Actually it was assimilated into Roman tradition. The early church was a mixture of many beliefs right from the start. That is why Paul wrote so many letters to different towns trying to teach them his philosophy. There were also hundreds of 'gospel' books that contradicted each other and gave differing accounts of Jesus life.
Ultimately the Romans accepted Christianity through Constantine, and then as an established religion, the rulers felt the need to create a consistent doctrine. That is how the new testament was created. Many rulers/scribes got together and prayed and decided which of the christian documents most closely adhered to their belief. They then ignored the others, blessed the new testament as divinely inspired and solidified Christianity.
The early Christian church was actually nothing like the glamorous entity as portrayed by Christians today. It was a hodgepodge of many Roman/Greek beliefs that varied from town to town.
2007-03-14 03:20:51
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answer #1
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answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7
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I'll give it a shot. This will be very condensed.
The early church suffered under extreme persecution. The Jews hated them, the Romans hated them, and the Pagans hated them. They were being slaughtered every day. The early Christians had to spend so much time fighting to stay alive that they could not devote enough time to heresy's creeping into the church as new people were added. With each new group came remnants of their old religion, and more paganism. Christianity became an illegal religion. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 which was where the main "church" was. It was a struggle for survival until Constantine started the process to make Christianity legal around 312. Now the Christians could turn their attention towards building and or repairing their theology. Unfortunately much paganism had crept into the churches. Rome had become the center of the church simply because of its size, which may be due to the imprisoned apostles teachings in the 1st century. The bishop of Rome was perceived as a leader in Christianity. Over time the bishop of Rome became the top bishop over all the churches. Power becomes an issue. By around 600 the bishop becomes the pope and he begins to start a process by which he can control the world. We enter the dark ages. The Roman Catholic church controls the known world for 1000 years. Around 1500 a ray of light shines through-reformation. Christianity escapes the iron claws of Catholicism. Revival. Church growth, missionaries, the new world-a new hope. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian-Christianity rises from the ashes. The Christian church has an impact on the world for about 400 years. Then, we grow fat, lazy and begin to lose it all again. We forget God-and soon He will forget us.
But back to the question-'how did the early church die'? The early church allowed itself to fill up with paganism-it died from lack of belief in God.
2007-03-14 03:40:46
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answer #2
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answered by John S 3
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The Early Church did not die but it just evolved with the times and unfortunately, this does not mean that the church evolved positively. The church is a divinely ordained community that is made up of fallible humans. Therefore, there is a tendency for the church to choose the wrong road but it is a divine community and the Holy Spirit will always bring it back to the foundation of the early church. A church cannot die because it is not a human's invention. Human's invention are mortal like humanity but the church is a divine institution and therefore, it is an eternal entity.
2007-03-14 03:21:22
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answer #3
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answered by Stephen D 2
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It didn't. The Christianity that was prominent took the center stage in history. What century are you looking for? Here's an article about a church that was built around the 4th century:
http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Megiddo+Prison+dig+yields+rare+3rd-4th+century+Christian+structure+9-Nov-2005.htm
They understood that Jesus is God.
When Roman Catholicism took over, it took the center stage. But you can read Foxe's Book of Martyrs and see that the early church always had a people following it, and the Roman Catholic Church put many to death over it.
2007-03-14 03:23:55
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answer #4
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answered by Christian Sinner 7
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She did not die. She just went into the wilderness and the papal church (the false church) too over.
2007-03-14 03:41:37
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answer #5
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answered by 1saintofGod 6
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The Church of Jesus was hijacked and suppressed by Paul.
The Early Church effectively died with the murder of James (brother of Jesus) orchestrated by Paul.
2007-03-14 03:22:25
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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The orthodox church, the first church established by the apostles is still strong. Most people just see the greek and russian orthodox churches but we are out there. Catholics split off from orthodoxy around 1050.
2007-03-14 03:20:30
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answer #7
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answered by travelguruette 6
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It did not. Christianity was permanently established by Christ and His Apostles and never left. Some Orthodox and Catholic congregations were originally organized by the Apostles themselves. The Church is still alive and well.
2007-03-14 03:16:50
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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The Early Church never died, it lived on in those who truely followed Christ, and it is alive and will today in those who follow Christ.
2007-03-14 03:18:06
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answer #9
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answered by JesusFreak 4
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The same way it is dying now among so many....through immorality and disobedience
2007-03-14 03:18:34
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answer #10
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answered by msender77 2
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