How much Scripture did the early church have?
The early church possessed only the Old Testament Scriptures. Nothing of the New Testament had been written yet—not even the Gospels—and Paul's letters had not yet been circulated as the Bible. Therefore, the only Scriptures available for preaching were the Old Testament.
Les explains that the early church had only the Old Testament. At that time, nothing of the New Testament had been written—not even the Gospels. Paul's letters, even as they were being written, had not yet been circulated as the Bible. So the only Scriptures these people could preach from was the Old Testament. This comes up regarding Apollos, an eloquent man mighty in the Scriptures, who came to Ephesus. He was instructed in the way of the Lord, fervent in the Spirit, and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. Les suggests Apollos was probably well educated from Alexandria, from the same group that translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek.