Development of Church Worship: 1st to 5th Century Analysis

This essay provides a detailed historical analysis of the evolution of church worship from the 1st to the 5th centuries. It begins by examining the origins of Christian worship in the context of Jewish traditions, including the influence of Jesus and his disciples. The essay traces the development of key practices such as prayer, baptism, communion, and preaching, highlighting significant changes and influences in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries. It explores the spread of Christianity, the role of bishops, and the impact of the Roman Empire on worship practices. The essay also discusses the development of music, the role of the scriptures, and the challenges faced by early Christians. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical context of worship in shaping the Christian faith and its practices. The report includes references to various scholarly sources to support its claims.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
How did the worship of the church develop in the period of 1st to 5th centuries. ...................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Church history is the history of faith of Christians which was begun on 30 A.D in
Palestine. The history of church begins with the Jesus Christ. Christianity is a religion that is
deeply rooted in history. In this report, Howthe worship of church develop in the period of 1st to
5th centuries is included in this study. Further, the assignment also includes from 1st century
development to 5th century.
MAIN BODY
How did the worship of the church develop in the period of 1st to 5th centuries
According to Parkes, (2016), P.85, “Church history is the history of faith of Christians
which was begun on 30 A.D in Palestine”. The history of church begins with Jesus Christ.
Christianity is a religion, which is deeply rooted in history. Central to the Christian faith is the
fact that God came to the earth as a man- Jesus Christ. About 2000 years ago, he lived, loved and
taught humanity There is a greater reality to the history of Church and Jesus that he sacrifices,
miracle and burial in corn-stone of the faith of Christians.
By the 3rd century, Christianity had grown-up to turn as the dominant religion of the
northern Mediterranean world as well as they also gained significant extensions to the east and
south of the Mediterranean. Bishops were the successor of Jesus Apostles as well as the leader of
church. With the great efforts of Bishops, Christianity is spread to the early Roman Empire.
Reading and accumulation of scripture, prayer, singing of hymns and psalms and many
spiritual songs. All the activities were in full command of Jesus. Except the celebrations of the
Lord's Suppers, even so, these practices were not recognized by Jesus, as they were derived from
Synagogue worship of the Jews. Jewish was the first Christian community in Jerusalem. It is
recognized as the Old Creed as the world of God. As per the Burkholder, and Grout, (2014),
pp.145-148. “The early Christians continued from their Jewish counterpart was that Jesus was
the promised Messiah and the salvation was found only by Jesus.” Their worship was continued
in the style of Jewish fashion but they added the Lord Supper and prayer in the name of Jesus.
However, they did prayers daily in groups. After some time, the chief day of worship got
changed and it was fixed for the first day of week. This was a great development in the history of
church as well in style of worship
In 1st century, Christians believed Yahweh to true God only. The God of Israel believed
Jesus to be the Messiah. Jewish proselytes and Jewish were the first Christians. Christianity
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began with the miracle of Jesus of Nazareth. Pentecost is the day when the history of church
begins. Law of Moses were followed and continued by these Jewish Christians. Messianic
theology was adopted by them. Hellenistic Jews and the Palestinian Jews represented the
beginning of the struggles of church in order to reach out beyond its original culture and race.
The ministry of Jesus as per the account of the Gospels, fell into a structure of sectarian
preaches.
In 1st century, the teaching methods that were used by Jesus such as parables, allegory,
saying proverbs and small number of direct sermons and metaphors. The worship of Christians
in 1st century was not so easy because disciples of Jesus are only the key person who make others
understand how to worship god, how to read bible as it was not written in formal language.
Therefore, the disciples of Jesus helped people for better understanding. There were many
countries where meeting of Christians were still conducted in home as same as over the century
earlier.
From the first century till present time, the most common styles are prayers, baptism,
communion and preaching. In the community of Christians, baptism plays an essential role in
this community. In Roman Empire, there were several local synagogues in cities and towns,
which gave the entire description of worship.
According to Searle, (2016), P.98 “In 1st century, the worship was conducted and spread
over in the command of disciples or apostles of Jesus. The history of worship in 1 st century was
open to the people”.
The style of worship was originated from Jewish synagogue services that as follows:
 Open with prayer
 2 beneficial
 Reading of 10 commandants
 18 prayers and benedictions
 Lesson from law and lesson from prophets
 Homily in vernacular
 Amen
This is the style of worship, which is adopted by the disciples of Jesus. This shows that how
early Christians remained in Judaism for so long period. This happen because Jesus belong to
Jewish religion. There are some points of difference in their worship because Christians worship
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Jesus while Jewish worship baptism and Lord's Supper. Further, there is some development and
growth in the worship of people belongs to Christian’s community.
According to Barry and et.al., (2015), P.74 “Christianity in the 2nd century was largely
the time of fathers of Apostolic; father is the person who leans in the guidance of Jesus. 2nd
century was the time of people who were after sometimes declared to be major heretics like
Marcion, Montanus and Valentinius.” They continued their worship alongside pray believers of
Jewish but after Jesus passed away, the day of Lord which was Sunday was decided to be the
primary day for worship and meeting, within twenty years of Jesus death.
There are some people who refuse to join in the Bar Khokba Jewish revolt but there are
some people who retained more factors of Jewish practice. 2nd century of worship is totally based
on Jews and Gentiles.
There is a festival of Christians called Easter. There is different in the date of celebration
of Easter among Christianity. Churches in Asia Minor celebrate Easter in the month of Jewish on
14th day. It is the day before. Addition to this, there is history which is belongs to singing hymns
and psalms as well as spiritual songs. It is tradition, which was followed by Jewish traditions.
The music of church was developed by Jewish tradition. They created their own hymns and
songs for worship. Music of Christians worship has a great success over centuries in both
western and eastern.
In 3rd century, people of East- Germanic moved to Scythia; East Germanic gave birth to
Gothic culture. In 3rd century, Christianity got spread all over the world as it built trust and also
more organized. The worship of Christians was the place of public in Christians worship. At the
end of Roman Empire, Christianity was an outlawed religious practice. The place of worship in
3rd century was developed to some extent but still the worship is done on private rooms or home.
Christianity in 4th century was dominated in its early stage. As per the Searle (2016), P.12 “The
4th century is one of the periods in the history of church where changes in momentous took place
that is a turning point in the god history”. People used to gather on Sunday at the same place by
all people. The memoirs of the disciples of Jesus or prophets writing are read as long as time
permits. Their gathering provided opportunities for the people to gain instructions in the teaching
of disciples and bless the faithful by the religious gifts as they had been given for the
sophistication of the body of Jesus. Bishops, pastors or elders are the leaders of Church.
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Throughout the second half of the third century, Christianity had been developed almost
in all the sectors of the Roman Empire. With the increased number of pastors/bishops, churches
are build which spread the religion of Christianity in almost all over the world (Bushman, 2017).
They made schemes for spreading Christianity in entire Roman Empire.
In the period of 301 to 400, churches of Christians seemed to have continued growth. The
number of pastors got multiplied, buildings of church had begun to be built or purchased in large
cities and Christianity was identified serving in the positions of government as well as in
military.
According to Young and Killick, (2017), P.61 “In the 5th century in Christianity, there
were many developments, which led to further injury of the State church of the Roman Empire.
The cardinal pattern of early worship of Christians continued to develop and it grew in 4th and 5th
century”. With the end of the persecutions and the beginning of the period in which Christianity
became public cult-us of the Roman imperial government. They still continued to follow formal
traditions of worship. The disciple came for Antioch in the late 4th century was the main body of
indication. It opened with directions for various aspects of life of Christians, which contained
excretion of Didascalia. Organized the prayers of blessing. Central of the constitutions of
Apostolic stated the directions and prayers for baptism and Eucharist.
In worship, there are large problems arises in concern of languages, style, cultures as
because it differs from people to people but Christianity got spread almost in all parts of world
by their efforts and trust on Jesus. The practices of worship, styles worship differs from one
region of Christians to others. Later, Christianity was developed and elaborated in western and
eastern of Christian’s liturgy. The worship of Christians was the place of public in Christians
worship. At the end of Roman Empire, Christianity was an outlawed religion practice. The place
of worship in 4th and 5th century is developed to some extent but still the worship was done on
private rooms or home. Christianity in 4th and 5th century was dominated in its early stage.
According to Southern, (2016), P. 14 “With the enormous development and growth of the
Christians church, they are become very large, structured and powerful“. The rational
explanations of the nature of God seem to be removed very fast from the normal devotion which
Jesus followers had.
At the end of 5th century, Anthony responded by moving into the desert and living as
hermit. There were some other followers who set up prayers of communities. The thought of
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living as community of Christian flourished and many monasteries and converts were identified.
They were places of study, prayer and services of the miserable in the community were
precedence.
In 5th century, the worship was developed in France and Italy. The development of
Christianity was expanded at very high power. In the south of England main centre of spreading
Christianity. They built hospitals, churches and many health centres, which enhanced catholic
religion more and more. They also organized meeting, prayers in hospitals, so that they
worshipped styles will be more develop.
As per the Lovejoy, (2017), P. 45“There were many miracles that were seen, which built
trust among people and resulted in turn their religion. In the north and south of England, there
are two different styles of Christianity is growing”. Christianity was supported and even tolerated
by state where battle was not ostensible. It was only one of the acceptable religions in the world.
At the end of 5th century, people can read bible at their home. They worshipped at their home and
church both. Instruments were also developed by many people and make worship more attractive
and pleasant. The hymn was also written by many people, which were related to worship and
cases of people.
CONCLUSION
Form the above report, it was identified that there was large development in the worship
of Christianity. This report also concluded the church history is the history of faith of Christians
which was begun on 30 A.D in Palestine and the history of church begins with Jesus Christ.
Moreover, this essay also makes understood the Christianity is a religion is deeply rooted in
history. The development of Christianity was expanded at very high power. In the south of
England main centre of spreading Christianity. Beside this, they built hospitals, churches and
many heath centres which enhance catholic religion more and more.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barry, J and et.al., 2015. Unity and Variety: A History of the Church in Devon and Cornwall.
Royal College of General Practitioners.
Burkholder, J.P. and Grout, D.J., 2014. A History of Western Music: Ninth International Student
Edition. WW Norton & Company.
Bushman, R.L., 2017. The Heavens Are Opened: The Early History of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Journal of Mormon History, 43(3), pp.145-148.
Lovejoy, A., 2017. The great chain of being: A study of the history of an idea. Routledge.
Parkes, M.B., 2016. Pause and Effect: an Introduction to the History of Punctuation in the West.
Routledge.
Searle, J.T., 2016. Malkhaz Songulashvili. Evangelical Christian Baptists of Georgia: The
History and Transformation of a Free Church Tradition.
Southern, R., 2016. The Penguin History of the Church: Western Society and the Church in the
Middle Ages. Penguin UK.
Young, S. and Killick, H., 2017. Religion and the Decline of Magic. Macat Library.
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