The battleground of the church has always been theological. The interpretation of historic principles, precepts, or practices precipitated some consistent challenges in the early church. The Galatians wrestled over legalism despite the Gospel being set before them so clearly and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. The
Corinthians had a power without form that was expressed in their lawlessness and failure to comprehend the proper function of spiritual gifts. The Colossians were seduced with strange philosophies and doctrines that sought to corrupt the simplicity of Christ’s message. The Hebrews were guilty of sustained immaturity. When they should have been teachers, they still needed someone to teach them the foundations. Each the above mentioned epistles express the four temptations of the early churches: legalism, lawlessness, mixture and sustained immaturity.