133 ad

[AmateurPianist]

Here is your chance to show that the early Christian church was just like your church (whatever it may be).

I have arbitrarily chosen a date about 100 years after the resurrection of Christ. The apostles were dead, but it was only 1-2 generations after the apostles.

What did this church believe? How was it organized? What were its practices? What was its worship like? How far into the known world had it grown?

Groundrules:

Quotes from historic sources are welcome, up to 133 AD of course. After this point it must be in reference to this point in time. I might permit a little fudge on the 133 AD date, but not much of one.

If you want to quote Scripture as a historical source, if you are quoting a passage whose interpretation is debatable (and we know what they are don’t we), please provide evidence that the church at this point in time favored your interpretation.

Oh one more thing. It is only fair to say that the church of this period did not believe in doctrine or practice X if you can find a source that disagrees with doctrine or practice X. Otherwise, the best we can say is that there is no evidence that this church believed in doctrine or practice X (these two statements are not the same).

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Here is your chance to show that the early Christian church was just like your church (whatever it may be).

I have arbitrarily chosen a date about 100 years after the resurrection of Christ. The apostles were dead, but it was only 1-2 generations after the apostles.

What did this church believe? How was it organized? What were its practices? What was its worship like? How far into the known world had it grown?

Groundrules:

Quotes from historic sources are welcome, up to 133 AD of course. After this point it must be in reference to this point in time. I might permit a little fudge on the 133 AD date, but not much of one.

If you want to quote Scripture as a historical source, if you are quoting a passage whose interpretation is debatable (and we know what they are don’t we), please provide evidence that the church at this point in time favored your interpretation.

Oh one more thing. It is only fair to say that the church of this period did not believe in doctrine or practice X if you can find a source that disagrees with doctrine or practice X. Otherwise, the best we can say is that there is no evidence that this church believed in doctrine or practice X (these two statements are not the same).

I like your new name!

The Church leading up to 133 ad practiced what Orthodox Christians around the world still practice…the Jesus Prayer! St. Ignatius was the disciple of St. John the Evangelist and this is his witness to the Jesus Prayer - an amazing miracle.

"In the life of St. Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch, who was crowned in Rome with a martyr’s death under the emperor Trajan, we read the following: “When they were taking him to be devoured by wild beasts, and he had the name of Jesus constantly on his lips, the pagans asked him why he unceasingly remembered that name. The saint replied that he had the name of Jesus Christ written in his heart and that he confessed with his mouth Him Whom he always carried in his heart. After the saint had been eaten by the wild beasts, by the will of God among his bones his heart was preserved intact. The infidels found it, and then remembered what St. Ignatius had said. So they cut that heart into halves, wishing to know whether what they had been told was true. Inside, on the two halves of the heart that had been cut open, they found an inscription in gold letters: Jesus Christ. Thus St. Ignatius was in name and in fact a God-bearer, always carrying Christ our God in his heart, written by the reflection (or meditation) of his mind as with a reed.”
St. Ignatius was a disciple of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Divine, and was privileged in his childhood to see the Lord Jesus Christ personally. He was that blessed child of whom it is said in the Gospel that the Lord placed him among the apostles who had been arguing about priority, took him in His arms and said: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Certainly St. Ignatius was taught the prayer of Jesus by the holy Evangelist and practiced it in that flourishing period of Christianity like all other Christians. At that time all Christians learned the prayer of Jesus, firstly on account of the great importance of the prayer itself, and then on account of the sarcity and costliness of the handwritten holy books, on account of the rarity of literacy (most of the apostles were illiterate), and on account of the convenience, satisfaction and very special action and power of the prayer of Jesus.”
From the book: On the Prayer of Jesus by Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov

 

[AmateurPianist]

I like your new name!

The Church leading up to 133 ad practiced what Orthodox Christians around the world still practice…the Jesus Prayer! St. Ignatius was the disciple of St. John the Evangelist and this is his witness to the Jesus Prayer - an amazing miracle.

