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When Did Christians First Call Themselves “Catholic”?
hope it is ^ | September 8, 2008 | | Bob Lozano

Posted on 01/15/2012 2:36:04 PM PST by narses

Ignatius.jpgOne of the real joys of spending time reading and studying the writings of the earliest Christians (aka the Early Church Fathers) is gaining a bit of insight into what life was like those who professed to be Christian.

One of the real surprises (at least to me) was how early the term “Catholic” came to be used to refer to all Christians.

How early? How about the year 107 … maybe even earlier!

From the Letter to the Smyrnaeans by St. Ignatius of Antioch:

Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful to baptize or give communion without the consent of the bishop. On the other hand, whatever has his approval is pleasing to God. Thus, whatever is done will be safe and valid.

Note that St. Ignatius is a real hero of the early Church – both a bishop and a martyr at the hands of the Romans, he left an awesome written legacy of letters to local churches … primarily encouragement as he marched to his martyrdom.

The current wiki article presents a good overview of the life of St. Ignatius of Antioch. From that article comes this paragraph:

It is from the word katholikos that the word “catholic” comes. When Ignatius wrote the Letter to the Smyrnaeans in about the year 107 and used the word “catholic”, he used it as if it were a word already in use to describe the Church. This has led many scholars to conclude that the appellation “Catholic Church” with its ecclesial connotation may have been in use as early as the last quarter of the first century.

While this may seem like a small point, I think it’s rather significant – the sense of universality, of all Christians belonging to the church that they themselves called katholikos … this gives us some real insight into what Christians thought important.

An Opposing View
Notice it is in direct contrast to the probably well-intentioned, but definitely historically inaccurate perspective of those who oppose the reality of the one Church founded by Jesus Christ. Typical of this perspective is a recent post by Thomas H., who writes from a Baptist perspective:

The application of the word “catholic” was not used in reference to all supposed Christians until the Council of Trent. This word was used by catholics to beat over the heads of non catholics in the sence of saying you do not belong to the true church. This resulted in the murder of hundreds of thousands of Christians who were not Roman Catholics by the emissaries of Rome.

I think you get the idea … the only real problem with all that is it doesn’t square with the historical record on any level, starting with the word catholic.

The Historical Reality
I can empathize with folks like Thomas – when you have spent your whole life being told bits and pieces of what happened, along with stuff that’s simply not true by folks who spent their lives in the same circumstances, it must be hard to be open to the reality that contradicts what you believe.

Yet, the historical record is clear, and provides an eloquent testimony to the truth … from its earliest days the Church understood that unity and universality were basic marks of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

It began calling itself katholikos around the end of the first century, at most a few years after the death of the last apostle (John). It did not begin with the Council of Trent (late 16th century – nearly 1500 years later) or any other time. In fact, by the time the canon of Scripture – what we call the Bible – was settled Christians had been calling themselves Catholics for almost 300 years … longer than the United States has even been a country!

That Church remains Catholic to this day, and will remain so until the end of time (Matthew 16:18+).

An Invitation
If this does not seem right to you, please investigate on your own. Look into the historical record – pagan, Jewish, or Christian – and see what evidence supports each side. What you’ll find is exactly what the Church has always understood … it is katholikos, and has been so from the beginning.

The writings of the Early Church Fathers are widely available, with treatments ranging from the easily-accessible to the more in-depth, scholarly works. A good place to start for most folks is Four Witnesses by Rod Bennett – a very readable account, well-grounded in current scholarship,


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History
KEYWORDS:
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To: BipolarBob; Cronos
"In the beginning was the WORD. The WORD was with God, and the WORD was God."

The actual term used was "Logos" (Λόγος). It has an interesting history but around 500 BC became a philosophical term for a principle of order and knowledge. Along with Ethos and Pathos it has a deep and rich history within Greek philosophy and logic.

Its acceptance merely as synonymous with "word" is an unfortunate consequence of Sola Scriptura because the "Word" is so very much more than a collection of words.

181 posted on 04/12/2012 5:10:46 PM PDT by Natural Law (If you love the Catholic Church raise your hands, if not raise your standards.)
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To: BipolarBob; Cronos
"In the beginning was the WORD. The WORD was with God, and the WORD was God."

The actual term used was "Logos" (Λόγος). It has an interesting history but around 500 BC became primarily a philosophical term for a principle of order and knowledge. Along with Ethos and Pathos it has a deep and rich history within Greek philosophy and logic.

Its acceptance merely as synonymous with "word" is an unfortunate consequence of Sola Scriptura because the "Word" is so very much more than a collection of words.

182 posted on 04/12/2012 5:12:48 PM PDT by Natural Law (If you love the Catholic Church raise your hands, if not raise your standards.)
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To: Natural Law
"is an unfortunate consequence of Sola Scriptura "

Boy that Sola Scriptura is just a catchall for all that's wrong in the theological world. Well there's that Martin Luther fellow too. Can't forget about him.

