What Did The Earliest Christians Believe? Part 1

“Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’” —John 18:37

Some claim that the divinity of Jesus was developed over centuries by the church. In addition to the non-biblical evidence we've just considered, it is easy to know what the early Christians thought of Jesus. His earliest followers would be shocked to hear the accusation that the church transformed the earthly Jesus into the divine Christ.

For instance, the Didache, written before AD 100, repeatedly called Jesus "the Lord." It ends thus: "The Lord shall come and all his saints with him. Then shall the world 'see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven'" (16.7–8). 

Clement of Rome, writing in AD 95, repeatedly referred to the "Lord Jesus Christ." And he promised a "future resurrection" that God will produce on the basis of his "raising the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead" (24.1).

Ignatius, writing between AD 110 and 115, referred to "Jesus Christ our God" (introduction to his letter to the Ephesians). To the Smyrnaeans he added, "I give glory to Jesus Christ, the God who has thus given you wisdom" (1.1). 

And Justin the Martyr (ca. AD 150), repeatedly referred to Jesus as the Son of God (cf. Apology 22). He was convinced that God raised him from the dead and brought him to heaven (Apology 45).

The Roman Empire would have considered followers of a mere rabbi to be no threat to its power. And yet, that empire persecuted Christians to the death. Why? 

Because they claimed no King but the Lord Jesus and would worship no god but him.

The radical faith and courage of the first apostles and the rapid spread of the Christian movement cannot be explained except by the fact that the living Lord Jesus changed their lives and empowered their witness. 

Multiplied thousands died because of their commitment to him.