The time period immediately after the apostles was not a time of religious oratory and debate. That came in a later period. This was a time of humble missionary work and persecution. However the apostasy from the truths of original Christianity had already started during this period. This apostasy is already attested to in the biblical record BEFORE the departure of the apostles. (Acts 20:29; Gal 1:6; 1Tim 1:6; 2 Tim 1:15, 2:18; Rev 2:2) I find it particularly interesting that even some of the leaders of the church had rejected the apostles. John tells us that "Diotrephes, who loveth...