Characteristics of the early church

Front matter

If

Copyright No#7-fl

Chap

Chapter I. The Propagation of the Early Church, 1

1. During reign of Tiberius Christ appeared, - 1

2. Apostles were Jews — St. Paul, 5

3. St. Peter, - 7

4. Growth of Church in Spain, 8

8. Conversion of Constantine, 10

9. Early Church and Catholic Church identical, 11

Chapter II. The Constitution of the Early

10. The hierarchy, 12

11. The pope the external bond of union, - - 14

12. Bishop from episcopus — overseer, 14

13. Manner of choosing bishops in the early church, 15

14. Priest ranks next to bishop, - - - - 16

15. Deacons, sub-deacons, minor orders, - - - 18

16. History proves existence of hierarchy in primi-

tive church, ------ 18

17. Christ reigns in His church, 19

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Vlll CONTENTS.

Page.

Chapter III. The Fathers and Writers of the Early Church, 20

18. Barnabas, Hermas and Clement, 20

19. The Apostolic Constitutions, - 23

20. The Apostolic Canons, 24

21. Ignatius, Poly carp and Justin, - 24

22. Tertullian, Origen and Cyprian, - - - 26

23. Athanasius, Ambrose and Basil, - - 29

24. Chrysostom, Augustine and Cyril, 34

Chapter IV. The Teachings of the Early

25. The Church and the Bible, - 38

26. The Sacraments, 41

27. Sacramentals, - - - - - - 49

28. Other Characteristic Catholic Doctrines, - 51

Chapter V. The Liturgy of the Early Church, 56

29. The Mass the center of Worship, 56

31. Ancient liturgies agree on principal doctrines, 59

32. The liturgy of St. James, - - - - - 59

33. The liturgy of St. Mark, .... 60

34. The liturgy of St. Peter, 62

35. Legem credendi lex statuit supplicandi, - 64

Chapter VI. The Catacombs and the Early

36. Sixty different catacombs around Kome, - 65

37. Origin of catacombs, 66

38. Catacombs during persecutions, - 67

CONTENTS. IX

Page.

39. Koman catacombs and Catholic teachings, - 69

40. Paintings, - - 70

41. Christian inscriptions, 72

42. Catacomb of St. Callixtus, - - - - 73

Chapter VII. The Creeds of the Early Church, 74

43. The Apostles' Creed, 74

44. The Nicene Creed, 76

45. The Constantinopolitan Creed, 77

46. Both of these are founded on the Apostles' Creed, 78

47. The Athanasian Creed, 79

Chapter VIII. The Councils of the Early

48. The Council of Jerusalem in the year 51, - 83

49. The first general Council at Nice, 325, - - 84

50. The second general Council at Constantinople,

381, - 85

51. The third general Council at Ephesus, 431, - 86

52. The fourth general Council at Chalcedon, 451, 89

53. All these Councils were convoked or approved

by the pope, 90

I

54. The internal trials — heresies, 92

55. Gnosticism — Cerinthians, Ebionites, Docetse, - 92

56. St. John's Gospel a refutation of these heresies, 95

57. The Montanists, 95

58. Manichseism, -- 96

59. Novatianism, 96

CONTENTS.

Page.

60. Samosatianism, --97

61. Donatism, -- 97

62. Arianism, -- 98

63. Pelagianism, -- 99

65. Eutychianism, 100

II

66. The external trials — persecutions — the Jews the

first persecutors, 101

67. Persecution under Nero, - 102 Domitian, - - - - 102 Trajan, - - - - 103 Adrian, - - - - 103 Marcus Aurelius, - - 104 Septimius Severus, - - 105 Maximin, - 105 Decius, - 106 Valerian, 107 Diocletian, - 107

77. The conversion of the Emperor Constantine, in the beginning of the 4th Century, practically

ended persecutions, - - 109 it a

It i< it a a a ti it a ti

« it

« a

Chapter X. The Triumphs or the Early Church, 110

78. Triumphs in her pontiffs, 110

79. St. Peter— the first pope, - - - - 111

80. St. Linus — the second, Ill

81. St. Cletus — the third pope — Clement — Anacletus, 112

CONTENTS. XI

Page.

