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To: HarleyD
“Please note what Cyprian is saying, the Church is founded upon the bishops. “

Perhaps you should read what else Blessed Cyprian had to say before you comment.

“’...thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church’ IT IS ON HIM THAT HE BUILDS THE CHURCH , and to him that he entrusts the sheep to feed. And although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single Chair, thus establishing by his own authority the source and hallmark of the (Church’s) oneness...If a man does not fast to this oneness of Peter, does he still imagine that he still holds the faith. If he deserts the Chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, has he still confidence that he is in the Church?” Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae (Primacy text), 4 (A.D. 251).

There are more of these writings also.

I wish you a Blessed Day!

7,829 posted on 10/01/2007 6:36:11 AM PDT by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: stfassisi
Of course there are more of these writings. At that point in time in history, people didn't have the luxury of going to a Orthodox, a Catholic, a Presbyterian or a Baptist church. (Some Baptists will tell you otherwise.) There was only "one" Christian Church and the writers tried very hard to distinguish this church from the multiple cults that were rising. The was also one set of beliefs which wasn't formulated precisely. But they knew some things. Pelagius views were certainly heretical. So were a number of others. Bishops, from time to time, would get together and issue statements in councils-not from the "chair of Peter".

Virtually all the writings in the New Testament are addressed to specific churches,

Some of these churches were formal churches. Others resided inside people's homes. Paul doesn't talk about the Church in one complete sense. He talks of the church of God and churches that fall under the church of God.

And, as Revelation points out, there were some good churches and some bad churches.

One universal Church with a Pope handed down is not only historically inaccurate but it is scripturally inaccurate. The Orthodox don't even agree with this. Scripture at times refers to the church as all encompassing. At other times it is used independently. I think that is how the early church fathers saw it as well.

7,834 posted on 10/01/2007 7:10:52 AM PDT by HarleyD
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