The Origin of the Church Ben Bogard and B. H. Carroll represent Baptists who believe the church started sometime within the ministry of Jesus Christ while on earth. All “before Pentecost” theorists may not pinpoint the beginning exactly the same as another, but they nevertheless agree on a beginning in this period and before the day of Pentecost.
“When our Lord established His church He declared He would build it up, edify it, enlarge it, and the gates of hell should not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) The Greek word ‘oikodomeso,’ in Matthew 16:18, translated ‘will build’ means ‘will build up,’ ‘enlarge,’ ‘edify.’ His church was already in existence when He uttered these words, as can be proved by numerous passages, hence we are forced to so under this passage.”1
“Was the church instituted, established, or organized on this Pentecost? There is not a syllable on that in Acts 2. Christ instituted the church. He established it in the days of his flesh. The church was this day accredited – received its credentials. It was a house complete, but empty. It then received its inhabitants, but the church was not instituted, nor established, nor organized on this Pentecost.”2
Notes
1 The Baptist Way-Book, Ben M. Bogard, p. 30.
2 An Interpretation of the English Bible, Volume 12, “Acts,” B. H. Carroll.======================== [From R. L. Vaughn, baptistsearch.blogspot.com - May, 2013. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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