Sublime

Probably by the mid-fourth century only a minority of these groups shared meals anymore; by this time, most of them thought of themselves as “Christian.”

It seemed to us extraordinary that a whole library of early Christian documents could be discovered, containing what purport to be the teachings of Christ and his disciples, and yet so few modern followers of Jesus should even know of their existence.

in the village of St Félix de Caraman in the Lauragais, south of Toulouse. The gathering of Cathars there in 1167 was ‘the most imposing gathering ever recorded in the history of the Cathars.’49 It was nothing less than an international symposium of Cathars from all over Europe, including – crucially – a delegation from eastern Europe.

The Disciple’s Example Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 TIMOTHY 4:12

Similarly, not even a hint is given of Chloe’s functioning as a leader in Corinth.

CALLED BY GOD Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers with me. Galatians 1:1–2

The Jewish Revolt of 66 AD effectively ended the Jerusalem church of James, while the Christianity of Paul, who was probably dead or dying in a cell in Rome at the time, would continue to grow.

Nothing suggests a comparison with a NT pastor or elder; if anything, the role of these women is more akin to the leader of a city council.31

It is beyond dispute that the early church for several centuries had deaconesses (see above, p. 148);