hoosierdaddy:
The writings of the Fathers are not scripture. Why do you make these statements? Who is mocking who here? Do we know anything about the early church from the pages of history?
You’re the ones who say the writings are not Scripture because when I talk about Scripture you all say “look at the early church writings”.
Uh…you were mocking me. I’m certain of it. Do we know anything about the early church from history? I don’t know. I’m of the mind to believe that if the Catholic church dates back to the beginning that they have been deceiving us from the beginning. I’d like to give examples why to back up my assertion but that’s not allowed. Only you guys can do that; I’d be told to start another thread.
Please, show me the verse that says Mary was not a virgin all her life.
Please show me the verse that says Mary was a virgin all her life.
There are no verses that clearly say that Mary was “ever Virgin.” But niether are there any verses that say she “wasn’t.”
The reason us Catholics usually quote the early Church Fathers is because they were people who lived SHORTLY after New Testament times. St. Polycarp was an actual disciple of St. John of the New Testament. We have writings on St. Polycarp too and then there was St. Irenaeus who was a disciple of St. Polycarp. There is also St. Ignatius, another DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLES of the New Testament. There are writings on all of these great Godly men and many, many others as the sucsession continued from one “well entrusted man” to another. Their writings are orthodox to the Bible, and they speak more clearly about other issues, such as the Ever Virginity of Mother Mary. Obvisoulsy these teachings were talked about and discussed among the apostles themselves and as time went on more and more Truth emerged from The Holy Spirit’s Revelations.
Perhaps some of this were the “many things” Christ speaks of in John 16:12. Also read Mark 4:33, Mark 6:34, John 20:30, John 21:25 and Acts 1:2-3. To me these verses show that Jesus talked about much more things and doctrines other than what is found in Holy Scripture. But Holy Scripture does have everything we need to know about God and salvation, the essentials!
Nevertheless, it is good to show what the early christians believed, especialy to those who protest against the Catholic Church, saying it’s unBiblical and unhistorical. Such coments are laughable and completly ridiculous! Everything the Catholic Church teaches can be found in the Bible. Most doctrines are well within Scripture, a few, such as Mother Mary as Ever Virgin, and her Assumption, are grounded in Scripture. And the Churches doctrines are also heavily found among the early Church Fathers.
Check out the doctrines on Mary yourself at this website, it is a wonderful site!
ic.net/%7Eerasmus/RAZ153.HTM
Or check out the Catholic Answers Library on Marian doctrines.
Look at writtings yourself. If you accept it, praise God! If not, then fine. But at least you’ll have a deeper understanding on what the Church believes about her and why.
Blessings in Christ my friend.
