Posted on 12/10/2010 9:27:36 AM PST by marshmallow
The truth is to be found nowhere else but in the Catholic Church, the sole depository of apostolic doctrine. Heresies are of recent formation, and cannot trace their origin up to the apostles.
1. 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. Revelation 22:17 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. For how stands the case?
Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question? For how should it be if the apostles themselves had not left us writings? Would it not be necessary, [in that case,] to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did commit the Churches?
2. To which course many nations of those barbarians who believe in Christ do assent, having salvation written in their hearts by the Spirit, without paper or ink, and, carefully preserving the ancient tradition, believing in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and all things therein, by means of Christ Jesus, the Son of God; who, because of His surpassing love towards His creation, condescended to be born of the virgin, He Himself uniting man through Himself to God, and having suffered under Pontius Pilate, and rising again, and having been received up in splendour, shall come in glory, the Saviour of those who are saved, and the Judge of those who are judged, and sending into eternal fire those who transform the truth, and despise His Father and His advent.
Those who, in the absence of written documents, have believed this faith, are barbarians, so far as regards our language; but as regards doctrine, manner, and tenor of life, they are, because of faith, very wise indeed; and they do please God, ordering their conversation in all righteousness, chastity, and wisdom. If any one were to preach to these men the inventions of the heretics, speaking to them in their own language, they would at once stop their ears, and flee as far off as possible, not enduring even to listen to the blasphemous address.
Thus, by means of that ancient tradition of the apostles, they do not suffer their mind to conceive anything of the [doctrines suggested by the] portentous language of these teachers, among whom neither Church nor doctrine has ever been established.
3. For, prior to Valentinus, those who follow Valentinus had no existence; nor did those from Marcion exist before Marcion; nor, in short, had any of those malignant-minded people, whom I have above enumerated, any being previous to the initiators and inventors of their perversity. For Valentinus came to Rome in the time of Hyginus, flourished under Pius, and remained until Anicetus. Cerdon, too, Marcion's predecessor, himself arrived in the time of Hyginus, who was the ninth bishop. Coming frequently into the Church, and making public confession, he thus remained, one time teaching in secret, and then again making public confession; but at last, having been denounced for corrupt teaching, he was excommunicated from the assembly of the brethren.
Marcion, then, succeeding him, flourished under Anicetus, who held the tenth place of the episcopate. But the rest, who are called Gnostics, take rise from Menander, Simon's disciple, as I have shown; and each one of them appeared to be both the father and the high priest of that doctrine into which he has been initiated. But all these (the Marcosians) broke out into their apostasy much later, even during the intermediate period of the Church.
Does this mean that it is not to be found in Scripture?
No, it means that Scripture is given to us by the Church, to whom is entrusted its authentic interpretation.
Ping!
That’s not what Jesus said.
God’s Church and the Catholic Church are not one in the same, though. Catholics constitute part of God’s Church, but are not its only component.
It’s not what Gallileo said either.
Oh bother. Mohammedans.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
You’re a masochist, no?
THIS is utter and absolute blasphemy on a scale beyond comprehension.
BLASPHEMY.
How many of the folks replying indignantly have actually read either the article, or the publication date?
The writings of the Early Church Fathers open a window many never knew existed, as some of the comments here are witness.
I'm happy to post them. It's not about me and I don't take it personally.
They probably got no further.............
So everyone outside the Catholic “Church” is devoid of all Christian truth?
I’m always struck by how very little has changed since the Patristic age.
the same question can just as easily be asked of those who heartily endorse it.
Suggest you point them to 2 Peter 1:20.
Irenaeus is recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod,[6] and the Episcopal Church (United States).
No.
Elements of truth are to be found outside the Catholic Church.
The headline assumes the word "whole" before the word "truth". Written in 185 AD, "truth" meant truth; i.e. the "whole" truth.
Today, "truth" can mean anything; a half-truth, a kind of truth..........we parse and sift words.
We've lost the sense of truth. Once upon a time, truth was understood to mean something uncorrupted and entire.
No longer.
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ~ Jesus Christ
The latter "interpretation" rings loud and clear.
Christ did NOT command us to humor an elite corrupt "church," its corrupt "leaders," its corrupt "interpretation," and an Apostles Creed that is found NO WHERE in the Holy Scriptures.
We are commanded to cut out the "middle man," and go straight to Jesus, thank you.
"If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." ~ Jesus Christ
Irenius was before the selling of indulgences and the other corruptions and Luther’s call to end the practices. A question that Protestants and Catholics might answer differently is: Would the early Christians have stood with the Catholic sellers and betrayers of the faith in the middle ages or with the Catholic reformers? It was only after reform was rejected that the Protestant / Catholic schism happened (prior reformers were killed as heretics). I think that pervasive and long term corruption shows that the Catholic church is not the one true church but is one of many demoninations. The one true church is that of Christ, all true Christians regardless of denomination. Christ should be the focus, not denomination.
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