How Did the Earliest Christians Worship? What the Bible and History Reveal
Introduction: Going Back to the Beginning
If you wanted to know what authentic Christianity looks like, where would you look?
Would you study what churches teach today—after 2,000 years of theological development, church councils, creeds, and denominational splits?
Or would you go back to the source—to see how the very first Christians, those who learned directly from Jesus and the apostles, actually practiced their faith?
The answer seems obvious. If we want to know what biblical Christianity looks like, we should examine what the biblical Christians believed and practiced.
So let's ask a crucial question: How did the earliest Christians worship? Who did they pray to? What did they believe about God and Jesus?
The answer might surprise you. Because when we look at the actual evidence from the book of Acts, the apostolic letters, and even early church history, we find something very different from what many churches teach today.
We find Christians who worshiped one God—the Father—and honored Jesus as His appointed Messiah and Lord.
We find no Trinity. No "three persons in one God." No prayers to Jesus as God. No worship of the Holy Spirit.
Just simple, clear, biblical monotheism—exactly as Jesus taught.
Let's look at the evidence.
Part 1: How Did Jesus Teach His Disciples to Worship?
Before we look at the early church, let's start with Jesus Himself. How did He teach His followers to worship?
Jesus Taught Them to Pray to the Father
"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...'" (Matthew 6:9-10)
Notice what Jesus did NOT say:
- He didn't say, "Pray to the Trinity"
- He didn't say, "Pray to me as God"
- He didn't say, "Pray to the three persons of the Godhead"
He said: Pray to "our Father in heaven."
Simple. Clear. Direct.
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:24)
Jesus instructed them to ask the Father in Jesus's name (through Jesus as mediator). He positioned Himself as the way to the Father, not as another God to pray to.
Jesus Affirmed Monotheistic Worship
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus didn't introduce a new, more complex theology. He went right back to the Shema:
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" (Mark 12:29-30)
Jesus affirmed strict monotheism—one God, not three. And He said this is the most important commandment.
Did Jesus then say, "But actually, I'm also God, and the Spirit is God, so there are three persons in this one God"?
No. He simply affirmed: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
Jesus Directed Worship to the Father Alone
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
Who are we to worship? The Father.
Jesus didn't say "worship the Trinity" or "worship me." He said true worshipers "will worship the Father."
This is how Jesus taught His disciples to worship. Now let's see if they followed His teaching.
Part 2: How Did the Apostles Worship in the Book of Acts?
The book of Acts gives us a window into the earliest Christian community. Let's examine how they actually worshiped.
They Prayed to God, Not to Jesus
"They raised their voices together in prayer to God. 'Sovereign Lord,' they said, 'you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them...'" (Acts 4:24)
When the early believers faced persecution, they prayed. Who did they pray to? God—the Creator, the Sovereign Lord.
Not Jesus. Not the Trinity. God.
"Peter and John... prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit... Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-17)
The apostles prayed (to God) for believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They didn't pray to the Spirit or to Jesus as God.
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius... He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." (Acts 10:1-2)
Cornelius, even before becoming a Christian, "prayed to God regularly." When Peter came and taught him about Jesus, did Peter correct him and say, "You should be praying to Jesus too"?
No. Peter taught him that Jesus is "Lord of all" and "the one whom God appointed as judge" (Acts 10:36, 42)—the appointed Messiah, not God Himself.
Their Preaching Distinguished God from Jesus
Look at how the apostles described Jesus when they preached:
"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know... God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:22, 32-33)
Peter's Pentecost sermon:
- Jesus = "a man"
- God worked through Jesus
- God raised Jesus
- Jesus is at God's right hand (not sitting on God's own throne as God)
- Jesus received the Spirit from the Father
This is not the language of someone who believed Jesus IS God. It's the language of someone who believed Jesus is God's appointed human Messiah.
"God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." (Acts 2:36)
God made Jesus Lord and Messiah. Can God "make" Himself anything? No—but God can appoint, exalt, and crown His chosen human representative.
"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus." (Acts 3:13)
Jesus is God's servant—not God Himself, but the one serving God's purposes.
"Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed." (Acts 4:27)
Jesus is "your holy servant" whom "you anointed." The early Christians prayed to God about Jesus, distinguishing between God (the one praying to) and Jesus (God's anointed servant).
