Posted on 11/28/2014 9:44:39 PM PST by Steelfish
The Early Church Fathers
The Early Church Fathers were the disciples of the 12 apostles, the disciples of the disciples of the 12 apostles, the disciples of the disciples of the disciples of the 12 apostles, etc. In short they were the Christian leaders who took charge of the Church following the death of the 12 apostles.
They were not only taught by the 12 apostles, they were also first-hand witnesses to the creation of the Church worldwide. Most, if not all, were martyred by being crucified, beheaded, fed to the lions at the Roman Coliseum, boiled in oil, or skinned alive. They were the ones empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13 and 1 John 4:6), and who personally handed on the oral teaching of Jesus Christ, before the New Testament canon was created by the Catholic Church in the late 4th century, at the councils of Rome, Hippo, and Carthage.
One of the great early ones, St. Clement, is actually mentioned in the bible in Philippians 4:3. None of these early Church Fathers just stood up and started preaching on his own. They followed the Biblical model in Acts of “being sent” (Romans 10:15). Who sent them? Jesus sent the 12 apostles (“as the Father sent me, so I send you”). The 12 apostles then laid hands on others and sent them (Acts 6:6).
This apostolic tradition has been followed for 2000 years by the Catholic Church, who continuously lays hands on new disciples in every generation since Jesus walked the earth, and then sends them to the four corners of the earth to preach the good news of Jesus Christ, to forgive sins in His Name, and to bring Jesus in the Eucharist to us all. We, the members of the 21rst Century, owe these early Church Fathers a lot of gratitude, because they died horrible deaths in order to preserve and to hand on the Word of God to us today.
A lot of Protestants ignore these early Christian leaders, preferring instead to believe that the history of Christianity began with Jesus and the 12 apostles, and then somehow skipped over 15 centuries to Martin Luther. That would be like saying that the history of the United States began with George Washington in 1776, and then skipped over to Franklin Roosevelt in 1932. For some reason, a lot of Protestants will refuse to read any of the writings of the early Church Fathers, proudly proclaiming to everyone that “Those writings are not in my Bible!”
But they will read the writings of Martin Luther, Billy Graham, and Max Lucado, even though those aren’t in the Bible either! They will even read and believe the heretical "Left Behind" books of LaHeye and Jenkins (there is no "secret" rapture of believers mentioned anywhere in the bible. When it happens, according to the bible, there will be trumpet blasts, and every eye will see Jesus). The writings of the early Church Fathers elucidate what is taught in the Bible, so that it’s no mystery whether or not the Eucharist is the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, whether or not Mary is the new Eve, or whether or not there is a purgatory.
After all, the early Church Fathers were taught by the 12 apostles, handed on the faith to the next generation, and were then martyred for their actions! Why someone would trust more in the writings of people coming along 15 centuries later over their writings is very strange indeed.
Some of the greatest early Church Fathers are mentioned below. To read about them, just click on their name.
St. Polycarp
St. Iraneaus
St. Justin Martyr
St. Ambrose
St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
St. Athanasius
St. Clement of Rome
St. Augustine
St. Jerome
To read about what they thought about the following issues, click on each one of the topics below.
Purgatory
Homosexuality
Contraception
Old Testament Canon
Good Works
The Catholic Church
The Pope
The Eucharist
Apostolic Succession and Tradition
The Blessed Virgin Mary
The Mass
Divorce
Against Heresy
Unity of the Church
Infant Baptism
Degrees of Sin
Abortion
Some great writings of these early Church Fathers are below:
The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
The Epistle of Polycarp to the Phillipians
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
The Martyrdom of Ignatius
The First Apology of Justin Martyr
Iranaeus Against Heresies
Confessions of St. Augustine
A Complete Index of the Early Church Fathers' Writings
Jimmy Akin's New Blog on the Early Church Fathers
So don't get trapped in the Protestant philosophy that actually says that if it isn't in the Bible, then it can't possibly be true. If that were truly the case, then none of Martin Luther's writings can be seen as true, because they aren't in the Bible either! Take the time to read what our Catholic martyred ancestors had to say. After all, we are all united through time and space in the Eucharist. St. John says in his gospel that if we eat the body of Christ and drink His blood, then Christ abides in us, and we in Him! And because we are all united in Christ, we are all united with each other.
