What is the meaning of the term Catholic?

Question

This is for purely information purposes as it is asked so mant times here;
The Greek roots of the term "Catholic" mean "according to (kata-) the whole (holos)," or more colloquially, "universal." At the beginning of the second century, we find in the letters of Ignatius the first surviving use of the term "Catholic" in reference to the Church. At that time, or shortly thereafter, it was used to refer to a single, visible communion, separate from others.

The term "Catholic" is in the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds, and many Protestants, claiming the term for themselves, give it a meaning that is unsupported historically, ignoring the term’s use at the time the creeds were written.

Early Church historian J. N. D. Kelly, a Protestant, writes: "As regards ‘Catholic,’ its original meaning was 'universal' or 'general.' . . . in the latter half of the second century at latest, we find it conveying the suggestion that the Catholic is the true Church as distinct from heretical congregations (cf., e.g., Muratorian Canon). . . . What these early Fathers were envisaging was almost always the empirical, visible society; they had little or no inkling of the distinction which was later to become important between a visible and an invisible Church" (Early Christian Doctrines, 190–1).

Thus people who recite the creeds mentally inserting another meaning for "Catholic" are reinterpreting them according to a modern preference, much as a liberal biblical scholar does with Scripture texts offensive to contemporary sensibilities.

Linedancer, the Bible was written by men under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,the same Spirit Who kept the words of sacred scripture in the hearts and minds of those who transmitted it orally before it was ever written down.

Answer 1

It means universal.

Look at the world today and you will see that the Catholic Church truly is universal.

It is found all over the world by people of every color and language and culture. The Church has truly answered the call to preach the Gospel to all of the Earth.

The Catholic Church is also UNITED. The Pope as head of the Church on earth is the visible symbol of doctrinal unity. No other denomination on earth can claim this type of unity. Ask a Baptist what he believes and he can only tell you what he believes, but he cannot speak for all Baptists. But when the Pope speaks infallibly, He speaks for the Church.

The Catholic Church is also APOSTOLIC. Since the time of St. Peter she has had an unbroken succession of Popes. No other denomination can claim an apostolic lineage like this going back to the time of Christ.

No other institution on Earth has endured for so long.

Answer 2

"Early church" and "Protestant" should NEVER be used in the same sentence since "Protestant" is only about 500 years old, compared to the True Church which is nearly 2,000.

But the word catholic in the creeds means universal. The word Catholic is used in reference to The Church. Look at the difference "c" v. "C". There is a difference.

Answer 3

I think "Ecclesiastes" means "Church", which means that the "Church" is the people who are putting their faith in Christ, not a building or religion.

What denomination is God? Is he Catholic? Baptist? No! The Bible says "be ye Holy", which means to be separate. They were called the "Holy" Apostles, not "Catholic" apostles as this religion would like you to believe.

You are so hung up on the history of your Church, why not put those efforts into giving God the glory. Perhaps you made an Idol out of your Church? This breaks the second commandment.

Oh yea, you deleted the second commandment. How convenient for you.

Answer 4

In order to understand the precise force of this word, something must first be said as to its employment by the Septuagint translators of the Old Testament. Although in one or two places (Psalm 25:5; Judith 6:21; etc.) the word is used without religious signification, merely in the sense of "an assembly", this is not usually the case. Ordinarily it is employed as the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew qahal, i.e., the entire community of the children of Israel viewed in their religious aspect. Two Hebrew words are employed in the Old Testament to signify the congregation of Israel, viz. qahal 'êdah. In the Septuagint these are rendered, respectively, ekklesia and synagoge. Thus in Proverbs v, 14, where the words occur together, "in the midst of the church and the congregation", the Greek rendering is en meso ekklesias kai synagoges. The distinction is indeed not rigidly observed -- thus in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, both words are regularly represented by synagoge -- but it is adhered to in the great majority of cases, and may be regarded as an established rule. In the writings of the New Testament the words are sharply distinguished. With them ecclesia denotes the Church of Christ; synagoga, the Jews still adhering to the worship of the Old Covenant. Occasionally, it is true, ecclesia is employed in its general significance of "assembly" (Acts 19:32; 1 Corinthians 14:19); and synagoga occurs once in reference to a gathering of Christians, though apparently of a non-religious character (James 2:2) But ecclesia is never used by the Apostles to denote the Jewish Church. The word as a technical expression had been transferred to the community of Christian believers.

Answer 5

Universal, most protestants that I know(I know quite a few, mostly of the Free Church type, Assembly of God, or Vineyard Fellowship type) who pray the creeds are aware that this means Universal. Some people out there would not even pray this word at all if they did not believe that this is what it means.

Answer 6

When they deny the title "Mother of God" they in fact deny Jesus is Lord.

When they say the Catholics are all "misguided" then they are no different than the Non Christians who said the same thing about Christianity (the RCC) for 1500 years.


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Answer 7

Catholic means "universal" which means we accept all.

Answer 8

Why does a true Christian need to recite a man-made creed, especially when that creed goes contrary to the Bible?

Answer 9

What the word means is meaningless. Catholics teach too many false things to be Christians.

Answer 10

cat holic