They Baptized in Jesus's Name, Not the Trinity
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.'" (Acts 2:38)
"They had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 8:16)
"So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." (Acts 10:48)
"On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:5)
Notice a pattern? Every single baptism recorded in Acts is "in the name of Jesus"—not "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
Why? Because they understood Matthew 28:19 to mean baptizing people into the authority of God the Father, His Son (the Messiah), and the Holy Spirit He gives—not baptizing into three divine persons.
The actual practice was to baptize in Jesus's name, acknowledging Him as the Messiah through whom we receive forgiveness and the Spirit.
Stephen's Vision Shows the Distinction
"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look,' he said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'" (Acts 7:55-56)
Stephen saw:
- God (in His glory)
- Jesus (standing at God's right hand)
Two distinct persons. Jesus is not sitting on God's throne as God—He's standing at God's right hand as the exalted Messiah.
If Jesus is God equally with the Father, why is He standing beside God rather than being God?
Part 3: How Did Paul Teach the Early Churches to Worship?
Paul planted churches all over the Roman world. How did he teach them to worship and pray?
Paul's Prayers Were Always to God the Father
Look at how Paul begins his letters:
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:7)
Notice the distinction: God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ—two separate persons, two separate sources of blessing.
"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 1:4)
Paul thanks God for grace given through Christ Jesus. God is the source; Jesus is the channel.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (2 Corinthians 1:3, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3)
This phrase appears repeatedly. Jesus has a God and Father. If Jesus IS God, how can God have a God?
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name." (Ephesians 3:14-15)
Paul prays to the Father—not to Jesus, not to the Trinity, but to the Father specifically.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)
Present requests to God—not to Jesus, not to multiple persons of a Trinity. To God.
Paul's Theology: One God = The Father
We've seen this before, but it bears repeating because it's so clear:
"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6)
Who is the "one God"? The Father.
Who is "the Lord"? Jesus Christ.
Two distinct roles, two distinct persons.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Again: "one God and Father." Not "one God in three persons." Just "one God" who is identified as "the Father."
Paul Taught Jesus is the Mediator, Not God
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)
We covered this in Article 4, but it's crucial here. Paul taught that:
- God is one person (the Father)
- Jesus is a distinct person (the man, the mediator)
- Jesus stands between God and us
That's not Trinity theology. That's biblical monotheism with Jesus as God's appointed human representative.
Paul Looked Forward to Jesus's Submission to God
"Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power... When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:24, 28)
At the end, Jesus will submit everything—including Himself—to God the Father "so that God may be all in all."
If Jesus is God equally with the Father, how does this make sense? How can God submit to Himself?
But if Jesus is God's appointed King who reigns until all enemies are defeated, and then hands everything over to the Father who gave Him the kingdom—that makes perfect sense.
Part 4: Worship Practices in the Early Church
Let's look at what we know about how early Christians actually conducted their worship services.
Corporate Prayer Was Directed to the Father
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)
Their prayers followed Jesus's teaching—directed to the Father.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." (Acts 13:2-3)
They worshiped the Lord (God) and the Holy Spirit spoke. Notice the Spirit is personified as speaking, but the worship is directed to "the Lord"—not to the Spirit as a separate divine person.
Doxologies and Praise Were to God Through Jesus
"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 24-25)
Glory goes to "the only God our Savior" through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Notice: God receives glory through Jesus. Jesus is the channel, not a second recipient of equal worship.
"To God's elect... Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1:1-2)
Grace comes from God through Jesus—the consistent pattern.
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)
Paul praises "the only God"—singular, not plural. Honor and glory to the one God.
Singing Was About Jesus, Not To Jesus as God
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:19-20)
Sing to the Lord (God), giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Jesus.
Jesus is the mediator through whom thanksgiving flows to God—not a second God receiving independent worship.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." (Colossians 3:16)
Singing to God with gratitude. Teaching about Christ. But worship directed to God.
The Lord's Supper Remembered Jesus, Not Worshiped Him as God
"For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26)
The Lord's Supper proclaims Jesus's death—it remembers and honors what He did. It's not a liturgy worshiping Jesus as God, but a memorial of the Messiah's sacrifice.
Part 5: What About Early Church Confessions and Creeds?
