Going to Church in the First Century By Robert Banks: A Book Review

Date: 1980
Pages: 48

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Why This Book Matters

There are a lot of books that talk about the archaeology of home churches and what homes were like in the first century. It can be hard to wrap your mind around how all of the measurements and descriptions looked like in everyday life. This book gives a narrative account of someone experiencing a house church in first century Rome. This book offers a delightful interplay of various disciplines all working together into a story that will give you a real feel for life in Rome, Christian community in the first century and what home gatherings would have been like (historical backgrounds, sociology, ecclesiology and archaeology).

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Core Message

This is a brief account of a man from Philippi named Publius. He moves to Rome and encounters Christians there (Clement and Euodia). They are taking him to a house church meeting at the home of Aquila and Priscilla. The narrative illustrates social norms, everyday interactions, the setup of ancient homes and the customs of the time. Publius’ unfamiliarity with Christianity and the home church gathering is used by Banks to contrast Christianity with the religion of the day.

What Publius encounters is simple and intimate fellowship and the familial nature of the early church. We get to see communion, singing, studying a letter from Paul and more through his eyes. He is surprised by the lack of a priest (compared to idolatrous paganism), the simplicity of the gathering, the mutual affection and the participatory nature of the gathering.

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Key Insights & Takeaways

• The early church met in homes that were small and intimate
• Participation was natural, not forced and everyone used their gifts to build up the body
• The early church’s practices stood in contrast to the paganism of the day (no special priests, mutual affection and love, prayers that were personal)

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Strengths & Limitations

Strengths: In a very quick read you can get an image in your mind of a first century gathering.
Limitations: It is a quick read that doesn’t go deeper into all of the aspects of the early Christian gatherings. You get hints of things along the way that make more sense if you already have some background knowledge

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Home Church Application

This is a reminder for us to not become too formalized or ritualistic. This book may bring to mind simple practices that you have forgotten or that have gradually left your gatherings that might need to be reconsidered. There is also a heavy focus on the meal that you need to consider without also taking on something that becomes burdensome and stressful. This will also remind you of the need for natural (non-forced or overly controlled) participation in order for the home gathering to be at its best.

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About the Author

Robert Banks was born in 1939 and is a well known author in home church circles. His book “Paul’s Idea of Community” has been foundational for a lot of the work on home churches in the New Testament. He is an Australian New Testament scholar known for his work on early Christian community life. He switched from pursuing a career in law to theology after attending a Billy Graham crusade in 1959.

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Related Reading

“Paul’s Idea of Community” by Robert Banks

“The Church Comes Home” by Robert Banks

“The Gospel Comes with a House Key” by Rosaria Butterfield