The Apostolic Fathers are why I am now a Catechumen. Every Christian NEEDS to read their writings; especially those who wish to "return to the early church" must see how the early church actually understood the apostles' teachings.
I love the Apostolic Fathers. My favorite is St Iraneus Bishop of Lyons 130AD-20AD. When I left atheism I wandered into protestantism and was finally blessed to stumble across his writings. Below is a excerpt from Ch 3 of his writing 'Against Heresies' which brought me Home to Rome. 2. Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority [potiorem principalitatem]. 3. The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric. This man, as he had seen the 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. Nor was he alone [in this], for there were many still remaining who had received instructions from the apostles. In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren at Corinth, the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace, renewing their faith, and declaring the tradition which it had lately received from the apostles, proclaiming the one God, omnipotent, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of man, who brought on the deluge, and called Abraham, who led the people from the land of Egypt, spoke with Moses, set forth the law, sent the prophets, and who has prepared fire for the devil and his angels. From this document, whosoever chooses to do so, may learn that He, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was preached by the Churches, and may also understand the apostolic tradition of the Church, since this Epistle is of older date than these men who are now propagating falsehood, and who conjure into existence another god beyond the Creator and the Maker of all existing things. To this Clement there succeeded Evaristus. Alexander followed Evaristus; then, sixth from the apostles, Sixtus was appointed; after him, Telephorus, who was gloriously martyred; then Hyginus; after him, Pius; then after him, Anicetus. Soter having succeeded Anicetus, Eleutherius does now, in the twelfth place from the apostles, hold the inheritance of the episcopate. In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us. And this is most abundant proof that there is one and the same vivifying faith, which has been preserved in the Church from the apostles until now, and handed down in truth. 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, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth] a very long time, and, when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true.
Awesom to hear from a priest at St. Louis University! My cousin was President, Chancellor Emeritus at that University - Fr. Paul Reinert, S. J. My mom graduated from there, too! Excellent session!
So far I’m agreeing with Father David about Jesus founded the church which is the Catholic Church. God bless you and stay safe tonight Queen of Hearts •.
@@ericleming1734 glad to hear you are coming around! So many times people focus on just the Bible, but forget the fact that the majority of people in the world couldn’t read until just a couple hundred years ago and many can’t read today. So how did these people learn about Jesus? They learned about Him through the Church He started! Three legs of a stool - Bible, Tradition and Magisterium - what happens if one leg of a three legged stool is gone? It falls. This is why Protestantism fails... they are missing at least one of these “legs” and many times missing two legs! Awfully hard to keep a one-legged stool standing. God bless you, too! We all need to stay safe, but most of all stay faithful to Christ and His teachings!
"Christ Unfurled: The First 500 Years of Jesus's Life" by Father David Vincent Meconi S.J. is available in Amazon but I strongly encourage you to steer away from Amazon as best as you can if not totally. Amazon is one of the richest, most powerful and vicious anti-Christian, anti-Catholic, anti-life and anti-freedom forces in the world today. Catholic bookstores like TAN books has it.
The early church fathers were clearly catholic / orthodox ! They weren’t mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, seventh day adventists, Baptist’s or Protestants. Reading the early church writings and the early Saints; actual history shows Constantine wasn’t the king of the Catholics lol, he was a lukewarm believer who didn’t have religious weight. The apostasy that wasn’t by Rod Bennett. Jimmy Akins’ the fathers know best. Great reads.
Mohamed was a very sinful man do not include him in these comments keep that to yourself I understand thats your belief but to me it's garbage. Also are you aware that all the original writings were destroyed so everything you have is made up gobbledygook.
@@Monday2705 I'm not a Muslim. But if God wills something then by definition it cannot be bad. Same justification used for defending Old Testament atrocities
1. Trusting one’s own interpretation of Scripture generally leads to error; 2. Relying on one’s own inspiration in interpreting Scripture easily leads to error; 3. When controversy arises over Scripture or any Church teaching, there is need for an authority to settle the matter; 4. An appeal to the scriptures alone cannot always settle a dispute; 5. Thus the Holy Spirit was sent and remains with the Church; 6. The Holy Spirit speaks through a unanimity of the Fathers and by the full teaching of the Church; 7. Those who do not accept this teaching of the Fathers reject the Spirit; 8. If the Holy Spirit has spoken through the Fathers, how much more does He speak through the Church assembled in council; 9. Apostolic traditions which are not recorded in Scripture must nonetheless be observed; 10. In addition, the customs received by the universal church must not be rejected by any Christian. Possible objection: “none of this is in the Bible” Answer to objection: reading how the Bible has been historically been interpreted and understood only increases your knowledge of scripture.