Let's look at the earliest Christian confessions—the statements of faith that defined what believers affirmed.
The Earliest Confession: "Jesus is Lord"
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
The basic Christian confession: "Jesus is Lord" (meaning Messiah, God's anointed King).
Notice what's required:
- Confess Jesus is Lord
- Believe God raised Him from the dead
Not "believe Jesus is God" or "confess the Trinity." The confession is that Jesus is Lord—the risen Messiah whom God raised.
Paul's Summary of the Gospel
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
The gospel "of first importance":
- Christ died for our sins
- He was buried
- He was raised on the third day
No mention of Jesus being God incarnate, the Trinity, or Jesus's divine nature. Just the facts: the Messiah died and rose again.
The "One God" Confession
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." (James 2:19)
James affirms belief in one God as fundamental. Not "one God in three persons." Just one God.
Philippians 2: The Christ Hymn
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name..." (Philippians 2:5-9)
This is often cited as proof Jesus is God, but read it carefully:
- Jesus did not consider equality with God something to grasp
- He took the nature of a servant
- He was found in appearance as a man
- God exalted him as a reward for obedience
If Jesus already was God, how did God exalt Him? How did God give Him a name above every name as a reward?
This reads much more naturally as: Jesus (perhaps pre-existent in some form, or simply referring to his potential status) didn't grasp at being equal to God, but instead humbled himself to become a servant and die—and therefore God rewarded him with the highest exaltation.
The Point: Early Confessions Were Simple
Early Christian confessions were:
- Jesus is the Messiah/Lord
- God raised Him from the dead
- There is one God
No Trinitarian formulas. Those came much later.
Part 6: When Did Trinitarian Worship Develop?
If the earliest Christians worshiped as we've described—praying to one God (the Father) and honoring Jesus as Messiah—when did things change?
The Apostolic Era (1st Century): Biblical Monotheism
The Bible itself shows clear, consistent worship of one God (the Father) through Jesus the mediator. No Trinity. No worship of Jesus as God.
The Early Post-Apostolic Period (2nd Century): Growing Diversity
After the apostles died, various ideas began to circulate:
- Some groups elevated Jesus to divine status
- Some emphasized Jesus's humanity
- Some tried to balance both
But there was no settled "orthodox" Trinity doctrine yet.
The Controversies (3rd-4th Century): Debates and Divisions
Major controversies erupted:
- Arius (c. 256-336 AD) taught that Jesus was God's first creation, subordinate to the Father
- Athanasius (c. 296-373 AD) argued Jesus was "fully God"
- Fierce debates, political maneuvering, and even violence occurred
The Council of Nicaea (325 AD): The Trinity Begins to Form
Emperor Constantine called church leaders together to settle the dispute. The result was the Nicene Creed, which declared Jesus to be "of one substance with the Father."
This was nearly 300 years after Christ—almost three centuries after the New Testament was written.
The Council of Constantinople (381 AD): Trinity Fully Formulated
The doctrine of the Trinity was further developed and formalized. The Holy Spirit was added as the "third person" of the Trinity.
This was over 350 years after Christ.
The Point: The Trinity Is Not Apostolic
The Trinity doctrine as taught today was:
- Not taught by Jesus
- Not taught by the apostles
- Not found in the New Testament
- Developed centuries later through philosophical debates and church councils
The earliest Christians worshiped the way Jesus taught them—one God, the Father, approached through Jesus the mediator.
Part 7: What Changed and Why?
Greek Philosophical Influence
As Christianity spread into the Greek-speaking world, Greek philosophical concepts influenced theological development:
- Ideas about logos (divine word/reason)
- Concepts of divine substance and essence
- Philosophical categories foreign to Jewish thought
The simple Jewish monotheism of Jesus and the apostles was gradually reshaped by Greek categories.
Political and Institutional Pressures
When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire:
- Uniformity was enforced by imperial decree
- Those who disagreed were persecuted as "heretics"
- Councils with political backing settled theological disputes
The faith became institutionalized and systematized in ways the early church never was.
Loss of Jewish Context
As the church became increasingly Gentile:
- The Jewish understanding of "Son of God" was lost
- The Shema's strict monotheism was reinterpreted
- Jewish Christians who maintained biblical monotheism were marginalized
The shift from a Jewish movement to a Hellenistic religion changed the theology fundamentally.
