The Early Church

Barnabas was sent by the apostolic leadership to ensure the church Antioch was being faithful to the teachings of Jesus. Once he established that the church was fine, Barnabas ventured into Cilicia, seeking Saul who had moved back to Tarsus.

They returned to Antioch and the duo became a great evangelistic team. A heated debate broke out when born again Pharisees insisted that Gentile males must be circumcised in order to be saved. Barnabas and Paul were sent to Jerusalem to receive clarification from the apostolic leadership, who ignored the doctrine of Jesus, invoked the Holy Spirit’s name, and omitted most of the Mosaic law.

The doctrine of James tried to make it as easy as possible for the Gentiles because they believed the church age would end with the second return of Jesus. It was inconceivable that it was not imminent, and here we are waiting still 2,000 years later.