@@zacharynelson5731 1 John 2:27 but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.
@@coachp12b Here’s a question: It’s an objective fact that not one Christian believed in Sola Scriptura for the first 15 centuries after Christ. (And if you try and find a source to prove me wrong you’re violating Sola Scriptura) If none of them held that belief, then why should you or I? Another question: If Sola Scriptura was true, then how come it isn’t in the Bible? Third question: If scripture alone is true then why does scripture point to the church as being the final authority? Fourth question: If scripture alone was sufficient for the Christian faith it would contain the canon of scripture within the text of scripture. The canon of scripture is not contained within the text of scripture (if it is, cite the chapter and verse where an apostle lists all the books that are divinely inspired) Therefore scripture alone cannot be sufficient for the Christian faith. Fifth question: Define Sola Scriptura. Here’s the irony of these questions: It’s impossible to answer these questions by only quoting scripture. But if you provide an explanation that’s not 100% from scripture then you violate Sola Scriptura.
@@coachp12b I addressed that in my very first comment. Also where in scripture does it say the church fathers are fallible? Give me the chapter and verse please. You also made an argument that didn’t involve a quotation from scripture; so you violated Sola scriptura. Sola Scriptura = scripture alone If you make any statement pertaining to theology that is not a quote from scripture then you’re not going by scripture alone.
The Apostolic Fathers are why I am now a Catechumen. Every Christian NEEDS to read their writings; especially those who wish to "return to the early church" must see how the early church actually understood the apostles' teachings.
God bless you and stay safe Yarden Zelivansky •. This priest looks cool and holy.
Well said! God bless!
I love the Apostolic Fathers. My favorite is St Iraneus Bishop of Lyons 130AD-20AD. When I left atheism I wandered into protestantism and was finally blessed to stumble across his writings. Below is a excerpt from Ch 3 of his writing 'Against Heresies' which brought me Home to Rome.
2. Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority [potiorem principalitatem].
3. The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric. This man, as he had seen the 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. Nor was he alone [in this], for there were many still remaining who had received instructions from the apostles. In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren at Corinth, the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace, renewing their faith, and declaring the tradition which it had lately received from the apostles, proclaiming the one God, omnipotent, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of man, who brought on the deluge, and called Abraham, who led the people from the land of Egypt, spoke with Moses, set forth the law, sent the prophets, and who has prepared fire for the devil and his angels.
From this document, whosoever chooses to do so, may learn that He, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was preached by the Churches, and may also understand the apostolic tradition of the Church, since this Epistle is of older date than these men who are now propagating falsehood, and who conjure into existence another god beyond the Creator and the Maker of all existing things. To this Clement there succeeded Evaristus. Alexander followed Evaristus; then, sixth from the apostles, Sixtus was appointed; after him, Telephorus, who was gloriously martyred; then Hyginus; after him, Pius; then after him, Anicetus. Soter having succeeded Anicetus, Eleutherius does now, in the twelfth place from the apostles, hold the inheritance of the episcopate. In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us. And this is most abundant proof that there is one and the same vivifying faith, which has been preserved in the Church from the apostles until now, and handed down in truth.
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, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth] a very long time, and, when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true.
@Peter Whitlock Sorry have no time to read essays.
Really appreciate this ministry 🙂👍👍
Awesome to hear about Polycarp; the Didache; Shepherd - Hermes. This Priest is a scholar
Together we are better.
WOW that prayer and choir analogy is fantastic !!
This is excellent! Thank you!
Awesom to hear from a priest at St. Louis University! My cousin was President, Chancellor Emeritus at that University - Fr. Paul Reinert, S. J. My mom graduated from there, too! Excellent session!
So far I’m agreeing with Father David about Jesus founded the church which is the Catholic Church. God bless you and stay safe tonight Queen of Hearts •.
@@ericleming1734 glad to hear you are coming around! So many times people focus on just the Bible, but forget the fact that the majority of people in the world couldn’t read until just a couple hundred years ago and many can’t read today. So how did these people learn about Jesus? They learned about Him through the Church He started! Three legs of a stool - Bible, Tradition and Magisterium - what happens if one leg of a three legged stool is gone? It falls. This is why Protestantism fails... they are missing at least one of these “legs” and many times missing two legs! Awfully hard to keep a one-legged stool standing.
