There is only ONE true Church

Bible | 33-90 AD | God Christ Jesus Apostle Paul

[bibletruth]

In the present dispensation there is only ONE true Church, which is called the Body of Christ separate and distinct from the prophesied, earthly kingdom of Christ vested in redeemed National Israel as a called-out nation or church, assembly or congregation, above all other nations.

[RegulatorCountry]

I refer to post #84.

Irenaeus: "The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric. . . . . To this Clement there succeeded Evaristus. Alexander followed Evaristus; then, sixth from the apostles, Sixtus, was appointed; after him, Telephorus, who was gloriously martyred; then Hyginus; after him, Pius; then after him, Anicetus. Sorer having succeeded Anicetus, Eleutherius does now, in the twelfth place from the apostles, hold the inheritance of the episcopate. In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us. And this is most abundant proof that there is one and the same vivifying faith, which has been preserved in the Church from the apostles until now, and handed down in truth (SOURCE: Iraeneus Against Heresies, Volume I, Book III, Para 3)

[neverbluffer]

That is your interpretation.

The word POPE comes from the latin “Papa” which means Father and/or Spiritual Leader.

You are confusing everything that you think should or should not be noted in the Bible, with “language”

Not everything regarding various religious “sectarian” belief, doctrine, or traditions will be found in the Bible.

[neverbluffer]

Once again, you are pointing to scripture that favors your point of view, but seem to discredit the ones that detract from your point of view.

That is why there exists so many demoninations....

[johngrace]

So You use Early Church fathers Did you read This!

Augistine of Hippo:

Letter 53 (A.D. 400) For if the lineal succession of bishops is to be taken into account, with how much more certainty and benefit to the Church do we reckon back till we reach Peter himself, to whom, as bearing in a figure the whole Church, the Lord said: “Upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!”

The successor of Peter was Linus, and his successors in unbroken continuity were these: — Clement, Anacletus, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telesphorus, Iginus, Anicetus, Pius, Soter, Eleutherius, Victor, Zephirinus, Calixtus, Urbanus, Pontianus, Antherus, Fabianus, Cornelius, Lucius, Stephanus, Xystus, Dionysius, Felix, Eutychianus, Gaius, Marcellinus, Marcellus, Eusebius, Miltiades, Sylvester, Marcus, Julius, Liberius, Damasus, and Siricius, whose successor is the present Bishop Anastasius..

Notice “successor of Peter”.

Just like We know the Presidents of the United States from Washington so Did St. Augustine 300 years later know the successor of Peter.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Its name is the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ.***

Now wait a minute! I read years ago that the first PROTESTANT CHURCH was the CATHOLICS when they left the TRUE CHURCH, the ORTHODOX.

But the Catholics also make the same claim that the orthodox left the “True Church”.

Wish they would get it straight!

[RegulatorCountry]

Please recall that you’re the one who is citing the Bible as your source for Peter being the first Pope, not me.

[RegulatorCountry]

Once again, you are pointing to scripture that favors your point of view, but seem to discredit the ones that detract from your point of view.

I pointed to no scripture in the response you're referencing, I pointed to a reply on this thread, #84, that contained a cite from "Against Heresies" by Irenaeus, which refutes your contention that Peter was the first Pope.

Please pay closer attention to whom and to what you're responding. It'll save you a lot of confusion.

[neverbluffer]

I generalized the quote, I did not cite verbatim....

I am not Catholic so I have no horse in this race. However, there were no other formal Christian religions or “organizations” for those that like that word that were in existence. All the other Christian religions spawned off of Catholicism.

Regardless of whether or not Christians believe in the authenticity of the Catholic Church, all Christians should be respectful since it was the Catholic Church that saved “scriptures”, it was the Catholic Church that prevented the spread of Islam over Christianity, and it would be a very different world today if the Catholic Church were not in existence.

[Anti-Hillary]

Says who???.... The Catholic church??? That is NOT what MY Bible says....

