{"id":227,"date":"2026-01-11T15:45:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T06:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/?p=227"},"modified":"2026-01-23T22:04:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T13:04:49","slug":"the-history-of-primitive-christianity-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/?p=227","title":{"rendered":"The History of Primitive Christianity Student Group"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/?p=224\">\u21d2\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u306f\u3053\u3061\u3089\u3092\u30af\u30ea\u30c3\u30af\u3057\u3066\u306d\uff01<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-layout-flex wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-gravatar  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"me\" href=\"https:\/\/gravatar.com\/sugarwater78\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M10.8001 4.69937V10.6494C10.8001 11.1001 10.9791 11.5323 11.2978 11.851C11.6165 12.1697 12.0487 12.3487 12.4994 12.3487C12.9501 12.3487 13.3824 12.1697 13.7011 11.851C14.0198 11.5323 14.1988 11.1001 14.1988 10.6494V6.69089C15.2418 7.05861 16.1371 7.75537 16.7496 8.67617C17.3622 9.59698 17.6589 10.6919 17.595 11.796C17.5311 12.9001 17.1101 13.9535 16.3954 14.7975C15.6807 15.6415 14.711 16.2303 13.6325 16.4753C12.5541 16.7202 11.4252 16.608 10.4161 16.1555C9.40691 15.703 8.57217 14.9348 8.03763 13.9667C7.50308 12.9985 7.29769 11.8828 7.45242 10.7877C7.60714 9.69266 8.11359 8.67755 8.89545 7.89537C9.20904 7.57521 9.38364 7.14426 9.38132 6.69611C9.37899 6.24797 9.19994 5.81884 8.88305 5.50195C8.56616 5.18506 8.13704 5.00601 7.68889 5.00369C7.24075 5.00137 6.80979 5.17597 6.48964 5.48956C5.09907 6.8801 4.23369 8.7098 4.04094 10.6669C3.84819 12.624 4.34 14.5873 5.43257 16.2224C6.52515 17.8575 8.15088 19.0632 10.0328 19.634C11.9146 20.2049 13.9362 20.1055 15.753 19.3529C17.5699 18.6003 19.0695 17.241 19.9965 15.5066C20.9234 13.7722 21.2203 11.7701 20.8366 9.84133C20.4528 7.91259 19.4122 6.17658 17.892 4.92911C16.3717 3.68163 14.466 2.99987 12.4994 3C12.0487 3 11.6165 3.17904 11.2978 3.49773C10.9791 3.81643 10.8001 4.24867 10.8001 4.69937Z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Gravatar<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-wordpress  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/!--%20wp:social-links%20--ul%20class=wp-block-social-links!--%20wp:social-link%20url:https:\/\/gravatar.com\/sugarwater78,service:gravatar,rel:me%20\/--\/ul!--%20\/wp:social-links%20--\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12.158,12.786L9.46,20.625c0.806,0.237,1.657,0.366,2.54,0.366c1.047,0,2.051-0.181,2.986-0.51 c-0.024-0.038-0.046-0.079-0.065-0.124L12.158,12.786z M3.009,12c0,3.559,2.068,6.634,5.067,8.092L3.788,8.341 C3.289,9.459,3.009,10.696,3.009,12z M18.069,11.546c0-1.112-0.399-1.881-0.741-2.48c-0.456-0.741-0.883-1.368-0.883-2.109 c0-0.826,0.627-1.596,1.51-1.596c0.04,0,0.078,0.005,0.116,0.007C16.472,3.904,14.34,3.009,12,3.009 c-3.141,0-5.904,1.612-7.512,4.052c0.211,0.007,0.41,0.011,0.579,0.011c0.94,0,2.396-0.114,2.396-0.114 C7.947,6.93,8.004,7.642,7.52,7.699c0,0-0.487,0.057-1.029,0.085l3.274,9.739l1.968-5.901l-1.401-3.838 C9.848,7.756,9.389,7.699,9.389,7.699C8.904,7.67,8.961,6.93,9.446,6.958c0,0,1.484,0.114,2.368,0.114 c0.94,0,2.397-0.114,2.397-0.114c0.485-0.028,0.542,0.684,0.057,0.741c0,0-0.488,0.057-1.029,0.085l3.249,9.665l0.897-2.996 C17.841,13.284,18.069,12.316,18.069,11.546z M19.889,7.686c0.039,0.286,0.06,0.593,0.06,0.924c0,0.912-0.171,1.938-0.684,3.22 l-2.746,7.94c2.673-1.558,4.47-4.454,4.47-7.771C20.991,10.436,20.591,8.967,19.889,7.686z M12,22C6.486,22,2,17.514,2,12 C2,6.486,6.486,2,12,2c5.514,0,10,4.486,10,10C22,17.514,17.514,22,12,22z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">WordPress<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"green\">(Note: The \u201cPrimitive Christianity Study Group\u201d is fictional \u2014 an imagined community.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">So, what kind of organization is the \u201cPrimitive Christianity Study Group\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Sailor Seagal, who was familiar with the group in its earliest days, recalls the story like this:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">\u201cOur story begins in London in 1920, with a small gathering of about ten people. At the time, it was hardly something you could call an organization. It was simply a friendly dinner among close companions. One of us happened to be a church pastor, but the others were a mix of people \u2014 a businessman, a ranch owner, a schoolteacher, an ordinary office worker, and several wives. We enjoyed one another\u2019s company very much, and our monthly dinners became something we all looked forward to. Leaving the children with a nanny, those few hours together felt like a pleasant and much\u2011needed break from daily life.