; kr 134; w89 12/15 11-12
in Roman Empire: w98 12/1 11-13; w95 6/15 5; w93 11/15 9-11
Jesus’ counsel: jv 642
letter from Pliny the Younger on: bt 26; it-1 442; g16.5 4; w10 5/15 3; w07 8/15 11; re 42
Peter’s counsel: si 251-253
response: w03 10/1 17; w99 5/1 5; si 205
results: w86 2/1 12-13
role of Caiaphas: it-1 386
personality transformed: w90 11/1 5
poor people primarily: w09 9/1 5
preaching: w20.10 21; od 25-26; it-2 672-674; w15 2/15 19-23; w04 1/1 10-12; wt 170-172, 174; w93 7/1 6; si 201, 204-205; w89 12/15 10-12; om 10, 23, 101
all participate: w12 3/1 8; g 4/07 27; w04 1/1 11-12; w02 1/1 10; w01 4/1 11; w91 1/15 14-15; g88 8/22 27
at temple and synagogues: w16.09 14-15
beyond eastern Mediterranean: w92 9/1 11
circumstances compared with modern times: bt 218-223; w99 8/15 19-24
during times of peace: w20.09 16
effectiveness: g88 2/8 9-10
emphasis on resurrection: g88 7/8 11
extent: w90 1/15 13-14
facilitated by dispersion of Jews: it-1 418; w15 2/15 23
factors favoring: w15 2/15 20-23; w15 6/15 32
informal witnessing: w87 10/15 24
maps of areas reached: it-2 744; nwt 1790-1791; g 9/12 15; gl 32; je 7
material needs while: wt 104-106
missionary spirit: w16.03 23
multilingual: w05 12/1 22
Pentecost 33 C.E.: w02 8/1 15-16
reports made: bt 43; om 100-101
to people of Greek background: w08 12/1 20-21
predestination not taught: it-1 859-860
progressive enlightenment: w00 3/15 11-12; w95 5/15 10-15
prophets: it-2 697-698
publishers of literature: it-1 685; jv 575
removal from the congregation: it-1 788; w88 4/15 26-27, 30; g87 10/8 27
Samaritans: w25.03 2-3; w02 4/1 22
separate from world: it-1 442; w12 3/1 5; w11 11/15 18; g 4/07 9; wt 161-163; w96 5/1 6-7; w93 7/1 3-7; jv 30, 190, 673; tp 123-124
comments of historian Will Durant: w12 3/1 5; w88 7/15 20
daily conflicts: w93 7/1 5
Witnesses similar: w93 7/1 12-17
similarity of Jehovah’s Witnesses: bt 218-223; w15 2/15 24; g 1/11 8; w02 7/15 18-25; jv 234, 673, 677
teaching work: it-2 1072-1073
testing and sifting from within: jv 618-619
tithing not practiced: ijwbq article 170
traditions: it-2 1119
Trinity not believed in: g 8/13 13; w93 10/15 28-29; w92 2/1 19-23; w92 4/1 24-30; w92 8/1 21; rs 405-406; ti 6-7
unity: scl 62; w05 1/1 4-6; w03 9/1 4; w02 7/15 25; w01 3/15 30; je 7
way of life: g 4/07 26-27
witnesses of Jehovah: jv 26-32
women: w10 2/1 8-10
writings:
Didache, The (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles): w09 7/1 28; w92 2/1 19-20
Epistle of Barnabas: w09 7/1 28-29
Epistle of Polycarp, The: w09 7/1 29
Martyrdom of Polycarp: w09 7/1 28
zeal for true worship: w04 1/1 10-11; w94 12/1 10-11
List by Name
(Where no references appear, see main heading)
Clement of Alexandria:
Clement of Rome:
Hermas:
Ignatius of Antioch:
Irenaeus:
Justin Martyr:
Melito of Sardis:
Papias of Hierapolis:
Polycarp of Smyrna:
Polycrates of Ephesus:
Tertullian:
Theophilus of Antioch:
Quotations
abortion and infanticide were forbidden: g88 4/8 27
aloof and distinct from the state: jv 190; rs 274
apart from and superior to political society: mrt article 38
attitude to war was more like that of Jehovah’s Witnesses: w02 7/15 24
being a Christian and a soldier was irreconcilable: g94 10/22 6
changed our warlike weapons,—our swords into ploughshares: rs 272-273; w88 5/1 28
contemptible enthusiasts: w02 7/15 23; w93 7/1 14
conviction that none should hold office under the state: mrt article 38
could not conform with most ordinary convention on ground that it implied recognition of pagan deities: w93 11/15 10
dead to the world and useless: w98 12/1 11; w93 7/1 15
did not believe in participating in political affairs: mrt article 38
did not serve in the armed forces: w98 12/1 6; w90 11/1 26
emperor’s best allies in cause of peace and good order: w97 6/1 14; w93 7/1 14
expansion an extraordinary chain of improbabilities: g 9/12 14
identified their religion with peace; strongly condemned war: g93 4/22 6
infant baptism was unknown: it-1 251; w89 1/15 13; rs 55
insisted that they alone possessed the truth: g89 6/8 25
labourers, shoemakers, farmers, the most uninformed and clownish of men: it-2 672; jv 548; g88 8/8 6
martyred for refusing military service: tp 124
moral and law-abiding: g 4/07 27
most illiterate and vulgar of mankind: w12 3/1 8
no Christian became a soldier: it-1 442; g02 5/8 21; jv 192; rs 272
no Christian writing condoned Christian participation in war: w93 7/1 15
not only refused military service but would not accept public office nor responsibility for governing: w91 6/15 31
on the edge of society: w96 5/1 6; w93 7/1 5
peculiar and dangerous people: w90 11/1 26
refused to become soldiers: g02 5/8 21; g98 10/22 6
refused to be conscripted even if the penalty was death: w88 4/15 17
refused to engage in war whatever the consequences: w12 3/1 5
refused to share certain duties of Roman citizens: mrt article 38; wt 162; jv 673; rs 273-274
refused to take any active part in the civil administration or the military defence of the empire: g98 10/22 6; jv 673; rs 273; g87 2/8 27; tp 123-124
repudiated extramarital sexual practices: sh 236
strangers and pilgrims in the world around them: jv 30
triumphs in making good men rather than changing institutions, government, laws: w92 2/15 15; w90 11/1 22
view in the early Church was that war is an organized iniquity with which the followers of Christ can have nothing to do: g94 10/22 6
violation of their faith to enter military service: wt 162
want of interest in public affairs a noticeable feature: jv 30
were to go out and speak to everyone: w12 3/1 8; g 4/07 27
while war [was] necessary to preserve Rome, Christians felt unable to join in: w90 2/1 17
would not hold political office: mrt article 38; wt 162; jv 673; rs 273-274; tp 123
would not serve in the army: g97 5/8 23
zeal diffused them through every province: jv 27