po18guy
Well-known member
As with all writings, we must be careful to read them in context and to realize that the fathers were not Pope and council, and did not declare doctrine in and of themselves. And, we must not allow discussions regarding the fathers to distract us from what Christ had to say!
Citing Sources;
Search pulling Fathers opinions, positive and negative, on the topic,…
asking for limited number,
Here is where each Father’s writing is found within their works;
Origen, from the Commentary on Mathew, 12:10-11,
Cyprian, ‘On the Unity of the Church 4’,
Chrysostom, ‘Commentary on Galations 1, vv 1-3’
Jerome 'Letter 15:1-2, 15:4,
Augustine 'The Retractions, 1:20:1
An example that frequently arises is that of Jerome and the Deuterocanonical books. He had questions about them, but never declared them to be uninspired. He translated them (and others that were not accepted) dutifully, and relied on them in his later writings. Those who cite Jerome’s questions regarding the Deuterocanon as justification for their exclusion from the canon then turn around and reject Jerome when he teaches of the Pope, Church councils, the Sacraments, the Apostolic Tradition and Church authority.
Such cherry picking is not a search for the truth, but for personal comfort.