Early Christianity: Not a Single Faith

 After the time of Jesus, Christianity began to spread to different parts of the Roman Empire. However, we must remember that there were no fast communication systems like we have today. Because of this, ideas that developed in one place took a long time to reach other places.

As a result, Christianity did not develop in the same way everywhere. Each region and each believing community had its own understanding of Jesus and his teachings. In those early years, “Christianity” was not a single, unified faith, but a collection of different forms of belief.

Some people understood Jesus as a prophet who proclaimed the kingdom of God. Others believed he was a future Messiah who would return as a king. Still others saw Jesus as a divine Christ whose significance extended to the whole world. All these understandings existed at the same time.

Over time, some of these beliefs gained more followers and became stronger, while others slowly faded away. But a belief is not necessarily true simply because many people accept it.

In this context, the role of Paul was especially important. Paul travelled widely across the Roman Empire and wrote letters to Christian communities in different places. Through these letters, his ideas spread more widely and became influential. As a result, Paul’s understanding of Jesus gained strength.

At the same time, beliefs that had no strong supporters, no written texts, or no wide network of communities gradually disappeared. In this way, the form of Christianity we know today emerged as one path that became dominant among several early possibilities.

This reminds us that Christianity was shaped not only by faith, but also by historical circumstances, communication, and human activity.

Early Christian Faiths – A Simple Overview

 In the early years after Jesus, Christianity was not a single, unified faith. Different groups understood Jesus in different ways and emphasized different aspects of his life and message. These differences gave rise to several early forms of Christian faith.

1. Teaching-focused faith

Some early followers saw Jesus mainly as a teacher of wisdom and moral living. Faith meant listening to his words and practicing them in daily life. The focus was on obedience to Jesus’ teachings rather than on beliefs about his death or resurrection.

Biblical reference: Matthew 7:24 – “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

2. Jewish-Messiah faith

Other believers understood Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel and continued to live within Jewish law and traditions. They believed faith in Jesus did not cancel the Torah. Jesus was God’s chosen Messiah, not yet defined in later theological terms.

Biblical reference: Matthew 5:17 – “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.”

3. Death-and-Resurrection faith (Apostolic / Pauline)

Another group centered its faith on what God did through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Salvation was believed to come through trusting in Christ, not through observing the Law. This understanding of faith focused on beliefs about Jesus rather than on his teachings alone.

Biblical reference: 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – “Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day.”

4. End-time (Apocalyptic) faith

Some early Christians believed that Jesus would return very soon to judge the world and establish God’s kingdom. Their faith was marked by urgency, repentance, and hope for God’s final victory over evil.

Biblical reference: Mark 1:15 – “The time has come… The kingdom of God has come near.”

5. Identity-focused faith

Many early debates centered on who Jesus really was. Some understood him as a human being chosen by God, while others spoke of him as having a heavenly or divine origin. These discussions later shaped Christian theology.

Biblical reference: Acts 2:36 – “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

6. Knowledge-focused (Gnostic-leaning) faith

Some groups believed Jesus came to reveal hidden spiritual knowledge that brings enlightenment and freedom. Salvation was understood as awakening to divine truth rather than forgiveness of sins.

Biblical reference: John 8:32 – “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Conclusion

Early Christianity was diverse and dynamic. Each form of faith answered a different question about Jesus—his teachings, his identity, his death, or the future of the world. What later became known as apostolic faith was one of these streams, and it eventually became dominant because it organized belief, claimed apostolic authority, and defined the boundaries of Christian doctrine.