Is there historical evidence that the early Church did not teach the "communion of the saints"?

Question

The Bible says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who are the saints. It also teaches that we are to pray for each other. It says that the saints hear our prayers as they present our prayers before the throne of God for us. With these biblical statements how can one justify their rejection of the communion of saints? Where is the historical proof that the early Church rejected this biblical teaching.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-S6YMuFYyaa9ESBoW5DFwEjL_HhqA?tag=prayingtosainst

Edge,

Thank you but just to keep this on topic. Do you have any historical evidence that the early Church did not teach the communion of the saints? Here is the verse you question:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints:

Where does it say that these were angels. Certainly the prayers are being presented which supports my view of the communion of saints and not yours. What ever that is?

If you come up with historical evidence we are waiting patiently.

Edge, Are you sure Ecclesiastes is speaking of the saints as they are not dead but alive.

Prayers to saints are, simply put, asking holy people to pray for us. The Bible tells us that the prayers of holy people are powerful (Jas 5:16). The saints in heaven are aware of what happens on earth (Heb 12:1, Rev 6:10), and their prayers are offered to God (Rev 8:3-4). Asking for prayers from saints does not interfere with our relationship with Jesus, it enhances it!

Answer 1

I have never come across any. Nor heard any explanation that the witnesses (Heb 12:1) are anything other then the saints that have gone before us.

Answer 2

You need to reread the bit about the prayers being offered before God. You will find the angels present them not saints. In fact nowhere does it present someone in Heaven taking a prayer before God. So this whole question is pointless. In addition the Bible never makes a special class of Christians called saints. All Christians are saints. You call it a Biblical teaching. Show me the verse where it says a saint in Heaven presents a prayer to God. It is not there.

EDIT: Just to add we are told in Ecclesiastes that the dead have no more role in anything done under the sun. While they saints are alive in Heaven they are dead as far as Earth is concerned. If they interceded for Christians here they would be playing a role in things that happen on Earth.

Ecc 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

EDIT2: Here is the verse I am coming from about it being angels. In addition I do not see the word saints in your verse. I see ancients and in the KJV it is elders. Nothing about saints.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Answer 3

And here's what the Bible ACTUALLY SAYS

Heb 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

I just can't find the word "saints" there. Where is it?

Answer 4

I would say the early church is the only church that got the whole concept of "communion" correct.