II.

83. Triumphs in her Martyrs, ... - 116

84. St. Stephen, the first Martyr, - - - 116

85. St. Domatilla, 118

86. St. Eustachius, 119

87. St. Felicitas, 123

88. St. Lawrence, 124

89. St. Cecilia, 125

91. St. Pancratius, 127

92. Kecapitulation, - - - - " - - 128

Preface

All admit that the Christians of the first five centuries believed and practiced the true religion of Jesus Christ, pure and undefiled.

What a blessing to be so intimately connected with the Author of all truth and the Source of all grace !

What a privilege to learn the truths of salvation from the lips of the Saviour and His immediate disciples !

When the Saviour departed hence He left a representative. This representative, His church, He commanded all to hear. " He that heareth you heareth Me" (Luke x., 16). This representative was to continue to the end of time. " Behold, I am with you all days " (Matt, xxviii., 20), and was to be taught all truth by the Holy Ghost. " When he the spirit of truth is come he will teach you all truth" (John xvi., 13).

Consequently, the true church of to-day must teach the same doctrines taught by Jesus Christ and the church of the early ages of Christianity.

xiii

XIV PREFACE.

Certain non-Catholics are just now making strong claims to Apostolic succession.

On this account many are anxious to study the teachings and practices of the early church.

Those unable to consult the writings of the Fathers in the original, or such works as Waterworth's Faith of Catholics and reliable church histories will, perhaps, be interested in this brief study of early Christian life. It will, it is hoped, give those not having leisure to consult more bulky volumes, a fair idea of the propagation, organization, writers, teachings, trials and triumphs of the early church.

The primary object, however, of the following pages is to show as briefly and clearly as possible that the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church of to-day are identical with those of the Early Church.

Bloomington, III., June, 1899.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

Chapter I. The Propagation Of The Eakly Chukch

FTS first five centuries was the golden age of -*• Christianity. During that time millions of Christians received the martyr's crown for steadfast belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

These doctrines they learned from the authorized teachers of the church long before the existence and general diffusion of the New Testament. To form a just estimate of the true church of to-day we must know something of the early church. We gain this knowledge from contemporary history and from the New Testament.

1. During the reign of Tiberius Csesar, there appeared among the oldest people of the world a remarkable personage, a great prophet. His words and acts are well known.

That Christ really did appear in Palestine, an insignificant portion of the Roman Empire ; that

He founded a society; that He chose disciples and for three years taught them the truths of salvation ; that some of His disciples wrote books — these are facts that all will admit.

It is easy to see that the facts narrated in the four Gospels, the Acts, and the few letters of the Apostles are at least as true as those narrated by any profane historian. The most enlightened people in existence profess belief in the Gospel truths and Gospel miracles. This has been true of every age and of every clime. When they wrote, the facts narrated by the evangelists were recent. They could have been easily denied, if not true. But instead of denying them, the very Pagans and Jews show by their silence as well as by their words that " Indeed this is the Son of God, and these things narrated of Him are true."

Christ redeemed us as Teacher, Priest and King. As teacher, by preaching His heavenly doctrine; as priest, by the sacrifice of the cross ; and as king, ruler or pastor, by giving laws and commandments.

He gave this triple office of teacher, priest and pastor to the teaching body of the church, the Apostles and their successors, when He said, " Going therefore teach all nations." " Do this in commemoration of me." " He that heareth you, heareth me."

The society founded by Christ rapidly grew in numbers and importance. After His glorious Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem and remained ten days in prayer until the coming of the Holy Ghost. Then they separated to preach the Gospel to every creature.

St. Andrew penetrated the frozen regions of the north ; St. Thomas turned his face towards the east ; St. James dared the dangers of the west; others went to various portions of Europe, Asia and Africa; while the intrepid Peter, after laboring some time in Asia, entered the imperial city of the Csesars.

At his first sermon in Jerusalem Peter converted three thousand persons. Paul was soon converted and received the mission to convert the Gentiles.

After the Apostolic age the growth of the church is due principally to the bishops. St. Gregory Thaumaturgus is an example of this. When he became bishop, he found only seventeen Christians, and when he died there were only seventeen who were not Christians in his diocese.

