When did catholic become Catholic?

Question

cath·o·lic /ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kath-uh-lik, kath-lik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.
2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.
3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1300–1350; ME < L catholicus < Gk katholikós general, equiv. to kathól(ou) universally (contr. of phrase katà hólou according to the whole; see cata-, holo-) + -ikos -ic]

Answer 1

catholic has its oldest written form in the year 103 and patristic scholars believe it probably first appears in the 70's or 80's. There are two reasons for this, first its earliest printed usage was done in such a way that it appears to be in common usage. It didn't need explained. Second, Paul writes a letter and the paragraphs could simply be reduced in meaning to the Greek word Catholic. kata holou is simply a rational extension of Paul's, John's and Jesus' ideas. Since Greek does not put spaces between words kata holou is actually read as kataholou and eventially in English catholic.

kata holou means either all embracing or according to the whole. It has always been used just as the phrase holy mother church is ancient as well.

It became Catholic in the modern sense when Protestants needed to differentiate themselves. The Orthodox are not a different denomination from the Catholics. It is the same Church but different jurisdictions in schism.

To denominate means to name. The earliest denominations appear in scripture, for example Revelations mentions the Nicolatians. The word Catholic basically means non-denominational. 500 years ago there was no such thing as a Church sign and no one needed one. If you wanted to know the name of your church you could simply look at the inside and know it from the artwork as the artwork stood in the place of writing since most people were illiterate. They could generally remember the stories if they could see the art.

So Catholic became Catholic when someone else needed to contrast theirselves. It actually became "Roman," Catholic as an insult because to qualify Catholic is to make it no longer Catholic. It is like saying "partially universal." But I suspect it required the printing press for catholic to be Catholic because the idea spread among Protestants pretty quickly. For Catholic to have the distinct meaning it has the way we use it as a proper noun instead of as an adjective you almost have to be literate.

Answer 2

Good question. Emperor Constantine made a brilliant political move in the forth century after Christ. Brilliant politically, but certainly not Spiritually.

By this point in history, the "Christians" had become somewhat watered down. They desired to "fit in" to society with their pagan neighbors. Yet the two factions of Christians and pagans were always bickering. Constantine decided to quiet their quarrels by uniting them into one religion, The United or The Catholic.

At this point, nominal Christians agreed to absorb the beliefs, holidays, symbols, and other rituals of their pagan counterparts, disregarding that they had been commanded to stay separate from the world around them by Christ.

Thus was the birth of the Catholic Church. This is easily researched for historical accuracy.

Answer 3

catholic church [Gr.,=universal], the body of Christians, living and dead, considered as an organization. The word catholic was first used c.110 to describe the Church by St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Answer 4

The Catholic Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 AD, when the term appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:

Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html

All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 A.D. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

When some Catholics decided they wanted to be called Protestants.

- 16 yo Pagan

Answer 6

Why do they call stuff on a boat CARgo and stuff on a truck a SHIPment?