- There were various religious bodies in Paul’s day, but they did not teach what he and the other apostles did. Paul rebuked them for this.
- The local church in Paul’s day:
| Characteristics | Per Scripture | Catholics | Baptists | Assembly of God | Church of Christ | church of Christ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authority | New Testament (II John 9) | X | X | X | ? | ✓ |
| Name | church of Christ (Romans 16:16) | X | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plan of salvation | Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 2:36-39 – Hear, believe, repent, confess, baptism | X | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Order of worship | Colossians 3:16; Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 14; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-3 – Sing, pray, teach, Lord’s Supper, Give | X | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Work | Philippians 4:!5-16; II Corinthians 11:7-9; Acts 20:28 – Preaching the gospel, benevolence, discipline | X | X | X | X | ✓ |
| Organization | Local church | X | X | X | X | ✓ |