Scriptures shows in the book of Acts that the apostles responded to issues of human need, such as justice, poverty, illness, oppression, etc. at least up to the first century. Early church leaders like Lactantius in early 300 wrote “… because we are all brothers, God teaches us to never do evil to one another but only good –giving aid to people who are oppressed and experiencing hardship and giving food to the hungry.”
The apostolic constitutions show that offerings were set apart for the support of the sick, poor and disabled. In a historical research titled “The Rise of Christianity” Rodney Stark a professor of sociology and comparative religion said that one of the reasons Christianity grew so rapidly in the Roman Empire was because of the works of mercy carried out by the followers of Jesus especially during the epidemic (Small pox and measles) which killed thousands of people daily. The plague provided an opportunity for light to shine in darkness because it was the Christian who cared for the sick even though they were also affected.
Most of the Christian brethren showed unconditional love. They took charge of the sick, attending to their needs and ministered Christ to them. A lot of them lost their lives for ‘they were inflicted with the sickness of their neighbors.’ They cheerfully accepted their pains. Even Stark who was not a Christian was deeply moved by how Christians of the second and third century responded to human need.