Rim Rock Drive overlooking the Grand Valley

Lesson 11

How Did We Get All The Denominations?

In progress

Phil 1:1; Acts 2:42–47 · ESV for Scripture quotes

In this lesson

A local church was saints with overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1). Elders (also called overseers and shepherds) were appointed in every church to shepherd that flock—not a hierarchy over many churches.

History shows how men changed that pattern: chief bishops, city control, councils, and eventually a pope. Reformation reactions to Catholic abuses still left systems of inherited doctrine. The aim of restoration is to return to the New Testament pattern for the local church—not to invent another denomination.

Download PDF handout

Check your understanding

Fill in the blanks and choose the best answers. Answers are checked against the handout. You need at least 80% to mark this lesson complete.

Question 1. Philippians 1:1 describes a local church as composed of:
Question 2. Acts 14:23: Paul appointed ________ (plural) in every church.
Question 3. Which flock were elders to shepherd (1 Peter 5:2)?
Question 4. Churches began choosing a “Chief ________” among the elders to fight gnosticism—an unauthorized change.
Question 5. What does the handout say “Pope” refers to in that historical development?
Question 6. Martin Luther’s protest (1517) reacted especially against the sale of:

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