Belive you this, there will be NO denominations in heaven just sinners saved by the grace of God! I don’t think I will see the Pope at the right hand of God, but rather the Lamb that was slain!

[Anti-Hillary]

AMEN!!!! I have no beef with Catholics have have come to a personal relationship with Christ by accepting what He, and He alone, did on the cross as atonement for their sins once and forever, but I have a SERIOUS problem with many teachings and practices of the Catholic denomination just as I have a problem with the modern UMC and ELCA.

[presently no screen name]

Protestant churches are so divided again and again, in fact. When it comes to Holy — I don’t think so when

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

then I suggest you go back and read your Bible again.

I suggest you stick with your catechism until you “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor 2:14

[Colorado Cowgirl]

Thanks for the update. Nice to know a very small remnant survived. They were all over southern France, northern Italy and Switzerland. All serious historians now agree that the Waldensian movement began in Lyons about 1170. The Inquisition was also used against the church’s other opponents. A 1500 year red vestment wearing Taliban telling you what you can and can’t believe.

[johngrace]

No it does not. It just did not include every person specifically from the beginning. It depends on what subject it was written to declare a main point. You do not take it out of context.

Here is another early Church Father.

Augustine of Hippo:

Letter 53 (A.D. 400) For if the lineal succession of bishops is to be taken into account, with how much more certainty and benefit to the Church do we reckon back till we reach Peter himself, to whom, as bearing in a figure the whole Church, the Lord said: “Upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!”

The successor of Peter was Linus, and his successors in unbroken continuity were these: — Clement, Anacletus, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telesphorus, Iginus, Anicetus, Pius, Soter, Eleutherius, Victor, Zephirinus, Calixtus, Urbanus, Pontianus, Antherus, Fabianus, Cornelius, Lucius, Stephanus, Xystus, Dionysius, Felix, Eutychianus, Gaius, Marcellinus, Marcellus, Eusebius, Miltiades, Sylvester, Marcus, Julius, Liberius, Damasus, and Siricius, whose successor is the present Bishop Anastasius..

Notice “successor of Peter”.

Just like We know the Presidents of the United States from Washington so Did St. Augustine 300 years later know the successors of Peter.

[RegulatorCountry]

Generalized what quote? I see none.

I’m sorry, but it’s beginning to seem to me as if you have no idea what you’re talking about and are losing track because of an apparent inability to distinguish either cite from anecdote, nor an historical cite pertaining to the church from scripture itself.

There were several churches early on, they’re referenced by name in the Epistles. The Apostle Paul even wrote to Rome and instructed the church there, rebuked it even. Rather odd, don’t you think, if Peter were Pope, for Paul to have done such a thing?

[RegulatorCountry]

How many early church fathers agree and how many disagree, with the point under contention, that Peter was the first Pope?

That cite of Irenaeus is rather difficult to explain away by saying it’s somehow out of context. He’s saying that the episcopate was handed over from the Apostles, plural, to whom?

Not Peter.

[Anti-Hillary]

Sorry Charlie. We got the Bible from straight from God himself through the Holy Spirit!

2 Tim 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And in the direct Aramaic to English:

Every writing which is written by The Spirit is profitable for teaching, for correction, for direction and for a course in righteousness,

[johngrace]

"There were several churches early on, they’re referenced by name in the Epistles. The Apostle Paul even wrote to Rome and instructed the church there, rebuked it even. Rather odd, don’t you think, if Peter were Pope, for Paul to have done such a thing?"

Because the epistles/letters were written before Peter went to Rome. He established his presence later in Rome.

[Anti-Hillary]

You might be shocked to find that a lot of you guys will be in Purgatory.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How dare you!

[RegulatorCountry]

Then, why would Irenaeus have recorded that the Apostles had handed the episcopate over to Linus, of whom mention was made in Paul's epistle to Timothy?

"The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy.

[Colorado Cowgirl]

Amen Sister, love your tag. take care.