"In the life of St. Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch, who was crowned in Rome with a martyr’s death under the emperor Trajan, we read the following: “When they were taking him to be devoured by wild beasts, and he had the name of Jesus constantly on his lips, the pagans asked him why he unceasingly remembered that name. The saint replied that he had the name of Jesus Christ written in his heart and that he confessed with his mouth Him Whom he always carried in his heart. After the saint had been eaten by the wild beasts, by the will of God among his bones his heart was preserved intact. The infidels found it, and then remembered what St. Ignatius had said. So they cut that heart into halves, wishing to know whether what they had been told was true. Inside, on the two halves of the heart that had been cut open, they found an inscription in gold letters: Jesus Christ. Thus St. Ignatius was in name and in fact a God-bearer, always carrying Christ our God in his heart, written by the reflection (or meditation) of his mind as with a reed.”
St. Ignatius was a disciple of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Divine, and was privileged in his childhood to see the Lord Jesus Christ personally. He was that blessed child of whom it is said in the Gospel that the Lord placed him among the apostles who had been arguing about priority, took him in His arms and said: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Certainly St. Ignatius was taught the prayer of Jesus by the holy Evangelist and practiced it in that flourishing period of Christianity like all other Christians. At that time all Christians learned the prayer of Jesus, firstly on account of the great importance of the prayer itself, and then on account of the sarcity and costliness of the handwritten holy books, on account of the rarity of literacy (most of the apostles were illiterate), and on account of the convenience, satisfaction and very special action and power of the prayer of Jesus.”
From the book: On the Prayer of Jesus by Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov

Fascinating story.

Now maybe I missed it from your post, but what is “the prayer of Jesus”. Is it what we call the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father?

I never knew that St. Ignatius was in fact that child that Jesus took in His arms. Is there a source on that? Or does it generally fall under “tradition”.

Now I seem to recall reading once that St. Ignatius after his martyrdom actually appeared to the faithful and taught them.

Now I don’t know whether these little stories are true or false, but you know as long as it does nobody any harm, I am inclined to believe them. Why not?

Oh…is there a way to change the title so that ad is in caps. It looks kind of stupid the way it is.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Fascinating story.

Now maybe I missed it from your post, but what is “the prayer of Jesus”. Is it what we call the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father?
It is the ancient Christian Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me” - it’s recorded in the New Testament somewhere in the Gospels I think where Jesus was explaining which prayer was heard by God - The Publican who prayed many words vs. The Repentant Sinner who prayed “Lord have mercy on me”.
The reason it is so important to the life of each Orthodox Christian is that that prayer is the only way to truly accomplish what St. Paul says in the New Testament that we Christians are to “Pray without ceasing” - this means pray while you are awake, pray while you are asleep, pray while you eat, pray while you work, pray while you talk - pray at all times and in all places never ceasing to call upon the Name of the Lord.
I never knew that St. Ignatius was in fact that child that Jesus took in His arms. Is there a source on that? Or does it generally fall under “tradition”.
The recordings of St. Ignatius life all testify to the fact that he sat on Jesus’ lap as an infant/child. The “Tradition” of it is found in both the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches which are the only two that have Apostolic Succession.
Now I seem to recall reading once that St. Ignatius after his martyrdom actually appeared to the faithful and taught them.
I don’t know, but I haven’t heard of everything. You could check with the Antiochian Church since St. Ignatius was Bishop of Antioch, they probably have the most information about him.
Now I don’t know whether these little stories are true or false, but you know as long as it does nobody any harm, I am inclined to believe them. Why not?
Since it is known through out the historical Christian world and remembered and recounted to this day in the Liturgy of the Church, I don’t know why anyone would doubt it.
Oh…is there a way to change the title so that ad is in caps. It looks kind of stupid the way it is.
I don’t know.

