Early document stating that Jesus ordained all to bind and loose

[God_Seeker_1]

This is a quote from Apostolic Constitutions (Book 2):
*
XI. Upon this account, therefore, O bishop, endeavour to be pure in your actions, and to adorn your place and dignity, which is that of one sustaining the character of God among men, as being set over all men, over priests, kings, rulers, fathers, children, teachers, and in general over all those who are subject to you: and so sit in the Church when you speak, as having authority to judge offenders. For to you, O bishops, it is said: Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18*

It seems to say here that Jesus is speaking to all valid Bishops. Does the Catholic Church believe that Jesus was only giving Peter binding and loosing powers or all leaders of the Church? For this document seems to quote Jesus speaking to all bishops?

 

[dmar198]

This is a quote from Apostolic Constitutions (Book 2):
*
XI. Upon this account, therefore, O bishop, endeavour to be pure in your actions, and to adorn your place and dignity, which is that of one sustaining the character of God among men, as being set over all men, over priests, kings, rulers, fathers, children, teachers, and in general over all those who are subject to you: and so sit in the Church when you speak, as having authority to judge offenders. For to you, O bishops, it is said*: Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

It seems to say here that Jesus is speaking to all valid Bishops. Does the Catholic Church believe that Jesus was only giving Peter binding and loosing powers or all leaders of the Church? For this document seems to quote Jesus speaking to all bishops?

Matthew 18:18 is spoken to all bishops as the text itself says (read the context). Matthew 16:19 is a different verse, and in it Jesus spoke only to Peter and gave only him the keys of the kingdom. The other bishops have the power of binding and loosing but only the Pope has the keys of the kingdom. And he can bind and loose without the consent of the others, while the others must bind and loose as a body.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

This is a quote from Apostolic Constitutions (Book 2):
*
XI. Upon this account, therefore, O bishop, endeavour to be pure in your actions, and to adorn your place and dignity, which is that of one sustaining the character of God among men, as being set over all men, over priests, kings, rulers, fathers, children, teachers, and in general over all those who are subject to you: and so sit in the Church when you speak, as having authority to judge offenders. For to you, O bishops, it is said*: Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

It seems to say here that Jesus is speaking to all valid Bishops. Does the Catholic Church believe that Jesus was only giving Peter binding and loosing powers or all leaders of the Church? For this document seems to quote Jesus speaking to all bishops?

That almost seems like a translation error. In the first part of it, the statement is referencing a singular Bishop. The second portion appears to be a continuation of the thought from the first, but suddenly transitions to the plural Bishops.

I don’t have an answer for you, I just thought I’d point this out.

… It appears the person who posted while I was typing addressed this Keep in mind, you can never take a single verse of scripture by itself; this is something the Protestants do, much to their detriment. Please look at the entire chapter so you have a better understanding of context ^^

 

[JRKH]

This is a quote from Apostolic Constitutions (Book 2):
*
XI. Upon this account, therefore, O bishop, endeavour to be pure in your actions, and to adorn your place and dignity, which is that of one sustaining the character of God among men, as being set over all men, over priests, kings, rulers, fathers, children, teachers, and in general over all those who are subject to you: and so sit in the Church when you speak, as having authority to judge offenders. For to you, O bishops, it is said*: Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

It seems to say here that Jesus is speaking to all valid Bishops. Does the Catholic Church believe that Jesus was only giving Peter binding and loosing powers or all leaders of the Church? For this document seems to quote Jesus speaking to all bishops?

The answer to your question is “Both”.
Each Bishop has authority to bind and loose…and those over whom they have jurisdiction are bound to “listen to the Church” (in the person of the Bishop).
But what happens when Bishop A “binds” on some doctrinal matter and Bishop B “looses” on the same or similar matter.
Then there needs to be a resolution of the matter for the sake of unity and Truth in the Body. For this purpose bishops communicate with each other, councils are called and great care and prayerful study is undertaken. Ultimately the Holy Father becomes involved and, in consultation with his fellow Bishops, he acts to resolve the question.

In this is both the smooth cooperation and interrelation of Mt 16 and Mt 18.

That’s how I see it anyway.

Peace
James

 

[Gorgias]

That almost seems like a translation error.

It’s not. You can find the document (in Greek and Latin) here. (See pages 46 and 47).

In the first part of it, the statement is referencing a singular Bishop. The second portion appears to be a continuation of the thought from the first, but suddenly transitions to the plural Bishops.

The document speaks to a (generic) bishop, so the first reference is to that (single) bishop (“ἐπίσχοπε”). However, the authority being spoken of is one that belongs to all bishops, so both the Scripture citation and the direct address are 2nd person plural (ya’ll) not singular (you): ἐπίσχόποις (“to bishops”) in the direct address and δήσητε in the quote (“ya’ll bind”). The Latin, likewise, gives episcope (“bishop”), episcopis (“to bishops”), and ligaveritis (“ya’ll bind”).