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Everything began when Pastor Jonathan Parrott shared a personal concern that had been weighing on his heart. Jonathan had been reading a book by the eighteenth\u2011century mathematician <span class=\"blue\">William Whiston,<\/span> <em><span class=\"blue\">Primitive Christianity Revived<\/span><\/em>. As he read, he began to wonder whether the doctrine of the Trinity \u2014 taught by many churches today \u2014 might not be entirely correct. His words surprised us deeply. Most of us had accepted that traditional teaching without ever questioning it. To be honest, Jonathan may well have been the only one among us who thought seriously about faith itself. The rest of us simply assumed that religion was something inherited from our ancestors and passed on, unchanged, to our children.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">At that point, someone made a gentle proposal: \u2018Why don\u2019t we try to help Jonathan work through this? Each of us can read the book at home and think carefully about what seems true. Then, at our next dinner, we can share our thoughts and even take a vote. Who knows \u2014 perhaps God will guide us.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Everyone agreed. Most of us quietly assumed that the Trinity would be proven correct without much trouble. And yet, to our surprise, we truly felt that God did guide us. When we met again a month later, we found ourselves unanimously agreeing that the Trinity was mistaken. We were filled with excitement. The many verses we had underlined in our Bibles seemed to glow with new meaning. From that point on, our meetings increased to twice a month, and before long they became weekly Bible study gatherings. Friends who heard about our discussions began to join us, and the circle grew quickly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">From that very small beginning, much developed. Two years later, regular study circles were being held in several parts of the United Kingdom. Five years after that, similar gatherings had begun in the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, and Germany. Around the same time, conventions were organized so that members from different regions could meet together. How we should organize ourselves also became an important subject of Bible study. There were many opinions, and at times even some confusion, but we continued forward with a shared wish to \u201cbuild an organization based on the Bible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">The structure we have today is not perfect, and we expect it will continue to change as God guides us. We do not claim to receive inspiration like a sudden clap of thunder. Rather, we trust that the holy spirit works more like sunlight \u2014 quietly and steadily helping us grow.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Let us now give a gentle overview of how the organization looks today.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Local gatherings of the Primitive Christianity Study Circle usually meet in places known as \u201c\u25cb\u25cb Coffee Houses,\u201d with the name of the area filling in the blank. Each Coffee House has several experienced men called \u201celders.\u201d Men who assist them are known as \u201cservants,\u201d usually a small number. These expressions come directly from the Bible (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 5:17). Their role is simply to care for the people who attend. For that reason, their work is also referred to in English as \u201ccaring duty,\u201d often shortened to just \u201ccaring\u201d or \u201cduty.\u201d In Japan, they are affectionately called \u201cCare\u2011san\u201d or \u201cSewayaku\u2011san.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">To help guide the Coffee Houses within each country, a \u201cBranch Center House\u201d is established. Volunteers there support the work in practical ways, such as printing. To provide coordination and guidance worldwide, a \u201cHeadquarters Center House\u201d has also been established, currently located in the suburbs of London.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">At both branch and headquarters Center Houses, a small group of experienced individuals serve in what is again called \u201ccaring duty.