183 posted on 04/12/2012 5:21:25 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: BipolarBob
BB: My Bible (Book of John) has " In the beginning

You do realize that the Bible was not originally written in English, right? That they didn't have the word "word" rather had "Logos" (Λόγος)...

184 posted on 04/12/2012 11:48:35 PM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Natural Law; BipolarBob
NL: The actual term used was "Logos" (Λόγος). It has an interesting history but around 500 BC became primarily a philosophical term for a principle of order and knowledge. Along with Ethos and Pathos it has a deep and rich history within Greek philosophy and logic.

Insightful, NL

Bipolar --> do you realise the error of just limiting the Word of God to just the written word and how the limitations of language mean that people have forgotten that the Word of God is Jesus Christ, order, knowledge, deep knowledge and wisdom, not just a collection of characters

Simple minds think that the Bible was originally written in English and argue "where is the word Catholic in the Bible" not realising that none of the English words are in the Bible -- English, especially late modern English is only a few centuries old.

185 posted on 04/12/2012 11:49:34 PM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Cronos; Natural Law

Yes, I am quite aware the Disciples did not speak English and the Bible was not originally wrote in English. I was just pointing out one of the many details which are clues that your church is not The Church talked about being Christs Church. I’m just throwing little tidbits out there for those who wish to research it. I do not spend an inordinate time drooling and parsing over each individual words possible meaning. If there is something to look at, I look at it. For example the word “love” in the Bible. I will see which kind it refers to and move on. I think the Bible was wrote so that anybody can get its meaning. Sometimes a little background in Eastern thinking but nothing taxing. Spend your time straining at gnats and swallowing camels if you wish. I don’t care to do so.


186 posted on 04/13/2012 6:28:00 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: BipolarBob
really? you are aware?

Did you know that the original Bible didn't have the English word "Word" in it?

187 posted on 04/13/2012 7:27:38 AM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: BipolarBob; Natural Law
Bipolar: I think the Bible was wrote so that anybody can get its meaning.

So, let's see what meaning you get from Apocalypse 22:19 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.?

188 posted on 04/13/2012 7:33:12 AM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: BipolarBob
"Boy that Sola Scriptura is just a catchall for all that's wrong in the theological world. Well there's that Martin Luther fellow too. Can't forget about him.

Before you give too great an endorsement of Martin Luther remember that he remained, at heart, a Catholic priest and theologian who lamented at the consequences of his actions. Those who focus on where he differed with the orthodoxy of the Catholic Church ignore the many, many areas that he embraced the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I am confident that Luther would not recognize and would be horrified by much of what Protestantism has become.

As for Sola Scriptura, Luther never proposed the Scriptural exclusivity than many Protestants today profess. Luther's Sola Scriptura was that of Sriptural sufficiency.

189 posted on 04/13/2012 8:24:00 AM PDT by Natural Law (If you love the Catholic Church raise your hands, if not raise your standards.)
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To: motoman

The Catholic Faith is defined by the Athanasian Creed. While the faith as defined in that creed is presumably held by most members of the Roman Catholic Church, it is likewise held by members of other orthodox Christian denominations.


190 posted on 04/13/2012 8:34:12 AM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: Cronos
So, let's see what meaning you get from Apocalypse 22:19 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.?

Revelation 22:18 and 19 go together. One is describing the plagues that will apply to those that add to the words of Johns prophecy and the other concerning those who subtract from them. Here God has placed a curse on those who might be tempted to alter Gods Word. It is apparent God places a premium on His Word. Not so much mans traditions though.

191 posted on 04/13/2012 8:57:42 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: Natural Law
As for Sola Scriptura, Luther never proposed the Scriptural exclusivity than many Protestants today profess. Luther's Sola Scriptura was that of Sriptural sufficiency.

Thanks for supporting my views on Catholics obsession with Sola Scriptura and Martin Luther. Martin Luther was fallible and had a great conflict with separation from his church but he could not ignore the plain Truths of the Bible. The church teachings were so ingrained in him, he could only go so far in challenges.

192 posted on 04/13/2012 9:04:26 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: BipolarBob
Now your earlier statement "anybody can get its meaning." is proven false by your post 191. Apocalypse 22:19 refers specifically to this book namely to the Book of Apocalypse, not to the collection of books that is the Bible

You do understand, right? The Bible is a collection of books....

193 posted on 04/13/2012 9:10:53 AM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Cronos
Now your earlier statement "anybody can get its meaning." is proven false by your post 191.

My statement has not been proven false. You fail read and comprehend my postings. Whether that is intentional or not only you can say. If you are that bad at reading postings maybe you do need someone to read and explain the Bible to you. The normal person does not.