The most influential church of Asia was that of Antioch. St. Peter was the first bishop of this see, before he went to Rome. His successor was Euodius. The successor of Euodius was St. Ignatius, who suffered martyrdom about the year 117 A. D.

In Syria were founded the flourishing churches of Seleucia, Beroea, Cyrus and Samosata, while in Phenicia were those of Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Ptolemais and Tripolis.

In Asia Minor, Ephesus and Smyrna rapidly grew into prominence as Christian communities; as also did Laodicea, Colossa and Hierapolis in Phrygia.

4 CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE EAELY CHUECH.

In the beginning of the second century, Pliny said that the superstition called Christianity was rapidly spreading in Bithynia.

A Christian church was established at Edessa in the year 288, and in various parts of Mesopotamia about the beginning of the fourth century. Even in the island of Cyprus there were three bishops before the Council of Nice in 325. The first bishop of Alexandria was St. Mark, the Evangelist. Mark is sometimes called John Mark. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch and Cyprus. He afterwards went to Rome where he labored for some time with the Prince of the Apostles and wrote his Gospel.

St. Peter sent his disciples from Rome to found other churches, as his glorious successor Leo XIII. does at the present time. Peter sent Mark into Egypt and appointed him bishop of Alexandria.

The church made such wonderful progress in Alexandria that the Pagans resolved to put St. Mark to death. This they did by cruelly dragging his mangled body over rough stones until he expired on the 25th day of April, 68 A. D.

In the year 235 a council of the bishops of Africa was held and was attended by twenty bishops.

Twenty-one years afterwards, when St. Cyprian was bishop of Carthage, another was held at which eighty-seven were present. Carthage soon became the principal African bishopric.

Christianity grew so rapidly that in the beginning of the third century Tertullian said that the Christians outnumbered the Pagans.

2. The twelve Apostles were Jews. They were at first inclined to confine their labors among their own people. To St. Paul more than to any one man is the rapid propagation of the early church due. St. Paul before his conversion was known as Saul. He was born at Tarsus, in Cilicia in Western Asia about ten years after the Saviour's birth. According to the Jewish law that every male Jew should learn some useful trade, he learned that of tentmaker and for some time supported himself by his trade.

He studied the law and the prophets, the books of the Old Law, at Jerusalem. Gamaliel, the most learned rabbi of the time, was his teacher. Saul belonged to the sect of Pharisees and took a leading part in persecuting the Christians. When St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death Saul was one of the principal instigators of that cruel deed. Shortly afterwards he was going to Damascus to search for Christians in order to bring them before the Jewish courts when he was miraculously converted.

After his conversion he was known as Paul. He became a most zealous promoter of Christianity, "a preacher and an apostle, a doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth."

About the year 45 St. Paul began his first great mission. He started from Antioch with Mark and

Barnabas. They travelled four years over land and sea. He established Christian churches in the Island of Cyprus and in many places in Asia Minor. He ordained priests and bishops to instruct and govern the new congregations.

About the year 51 St. Paul attended the first Christian Council at Jerusalem. After this he set out on his second great missionary tour. During this time he spread the faith in other portions of Asia, Macedonia and in Greece.

He visited Athens, the center of art, science and refinement.

When the learned Athenians heard the earnest words of the inspired Apostle many of them believed. Among them was Dionysius, one of the most celebrated — who, it is believed, was afterwards known as St. Denis, first Apostle of France. Many, however, contend that Denis, the Areopagite, first bishop of Athens, and Denis of Paris were two separate persons.

During the course of his third missionary tour St. Paul spent some time in Ephesus. He was arrested by the Jews and spent two years in prison in Cesarea and two years in Rome. Having been set at liberty he probably went to Spain. Returning, he founded many churches in Crete and other places, and finally, about the year 67, joined St. Peter in Rome. After preaching to the Pagans of Rome and converting many of them, he and St. Peter were thrown into the Mamertine prison.

Finally, the time came for him to receive the crown of martyrdom. On the same day that Peter, the chief pastor, was crucified, head downwards, Paul was dragged from prison to the Ostian road and beheaded. This occurred during Nero's persecution, June 29, 67 A. D.