\u201d They are chosen for their qualities of love and humility. Depending on the size of the group, about half of them are replaced every two or three years. No one serves for two consecutive terms, and the maximum is three terms in total. Those serving at headquarters are often elderly men, so they are warmly referred to as \u201cCaring Grandpa\u201d or simply \u201cGrandpa.\u201d In recent years, however, many countries have adopted the custom of calling elderly brothers \u201cGrandpa\u201d and elderly sisters \u201cGrandma,\u201d so it is sometimes hard to tell who officially serves at the branch or headquarters level. The individuals themselves do not seem concerned about titles. Phrases like \u201cThank you, Grandpa!\u201d and \u201cThank you, Grandma!\u201d are often heard at meetings and conventions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">All of our work is done on a volunteer basis. Many of us gladly devote a great deal of time to sharing our beliefs and supporting one another. Each Coffee House may also approve a special form of service known as \u201cNazirite Service,\u201d based on the Bible account in Numbers chapter 6. In prayer, individuals make a personal promise to God. For example, someone might decide, \u2018This month I will try to spend \u25cb\u25cb hours sharing the good news,\u2019 or \u2018During the summer, I will focus on helping with the construction of the \u25cb\u25cb Coffee House meeting place.\u2019 Making such a personal commitment before God is referred to as \u201cbecoming a Nazirite\u201d or \u201cdoing Nazirite service.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">There is no need to make such promises public. However, the individual is encouraged to speak with the elders of the Coffee House to ensure that the plan is reasonable, and to receive their approval. The Coffee House is simply informed that \u2018Brother \u25cb\u25cb has been approved to carry out Nazirite service for a certain period.\u2019 There is no obligation to report afterward on whether the promise was fulfilled.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Finally, no explanation of the Primitive Christianity Study Circle would be complete without mentioning the \u201cLion Post.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Every Coffee House has a suggestion box placed in the meeting hall. Because it is shaped like a lion\u2019s face or figure, it is known as the Lion Post. Its origin can be traced back to a suggestion box that once stood in a London coffee house during William Whiston\u2019s time. In the early study circles of Parrott and his companions, written submissions were already a familiar and cherished custom.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">During meetings and Bible studies, anyone is welcome to submit written thoughts. These may include impressions of what was learned, personal opinions, or honest questions. Those responsible for teaching use these submissions as helpful references when preparing talks and discussions. Submissions considered especially valuable are shared with branch offices and with headquarters in the United Kingdom. In fact, many advances in Bible understanding and improvements in organization have grown directly out of these heartfelt contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><span class=\"fz-24px\">Since God can bring praise even from the mouths of \u2018little children\u2019 (Matthew 21:16), we never know through whom guidance may come. For that reason, we try to remember the importance of never looking down on \u201cthe least ones\u201d (Matthew 25:40).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-green-cyan-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-990c2c3e6dc4ae65f1e8f95b37b5500d\"><span class=\"green\">Please leave a comment freely.\u2193<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u21d2\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u306f\u3053\u3061\u3089\u3092\u30af\u30ea\u30c3\u30af\u3057\u3066\u306d\uff01 (Note: The \u201cPrimitive Christianity Study Group\u201d is fictional \u2014 an imagined community.) So, w [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-about-us-pcsg"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=227"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":458,"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions\/458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primitivechristianitystudy.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}