When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. Col 4:16 NASB [~61 AD]
I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 1 Thess 5:27 NASB [~51AD]
1Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Gal 1:1-2 NASB [~49 AD]
1Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-7 NASB [~58]
2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 1 Cor 1:2 NASB [~56]
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Eph 1:1 NASB [~61]
1Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Phil 1:1 NASB [~61]
1Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 1 Thess 1:1 NASB [~51AD]
2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Tim 1:2 NASB [~63]
1James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. James 1:1 NASB[~45-50]
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1 Peter 1:1 NASB [~63]
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia:.... Rev 1:4 NASB [~90]
The Gospels had also been completed by this point and were in circulation among the local churches. [Mark ~50; Luke ~60; Matthew ~60s; John ~85-90]
Paul's writings were recognized as Scripture in 2 Peter [~66].
2 Thessalonians 2:15 (King James Bible) "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."
What were those traditions?
Paul gives us the answer in the same letter! This is why context is so important in reading the Scriptures.
6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. 10For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 2 Thess 3:6-13 NASB
Was he talking about the Immaculate Conception? Nope.
Perpetual Virginity? Nope.
Papal Supremacy? Nope.
The Assumption? Nope?
The Mass as currently practiced in Roman Catholicism? Nope.
At Trent, when Rome authorized its Canon...did it include any of the writings of the ECFs? Nope.
Rome could have solved the question of what is or is not inspired right then and there. That Rome never included any of the writings of the ECFs is not lost on the astute reader of history.
As for the rest: read a little history.
BTW, I've decided not to spend 2018 freepin' around in useless circles, nor cut-and-pasting what I wrote on these topics in 2009, '10, '11, '12, ...'17, etc.
and it will all be don-o-splained for you!
Cheers.
**....Perpetual Virginity? Nope.
Papal Supremacy? Nope.
The Assumption? Nope?......**
You forgot:
Venerating, praying or bowing to graven images (and road-salt stained viaducts)? Nope.
Side note: I’m in favor of expanding the forum sidebar to sub-sections, for example:
Religion:
1. Catholic caucus
2. Everybody else
That would really speed up the quick look at the religion postings for people like me, by not having to scroll down through the daily untouchable doc dumps, to see something meant for anyone.
Yeah; those 7 Catholic churches in Revelation are really good examples of solid Catholic teaching and living all right!