Which decree's purpose was to establish the churches in the faith and increase their numbers?

Which decree's purpose was to establish the churches in the faith and increase their numbers?

• A. To unify Gentiles under one law.
• B. To fund missionary work.
• C. To settle a doctrinal dispute.
• D. To establish the churches in the faith and increase their numbers.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is that the decree was meant to anchor believers in sound teaching while also removing obstacles that hinder church growth. In the early church, guidance like this often aimed to do two things at once: ensure that new churches are firmly built on the faith they’ve received, and create conditions that allow more people to join and be added to the number of followers. By clarifying what Gentile converts should observe (without imposing unnecessary barriers like circumcision), the decree protects doctrinal unity and makes it easier for churches to expand. So this aim—to establish the churches in the faith and increase their numbers—best captures the purpose of that decree.

The key idea here is that the decree was meant to anchor believers in sound teaching while also removing obstacles that hinder church growth. In the early church, guidance like this often aimed to do two things at once: ensure that new churches are firmly built on the faith they’ve received, and create conditions that allow more people to join and be added to the number of followers. By clarifying what Gentile converts should observe (without imposing unnecessary barriers like circumcision), the decree protects doctrinal unity and makes it easier for churches to expand. So this aim—to establish the churches in the faith and increase their numbers—best captures the purpose of that decree.