And once non-Catholic Christians start to read these writings of the early Church Fathers, they will soon discover that there were NO Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Mormons, Episcopaleans, etc., anywhere in the Early Church. Those traditions of men were all started centuries later, based on what people thought Jesus' Church was all about, rather than on what it actually was.
NO Baptists.
Didn`t you see where Jesus took a whip to those money exchangers?
**I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.**
Note that catholic used here is not capitalized and means universal.
Bye, bye, your mistake not to believe.
Still Paul was Jewish, no ifs, ands, or buts.
The tribes of Judah were called Jews but that does not make all of them Jews.
The word “brother” was used to connote all cousins and others who held the Catholic belief.
Haven’t you ever read Paul?
Brothers and sisters,.................
You are correct in that both “brother” and “sister” have a multitude of meanings. Strongs concordance (79&80) lists siblings first, the other definitions follow so context in reading is very important. See Matthew 13:55-56.King James Version (KJV)
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
So it begins with talking about Jesus’ earthly father, then about His mother, Mary, then about close friends or cousins? Nope , the reference was to siblings, upheld by all except for the RCC which does this to justify their Deity status of Mary. Sorry, your argument about brethern (same Strongs # as “brother) does not stand the test of scriptural study.
Dude...this is easily proven wrong by simply reading what the ECFs said on this issue and a lot of the others you mentioned.
They are no where in universal agreement on Peter, Mary, etc.
Have you actually read what they've written or are you just regurgitating catholic dogma?
Quit before you further embarrass yourself.
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Galatians 3:5
more false catholic teaching that some are elevated to sainthood and others not.
My mom and dad are Christian saints....as are all who are in Christ....as determined by the Bible.
You are SO correct!!!! Here’s hoping someone reads your post and researches it further to come to know the truth!
Please don't infer that I am blind when your own eyes are completely shut to Biblical truths.
For instance I believe Jesus was Mary`s only child but the Bible does not say that.
Most protestants believe Mary had other children but neither does the Bible say that.
Actually the Bible does very clearly say Mary and Joseph had other children. We need to look at the Greek though.
In Luke 2:7....And she gave birth to her first born son....
The greek for first born is πρωτότοκον. The word means first born or eldest. It allows for others to follow. In the eight instances it is used in the NT it always indicates that Christ was first and that others would follow.
Recall that Luke was a doctor and had researched all that he wrote. Surely he would know if Mary and Joseph had other children.
If he had wanted to say that Jesus was the only child of Mary and Joseph he could have used Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ,(John 3:16) the only begotten.
As used in the NT μονογενῆ means the only one. There are no others.
If that's not sufficient proof, and it should be, we have the contextual statements in the Bible that clearly identify Jesus' other brothers and sisters.
Details here:
How does the Roman Catholic Church determine sainthood? [Catholic Caucus]
How Many Miracles are Required to Canonize a Saint?
Saints [Catholic, Orthodox, Open]
SAINTHOOD 101: Rules for Becoming a Saint [Catholic Caucus]
The Process of Becoming a Saint (Canonization) [Catholic Caucus]
Pope Lists Criteria for Causes of Canonization
You are still yelling.
The Perpetual Virginity of Mary - Brothers and Sisters of Christ?
Virgin Birth—or Prophetic Slip?
The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary
Aeiparthenos (An Anglo-Catholic Priest on Mary's Perpetual Virginity)
[Why I Am Catholic]: Because of the Protestant Reformers Beliefs On Mary
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Mary: Virgin and Ever Virgin
Luther, Calvin, and Other Early Protestants on the Perpetual Virginity of Mary
Luther, Calvin, and Other Early Protestants on the Perpetual Virginity of Mary
The Protestant Reformers on the Virgin Mary
Zwingli’s’ Mariology: On Mary “Full of Grace”
Dr. Luther was an avid student of the early Church Fathers and often quoted them as authoritative, but only when their words and teachings were in accord with Sacred Scripture. The Church faces dangers from within and without. It’s always been that way, and it always will be until this age is complete.
Your post 72. More man made stuff from catholicism.
I note you are publicly denying the testimony of the Apostle to the Gentiles. To which tribe do you imagine you belong ?
But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
It’s always worth a try. Perhaps you will read them some day.
FWIW, the first saints, died for their faith.
You can't have Luther both ways.
btw....they're wrong. Jesus had brothers and sisters based on the Greek as used in the NT.
And if you would read the Early Church Fathers (since they knew Jesus and the Apostles) you would find out that Mary had no other children.
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