 

[mardukm]

Dear Amateur Pianist,

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches were one at this time, so the Catholic Church also has the Jesus Prayer (some are impressed that St. Ignatius called the Church by the name of “Catholic Church,” but that is not really important IMO).

The Catholic Church still has from the days of St. Ignatius one more thing that no other Church today has - “the Church which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that willeth all things…who are filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every strange taint.”

None but the Catholic Church can repeat these praises that St. Ignatius gave to the Church of Rome, and she has been able to repeat it since the days of St. Ignatius up to the present time.

Blessings

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Dear Amateur Pianist,

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches were one at this time, so the Catholic Church also has the Jesus Prayer (some are impressed that St. Ignatius called the Church by the name of “Catholic Church,” but that is not really important IMO).

The Catholic Church still has from the days of St. Ignatius one more thing that no other Church today has - “the Church which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that willeth all things…who are filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every strange taint.”

None but the Catholic Church can repeat these praises that St. Ignatius gave to the Church of Rome, and she has been able to repeat it since the days of St. Ignatius up to the present time.

Blessings

The CCC does briefly make mention of the Jesus Prayer; however, I’ve yet to hear of any Monastery or area within the Catholic world that actually uses the Jesus Prayer - let alone, any Catholic place that comes close to that Orthodox Island: Mount Athos - where Orthodox Christian Monks have been known to be completely illuminated to the extent that others could not look upon them they were sooo very bright.

inathos.gr/athos/en/

If you have, please share.
What Catholic Monastery practices the Jesus Prayer?
What Catholic land are there many Monasteries in the same location that through the use of the unceasing Jesus Prayer have been so illuminated that others can not even look at them?

 

[AmateurPianist]

Monica:
I was able to google the Prayer of Jesus.

I remember once of reading the story of St. Ignatius coming back after his martyrdom to teach the disciples. I can’t find it now though.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Monica:
I was able to google the Prayer of Jesus.

I remember once of reading the story of St. Ignatius coming back after his martyrdom to teach the disciples. I can’t find it now though.

antiochpat.org/ - perhaps you can find out about it here?

 

[SingleMomMonica]

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary with John the Evangelist, or their way to visit Lazarus in Cyprus, encountered a stormy sea that forced them to temporarily seek refuge in the port which is now the Holy Monastery of Ivira. The Virgin Mary, admiring the wild beauty of the place, asked God to give her the mountain as a present. Then the voice of our Lord was heard saying: “Let this place be your lot, your garden and your paradise, as well as a salvation, a haven for those who seek salvation”. Since then, **Mount Athos **is considered as “The Garden of the Virgin Mary”.
In the 5th century AD, the first monks came to Mount Athos, who disappointed from the boredom of everyday communal life, found this beautiful and uninhabited place ideal for worship their God.

inathos.gr/athos/en/AthosHistory.html

 

[AmateurPianist]

Dear Amateur Pianist,

The Catholic Church still has from the days of St. Ignatius one more thing that no other Church today has - “the Church which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that willeth all things…who are filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every strange taint.”

None but the Catholic Church can repeat these praises that St. Ignatius gave to the Church of Rome, and she has been able to repeat it since the days of St. Ignatius up to the present time.

Blessings

Hello:

I was hunting for the source of this quote in the writings of Ignatius, but could not find it.

This is the web page that I use.

It appears that Ignatius wrote letters to several churches on his journey to Rome to be martyred. I see what can be considered phrases of commendation to several churches in these letters.

 

[mardukm]

Hello:

I was hunting for the source of this quote in the writings of Ignatius, but could not find it.

This is the web page that I use.

It appears that Ignatius wrote letters to several churches on his journey to Rome to be martyred. I see what can be considered phrases of commendation to several churches in these letters.

