What is the Apostles’ Doctrine?

According to Luke, the first century Christian physician and friend of Paul the Apostle, the early church placed a heavy emphasis on the teachings of the apostles. Indeed, from its very inception, the church deemed “the apostles’ doctrine” worthy not only of attention but their steadfast focus.

Are the teachings of the apostles part of the church’s focus today? Are they part of yours?

In the second chapter of the book of Acts, we read the following:

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:41-42, KJV

The context of this passage is of course Peter’s preaching at Pentecost, the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and the launch of the Christian church. This passage tells us that those who “gladly received” Peter’s message of salvation in Christ “were baptized” and “added” to the church. And it then tells us four things the church began to do. We will deal with “fellowship,” “breaking of bread,” and “prayers” in future posts. For now, we look at the first item in that list: “the apostles’ doctrine.”

Who were the apostles?

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said: “The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.” Of course, according to King Solomon, it’s “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 9:10).

I’m with Solomon.

But Socrates was onto something.

I would say that defining one’s terms is certainly the first step in effective communication (whether we’re talking about reading, listening, or everyday conversation). And it’s certainly at the top of the list (under “the fear of the Lord,” of course) when it comes to the acquisition of knowledge in general.

And therefore, when striving to understand a biblical passage, it’s important that we first have a healthy and reverential “fear” of God (top priority) and then (second) that we carefully study the words in that passage. In this case, that means we have to know what is meant by “apostles” and by “doctrine.”

Let’s first take the term “apostle.”

Anyone can claim to be an apostle. Over the centuries, many have claimed to be apostles. Sometimes, churches even today will declare or “anoint” men or women as “apostles.”

Well, if the church is supposed to continue “steadfast” in the “apostles’ doctrine,” and if there are apostles walking around today (as in the first century), then… well, do you see the implications?

Do you see the potential for great confusion?

The term “apostle” is a variant of the classical Greek word ἀπόστολος (apóstolos), which means “one who is sent off.” And in Acts 2:42, the reference is to those men directly “sent off” by Jesus Himself. We see this in the Gospel of Mark:

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

Mark 3:14-15, KJV

Thus, in Acts 2:42, Luke is talking about the core disciples Jesus chose (i.e., the original Twelve Disciples) – minus Judas, plus Matthias (see Acts 1:15-26).

Later, following the events of Acts 2, Paul is added to this group by direct call of Jesus on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:1-31, II Corinthians 11, Romans 1:1, I Corinthians 1:1, and pretty much the first verse of all of Paul’s epistles).

So, while churches today may declare certain people to be “apostles,” and indeed even in the New Testament, you start to see other “apostles” come onto the scene (like Barnabas), but there are no apostles today as Luke is describing in Acts 2:42.

What did the apostles teach?

Luke says the early church, at its very inception, was committed to the “apostles’ doctrine.” Other English translations render it as “the apostles’ teaching.” The Greek word behind “doctrine” (or “teaching”) is διδαχῇ (English transliteration: didachē). It specifically referred to the teachings of the Lord and His apostles — authoritative exhortations and instructions that are binding on followers of Christ.

This reflects the Great Commission. Let’s look at Matthew’s account:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20, KJV

Note that Jesus commands His disciples (the apostles) to be about the business of “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” The “them” refers to those who accept Christ and are baptized into the church. The “whatsoever I have commanded you” is quite simply all of what Jesus taught the disciples during His time with them.

What if they forgot some of what Jesus taught them? Or…what if new things come up or are about to come up? Well, Jesus had all that covered. Enter the Holy Spirit.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:13, KJV

So… the apostles were charged with preaching and teaching what Jesus taught them and also what the Holy Spirit (the “Spirit of truth”) moved them to teach.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul makes quite clear the significance of apostolic teaching:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

Ephesians 2:19-20, KJV

The context of this passage is that Paul was assuring the Gentile believers in the Ephesian community that they were as much a part of the “household of God” as their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. And, in that assurance, Paul explains that they (the Gentile believers) are part of a church family that is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

Do we have access to the apostles’ teachings today?

Do you have access to the Bible? If the answer to that is “yes,” then “yes,” you have access to the apostles’ teaching today.

Look again at Ephesians 2:19-20. Paul explains that the spiritual and intellectual foundation of the church was laid by the “apostles and prophets.” Well, that’s the New Testament (apostles) and Old Testament (prophets). And of course both Testaments – the entire Bible – turn on Jesus, “the chief corner stone.”

The Bible is the written record of God’s revelation to humanity via His apostles and the prophets.

Read that last sentence again. And, now, do it again. Make sure you read it until you understand.

The Bible is the apostles’ doctrine (and that of the prophets too) put to writing.

Are we sufficiently committed to doctrine today?

It’s imperative we be committed to doctrine. Why? Because we need it.

This was made clear way back in the time of ancient Israel.

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

Deuteronomy 8:3

Jesus picks up this same theme when confronted by Satan during His fast. When the devil urges him to turn stones into bread, Jesus replies:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4, KJV

We need the nourishment of God’s word. And therefore, we need to be committed to sound teaching and doctrine, but are we?

I can’t answer for you specifically, but indications (surveys, news stories, observations of today’s churches) would say we (at least collectively) are not.

This article from Christianity Today and this one from Barna lay out the problem pretty clearly.

Most Christians don’t fully know what they believe or why they believe it — and many clearly diverge from biblical orthodoxy. A majority of professing Christians today are more influenced by the world than by the Maker of this world. In the words of one observer:

We’re a nation of religious illiterates. We have a lot of people who really love Jesus, but don’t know much about him. We have a lot of people who believe and hope that the Bible is the word of God but they don’t really bother to read it.

Stephen Prothero, Boston University professor, in an interview with CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts (2010)

A prominent Christian theologian agrees:

Secularized Americans should not be expected to be knowledgeable about the Bible. As the nation’s civic conversation is stripped of all biblical references and content, Americans increasingly live in a Scripture-free public space. Confusion and ignorance of the Bible’s content should be assumed in post-Christian America. The larger scandal is biblical ignorance among Christians. Choose whichever statistic or survey you like, the general pattern is the same. America’s Christians know less and less about the Bible. It shows.

Mohler, Albert. “The Scandal of Biblical Ignorance,” FamilyLife.com

St. Jerome famously said: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” And by that logic, most of the people who claim to love and follow Jesus today are, in fact, ignorant of Him.

Do you love Jesus? If so, you will love His teachings as passed down to us by His apostles (and prophets).

So…do you love Him?

Those who do will, as the early church, “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.”