To: AlbionGirl; Dr. Eckleburg
When St. Paul died, decades elapsed and the corralling (necessary or not) of the Faith began, the freedom in Christ, that he so wanted his congregation to keep so close to their breast was lost to exigencies. As usual that is an excellent analysis. I have always placed the decline around 600AD but on reflecting on your statement, I believe you're right that it started with the death of Paul. The freedom was lost to organizationalism.
8,016 posted on
06/07/2006 8:51:19 AM PDT by
HarleyD
("Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" Luke 24:45)
To: HarleyD; AlbionGirl; Dr. Eckleburg; annalex; Agrarian; kosta50; jo kus; stripes1776
"As usual that is an excellent analysis. I have always placed the decline around 600AD but on reflecting on your statement, I believe you're right that it started with the death of Paul. The freedom was lost to organizationalism."
Well, that would certainly dispense with the necessity of dealing with the inconvenient likes of +Clement, +Polycarp and +Ignatius. :)
8,096 posted on
06/07/2006 6:51:27 PM PDT by
Kolokotronis
(Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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