Sorry, I thought I was clear. This is contained in his letter to the Church in Rome. Please do peruse over the greetings to the other Churches. I doubt you will find anything so effusive in praises. In fact, the salutary greeting to the Roman Church contains the longest list of praises than to any other Church. But it is not just the length of the salutary greeting that is important, but the content. To claim that the grace of God is INSEPARABLE from the Church in Rome, to claim that she is purified from every strange taint thereby - truly unique is the Church of Rome in the eyes of St. Ignatius (as well as the great majority of Fathers in the early Church).

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[AmateurPianist]

antiochpat.org/ - perhaps you can find out about it here?

I couldn’t find it there. But through google I did find it here.

Reading the letters of Ignatius, it does seem obvious that he would vigorously oppose the prosperity gospel of today.

 

[mardukm]

Dear sister Monica,

The CCC does briefly make mention of the Jesus Prayer; however, I’ve yet to hear of any Monastery or area within the Catholic world that actually uses the Jesus Prayer - let alone, any Catholic place that comes close to that Orthodox Island: Mount Athos - where Orthodox Christian Monks have been known to be completely illuminated to the extent that others could not look upon them they were sooo very bright.

inathos.gr/athos/en/

If you have, please share.
What Catholic Monastery practices the Jesus Prayer?
What Catholic land are there many Monasteries in the same location that through the use of the unceasing Jesus Prayer have been so illuminated that others can not even look at them?

I am not Eastern, but Oriental, so I am not very knowledgeable of Byzantine monasteries, but as far as I know, there is a form of the Jesus prayer used in every Mass of the Western Church (which is daily).

Also, I’m not sure glowing EO monks exactly qualifies as any kind of proof for anything. If you want to compare miracles with other Catholics, go ahead, but it’s not a point that impresses me.

Blessings

 

[James_S_Saint]

Pre -Nicea Trinitarian References outside the Canon.

Earliest Christians taught Trinity!
(50 - 600 AD)
Uninspired records of how early Christians worshipped and what doctrine they believed!

Trinity
Deity and eternal pre-existence of Jesus Christ
Person & Personality of the Holy Spirit

Regarding the “US”, in Gen 1:26 “Let us make man in our image”:

Regarding two Yahweh’s in Gen 19:24, “Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Yahweh out of heaven.”

50 AD The Huleatt Manuscript

• 50 AD The Huleatt Manuscript “She poured it [the perfume] over his [Jesus’] hair when he sat at the table. But, when the disciples saw it, they were indignant. . . . God, aware of this, said to them: 'Why do you trouble this woman? She has done [a beautiful thing for me.] . . . Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priest and said, ‘What will you give me for my work?’ [Matt. 26:7-15]” (Huleatt fragments 1-3).

74 AD The Letter of Barnabas

• 74 AD The Letter of Barnabas “And further, my brethren, if the Lord [Jesus] endured to suffer for our soul, he being the Lord of all the world, to whom God said at the foundation of the world, ‘Let us make man after our image, and after our likeness,’ understand how it was that he endured to suffer at the hand of men” (Letter of Barnabas 5).

80 AD Hermas

• 80 AD Hermas “The Son of God is older than all his creation, so that he became the Father’s adviser in his creation. Therefore also he is ancient” (The Shepherd 12).

140 AD Aristides

• 140 AD Aristides “[Christians] are they who, above every people of the Earth, have found the truth, for they acknowledge
  God, the creator and maker of all things, in the only-begotten Son and in the Holy Spirit” (Apology 16).