St. Paul contributed more than any other Apostle to carry the faith far and wide. The clearuess of his logic aud the eloquence of his preaching were powerful in removing error and spreading truth.

3. St. Peter, who suffered martyrdom the same day that St. Paul was beheaded, was believed by the early Christians, and his successor has always been believed to be the chief bishop and head of the Christian Church.

After Our Lord's ascension, Peter having preached the Gospel in many places in Judea, Cappadocia and Galilee, went to Antioch and established an episcopal see. He remained at Antioch about seven years. About the year 42 he went to Rome and established the center of the Christian Church. St. Peter governed the church of Pome for twenty-five years.

That the early Christians looked upon St. Peter as chief Pastor of the whole church may be seen from the following facts. After Our Lord's ascension he took the lead in every important matter. He presided at the election of Mathias to fill the place made vacant by the defection of Judas ; he was the first to address the multitude after the descent of the

Holy Ghost; he presided over the first Christian Council at Jerusalem, and his name always stands first in the catalogue of the Apostles, given by the Evangelists, thus showing that the Apostles themselves acknowledged his primacy.

St. Cyprian, in the third century, writing De

Unitate shows clearly what the belief of the early

church was when he says, " the primacy is given to

Peter, that the church of Christ may be set forth as

one."

St. Peter established at Rome the seat of ecclesiastical power. Ever since his time Pome has been the center of Christianity. The young church, baptized in the blood of the great Apostles, Peter and Paul, grew rapidly.

In the third century, besides her chief bishop, the pope, Pome had 150 priests. Other Italian cities could also boast of large and influential congregations.

4. The mustard-seed scattered by St. Paul in Spain grew and flourished. As early as the middle of the third century there were bishops at Cordova, Toledo, Leon, Tarragona and Elvira, having under their spiritual jurisdiction hundreds of priests and thousands of faithful followers of the Saviour. At the Synod of Elvira, in 306, nineteen Spanish bishops were present.

5. There were flourishing churches at Lyons and Vienne in France in the second century. St. Irenseus went from Asia to France about the close

CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE EAELY CHUECH. 9

of the second century, labored effectually for the propagation of Christianity, became bishop of Lyons and shed his blood for the faith in the year of Our Lord 202.

The young church in France, or Gaul, grew rapidly, especially after the conversion of King Clovis in 496.

6. The glad tidings of the Gospel reached the Britains at an early age. At the Council of Aries, in 314, the bishops of York, London and Lincoln were in attendance. About the middle of the fifth century, however, the pagan Anglo-Saxons almost destroyed the church in that country. The following century Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine with forty missionaries to revive the faith almost extinguished by the Pagans.

7. In Ireland, St. Patrick preached the truths of Christianity early in the fifth century. He was sent by Pope Celestine. His efforts were abundantly blessed by Heaven. In a few years the whole people became faithful Catholics. So numerous were the holy and learned men who went from Ireland to convert other people, that she became known as the " Island of Saints.''

In other countries the Christian religion was not established until after their soil was moistened by the blood of many martyrs immolated to their false gods. But Ireland furnished a glorious exception. Her great apostle labored undisturbed in his holy vocation for thirty years. He was so successful in his teaching, that in thirty years he firmly laid the foundation of that faith which centuries of persecution have been unable to undermine.

8. At the beginning of the fourth century the conversion of the Emperor Constantine gave peace to the church. The emperor requested Pope Sylvester to convoke the Council of Nice, the first general council and the first council of much importance since the Council of Jerusalem in the year 51. At the Council of Nice, in the year 325, so numerous had the Christians become, that 318 bishops were present. Hosius, a legate of Pope Sylvester, presided. Arius, who denied the Divinity of Christ, was condemned by this Council.

The Council of Constantinople in 381 was the second general council. The next general council was that of Ephesus. It was convened by order of Pope Celestine in 431 A. D. Nearly 300 bishops were at this council, some say 274. The most important event of this council was the condemnation of the heretic Nestorius and the declaration of the doctrine that Mary is the Mother of God. Cyril of Alexandria presided at this council as representative of the pope.

