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Catholicity. The Early Church Period. NE District Pastors’ Institute April 2013. Catholicity. Catholicity: The Early Church. Introduction: What does this mean?. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw. Introduction:. “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church…
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Catholicity The Early Church Period NE District Pastors’ Institute April 2013
Catholicity Catholicity: The Early Church Introduction: What does this mean? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw
Introduction: • “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church… • Description of what it is? • Statement of an ideal; what it ought to be? • A promise of what it will be? • Dulles, Avery: The Catholicity of the Church Catholicity: The Early Church
Introduction: • “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church… • “pure / authentic” ? • “universal / total” ? • Dulles, Avery: The Catholicity of the Church Catholicity: The Early Church
Introduction: 16th c Reformation “Scripture” vs. “doctrine” Late 19th c. Harnack “Spirit” vs. “human authority” 4th- 5th c Donatists vs. Orthodox Catholicity: The Early Church Mid 3rd c: “Great Church” vs. dissidents 1054 A.D. “fullness” in confession and liturgy vs. “geographic extention” 19th c Tubigen / Oxford Movement: “incarnation / divine indwelling” (liturgical piety)
Introduction: Reformation WW II Catholicity: The Early Church
Catholicity: The Early Church Catholic “the visible continuity of the Church in the apostolic succession of the episcopate” Protestant “the initiative of the Word of God and the response of faith, focused on the doctrine of justification sola fide.” 1948
Present: Universalism Catholicity: The Early Church Catholic “the visible continuity of the Church in the apostolic succession of the episcopate” Protestant “the initiative of the Word of God and the response of faith, focused on the doctrine of justification sola fide.” 1948
Introduction: Orthodoxy “If by ‘orthodoxy’ we mean an opinion which was held without demur by the entire church body of the faithful, there was no orthodoxy – and hence, if you will, no church – from the time of Jesus; if we mean the expressed consensus of those prelates who were summoned to general councils, it is easier to discover orthodoxy before Nicaea than in any subsequent period of ecclesiastical history, from the fourth century to our own.” Edwards, M. Catholicity and Heresy in the Early Church (p.7) Catholicity: The Early Church
Catholicity Catholicity: The Early Church Scripture
What NT Scripture is pertinent to this topic? • Any passages that may describe what “catholicity” looks like? • What is the content of “catholic – apostolic” teaching? Catholicity: The Early Church 4 MIN
Scriptural Clashes Over “Catholicity” • Jews vs. Samaritans • Pharisees vs. Sadducees • Jews vs. Jewish Christians • Jewish Christians vs. Gentile Christians Catholicity: The Early Church
The Ends of the Earth The Nature of the NT Church Catholicity: The Early Church Samaria Jerusalem Judea
Catholicity Catholicity: The Early Church Pre-Nicea
“catholic” …or not? “For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: "Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works." This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years;and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year.” Catholicity: The Early Church Irenaeus, Against All Heresies
“catholic” …or not? “Go therefore, and declare to the elect of the Lord His mighty works, and tell them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation which is to come. If therefore ye prepare yourselves beforehand, and repent (and turn) unto the Lord with your whole heart, ye shall be able to escape it, if your heart be made pure and without blemish, and if for the remaining days of your life ye serve the Lord blamelessly. Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will set them straight.” Catholicity: The Early Church Hermas, The Shepherd
“catholic” …or not? See lest any man lead you astray from this way of righteousness, for he teacheth thee apart from God. For if thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou shalt be perfect;but if thou art not able, do that which thou art able. But concerning eating, bear that which thou art able;yet abstain by all means from meat sacrificed to idols;for it is the worship of dead gods. Catholicity: The Early Church The Didache
“catholic” …or not? Ver. 56. "Now the sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law.“ “But how is "the law also the power" thereof? Because without the law sin was weak, being practiced indeed, but not able so entirely to condemn: since although the evil took place, it was not so clearly pointed out. So that it was no small change which the law brought in, first causing us to know sin better, and then enhancing the punishment. And if meaning to check sin it did but develop it more fearfully, this is no charge against the physician, but against the abuse of the remedy.” Catholicity: The Early Church St. John Chrysostum, Homily
“catholic” …or not? The occasion must be embraced which puts an end to that which necessitycommanded. How detrimental to faith, how obstructive to holiness, second marriages are, the discipline of the Church and the prescription of the apostle declare, when he suffers not men twice married to preside (over a Church), when he would not grant a widow admittance into the order unless she had been “the wife of one man;” for it behooves God’s altar to be set forth pure. That whole halo which encircles the Church is represented (as consisting) of holiness. Priesthood is (a function) of widowhood and of celibacies among the nations. Catholicity: The Early Church Tertullian, Ad Uxorem
“catholic” …or not? We believe in one God, the Father Almighty; And in the Lord Jesus Christ, his Son, who was begotten of him before all ages, the Divine Logos, through whom all things were made, both those in the heavens and those on the earth; Who came down and was made flesh; and suffered; and rose again; and ascended to the heavens; and shall come again to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost; and in the resurrection of the flesh; And in the life of the world to come; and in a kingdom of heaven; And in one Catholic Church of God which extends to the ends of the earth. Catholicity: The Early Church The Private Creed of Arius, 328 A.D.
