Can anyone suggest a book or a series of books that teach our Roman Catholic Church history? I’m very interested!
starting with
The book of Acts
Acts 9:31
the church throughout all ἐκκλησία καθ’ ὅλης τῆς
Translation:
ἐκκλησία (ecclesia) = church
καθ’ (kata)= according to ,
ὅλης (holos)= whole / all / complete / universal ,
τῆς (ho)= the ,
= the Kataholos Church = the Catholic Church.
Apostolic Fathers of the Church
Then
1st century, Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was bishop from ~69 a.d. to ~107 a.d.
ordained by the apostles, and direct disciple of St John. It was in Antioch where the disciples were first called Christian Acts 11:26
Acts 11:26 RSVCE - and when he had found him, he brought - Bible Gateway Ignatius in his writings uses both “Christian” and “Catholic Church” here, (Christian) in (ch 2) and Catholic Church in (ch 8). From his Epistle to the Smyrnæans
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm . He also writes schismatics won’t be going to heaven, from his
Epistle to the Philadelphians (ch 3) .
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0108.htm . Where would Ignatius learn to teach that warning and consequence for one’s soul, for committing and remaining in the sin of schism / division /schism from the Catholic Church? Since he was ordained by the apostles, and was a direct disciple of St John, THAT is a great pedigree.
To read all letters from Ignatius
Muratorian canon ~170 A.D. (where we got the scriptures that we read)
HERE
Bp Irenaeus, ~180 A.D.
Bk 1, ch 10, para 3 describes Catholic
Bk 3, Ch 3, vv2-3 describes, succession, & why the Church of Rome has pre eminent authority
Bp Cyprian of Carthage, ~250 a.d.
calls the Church the
Catholic Church Epistle 54
This is all before the Nicene council, in 325 a.d., and the Creed, when, it is a profession of faith to believe in the 4 marks of the Church
One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Church.
And as you know, it keeps on going