God bless you, too! We all need to stay safe, but most of all stay faithful to Christ and His teachings!
So sweet!
Nice show
❤️❤️❤️
Where can I get this book?
"Christ Unfurled: The First 500 Years of Jesus's Life" by Father David Vincent Meconi S.J. is available in Amazon but I strongly encourage you to steer away from Amazon as best as you can if not totally. Amazon is one of the richest, most powerful and vicious anti-Christian, anti-Catholic, anti-life and anti-freedom forces in the world today. Catholic bookstores like TAN books has it.
The early church fathers were clearly catholic / orthodox ! They weren’t mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, seventh day adventists, Baptist’s or Protestants.
Reading the early church writings and the early Saints; actual history shows Constantine wasn’t the king of the Catholics lol, he was a lukewarm believer who didn’t have religious weight.
The apostasy that wasn’t by Rod Bennett.
Jimmy Akins’ the fathers know best.
Great reads.
👍
First here.. You're strong in your faith.. God bless you and your loved ones brother..👍❤️👍
😍❤✔
I thought you guys were going to have Joe Heshmier do this show..because hes the new guy..ha! I am just teasing..sorry!
Great show..Thank you!
You can't with an honest conscious study Church history and come out a protestant or a conservative.
We also have writings from the companions of Muhammad
Are u aware that the writings about Muhammad show that he was 54 years old when he consummated his married with 9 year old Aisha ?
Mohamed was a very sinful man do not include him in these comments keep that to yourself I understand thats your belief but to me it's garbage. Also are you aware that all the original writings were destroyed so everything you have is made up gobbledygook.
@@rc3088 all the original manuscripts for the New Testament were also destroyed
@@Monday2705 I'm not a Muslim. But if God wills something then by definition it cannot be bad. Same justification used for defending Old Testament atrocities
Ad distractum 🍻
If I believe in Sola Scriptura, why would I care about the writings of early Christians? Their writings are uninspired and fallible.
1. Trusting one’s own interpretation of Scripture generally leads to error;
2. Relying on one’s own inspiration in interpreting Scripture easily leads to error;
3. When controversy arises over Scripture or any Church teaching, there is need for an authority to settle the matter;
4. An appeal to the scriptures alone cannot always settle a dispute;
5. Thus the Holy Spirit was sent and remains with the Church;
6. The Holy Spirit speaks through a unanimity of the Fathers and by the full teaching of the Church;
7. Those who do not accept this teaching of the Fathers reject the Spirit;
8. If the Holy Spirit has spoken through the Fathers, how much more does He speak through the Church assembled in council;
9. Apostolic traditions which are not recorded in Scripture must nonetheless be observed;
10. In addition, the customs received by the universal church must not be rejected by any Christian.
Possible objection: “none of this is in the Bible”
Answer to objection: reading how the Bible has been historically been interpreted and understood only increases your knowledge of scripture.
@@zacharynelson5731
1 John 2:27 but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.
@@coachp12b
Here’s a question:
It’s an objective fact that not one Christian believed in Sola Scriptura for the first 15 centuries after Christ. (And if you try and find a source to prove me wrong you’re violating Sola Scriptura)
If none of them held that belief, then why should you or I?
Another question:
If Sola Scriptura was true, then how come it isn’t in the Bible?
Third question:
If scripture alone is true then why does scripture point to the church as being the final authority?
Fourth question:
If scripture alone was sufficient for the Christian faith it would contain the canon of scripture within the text of scripture.
The canon of scripture is not contained within the text of scripture (if it is, cite the chapter and verse where an apostle lists all the books that are divinely inspired)
Therefore scripture alone cannot be sufficient for the Christian faith.
Fifth question:
Define Sola Scriptura.
Here’s the irony of these questions:
It’s impossible to answer these questions by only quoting scripture.
But if you provide an explanation that’s not 100% from scripture then you violate Sola Scriptura.
@@zacharynelson5731
Isn’t it also an objective fact that every Christian for the first 15 centuries and beyond is in fact fallible?
@@coachp12b
I addressed that in my very first comment.
Also where in scripture does it say the church fathers are fallible? Give me the chapter and verse please.
You also made an argument that didn’t involve a quotation from scripture; so you violated Sola scriptura.
Sola Scriptura = scripture alone
If you make any statement pertaining to theology that is not a quote from scripture then you’re not going by scripture alone.