 

[James_S_Saint]

150 AD Justin Martyr

• 150 AD Justin Martyr "The Father of the universe has a Son, who also being the first begotten Word of God,
• is even God." (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 63) 150 AD Justin Martyr “Christ is called both God and Lord of hosts.” (Dialogue with Trypho, ch, 36)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “Moreover, in the diapsalm of the forty-sixth Psalm, reference is thus made to Christ: 'God went up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.” (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 37)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr quotes Hebrews 1:8 to prove the Deity of Christ. “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.” (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 56)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “Therefore these words testify explicitly that He [Christ] is witnessed to by Him who established these things, as deserving to be worshipped, as God and as Christ.” - Dialogue with Trypho, ch. 63.
• 150 AD Justin Martyr in Chap. LXVI. He (Justin) Proves From Isaiah That God Was Born From A Virgin. (Chapter Title, Chap. LXVI)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr "And Trypho said, “You endeavor to prove an incredible and well-nigh impossible thing;[namely], that God endured to be born and become man…some Scriptures which we mention, and which expressly prove that Christ was to suffer, to be worshipped, and [to be called] God, and which I have already recited to you, do refer indeed to Christ.” (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 68)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “But if you knew, Trypho,” continued I, "who He is that is called at one time the Angel of great counsel, and a Man by Ezekiel, and like
• the Son of man by Daniel, and a Child by Isaiah, and Christ and God to be worshipped by David, and Christ and a Stone by many, and Wisdom by Solomon, and Joseph and Judah and a Star by Moses, and the East by Zechariah, and the Suffering One and Jacob and Israel by Isaiah again, and a Rod, and Flower, and Corner Stone, and Son of God, you would not have blasphemed Him who has now come, and been born, and suffered, and ascended to heaven; who shall also come again, and then your twelve tribes shall mourn. For if you had understood what has been written by the prophets, you would not have denied that He was God, Son of the only, unbegotten, unutterable God. For Moses says somewhere in Exodus the following: The Lord spake to Moses, and said to him, I am the Lord, and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, being their God; and my name I revealed not to them, and I established my covenant with them.' And thus again he says, A man wrestled with Jacob,’ and asserts it was God; narrating that Jacob said, `I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’" (Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, A Jew, Chap. CXXVI [See also The First Apology of Justin, Chap. XIII; XXII; LXIII; Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, A Jew, Chap. XXXVI; XLVIII; LVI; LIX; LXI; C; CV; CXXV; CXXVIII) [Trypho to Justin] “…you say that this Christ existed as God before the ages, and that He submitted to be born and become man” - Dialogue with Trypho, ch.48.
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “We will prove that we worship him reasonably; for we have learned that he is the Son of the true God Himself, that he holds a second place, and the Spirit of prophecy a third. For this they accuse us of madness, saying that we attribute to a crucified man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of all things; but they are ignorant of the Mystery which lies therein” (First Apology 13:5-6).
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “Jesus Christ is the only proper Son who has been begotten by God, being His Word and first-begotten, and power; and, becoming man according to His will, He taught us these things for the conversion and restoration of the human race” (First Apology 23).

 

[James_S_Saint]

