Yes, there were at least 7 congregations of believers, 7 ecclesiae if you will. There were many more congregations however. For instance, the believers in Jerusalem, Philippi, and Thessalonika were not mentioned in John’s writing, amongst others.
Perhaps the question would be better asked - from whence does any church derive its authority? If from someplace other than the Word, why?
But what is said about their doctrine that puts them in the 'good' grace is the point.
Perhaps the question would be better asked - from whence does any church derive its authority? If from someplace other than the Word, why?
John 1:1 In the beginning (means 'Genesis'1:1) was the WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Now it does not say that any one flesh being is going to comprehend the volume of the book, and the Heavenly Father is in control and He through His Word showed He picks the good the bad and the ugly if it suits His purpose.
Before one jot or tittle of the so called NEW got penned Christ said, Behold I foretold you all things, cannot then be contradicted by the writers yet to come. Paul is the perfect example of one who was predestined, yet allowed for a time to do things his way. Even holding the coats of those that stoned Stephen. And rarely today do I hear Christian preachers/priest teach what Stephen taught that got himself stoned. And yet if one looks at what Paul ends up writing he uses the same teaching Stephen taught. Very few ever connect those dots. Where did Stephen get what he was teaching?