Churches in the New Testament ЁЯМ┐
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Churches in the New Testament
Founders, Place, Approx. Year, Problems, Believers & Key Verse References
| # | Church (Place) | Founder / First Evangelist | Approx. Year (AD) | Problems / Challenges | Believers (Characteristics) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerusalem Church (Jerusalem)
Acts 2:1–47; Acts 4–6 |
Founded by the Apostles (Peter, John) after Pentecost | c. AD 30–35 | Persecution (arrests), internal care issues (widows), leadership decisions (Acts 6) | Primarily Jewish believers; communal life, shared possessions, apostolic leadership |
| 2 | Antioch Church (Antioch of Syria)
Acts 11:19–30; 13:1–3 |
Pharaohs of the Gospel: early missionaries, incl. Barnabas and Paul (Barnabas instrumental) | c. AD 44–50 (growing post-Apostolic missions) | Doctrinal tensions about Jew/Gentile relations; logistical strains for sending missionaries | Mixed Jewish and Gentile congregation; missionary-minded; multi-ethnic leadership (Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, Saul) |
| 3 | Philippi Church (Philippi, Macedonia)
Acts 16:11–40; Philippians |
Paul & Silas (with Timothy arriving later) | c. AD 49–51 (Paul's 2nd missionary journey) | Persecution (Paul & Silas imprisoned); local opposition from a slave-girl's owners | Included Lydia (a prominent female convert/host), a jailer and household converts; faithful and generous congregation (Philippians) |
| 4 | Corinthian Church (Corinth, Greece)
Acts 18:1–18; 1 & 2 Corinthians |
Paul (with Aquila & Priscilla assisting) | c. AD 50–52 (Paul's 2nd journey) | Divisions, factions, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, confusion about spiritual gifts and resurrection | Diverse mix of Jews/Greeks, rich and poor; spiritually gifted but morally challenged; active in debates |
| 5 | Galatian Churches (Region: central Anatolia)
Acts 13–14; Galatians |
Paul (and Barnabas) planted churches during missionary journeys | c. AD 48–55 | Judaizing teachers insisting on circumcision and law-works (legalism) | Predominantly Gentile; newly converted; struggling with Gospel of grace vs law |
| 6 | Ephesus (and Asia churches) (Ephesus, Asia Minor)
Acts 19; Ephesians; Revelation 2:1–7 |
Paul (major ministry in Ephesus), also Apollos & Priscilla & Aquila | c. AD 52–62 (Paul's extended ministry in Ephesus) | Idolatry pressures (Artemis cult), false teaching, spiritual warfare; later warned in Revelation for losing first love | Urban, diverse believers; house-church network; active missionary sending center |
| 7 | Thessalonica Church (Thessalonica, Macedonia)
Acts 17:1–9; 1 & 2 Thessalonians |
Paul (with Silas and Timothy) | c. AD 50–51 (Paul's 2nd journey) | Persecution from local Jews; confusion about second coming and morality concerns | Gentile converts and some Jews; generally faithful, persecuted but steadfast |
| 8 | Colossae Church (Colossae, Phrygia)
Colossians; Colossians 4:15 (Nympha's house) |
Paul (likely via Epaphras as local founder) | c. AD 53–62 | Heterodox teaching (syncretism, legalism, mysticism) — "Colossian heresy" | House churches (Nympha); believers influenced by local philosophy and syncretistic practices |
| 9 | Rome Church (Rome, Italy)
Romans; Acts 28:16–31 |
Mixed origins: Jewish Christians from Pentecost and later Gentile converts; Paul later ministered there (prison visit) | c. AD 49–60 (growing from Jewish diaspora and later Gentile missions) | Jew-Gentile tensions, doctrinal debates about law and grace, household divisions | Diverse, influential congregation; included Jewish Christians, notable household churches (e.g., Priscilla & Aquila), significant for missionary strategy |
| 10 | Laodicea (Laodicea on the Lycus)
Colossians 4:13–16; Revelation 3:14–22 |
Local believers (Paul wrote to them; also connected to Colossae via Epaphras) | c. AD 60–90 | Spiritual lukewarmness, material complacency (Revelation rebuke) | Wealthy urban believers, risk of spiritual complacency; house churches likely present |
Notes: Dates are approximate (NT rarely gives exact founding years). Many churches met in homes (house churches). Problems listed reflect the biblical letters and Acts accounts. Use verse links for deeper study.
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