• 150 AD Justin Martyr "But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels who follow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit,
• we worship and adore." (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 6) Notice what else Justin say: “Worship God alone.” (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 16) “Whence to God alone we render worship.” (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 17) 150 AD Justin Martyr "
• God begot before all creatures a Beginning, who was a certain rational power from himself and whom the Holy Spirit calls . . . sometimes the Son, . . . sometimes Lord and Word … We see things happen similarly among ourselves, for whenever we utter some word, we beget a word, yet not by any cutting off, which would diminish the word in us when we utter it. We see a similar occurrence when one fire enkindles another. It is not diminished through the enkindling of the other, but remains as it was" (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 61). 150 AD Justin Martyr "God speaks in the creation of man with the very same design, in the following words: ‘Let us make man after our image and likeness’ . . . I shall quote again the words narrated by Moses himself, from which we can indisputably learn that [God] conversed with someone numerically distinct from himself and also a rational being. . . . But this Offspring who was truly brought forth from the Father,
• was with the Father before all the creatures, and the Father communed with him" (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 62). 150 AD Justin Martyr [Note: Justin never says Jesus is a created angel. Justin never refers to Jesus as an angel before creation, although JW’s will falsely affirm such from the text below. Justin, however, does refer to Jesus as the “angel of the Lord” after creation in various appearances to man. Many but not all Trinitarians would have no problem affirming, along side of Justin, that Jesus as uncreated God, was referred to as the Angel of Jehovah.] "HOW GOD APPEARED TO MOSES. And all the Jews even now teach that the nameless God spake to Moses; whence the Spirit of prophecy, accusing them by Isaiah the prophet mentioned above, said “The ox knoweth his owner, and the *** his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know Me, and My people do not understand.” And Jesus the Christ, because the Jews knew not what the Father was, and what the Son, in like manner accused them; and Himself said, “No one knoweth the Father, but the Son; nor the Son, but the Father, and they to whom the Son revealeth Him.” Now the Word of God is His Son, as we have before said.
• And He is called Angel and Apostle; for He declares whatever we ought to know, and is sent forth to declare whatever is revealed; as our Lord Himself says, “He that heareth Me, heareth Him that sent Me.” From the writings of Moses also this will be manifest; for thus it is written in them, “And the Angel of God spake to Moses, in a flame of fire out of the bush, and said, I am that I am, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of thy fathers; go down into Egypt, and bring forth My people.” And if you wish to learn what follows, you can do so from the same writings; for it is impossible to relate the whole here. But so much is written for the sake of proving that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God and His Apostle, being of old the Word, and appearing sometimes in the form of fire, and sometimes in the likeness of angels; but now, by the will of God, having become man for the human race, He endured all the sufferings which the devils instigated the senseless Jews to inflict upon Him; who, though they have it expressly affirmed in the writings of Moses, “And the angel of God spake to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush, and said, I am that I am, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” yet maintain that He who said this was the Father and Creator of the universe. Whence also the Spirit of prophecy rebukes them, and says, “Israel doth not know Me, my people have not understood Me.”

 

[James_S_Saint]

And again, Jesus, as we have already shown, while He was with them, said, “No one knoweth the Father, but the Son; nor the Son but the Father, and those to whom the Son will reveal Him.” The Jews, accordingly, being throughout of opinion that it was the Father of the universe who spake to Moses, though He who spake to him was indeed the Son of God, who is called both Angel and Apostle, are justly charged, both by the Spirit of prophecy and by Christ Himself, with knowing neither the Father nor the Son. For they who affirm that the Son is the Father, are proved neither to have become acquainted with the Father, nor to know that the Father of the universe has a Son; who also, being the first-begotten Word of God, is even God. And of old He appeared in the shape of fire and in the likeness of an angel to Moses and to the other prophets; but now in the times of your reign, having, as we before said, become Man by a virgin, according to the counsel of the Father, for the salvation of those who believe on Him, He endured both to be set at nought and to suffer, that by dying and rising again He might conquer death. And that which was said out of the bush to Moses, “I am that I am, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and the God of your fathers,” this signified that they, even though dead, are let in existence, and are men belonging to Christ Himself. For they were the first of all men to busy themselves in the search after God; Abraham being the father of Isaac, and Isaac of Jacob, as Moses wrote." (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 63) 150 AD Justin Martyr “It is not on this ground solely,” I said, "that it must be admitted absolutely that some other one is called Lord by the Holy Spirit

