How did the early Christians get by without the Bible?

Question

If the New Testament was written during the first century and not compiled and declared inspired until about 400 AD, then how did the early Christians living between 33 AD and 400 AD get by without the Bible?

Thanks.

Answer 1

They followed the teaching that they had heard from preachers before them. Just like everything back then, by word of mouth passing it on through the generations.

Answer 2

Actually the Canon (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) was around and widely accepted long before 400 AD. The purpose of that meeting was to determine if Jesus was co-eternal with the Farther (and the vote was yes by 300 to 2). Still, the culture back then was an oral one, and Jesus spoke in parables and stories... things people could remember exactly. There were also tons of eyewitnessess to what occurred that could verify (ever notice that Jesus was only really ever alone when He prayed? Otherwise he was always in public or had people around), so the early Bible was transmitted via word of mouth until it was written down, at which point the 4 gospels became the core of the New Testament and were accepted all over long before the concil convened. In fact, the belief in those 4 books was so powerful that the council couldn't stop them from being the backbone of the New Testament even if they tried... they were already ingrained in the culture over the past 300 years.

Answer 3

The Gospels were going around during this time. The first century is anything from 0-100 AD. most of the Gospels coming around 35 AD 3-5 years after the death of Christ. The 400 AD? I am not sure where you get this number. If your referring to the Council of Nicea that was a vote to confirm what they already knew which was overwhelmingly in favor of the inspired scriptures.

Answer 4

One thing that we must be aware of is that most people before Christ, and years after Christ, did not know how to read. Therefore the message contained in scripture now was transmitted by way of story telling or verbally. To us this might sound as a very ineffective way, since we might feel that the stories then were changed every time that they were told; however, memorization was a skill that was very strong or prevalent amongst the people of that time.

This ability to memorize toppled with the importance that the faith tradition had during that period provided for an accuracy that allow for the message of God to be carried forward for many generations. With the coming of the written language, many who were charged with the leadership of the church, committed themselves to writing God message on scrolls, and eventually with the coming of the printing press, this writings became available and accessible to all who want to take the time to know our Heavenly Father.

Furthermore, the early Christians had the Hebrew Scriptures as their inspiration, alongside the testimony of the apostles.

Reverend Abad Perez
http://www.alphaandomegadiocese.org/

Answer 5

it was actually complied in pieces prior to that. But to answer your question better, the reason is because many of the early believers were illiterate so the majority relied on memory techniques that allowed them to remember at a much better rate than we do. Also, that's the reason Jesus used parables. By relating His teaching to an easily-remembered and relational format His disciples were able to remember the gist of His lessons and apply them to life.

See, the purpose of the Bible isn't to read it ands say, "What a fascinating piece of literature," or "What a piece of tripe," or even to read it as strict history. the purpose is to read it and to ask the Holy Spirit to identify how it applies to life. That means it must be read from a much different perspective than just reading the words. It also explains why unskilled illiterates such as Peter, John and others were able to record their thoughts in such clear detail (Mark wrote Peter's dictated accounts in the Gospel of Mark; John apparently learned to read and write at some point)

Answer 6

The Catholic church did not allow anyone other than priests to possess or read the bible, so people had to do without the bible until the 16th century.

Answer 7

They were close to the source and Christ and His apostles and all those who followed Christ were still around . There were still many signs and wonders and Christians lived together and had all things in common. The church was born "full grown" and has been going downhill ever since. We need to go back to those beginnings.

Answer 8

They had the Scriptures, silly man. It's what you know as the Old Testament.
Everything the "saints" needed to live successfully & in right relationship with G-d is in the Tanach (OT). It's what Jesus lived His life by, as well as all the Apostles.
Now do you understand why Jews claim it was not done away with by Jesus' death/resurrection?

Answer 9

Pure, dumb luck.

Maybe God just spoke directly to them. There were a lot fewer of them then.

Or maybe they lived by morals and high standards without the need for some book.

Hmmmmm

Answer 10

well the 1st christians had a little somebody we like to call CHRIST!!! The first christians WROTE the new testament.