Part 8: Returning to Biblical Worship
So how should we worship today? Should we follow:
- The 4th-century councils and later traditions?
- Or the 1st-century apostles and biblical teaching?
The answer should be obvious.
Worship the Father
Follow Jesus's teaching:
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:23)
Worship the Father—the one true God.
Pray to the Father
Follow the pattern Jesus taught:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9)
Direct your prayers to the Father.
Come to the Father Through Jesus
Honor Jesus's role as mediator:
"No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Come to God through Jesus—acknowledging Jesus as Lord, Messiah, and the appointed way to the Father.
Honor Jesus as Lord and Messiah
Give Jesus the honor God gave Him:
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Honor Jesus—but notice the purpose: "to the glory of God the Father."
We honor Jesus as God's exalted Messiah, and in doing so, we glorify the Father who sent Him and exalted Him.
This Is Biblical Worship
Worship one God—the Father.
Honor His Son—the Messiah Jesus.
Receive the Holy Spirit—God's power and presence.
Simple. Clear. Biblical.
Just as the earliest Christians practiced.
Conclusion: Following the Apostolic Pattern
When we strip away centuries of tradition and go back to the source, we find something beautiful:
The earliest Christians worshiped exactly as Jesus taught them:
- They prayed to the Father
- They honored Jesus as Lord and Messiah
- They received the Holy Spirit
- They maintained biblical monotheism—one God, the Father
They did NOT:
- Pray to Jesus as God
- Worship a Trinity
- Use Trinitarian formulas in baptism or prayer
- Confuse Jesus with God
The pattern is consistent throughout the New Testament and the earliest period of church history.
The question is: Will we follow the biblical apostolic pattern, or will we follow later traditions?
Will we worship as Jesus taught, or as 4th-century councils decided?
The choice is yours. But the biblical evidence is clear.
Worship the Father. Honor the Son. Walk in the Spirit.
That's apostolic Christianity. That's biblical faith.
Everything else is human tradition added later.
For Further Study
Study these worship passages carefully:
Jesus's Teaching on Worship:
- Matthew 6:5-13 (How to pray)
- John 4:19-26 (True worship of the Father)
- John 14:6 (Coming to the Father through Jesus)
- John 16:23-27 (Asking the Father in Jesus's name)
The Early Church's Worship Practices:
- Acts 2:42-47 (The earliest Christian community)
- Acts 4:23-31 (Corporate prayer to God)
- Acts 7:55-60 (Stephen's vision and prayer)
- Acts 13:1-3 (Worship and the Holy Spirit's guidance)
Paul's Prayer Life:
- Romans 1:8-10 (Thanksgiving to God through Jesus)
- Ephesians 1:15-23 (Prayer to the Father)
- Ephesians 3:14-21 (Kneeling before the Father)
- Philippians 1:3-11 (Thanking God for the Philippians)
- Colossians 1:3-14 (Prayer to the Father)
Doxologies and Worship in the Epistles:
- Romans 16:25-27 (Glory to God through Jesus Christ)
- Ephesians 3:20-21 (Glory in the church and in Christ Jesus)
- 1 Timothy 1:17 (Honor and glory to the only God)
- Jude 24-25 (Glory to the only God through Jesus Christ)
Questions to Consider:
- In all of Paul's letters, how many times does he begin with "Grace from the Trinity"? (Answer: Never)
- In all the prayers recorded in Acts, how many are directed to Jesus as God? (Answer: None, except Stephen's final words asking Jesus to receive his spirit—a request, not worship)
- When did Christians start using Trinitarian formulas in worship? (Answer: Centuries after the apostles)
- If the Trinity is essential to Christianity, why is it never mentioned in any apostolic sermon in Acts?
- Why do all the apostles consistently distinguish between "God" (the Father) and "the Lord Jesus Christ"?
Your Challenge:
Read through the entire book of Acts and make three lists:
- List A: Every prayer directed to God/the Father
- List B: Every prayer directed to Jesus
- List C: Every time the apostles call someone other than the Father "God"
Then ask yourself: Does this look like Trinitarian worship, or biblical monotheism with Jesus as the appointed Messiah?
The evidence speaks for itself.
Return to biblical worship. Follow the apostolic pattern. Worship as Jesus taught.