• besides Him who is considered Maker of all things; not solely [for what is said] by Moses, but also [for what is said] by David. For there is written by him: ‘The Lord says to my Lord, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool,’ as I have already quoted. And again, in other words: ‘Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." (Dialog of Justin with Trypho, a Jew, ch 56) 150 AD Justin Martyr "Then I replied, “Reverting to the Scriptures, I shall endeavor to persuade you, that He who is said to have appeared to Abraham, and to Jacob, and to Moses, and who is called God, is distinct from Him who made all things, — numerically, I mean, not [distinct] in will. For I affirm that He has never at any time done anything which He who made the world — above whom there is no other God — has not wished Him both to do and to engage Himself with.” (Dialog of Justin with Trypho, a Jew, ch 56)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “… even so here, the Scripture, in announcing that the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses, and in afterwards declaring him to be Lord and God, speaks of the same One, whom it declares by the many testimonies already quoted to be minister to God, who is above the world, above whom there is no other [God].” (Dialog of Justin with Trypho, a Jew, ch 60)
• 150 AD Justin Martyr “I shall give you another testimony, my friends,” said I, “from the Scriptures, that God begat before all creatures a Beginning, [who was] a certain rational power [proceeding] from Himself, who is called by the Holy Spirit, now the Glory of the Lord, now the Son, again Wisdom, again an Angel, then God, and then Lord and Logos; and on another occasion He calls Himself Captain, when He appeared in human form to Joshua the son of Nave (Nun). For He can be called by all those names, since He ministers to the Father’s will, and since He was begotten of the Father by an act of will; just as we see happening among ourselves: for when we give out some word, we beget the word; yet not by abscission, so as to lessen the word [which remains] in us, when we give it out: and just as we see also happening in the case of a fire, which is not lessened when it has kindled [another], but remains the same; and that which has been kindled by it likewise appears to exist by itself, not diminishing that from which it was kindled. The Word of Wisdom, who is Himself this God begotten of the Father of all things, and Word, and Wisdom, and Power, and the Glory of the Begetter, …” (Dialog of Justin with Trypho, a Jew, ch 60)

150 AD Polycarp of Smyrna

• 150 AD Polycarp of Smyrna “I praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, with whom, to you and the Holy Spirit, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 14).

I could go on and on, but that should be enough for a while.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Sorry, I thought I was clear. This is contained in his letter to the Church in Rome. Please do peruse over the greetings to the other Churches. I doubt you will find anything so effusive in praises. In fact, the salutary greeting to the Roman Church contains the longest list of praises than to any other Church. But it is not just the length of the salutary greeting that is important, but the content. To claim that the grace of God is INSEPARABLE from the Church in Rome, to claim that she is purified from every strange taint thereby - truly unique is the Church of Rome in the eyes of St. Ignatius (as well as the great majority of Fathers in the early Church).

Blessings,
Marduk

What this thread shows already, in the first few posts, is that “Orthodox” & “Catholics” can’t agree among themselves, except in being boastful - so there is precious little reason for Protestant or any other Christians to be impressed by what they say ​

What non-Christians must think of such silliness, God knows

 

[PaulDupre]

The CCC does briefly make mention of the Jesus Prayer; however, I’ve yet to hear of any Monastery or area within the Catholic world that actually uses the Jesus Prayer

We pray it in my parish all the time, especially at early morning weekday mass. The young priest who usually celebrates the 6:15 am weekday mass comes out and kneels before the altar and recites the prayer three times before beginning the mass. The congregation all say it with him. I love it.

The way he says it is “Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”

It’s a great way to start the day.

 

[AmateurPianist]

Sorry, I thought I was clear. This is contained in his letter to the Church in Rome. Please do peruse over the greetings to the other Churches. I doubt you will find anything so effusive in praises. In fact, the salutary greeting to the Roman Church contains the longest list of praises than to any other Church. But it is not just the length of the salutary greeting that is important, but the content. To claim that the grace of God is INSEPARABLE from the Church in Rome, to claim that she is purified from every strange taint thereby - truly unique is the Church of Rome in the eyes of St. Ignatius (as well as the great majority of Fathers in the early Church).

Blessings,
Marduk

The writings of Igmatius do seem to be applicable to this thread. As I have time, I will read them since this subject has my interest.

Commendations to other churches are certainly interesting. However, I am not sure how much commendations are applicable other than the time period in which they were written. After all in the book of Revelations, Jesus himself commends two churches without any words of correction (Smyrna and Philadelphia). I don’t think anybody would argue that those commendations are applicable for today.

Anyway, at this point in time I am most interested in collecting relevant data. Sifting through it and determining its relevance is a later exercise.