 

[cheezey]

this is something the Protestants do, much to their detriment. Please look at the entire chapter so you have a better understanding of context ^^

Not all; this is something some might do, but not all…

 

[catholic1seeks]

This is a quote from Apostolic Constitutions (Book 2):

XI. Upon this account, therefore, O bishop, endeavour to be pure in your actions, and to adorn your place and dignity, which is that of one sustaining the character of God among men, as being set over all men, over priests, kings, rulers, fathers, children, teachers, and in general over all those who are subject to you: and so sit in the Church when you speak, as having authority to judge offenders. For to you, O bishops, it is said: Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

It seems to say here that Jesus is speaking to all valid Bishops. Does the Catholic Church believe that Jesus was only giving Peter binding and loosing powers or all leaders of the Church? For this document seems to quote Jesus speaking to all bishops?

The power to bind and loose was given to all the bishops. Matthew 18:18 was spoken to all of the Apostles. (Bishops have this power as successors of the Apostles.) In fact, the power to “bind” and “loose,” insofar as they relate to the forgiveness of sins, is understood to be extended to priests in communion with the bishop.

There is a uniqueness with the bishop of Rome because he succeeds the Apostle who was given the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19).

 

[PJM]

=God Seeker;

It seems to say here that Jesus is speaking to all valid Bishops. Does the Catholic Church believe that Jesus was only giving Peter binding and loosing powers or all leaders of the Church? For this document seems to quote Jesus speaking to all bishops?

to Peter in Mt. 15:15-19
All of the Apostles THROUGH Peter Mt. 18:18
By essential Succession to the CC in Mt. 28: 19-20

The Early Church Fathers understood from the beginning that Peter and his successors held a place of primacy in the Church.

Clement of Rome
Accept our counsel and you will have nothing to regret. . . . If anyone disobeys the things which have been said by him [Jesus] through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in no small danger. We, however, shall be innocent of this sin and will pray with entreaty and supplication that the Creator of all may keep unharmed the number of his elect (Letter to the Corinthians 58:2, 59:1[A.D. 95]).

Ignatius of Antioch
You [the See of Rome] have envied no one, but others have you taught. I desire only that what you have enjoined in your instructions may remain in force (Epistle to the Romans 3:1 [A.D. 110]).

Irenaeus
But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles. Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition (Against Heresies 3:3:2 [inter A.D. 180-190]).

Clement of Alexandria
[T]he blessed Peter, the chosen, the preeminent, the first among the disciples, for whom alone with himself the Savior paid the tribute [Matt. 17:27], quickly grasped and understood their meaning. And what does he say? “Behold, we have left all and have followed you” [Matt. 19:2 7, Mark 10:28] (Who is the Rich Man That is Saved? 21:3-5 [A.D. 200]).

Tertullian
[T]he Lord said to Peter, “On this rock I will build my Church, I have given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [and] whatever you shall have bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven” [Matt. 16:18-19]. … Upon you, he says, I will build my Church; and I will give to you the keys, not to the Church; and whatever you shall have bound or you shall have loose
and, not what they shall have bound or they shall have loosed (Modesty 21:9-10 [A.D. 220]).

Letter of Clement to James
Be it known to you, my lord, that Simon [Peter], who, for the sake of the true faith, and the most sure foundation of his doctrine, was set apart to be the foundation of the Church, and for this end was by Jesus himself, with his truthful mouth, named Peter, the first-fruits of our Lord, the first of the apostles; to whom first the Father revealed the Son; whom the Christ, with good reason, blessed; the called, and elect (Letter of Clement to James 2 [A.D, 221]).

Cyril of Jerusalem
In the power of the same Holy Spirit, Peter, both the chief of the apostles and the keeper of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, in the name of Christ healed Aeneas the paralytic at Lydda, which is now called Diospolis [Acts 9 ;3 2-3 4] (Catechetical Lectures 17;27 [A.D. 350]).

Optatus
In the city of Rome the Episcopal chair was given first to Peter, the chair in which Peter sat, the same who was head — that is why he is also called Cephas — of all the apostles, the one chair in which unity is maintained by all. Neither do the apostles proceed individually on their own, and anyone who would [presume to] set up another chair in opposition to that single chair would, by that very fact, be a schismatic and a sinner. . . . Recall, then, the origins of your chair, those of you who wish to claim for yourselves the title of holy Church" (The Schism of the Donatists 2:2 [circa A.D. 367]).

Ambrose of Milan
[Christ] made answer: “You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church . . .” Could he not, then, strengthen the faith of the man to whom, acting on his own authority, he gave the kingdom, whom he called the rock, thereby declaring him to be the foundation of the Church [Matt. 16:18]? (The Faith 4:5 [A.D. 379]).

Augustine
Among these [apostles] Peter alone almost everywhere deserved to represent the whole Church. Because of that representation of the Church, which only he bore, he deserved to hear “I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Sermons 295:2 [A.D. 411]).

Who is ignorant that the first of the apostles is the most blessed Peter? (Commentary on John 56:1 [A.D. 416]).

God Blesws,
pat/PJM