194 posted on 04/13/2012 9:17:55 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: narses
Catholics from the START!


What is the History of Your Church?

 

Church Year Established Founder Where Established
 
Catholic 33 Jesus Christ Jerusalem
 
Orthodox 1054 Schismatic Catholic
Bishops
Constantinople
 
Lutheran 1517 Martin Luther Germany
 
Anabaptist 1521 Nicholas Storch &
Thomas Munzer
Germany
 
Anglican 1534 Henry VIII England
 
Mennonites 1536 Menno Simons Switzerland
 
Calvinist 1555 John Calvin Switzerland
 
Presbyterian 1560 John Knox Scotland
 
Congregational 1582 Robert Brown Holland
 
Baptist 1609 John Smyth Amsterdam
 
Dutch Reformed 1628 Michaelis Jones New York
 
Congregationalist 1648 Pilgrims and Puritans Massachusetts
 
Quakers 1649 George Fox England
 
Amish 1693 Jacob Amman France
 
Freemasons 1717 Masons from four lodges London
 
Methodist 1739 John & Charles
Wesley
England
 
Unitarian 1774 Theophilus Lindey London
 
Methodist Episcopal 1784 60 Preachers Baltimore, MD
 
Episcopalian 1789 Samuel Seabury American Colonies
 
United Brethren 1800 Philip Otterbein &
Martin Boehn
Maryland
 
Disciples of Christ 1827 Thomas & Alexander
Campbell
Kentucky
 
Mormon 1830 Joseph Smith New York
 
Methodist Protestant 1830 Methodist United States
 
Church of Christ 1836 Warren Stone &
Alexander Campbell
Kentucky
 
Seventh Day Adventist 1844 Ellen White Washington, NH
 
Christadelphian (Brethren
of Christ
1844 John Thomas Richmond, VA
 
Salvation Army 1865 William Booth London
 
Holiness 1867 Methodist United States
 
Jehovah's Witnesses 1874 Charles Taze Russell Pennsylvania
 
Christian Science 1879 Mary Baker Eddy Boston
 
Church of God in Christ 1895 Various churches of God Arkansas
 
Church of Nazarene c. 1850-1900 Various religious bodies Pilot Point, TX
 
Pentecstal 1901 Charles F. Parkham Topeka, KS
 
Aglipayan 1902 Gregorio Aglipay Philippines
 
Assemblies of God 1914 Pentecostalism Hot Springs, AZ
 
Iglesia ni Christo 1914 Felix Manalo Philippines
 
Four-square Gospel 1917 Aimee Semple
McPherson
Los Angeles, CA
 
United Church of Christ 1961 Reformed and
Congregationalist
Philadelphia, PA
 
Calvary Chapel 1965 Chuck Smith Costa Mesa, CA
 
United Methodist 1968 Methodist and United
Brethren
Dallas, TX
 
Born-again c. 1970s Various religious bodies United States
 
Harvest Christian 1972 Greg Laurie Riverside, CA
 
Saddleback 1982 Rick Warren California
 
Non-denominational c. 1990s various United States

195 posted on 04/13/2012 9:34:40 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Church Year Established Founder Where Established
 
Gods own Beginning of time Jesus Christ Garden of Eden

196 posted on 04/13/2012 9:46:43 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: BipolarBob
Bible was wrote so that anybody can get its meaning.

So, was the meaning of Baptism to be Baptism for infants or not?

and should women not talk in Church?

197 posted on 04/13/2012 9:48:36 AM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: BipolarBob

You know as well as I do that Adam and Eve sinned and were cast from the garden. Now who was the figurative (but real when fulfilled) person who would crush the serpent’s head with his heel?

Sure you can go back to the Old Testament, but the OT was all fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

Do you need to read all the prophecies in Isaiah again?


198 posted on 04/13/2012 9:57:44 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Cronos
So, was the meaning of Baptism to be Baptism for infants or not? and should women not talk in Church?

Why ask me? You think me incapable of reading and understanding on my own. But I'll give it a try. Baptism is for the purpose to make a public confession and commitment to Jesus Christ. Infants are incapable of that decision making. So no to infant baptism.

No to women talking in church in the Middle East at the time of Jesus. In fact women in the Middle East best beware at all times. At your church, I'm sure it's okay.

199 posted on 04/13/2012 9:57:44 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, But I swear I did not see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: BipolarBob

You know as well as I do that Adam and Eve sinned and were cast from the garden. Now who was the figurative (but real when fulfilled) person who would crush the serpent’s head with his heel?

Sure you can go back to the Old Testament, but the OT was all fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

Do you need to read all the prophecies in Isaiah again?


200 posted on 04/13/2012 9:58:32 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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