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What does the word "Catholic" mean?

...f all the apostles and all the evangelists. The various Gnostic groups were not “Catholic” because they could not claim this broad foundation. … Only the Church Catholic, the church “according to the whole,” could lay claim to the entire apostolic witness. (pp.81,82). The other early uses that appear after Ignatius are in the Martyrdom of Polycarp (around AD 150), “…and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place…”, and then also in the earliest New Testament list from around the second century,[2] the Muratorian fragment the phrase is found three times: “…in the esteem of the Church catholic …. received...

Lent: Day 4 - Polycarp to the Philippians

...Day Four: Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians (full text) Who: Polycarp of Smyrna, who was a direct disciple of the apostle John. We also have some information about Polycarp via Irenaeus (who knew Polycarp) in his book, Adv. Haer., III.3.4: “But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna”. What: Lots of exhortations are contained in this letter, and is also referenced by Irenaeus as being for “those who wish to do so, and are anxious about their salvation, can learn the character of his (Polycarp's) faith, and the preachin...

The Early Concept of the Trinity: Tracing the Roots

...e blessed apostles, and had been conversant with them, might be said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing [in his ears], and their traditions before his eyes” (Against Heresies 3:3). So, his letter provides important context when discussing this topic and what apostolic teaching was. Likewise, Justin Martyr, writing around AD 150, in chapter 13 of his First Apology writes about the triune nature of God, and how Jesus is in “second place” within the Godhead: Our teacher of these things is Jesus Christ, who also was born for this purpose, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judæa, in the times of Tiberius Cæsar; and that...

Lent: Day 6 - Ignatius to the Magnesians

...ly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ That's some high standards to live up to! It's no wonder the qualifications for these positions were strict if this was the thinking behind them even when Paul first penned his letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Tim 3:1-7; 8-13; Tit 1:5-9). But it's also because of this that Ignatius instructs that no one do anything “without the bishop and presbyters” since, as Jesus did nothing without the Father, and the apostles without Jesus, so neither should the Church without their leadership. It's interesting to see that this church structure wa...

An ancient fragment mentions Jesus' wife!?

...the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Now surely, if it was widely known that Jesus did in fact have a wife, why wouldn't Paul mention that here? He speaks about the other apostles having wives, and especially points out James and Peter as being married and taking their wives with them on their mission, to make his point even more valid. Which means that if Jesus himself were married, I would have thought that Paul would use that as his first (and maybe only) argument to strengthen his point about taking along a wife as a disciple - even more so than pointing out "the brothers of the Lord" and Peter who did the same! All in all thou...

Lent: Day 17 - Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 60-68

...from the apostles”, which bears a striking resemblance to what Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:21 — And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ Baptismal regeneration is something most, if not all, churches would teach against today, and find ways to reinterpret 1 Peter, so I find this section particularly interesting as an early teaching. Imitation by demons Following on with baptism, Justin goes on to say that due to Isaiah prophesying this, the demons knew what to imitate in the temples to false gods, who would have a...