The chief opposing systems, in conflict with which the apostolic age developed both its doctrine and its life, were Ebionitism and Gnosticism, the one teaching a Pharisaic confidence in man's own works, and the other a spiritualistic contempt of all works.
The apostolical age is commonl}' divided into three periods, one extending from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit until the beginning of the public appear- ance of Paul (about the year A.D. 41), the second un- til the death of Paul (about 67), and the third, the Jo- hannean age (until the end of the first century). It must, however, be understood that a tendency begun in a former period continued and was further devel- oped in the subsequent one (Herzog, Ileal- Ene Mop. i, 444).
This very important period has received special at- tention in the more recent church history. The best books are : Neander, Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apostles (trans, by Ryland, Lond. 1851, 2 vols. 12mo) ; Schaff, History of the Ajws- tolic Church (New York, 1853, 8vo) ; Stanley, Sermons on the Apostolic Age (Oxford, 1847, 8vo) ; Davidson, The Ecclesiastical PoVty of the New Testament unfolded (2d edit. Lond. 1854); Stoughton, Ages of Christendom (Lond. 1857); Conybeare and Howson, Lift and Epis- tles of St. Paid (2 vols. 2d edit. Lond. 1858) ; Baum- garten, Acts of the Ajwstles (trans! . by Meyer, Edinb. 1854, 3 vols. 8vo) ; Ilagenbaeh, Die Kirche der dreierst. Jidirhunderte (Leipz. 1853, 8vo); Killen, Th, Ancient Church (New York, 1859, 8vo) ; Thiersch, Die Kirche des apostolischen Zeitalters (Frankfurt, 1852, 8vo; an English translation by Th. Carlyle, Lond. 1852, 8vo); Lange, Das Apostolische Zeitalter (Braunschweig, 1854, 2 vols.) ; Lechler, Das Apostolische und nachapostolische Zeitalter (Stuttgardt, 2d edit, 1857, 8vo) ; Dollinger (Rom. Cath.), Chri.stenthum und Kirche in der Zeit der Grundlegung (Ratisbon, 1860). See Acts (of the Apostles) ; Apostolical Church. On the consti- tution of the Apostolical Church, treatises [besides the accounts contained in systematic ecclesiastical histo- ries] have been written by Boehrner (in his Dissertt. Hal. 1729), Buddams (Jen. 1722), Greiling (Halberst.
APOSTOLICAL BRETHREN 314 APOSTOLICAL COUNCIL
1813), Knapp (Hal. 1762), Lucke (Gott. 1813), Papst (Erlang. 1786) ; on the life and morals of the early Christians, by Borsing (L. 13. 1825), Diirr (Gottin. 1781), Frorefsen (Argent. 1741), Fronto (in his Bis- tertt. Hamb. 1720), Papst (Erlang. 1790), Seelen (in his MisceU. p. 155 sq.), Stickel (Neap. 1826), Zorn (Kil. 1711); on the early church officers, by Bres- tovin | Lips. 1741), Danov (Jen. 1774), Forbiger (Lips. 1776), Gabler (Jen. 1805), Lechla (Lips. 1759), Loehn (in his Bib/. S/ud.), Middelboe (Hafn. 1779), Mosheim (Helmst. 1732), Persigk (Lips. 1738), Stoer (Norimb. 1749), Thomasius (Alt. 1712), J. G. Walch (Jen. 1752), Wegner (Regiom. 1698) ; on the concord of the primitive Christians, by Carstens (in his Bib. Lab.), Koeppe (Hal. 182s), Lorenz (Argent. 1751), Mosheim (in his Bissertt.), Schreiber (Regiom. 1710) ; on their dissensions, by Goldhorn (in Ilgen's Zeitschr. 1840), Gruner (Cob. 1749), Ittig (Lips. 1690, 1703), Kniewel (Gld. 1842), Rheinwald (Bon. 1834), Schenkel (Basil. 1838) ; on their doctrinal and literary views, by Harenberg (Brunser. 1746), Lobstein (Giess. 1775) ; on their connection with Judaism, by C. A. Crusius (Lips. 1770), Van Heyst (L. B. 1828), Kraft (Erl. 1772), J. C. Schmid (Erl. 1782); on their Scriptures, by Ess (Leipz. 1816), Hamerich (Hafn. 1702), Mosheim (Helmst. 1725), Surer (Salzb. 1784), C. W. F. Walch (Lpz. 1779), Woken (Lpz. 1732) ; on their charity, by Gude (Zittan. 1727), Kotz (Regensb. 1839) ; on their persecutions, by M. Crusius (Hamb. 1721), Kortholt (Rost. 1689), Lazari (Rom. 1749), Schmidt (Frcft. 1797) ; on their meetings, bj- Hansen (Hafn. 1794), Leuthier (Neap. 1746); on their civil relations, b}' Gothofredus (in Zornii Bib I. Ant.), Holste (Helmst. 1676); on ancient representations concerning them, by Buchner (Viteb. 1687), Francke (Viteb. 1791), Hall- bauer (Jen. 1738), Kartholt (Kil. 1674), Seidenstiicker (Helmst. 1790) ; on their hymns, by J. G. Walch (Jen. 1737) ; on the apostles' administration, bv Hartmann (Berol. 1699), Semler (Hal. 1767), Zola (Ticin. 1780), Weller (Zwick. 1758). Organization and Government of the Apostolical Church (Presbyterian Board, Phil.); Bibliotheca Sacra, viii, 378. See Church, Constitu- tion OF.
Apostolical Brethren. See Apostolici.
Apostolical Canons. See Canon.
Apostolical Catholic Church. See Catho- lic Apostolic Church.
Apostolical Church, properly, a church framed upon the principles of the apostles. Of these princi- ples the essential one is the doctrine taught by the apostles; and the principle next in importance the or- der established by them, so far as it can be gathered from their writings. " The apostolicity of the church is an attribute which belongs to it as a Christian society ; for no community can establish its claim to the title of church unless there be a substantial agreement be- tween its doctrines and institutions and those of the in- spired men whom Christ, commissioned to establish his church upon earth" (Litton, On the Church, bk. iii, ch. i). As to the necessary elements of this agreement with the apostles, the Christian churches differ with each other.
In the primitive Church, the term apostolical was naturally and properly used to designate those particu- lar churches which bad been founded by the personal ministry of any one of the apostles, viz", the churches of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. Not unnaturally, too, it was supposed that these churches had superior culture and Christian knowledge, and it therefore became customary fur churches in their neigh- borhood to refer disputed questions of discipline; etc., to them for advice. From these simple beginnings p;rew up claims to authority, for which the apostles them- selves had laid no foundation, either in their writings or in their personal administration (.Mosheim, Commen- tarks, § 21).