Apostolic; Church, Origins, Kinds & Beliefs

Publish date: 2024-01-20

Apostolic Churches are a Christian denomination that emerged from the Pentecostal beginning in the early 19th century. It is recorded that the Apostolic comes from the twelve apostles that companied Jesus Christ whose teachings come on top of Apostolic Church beliefs.

The members of the Apostolic Church strive to elevate 1st-century Christian faith, politics and tradition with adherence to the Gospels.

Origins of the Apostolic Faith

Since the 19th century, several churches have surfaced that identify as Apostolic Churches. We shall look into some most famous churches of this kind.

The Apostolic Church

William Oliver Hutchinson established a Pentecostal Church at the Emmanuel Mission Hall in Bournemouth, England in November 1909. Soon after its establishment, it grew to be the main office of the bigger network of Pentecostal assemblies which is famous as Faith Church.

Daniel Powell Williama who converted during the Welsh Revival of 1904 to 1905 became a part of the Apostolic Faith Church started by William Oliver Hutchinson.

In January 1916, Daniel Powell and some of the Welsh Revival group left Hutchinson and the Apostolic Church in Wales (ACW). Since 1916, the two assemblies of churches have advanced on different grounds of practice and beliefs.

The New Apostolic Church

This church grew within Great Britain in the 1830s which led to many people wanting a new set of experiences for the Holy Spirit. By the year 1832, apostles were appointed and the Catholic Apostolic Church was structured.

The Hamburg Schism of the year 1863, a disagreement over some specific understandings of the Scripture and the choosing of new apostles led to the formation of the New Apostolic Church.

It is recorded that the church in the United States of America was established in 1872 by German immigrants in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.

The Apostolic Christian Church

The Apostolic Christian Church in the United States of America was formed in Lewis County, New York City, the United States of America in the year 1847. According to history, it originates from Samuel Froehlich’s work in Switzerland in the 1830s.

Samuel Froehlich was motivated by the Anabaptists of the 16th century and his church was recognised in Europe as Evangelist Baptist.

Relation between Apostolic and Pentecostal

There are a couple of similarities between the Apostolic denomination and Pentecostal churches. Some churches incorporate both in their names like the Apostolic Faith Pentecostal Church. The Apostolic Pentecostal movement differs in the belief of the Trinity from other Pentecostals, praising, the Father, Son and Holly Spirit are all three titoes8of Jesus Christ.

Pentecostalism is a Christian denomination that concurs with the existence of a personal relationship and the feeling of God Almighty together with the Holy Spirit and speaking of tongues. The movement, however, was rooted in the Azusa Street Revival in the year 1906 in California, United States of America.

The Apostolic Pentecostal then separated from the main Pentecostal November in the year 1916 over a misunderstanding about the need for the Trinity. In all, both the Apostolic and Pentecostal churches accept that the Father, Son and Holly Spirit aren’t three different persons but assorted names for Jesus Christ. The Apostolic Pentecostal church also believes that speaking in tongues is needed to be saved.

Apostolic Beliefs

This has been sourced from the Constitution of the Apostolic Church International. The theological beliefs of the Apostolic fellowships are accumulated in its confession of faith called the Tenets which reads;

The unity of the Godhead and the trinity of the Persons therein.
The utter depravity of human nature, the necessity for repentance and regeneration and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent.
The virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, triumphant resurrection, ascension, abiding intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ and His second coming.
Justification and Sanctification of the believer through the finished work of Christ.
The baptism of the Holy Ghost for believers, with signs following.
The nine gifts of the Holy Ghost for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the Church, which is the body of Christ.
The sacraments of baptism by immersion, and of the Lord’s Supper.
The Divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures.
Church government by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, elders, and deacons.
The possibility of falling from grace.
The obligatory nature of tithes and offerings.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLTBmqqeZpOkunCtz6iqraecnrBur8euqZygXaS%2FqrPIp6pmo5mjsbR5wZ6jop2WqHw%3D