Mention is made of these councils here not only to show the rapid propagation of the early church, but also to show that the general councils of the primitive church were convoked by order of the pope just as was the last council of the Vatican in the nineteenth century.

CHAEACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH. 11

9. From this brief review it will be readily seen that the rapid propagation of early Christianity is an historical fact that cannot be denied, and that the church of the first five centuries and the Catholic Church of to-day are identical. For the bishop of Rome was head of the church then as he is at the present time. He convened the ecumenical councils. He sent Patrick, Augustine and other missionaries to convert the heathen. Everywhere the missionaries were most successful. God blessed their labors. Induced by no earthly considerations, led on by the hope of no temporal reward, undaunted by the fear of ignominy, the rich and the poor, the old and the young, the learned and unlearned, the Jew and the Gentile, meekly bowed their heads to the yoke of Christ and followed a crucified God. When we remember that to follow Jesus in these early ages of the church was to lose everything, and often to lose life itself, we cannot but be lost in admiration at this wonderful propagation of the church, and with one of the early fathers exclaim : " Either the Catholic Church was founded by means of miracles or it was not. If it was, it is Divine. Because no one but God can perform or authorize a miracle. If it was not, it is Divine. Because such a rapid propagation of truths so repugnant to the natural inclinations of man would be the greatest of all miracles."

In either case this wonderful propagation, this rapid growth of the early church unanswerably shows its Divinity.

Chapter II. The Constitution Of The Early Church

TTTE have considered the wonderful growth of the "" church. We will now examine its early organization as an institution. Its most noticeable exterior characteristic is the hierarchy.

By the hierarchy is meant the organization of degrees, ranks and orders among the ministers of the church. The hierarchy is of Divine appointment. For we find that various grades of dignity among the clergy existed even in Apostolic times. At the head of the clergy may be found Peter and his successors, the bishops of Rome.

The clergy were divided into bishops, priests and deacons.

10. The writers of the early church tell us that bishops have in the church the office of teacher, priest and ruler. By their ordinary power they preached, governed, ordained and administered the other sacraments. Priests preached, officiated at Mass and administered the sacraments, except Holy Orders and Confirmation. Deacons assisted the priest in his various duties: but deacons and priests officiated only by the authority of the bishop. 12

The order of sub-deacon and minor orders were added to the other orders by the church at an early date.

On the banks of Genesareth Jesus Christ chose Peter as His vicar. As the pontiff is not omnipresent, Peter and the other Apostles imposed hands upon others as the needs of the growing church demanded ; and these bishops ordained priests who were given the same authority in their parishes as the Pope had over the whole world or the bishop in his diocese.

The Apostles were to teach with the power and authority of God : " As the Father sent Me, I also send you." " Go, therefore, and teach all nations." This teaching was to continue to the end of time. " Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." Since the Apostles were not to exist till the end of time, since they actually died before the consummation of the world, it remains as a necessary consequence that this teaching has been continued by their successors, the bishops and priests of the Catholic Church.

The Apostles understood that it was by a living, teaching ministry this work was to be carried on. For we find it recorded in the fourteenth chapter of the Acts that, after Paul and Barnabas had been instructing the people of Iconium and Lystra for some time, they " ordained priests for them in every church " and then went elsewhere.

St. Paul instructed Timothy to commend the things he heard from him " to faithful men who shall be fit to teach others." Paul consecrated Titus bishop of Crete for the express purpose of ordaining other bishops and priests that the ministry might be perpetuated.

11. That the religious society founded by the Saviour might have an external bond of union, He chose one of the Apostles who was to be its recognized head. This was Peter, the rock upon which He built His church. Christ also made Peter Shepherd of all nations and gave him the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Scripture clearly teaches that it was the will of God that one Supreme pastor should preside over His church. The usage of the Apostolic age and of succeeding ages confirms this teaching of Scripture.

As bishops inherit the Apostolic authority and office, so the pope inherits the primacy and prerogatives of Peter whose successor he is. Tertullian in the second century calls the bishop of Rome, " The bishop of bishops." St. Cyprian, who lived in the third century, says the episcopal see of Rome is "the chair of Peter, the center of ecclesiastical unity, with which all bishops must be in communion."

