[Stefan Stackhouse]

The only serious flaw in your analysis is that Christians in the Apostolic age would have been totally uncomprehending of the idea of multiple "churches" within a single town or city. There was only one church in each settlement of any size, if there was any at all. This church, if large enough, might gather in multiple small congregations, as happened in Jerusalem once the church there grew to 5000+ after Pentecost. But there was never any consciousness of these being multiple, separate "churches". None of the epistles are ever addressed to "churches" within a single city, but rather to either "the church in (city)" or "the churches in (geographic region or province)"

There really is no Biblical warrant for faithful believers living together in the same community but refusing to worship together or to have anything to do with each other.

[PFKEY]

But there was never any consciousness of these being multiple, separate "churches". None of the epistles are ever addressed to "churches" within a single city, but rather to either "the church in (city)" or "the churches in (geographic region or province)"

I'm not sure I'm following you.

1Cor.1
[2] Unto the church of God which is at Corinth

2Thes.1
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians

Acts.11
[22] Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem

Does the use of the word church in these passages indicate that there were many churches in Corinth, Thessalonia and Jerusalem?

Acts.9
[31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria

Acts.15
[41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

1Cor.16
[1] Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia

Does the use of the word churches in these passages mean there were many churches in Judea, Galilee, Samaria, Syria, Cilicia and Galatia?