Posted on 11/05/2009 12:29:39 PM PST by GonzoII
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What is your opinion of the early church Fathers in relation to the writings of the apostles in the Bible? How do you think we should interpret the one set of writings compared to the other set?
FYI: The links work!
Orthodox ping...and Mr. Rogers.
Here’s a good resource for you.
Thanks for posting.
Every one of the links goes to newadvent.org. I'd have preferred a neutral "third party" website.
The Apostolic writers wrote under divine inspiration the Fathers didn't. This would be the main difference. This fact of course would not diminish in any way their profound erudition; their knowledge of early historical Christianity; of early Christian beliefs; and as regards the "Apostolic Fathers" their direct acquaintance with one or more of the actual Apostles which no one, and I mean no one!! can claim today.
"How do you think we should interpret the one set of writings compared to the other set?"
The Traditions found in the Fathers, as well as the Scriptures themselves should be interpreted in light of the Magisterium.
Hey, I can't please everyone. I think these are the standard writings that you find everywhere on the Web including CCEL .
You’re welcome.
That which came from the Apostles themselves, repeated orally and written down later, has the same Apostolic authority, as St. Paul himself said: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Thess. 2:15).
The early Fathers -- even when they are not directly quoting the words of the Apostles-- are a valuable resource, especially in interpreting Scripture correctly.
They were often native speakers of the languages in which the Scriptures were written, or recognized by their contemporaries both as men of piety and as scholars, much closer to the Biblical times, mindset, and culture than we are.
For a comparison: suppose that there are some ambiguities of language or interpretation in the reading of Geoffrey Chaucer (Canterbury Tales.) It would be more relevant to look for commentaries from the 15th century, from near-contemporaries, than from a scholar whose knowledge of the English language and English culture is almost all from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Fathers were highly respected by the believers in their day (which is why their writings have been carefully preserved from their day until now); the earliest ones were disciples and 1st-generation successors of the Apostles themselves; and they offer a rich insight into the thinking and practices of the faithful of early Church.
Check the citations on the translations at New Advent. They’re Philip Schaff, every one of them.
BTTT.
Just two stories from my past:
(1) Many years ago, Fr. F. Laisnay of the SSPX (spelling deliberately wrong here) told me that the Bible had to be interpreted though the FOTC (Fathers of the Church).
(2) Just a few years ago, a Lutheran friend wanted to feel OK about infant baptism for his children. He didn’t find examples in the Bible, so he felt much better about it after he read examples in the FOTC.
Anyway, I liked both of your answers.
Thanks.
P.S. Trivia: I’ve heard that the Bible could be completely rewritten from quotes in the FOTC if all the Bible manuscripts were ever to be lost. (Not that that is probable.)
Way cool.
Thanks.
Wow! What a list!
THE CHURCH FATHERS: A DOOR TO ROME (fundamentalist warns saying they sound too Catholic)
Were the Church Fathers Closer to Protestantism Than to Catholicism?
The Faith of Our Fathers
The Early Church Fathers
The Early Church Fathers on The Church (Catholic Caucus)
Early Church Fathers on (Oral) Tradition - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Apostolic Succession - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Purgatory - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Salvation Outside the Church [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Early Church Fathers on Marys Perpetual Virginity - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on The Primacy of Peter/Rome (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
The Early Church Fathers on Hell - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Intercession of the Saints - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on The Real Presence - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Confession / Reconciliation - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on the Immaculate Conception - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Justification - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Contraception - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on Baptism - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
The Early Church Fathers on The Mother of God - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Quotes from the Early Church Fathers
Early Church Fathers - Worship on Sabbath or Sunday
The Early Church Fathers on the Assumption [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Look to the Church Fathers to Shed Light on Modern Problems, Writes the Pope
On St. Clement of Rome -The Church Has a Sacramental, Not Political Structure (March 7, 2007)
Truly a Doctor of Unity (St. Ignatius of Antioch) (March 14, 2007)
St. Justin Martyr: He Considered Christianity the True Philosophy (March 21, 2007)
St. Irenaeus of Lyons: The First Great Theologian of the Church (March 28, 2007)
St. Clement of Alexandria: One of the Great Promoters of Dialogue Between Faith and Reason (April 18, 2007)
On Origen of Alexandria: He Was a True Teacher (April 25, 2007)
Origen: The Privileged Path to Knowing God Is Love
“The Traditions found in the Fathers, as well as the Scriptures themselves should be interpreted in light of the Magisterium.”
Of course, not one of the The Fathers had a clue what the “Magisterium” is/was.
There is a decree from the Council of Trent which says that the Scriptures must never be interpreted other than in accordance with the writings of the Fathers.
The Consensus Patrum is the gold standard, G.
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