Irenaeus of Lyon (d.202): Against the Heresies Themes Aseity of God: read the NT in light of the OT The “fourfold gospel”: the faith transmitted Apostolic succession: the faith ensured RegulaFidei – Bk. I.x(http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.ii.xi.html) Catholicity: The Early Church
Irenaeus of Lyon (d.202): Against the Heresies Apostolic succession: the faith ensured “The natural place to look for this common tradition was in the agreement of the churches the apostles founded. In other words, apostolicity implies catholicity, universality.” - Expositors Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p.635 Catholicity: The Early Church
Irenaeus of Lyon (d.202): Against the Heresies III.3-4 “Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. For she is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account are we bound to avoid them, but to make choice of the thing pertaining to the Church with the utmost diligence, and to lay hold of the tradition of the truth. (ANF01 p. 596-600) Catholicity: The Early Church
Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386): Catechetical Lectures “catholic” (kaVq’ o{lo") Extends to the ends of the earth Teaches all the doctrines needed for salvation Bring every sort of human being under obedience Cures every kind of sin Possesses every form of virtue Catholicity: The Early Church
Pastoral Training in the Early Church Catholicity: The Early Church And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2Ti 2:2 NIV) Teaching the Teachers: Pastoral Education in the Early Church – G. Thompson
Pastoral Training in the Early Church NT Era ejpivskopo" diavkono" presbuvtero" poimhvn eujaggelisthv" didavskalo" ajpovstolo" Catholicity: The Early Church Mid- 2nd Cent. Bishop Presbyter Deacon Mid- 4th Cent. District Pastor Local Pastor Assist. Pastor
Pastoral Training in the Early Church New Testament “One gets the impression that leaders were recognized, then chosen and appointed, not trained.” (p.2) Training? Catholicity: The Early Church
Pastoral Training in the Early Church • 2nd Century • Leaders perhaps chosen from among their own elders • Itinerant preachers / teachers? • Eusebius: Papias of Hieropoli learned from disciples of the disciples “whenever they came” (HE 3.39) • The Didache: a training manual • Justin: oJproestwv" - led worship, kept the treasury, and taught the people (1 Apol 65-67) Catholicity: The Early Church
Pastoral Training in the Early Church • 3rd Century • Rise of the Expert Teacher • Travel to study under well-respected teachers • Spurred on by the rise of heretical movements • Origen, Arius, Jerome, Lactantius, Augustine • Still, though, not the norm Catholicity: The Early Church
Pastoral Training in the Early Church 4th Century The Cursus ( ordo = “ordination”) Catholicity: The Early Church Bishop Presbyter Deacon Sub-deacon Exorcist Lector Acolyte
Pastoral Training in the Early Church 4th Century Catholicity: The Early Church
Pastoral Training in the Early Church 4th Century Serdica: Canon 10 (343/44 A.D.) Catholicity: The Early Church Bishop Hosius said: This also I think it necessary for you to consider most carefully, that if perchance some rich man or professional advocate or ex-official be desired for bishop, he be not ordained until he have fulfilled the ministry of a reader and the office of deacon and presbyter, and so ascend, if he have shown himself worthy, through the several grades to the height of the episcopate. For by these promotions which in any case take a considerable length of time can be tested his faith, his discretion, his gravity and modesty. And if he be found worthy, let him be honored with the divine sacerdotal office [i.e. the episcopate].