St. Paul, Ignatius, and others of the first and following centuries, point out the essential division of the clergy into bishops, priests and deacons.

12. The word bishop is from the Greek word eiTLa-KoiTo^, episcopus, which means overseer. The early Christians adopted the word as the title of the church dignitary who had received the highest sacred orders and who had the authority to rule a diocese as its chief pastor.

Thus we find that St. James the Less was the first bishop of Jerusalem. St. Paul gave Titus and Timothy power to ordain priests, i. e. y he consecrated them bishops.

The angels of the seven churches spoken of in the Apocalypse were the bishops. Each of the angels represented a church and was responsible for its faith and morals. This is the office of a bishop.

Polycarp, the disciple of St. John, was bishop of Smyrna. The letters of St. Ignatius in the second century show that the episcopacy was established in his time and that he was bishop of Antioch. St. Irenseus was bishop of Lyons, France, in the third century. He says in one of his epistles that St. Paul at Miletus convoked " the bishops and the presbyters," or priests.

The bishop in the early church, as in later times, was considered the successor of the Apostles. He received the sacrament of Holy Orders in its fullness. Like the Apostles he could confirm, ordain priests, and consecrate bishops.

The pope is simply a bishop. But he has jurisdiction over the whole world and all other bishops are in union with and subject to him as the successor of St. Peter.

13. The manner of choosing bishops in the early church did not differ essentially from that in use at the present time. As we have already seen, the first bishops, Matthias, Timothy, Titus and others, were chosen by the Apostles, some of them after lots were cast. St. Cyprian, in the third century, tells us that bishops were chosen by the vote of the people and judgment of the bishops of the province. In many cases the bishops alone chose the bishop.

The Council of Nice, in the fourth century, decreed, or recommended, that a bishop be appointed by the bishops of the province. The metropolitan, or archbishop, had the right to confirm the choice, which afterwards was reserved to the pope.

In the beginning the bishop, assisted by priests who lived with him, usually performed the pastoral duties. During the fourth and fifth centuries the present parochial system was formed. The bishop began at that time to charge each individual priest with the care of a particular portion of the diocese.

14. Among holy orders that of priest ranks second to that of bishop. Ignatius, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian and others of the first five centuries frequently mention the duties of the priest. From the very beginning he has been looked upon as the minister of Christ.

Jesus Christ chose the priest that he might aid in the work for which He came upon earth. What a noble mission ! To aid Jesus Christ in saving souls, to offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice for them, to teach them the truths of salvation, to loose them from their sins, to pray for them, to baptize them, to minister to them, and to fill them with heavenlyblessings. For such a high mission did Jesus Christ choose the priest.

The duties of the priest are important, his responsibility great. He stands at the Altar of God, where he has the body and blood of Christ entrusted to him, which he offers for the people. He is empowered to sit in the sacred tribunal of Penance and say to the penitent, " Thy sins are forgiven thee."

When the young couple first start out on the journey of life the priest blesses their union. Through his ministry at the baptismal font children are made heirs of heaven. The priest instructs them and trains them to become good Christians and good citizens. He prepares them to receive the Bread of Life. He is the good Shepherd leading back the erring one. He prepares the dying to make their last journey. When dead he offers the prayers of the church for them. One of his principal duties is to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to God for the living and the dead.

These are the duties of the priest to-day. That they were the duties of the priest of the early church a glance at the writings of the fathers of the first five centuries as well as the following quotations from the Apostolic Constitutions will show : " We enjoin that a bishop be ordained by three bishops, or at least by two. . . . But a priest, as also a deacon, and the rest of the clergy by one bishop ; 2 but neither priest nor deacon is to ordain clerics. The priest is to teach, to offer (the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass), to baptize and bless the people ; and the deacon, to minister to the bishop and to the priests."

15. Deacons constitute the third order of the hierarchy instituted by Our Lord. They are successors of the seven blameless men whom the Apostles selected to distribute alms and take care of the poor. It is the duty of the deacon " to minister at the altar, to baptize and to preach." His duty consists principally in assisting a priest at Solemn High Mass.