How Did the Church Grow Without Power or Buildings?
A. Persecution Fueled Expansion
Rather than retreating, believers scattered and shared.
As Tertullian (c. 200 AD) wrote:
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
B. Ordinary Believers Were the Missionaries
Evangelism wasn’t merely for apostles. It happened through everyday, ordinary Christians as they went through their day-to-day lives. People like:
- Traders
- Soldiers
- Women
- Slaves
They shared the gospel, which for them was truly good news, with their friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers. And because of it, the Church advanced relationally.
C. House Churches Were Flexible and Reproducible
- The gatherings were small and informal
- Easy to multiply
- Local leadership emerged naturally
- Everyone was encouraged to lead and reproduce
Because of high need, leadership development was constant—leaders were recruited, trained, and deployed quickly.
D. Leadership Was Authentic
Thinkers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian gave intellectual depth to the faith.
They lived as examples—matching life to doctrine—which added credibility.
E. The Message Was Magnetic
The Gospel was genuinely good news, offering:
- Forgiveness of sin
- Relationship with the God of the universe
- Radical equality (all equal before the Cross—Galatians 3:28)
- Compassion for the poor
- Hope beyond death
- Love, integrity, and deep community
The distinctiveness of Christians—and the Holy Spirit’s power—drew people in.
Impact of This Era
The Church grew at such a rapid pace that by AD 300:
- The Roman Empire contained 6–10 million Christians (roughly 10% of the population) Note: this is the lowest commonly agreed upon estimate. Many believe it was much higher (like 50-65%).
- Christianity had spread far beyond Judaism
- It became a multi-ethnic, empire-wide movement
This was extraordinary growth for a persecuted, illegal, grassroots faith.
Christianity doubled every 30–35 years—without buildings, budgets, or broadcast media.
Why?
Simply put, every believer was a witness.
And wherever they went—they shared the gospel with everyone.
Some even believed the entire world could be reached by AD 500 if the pace continued.
But sadly—it didn’t.
Something happened that would change everything again.
Christianity became legal.
Toward Toleration: Constantine and the Edicts
The Great Persecution (AD 303–311)
Under Emperor Diocletian, the Roman Empire launched the harshest persecution of Christians in its history:
- Churches were destroyed
- Scriptures were burned
- Christian leaders were jailed or killed
But the plan backfired—the Church didn’t weaken, it grew stronger.
The Edict of Milan (AD 313)
In a stunning reversal, Emperor Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, which:
- Legalized Christianity
- Granted freedom of religion
- Restored property and protections to Christians
Christianity was now legal—and soon after, it became favored.
Constantine’s Role
Constantine did not make Christianity the state religion (that came later under Theodosius in AD 380), but he had a major impact:
- He ended persecution
- He funded church buildings
- He gave bishops civic authority
- He convened the Council of Nicaea in AD 325
However, this new status came at a cost.
As Christianity became state-supported, thousands of unsaved Romans flooded the pews of churches across the empire.
And what can non-Christians not do? Evangelize.
The “every believer as a witness” movement disappeared.
Evangelism became the job of professional preachers and evangelists, not ordinary believers. A shift had begun—one that would define much of Christian history.