why the catholic church part ii

Welcome to Saint Stephen’s Catholic Church

Why the Catholic ChurchPart II

August 31, 2004

The Church: The Next Generation

Passing on the teaching...

Clement of Rome (PHI 4:3)

- third Pope from Peter (ca. 80)

- letters to Corinthians

- delivered by freed slaves of Claudius

- martyrdom of Peter & Paul

The Church: Next Generation


Ignatius of Antioch (d. 110)

- third bishop of Antioch

- disciple of the Apostle John

- martyred during Trajan (110 ad)

- wrote seven letters (Ephesus, Rome)



Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans (ca. 110)

“Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”



Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans (ca. 110)

“Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”

“Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ…”



Polycarp of Smyrna (70 - 156)

- bishop of Smyrna

- disciple of the Apostle John

- martyred

- wrote letters (Phillipians)



Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp

“…his prayer in which he remembered everyone…the whole Catholic Church throughout the world…”



Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp

“…his prayer in which he remembered everyone…the whole Catholic Church throughout the world…”

“...the wonderful martyr Polycarp, who in our days, was an apostolic and prophetic teacher, bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna.”



Saint Justin Martyr (ca. 100 - 165)

- opened a Xian school in Rome

- wrote on baptism & Eucharist

- martyred

- documented from Roman court records



Saint Irenaeus (ca. 130 - 200)

- second bishop of Lyons

- student of Polycarp

- wrote “Against Heresies” (gnostics)

- rebirth by baptism (infants)



Saint Clement of Alexandria (150 - 215)

- taught Christianity in Egypt

- wrote on the logos (“The Word”)

- earliest known homily (MAR 10:17 - 31)



Saint Clement of Alexandria (150 - 215)

Apostolic tradition “…preserved the…doctrine derived directly from the Holy Apostles..and come by God;s will to us…for the preservation of truth, according as they delivered it.”



Saint Hippolytus of Rome (170 - 236)

- wrote The Apostolic Tradition

- Church hierarchy, Liturgy & worship



Saint Hippolytus of Rome (170 - 236)

Bishop: The Lord be with you.

People: And with your spirit.

Bishop: Let us lift up our hearts

People: We have lifted them up to the Lord

(ca. 215)



Line of succession from the Apostles

Guaranteed the authenticity of the teaching.

Bishops traced back to the Apostles.

Fidelity to the Apostles teachings & therefore of Christ.

Hegesippus, Irenaeus, Clement, Eusebius

• Caesar Augustus 27bc - 14ad (LUK 2:11)

• Caesar Tiberius 14 - 37 (LUK 3:1-3)

• Caligula 37 - 41

• Claudius 41 - 54

• Nero 54 - 68

• Galba 68 - 69

• Otho 69 (4 months)

• Vitellius 69 - 70 (12 months)

• Vespasian 69 - 79

The Church Persecuted


• Nero

• Executed Peter & Paul

• Vespasian 69 - 79

• destroyed Jerusalem in 70 ad


• Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180)

• Decius (249 - 251)

• attempted to eliminate the Church

• Valerian (257)

• persecution to raise money (rob)

• Diocletian (284)

• destroyed churches, confiscated property, burned scripture, tortured, “beheaded until the ax was blunt”...

Constantine (306 - 337)

Edict of Milan

“we grant to Christians & other authorities to observe that religion which each prefer.”

“Anyone who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely & openly”

The Church: Freedom to Worship

Constantine (306 - 337)

Edict of Milan

“we grant to Christians & other authorities to observe that religion which each prefer.”

“Anyone who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely & openly”

“…this regulation is made that we may not seem to detract from any religion.”

The Church: Freedom to Worship

• Canon: “rod” or “rule” (standard)

The Church:

• Apostles teachings read at Mass

• By 400 ad, hundreds of letters/writings

Canon of Scripture

• Canon: “rod” or “rule” (standard)

Gospel: Andrew, Barnabas, Thomas, Luke

Acts: of Paul, of Phillip, 8 different “Acts of the Apostles”

Revelation: a cottage industry

Clement: read by some during mass

The Church: Canon of Scripture

• Apostles teachings read at each mass

• By 400 ad, hundreds of letters/writings

• Undisputed


Gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Acts of the Apostles by Luke

1Peter, 1John

• Undisputed, disputed




1Peter, 1John

2Peter, 2 & 3 John, Hebrews, Jude, James

• Undisputed, disputed, spurious




1Peter, 1John

2Peter, 2 & 3 John, Hebrews, Jude, James

Acts of Paul, Revelation of Peter…

• Settled at the Council of Rome (382)


• Affirmed: Pope Damscus I

• Reaffirmed: Council of Rome (393)

• Reaffirmed: Council of Carthage (397)• Reaffirmed: Pope Innocent I (405)

• Council of Carthage (419)


To Pope Bonifce:“these are the things that we have received from our Fathers to be read in the Church.”

The Bible: scrolls copied by hand

The Bible: scroll fragments of scripture

The Bible: codex form (4th century)


• Greek


• Greek

• Absent

• U/L case

• punctuation

• sentences

• chapters

• verses

The Bible: Gospel of John in Greek

INBEGINNINGWASWORDANDWORDWASWITHGODANDWORDWASGODTHISWASINBEGINNINGWITHGODALLMADEBYHIMANDWITHOUTHIMNOTANYTHINGMADETHATWASMADEINHIMWASLIFEANDLIFEWASLIGHTMANANDLIGHTSHINEINDARKNESSANDDARKNESSAPPREHENDEDIHIMNOTCAMEMANSENTFORMGODWHOSENAMEJOHNTHISCAMEFORWITNESSTOWITNESSABOUTLIGHTTHATALLTHROUGHHIM

The Bible: printed (15th century)

• Latin

The Bible through the centuries

• Scrolls copied by hand

• Bound: 400ad

• Chapters: 1200’s (Bishop Langton of

Canterbury)

• Verses: mid-1500

• Printed: 1455

The Bible through the centuries

• Scrolls copied by hand

• Bound: 400ad

• Chapters: 1226ad (Bishop Langton of

Canterbury)

• Verses: mid 1500

• Printed: 1455

• Barnes & Noble: 2004


• Mark & Luke

Named from Sacred Tradition of the by Catholic Church


• Mark & Luke


• 1COR 2:9

“However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him ” (not in OT)


• Mark & Luke


• 1COR 2:9

“However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him ” (not in OT)

• EPH 5:14

“This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. ” (oral)


• Matthew 1:13

The names of Abuid to Jacob (father of Joseph) not in the OT. (oral tradition)


• Matthew 1:13


• MAT 27:9

Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel.” (oral tradition)


• Matthew 1:13


• MAT 27:9

Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel.” (oral tradition)

• LUK 4:23

“Doubtless, you will quote to me this Proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself…’” (not an OT Proverb)

The Dark AgesThe Church: moves into……..

why the catholic church part ii

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