What do you think? It seems that all the early Church fathers taught this. For example, St. Ignatius of Antioch (a student of the apostle, John, who also traveled some with Sts. Peter and Paul and was appointed Bishop of Antioch by St. Peter, himself);
"See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery (priests)as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid."
2006-07-15 07:30:30 · 12 answers · asked by Shaun T 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyraeans http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/
2006-07-15 07:31:40 · update #1
They considered themselves hebrews.
2006-07-15 07:34:51 · answer #1 · answered by Milkman 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Catholic yes, but not "Roman Catholic." Catholic means "universal". At the time there were no denominations.
Actually, the Apostles considered themselves Jews until they were forced out of Judaism by the Jews.
According to the book of Acts in the New Testament, first they were called the People of the Way. They were first labelled as Christians in Antioch somewhere around 40 AD when large numbers of Gentiles (nonJews) began to accept the good news about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
2006-07-15 14:42:31 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now find that in the bible!!! Bet you can't!! None of the Apostles ever said they were Catholic, the word was never even used till the beginning of the second century and if you read your history books that are not Catholic in origin, you will find other historians that will tell you that there was not even a pope in the first hundred years of Christiandom but was in the second century that the Catholic church actually got its beginning and just claimed to come from Peter. I have read in the Catholic writings the same thing. Find me one place in the bible that speaks of any Apostle saying he was Catholic and I will give you $10,000 cash money. It is just not there. If you check the Catholic encyclopedia you will also find a lot of other things they teach that did not come till way later, like the deification of Mary, the soul teaching, purgatory, the selling of indulgences, etc. I dare you to check it out and then for the truth of the bible check out the site below.
2006-07-15 14:42:22 · answer #3 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
They did not see themselves as Catholic or any particular religion for that matter. They considered themselves as "followers of the way" but not adherents to some orthodox religion.
The "way" that they were following was the same path the Jesus walked - the way to personal Christood where you become One with God.
Jesus deliberately did not write down any particular doctrine as he wanted his apostles to embody the Living Word and speak by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit - which bloweth where it listeth - and does not conform to any man made doctrine.
Jesus knew that if he were to record his teachings it would almost immediately be turned into some rigid outer doctrine by those who desire human power over spiritual attaintment.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to the Catholic Church in particular and Christianity in general.
Remember, as Jesus said, 'the kingdom of God is within you." It is not in any organization, teaching or text of this world.
www.askrealjesus.com
2006-07-15 15:05:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
After the Apostles agreed on letting Gentiles join the new Christian religion without becoming Jews, I believe that they felt the new Christian religion was universal.
The actual word Catholic (which means universal) was not used until 107 AD.
With love in Christ.
2006-07-15 23:46:18 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope,,, they were known as people of "the way" as Jesus said i am the way the truth and the life....
Catholic traditions did not start till way after. And those who took up this doctrine broke away from the true faith and teachings of Jesus to teach a way of religion that was contrary to the gospels.
They have intermixed jewish and pagan traditions to blend an unsound heretical faith based more on occultic traditions than the true teachings of Christ.
2006-07-15 14:38:19 · answer #6 · answered by are u crazy?...cuz i am not! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They considered themselves as part of the one true Church....however, the term 'Catholic' was one that does not come onto the scene until the 300's and is first used by Constantine to describle the UNIVERSAL Christian Church.....and the name stuck.
2006-07-15 14:42:56 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They considered themselves Jews who were following Christ. When they started converting Gentiles, they considered themselves Christians, nothing more, nothing less. The Catholic/Orthodox/Protestant divisions didn't pop up until hundreds of years later.
2006-07-15 15:09:09 · answer #8 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No Catholicism came from Rome. It was started by Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century a.d.http://www.ramsheadpress.com/messiah/ch10.html
2006-07-15 14:41:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutly not, they were followers of Christ, therefore Christians. Catholics are not mentioned in the bible.
2006-07-15 14:35:52 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look man i thing the answer is no cause u got to now this is wrong man okay so take klare a ya
2006-07-15 14:35:58 · answer #11 · answered by steven_jonson2003 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