Studying the Bible -- Why are there no denominations in the Bible?

If you look in the New Testament you will only find the church that Jesus established. He desired that His believers be unified, John 17:20-22. Paul condemned the Corinthian church because they did not speak the same thing, were not of the same mind, and were following after men, I Corinthians 1:10-13. However, our world is filled with different denominations and the religious world is not unified. How did this happen?

In the New Testament, the apostles warned that false teachers would come and lead people away from the truth (1 Timothy 4:1-3; Acts 20:29-30). If you study history, you will find that this did happen. Men began to change Christ’s way and add their own doctrines. This, of course, is condemned, Matthew 15:9. Paul warned Timothy that people would find teachers who would tell them what they want to believe, 2 Timothy 4:2-4. Because many people do not insist on Bible authority for their worship or church government, the religious world is divided. There are creeds and disciplines which were unknown to the apostles (the apostles did NOT write The Apostle’s Creed). Yet these creeds and disciplines define the differences between religious groups and further solidify the division.

In the Bible you will only find the church that Jesus established, Matthew 16:18. It is based on the teaching of Jesus and the apostles who were led by the Holy Spirit in the doctrine of Christ, Ephesians 4:19-22. In their writings the church government, worship, and matters related to Christian living are described. We can simply follow these instructions and be Christians, like those in the first century, without denominations, without divisions, united in Christ.

In your community there may be churches who are trying to do this. Why not throw off denominational names and practices, since they are not found in the Bible, and become a Christian like the ones you read about in the Bible. You can do it!


References: (King James version)

John 17:20-22   "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"

1 Corinthians 1:10-13   "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

1 Timothy 4:1-3   "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."

Acts 20:29-30   "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

Matthew 15:9   "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

2 Timothy 4:2-4   "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables"

Matthew 16:18   "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Ephesians 4:19-22   "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."