Pastoral Training in the Early Church 4th Century A one-week cursus! 374 A.D. Paulinus, Vita Ambrosii Catholicity: The Early Church
Pastoral Training in the Early Church Catholicity: The Early Church How was doctrinal integrity ensured? Was this the primary consideration? How does “catholicity” fit into all this?
The Donatists Challenge the Church Catholicity: The Early Church
Catholicity: The Early Church 381 A.D. 325 A.D. “…one holy, catholic, apostolic Church…”
AD 250: Christianity at the time of Decian Persecution Catholicity: The Early Church
damnatio ad bestias Catholicity: The Early Church 3rd cent., El Djem, Tunisia
Cyprian of Carthage • Bishop – 249 A.D. • Decian persecution: early 250’s • Cyprian flees Carthage • Accused by Rome; defense of his plan • Eventually dies a martyr’s death during Valerian Persecution (d. 258) Catholicity: The Early Church
Cyprian of Carthage • Treatise 1: “On the Unity of the Church” • Unity is essentially doctrinal • Treatise 3: “On the ‘Lapsed’” • His behavior + Cornelius’ contested election as bishop of Rome (by Novatian) lay the foundation for the Donatist Controversy 50 yrs. later. Catholicity: The Early Church
Donatism • A dispute about the “true” Church and traditores(Mensurius) • The practice of rebaptism Catholicity: The Early Church Augustine rebuking a heretic (13th c. manuscript) • Constantine’s efforts at Arles (314 A.D.) • Circumcellions
Donatism • Nicea 325 A.D. • The “persecution” by Macarius(church vs. state) Catholicity: The Early Church Augustine rebuking a heretic (13th c. manuscript) • Julian the Apostate’s meddling (361-363 A.D.) • Optatus of Milevis; Augustine’s expansion • The Collatio of 411; Honorius’ law of 412
Donatist Theology • Sacraments of the ‘outsiders’ are invalid, since their origin is found in traditores • The Church is, in this world, exclusive and pure, a “lily among thorns” • To suffer persecution is a hallmark of the true Church • “Universality that was not identical with integrity was to be rejected.” (W.H.C. Frend, p. 101)* • *Orthodoxy, Paganism, and Dissent in the Early Christian Centuries. (2002) Catholicity: The Early Church
Donatist Theology “[The Donatists claimed]: The church of Christ has perished from all the world and survived in Africa in the faction of Donatus. It was wiped out in all other lands as if by the contagion of their fellowship.” -Augustine De haeresibus ad Quodvultdeus, heresy 69 (quoted by Gerhard, p.53) Catholicity: The Early Church
Donatism • The Rules of Tyconius(ca 383 A.D.) • http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9780268075774 • Eph 5:27 vs. Songs 1:5-6 Catholicity: The Early Church • How does one harmonize? • Implications for Donatism? • The basis of Augustine’s De Doctrina Christiana • Demonstrates the Donatist emphasis on Scripture Augustine rebuking a heretic (13th c. manuscript)
So… Who is “catholic” ? Catholicity: The Early Church
Moreover, in the CatholicChurch itself, all possible care must be taken, that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all. For that is truly and in the strictest sense Catholic, which, as the name itself and the reason of the thing declare, comprehends all universally. This rule we shall observe if we follow universality, antiquity, consent. We shall follow universality if we confess that one faith to be true, which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; antiquity, if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is manifest were notoriously held by our holy ancestors and fathers; consent, in like manner, if in antiquity itself we adhere to the consentient definitions and determinations of all, or at the least of almost all priests and doctors. -Vincent of Lerins, Commonitoriumca 434 A.D. Catholicity: The Early Church
The 7 Ecumenical Councils Catholicity: The Early Church
“Catholicity” and the Early Church: Above all, the early church’s contributions to the faith are: SolusChristus Trinitarianism Sola Scriptura Baptism Catholicity: The Early Church