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Prodigal_Son1
Guest
It just seems to say, that if none of the Churches today, are like those Churches then, Christ’s Church didn’t make it??
Just making a point here, but we’ve discussed ‘tradtion’, scriptures even speaks of them and tells us to hold to them. Surely those Churches then would know those traditions specifically. Now, if those traditions are not specifically spelled out point by point, as we know them today, where can we look too to understand those traditions. Christ told His Church He wouldn’t leave us orphans. The only place left to look is the writings of the early Church fathers.
The Church then was young when scriptures were written. Those traditions were widely believed and it wasn’t necessary to explain them point by point, after all the Apostles, authors of scriptures, knew their teachings, traditions, were safe with those they appointed to succeed them. Remember, they all believed Christ would return in their lifetimes. Is this the reason they didn’t begin writing in the beginning?
Scriptures themselves were written between 50AD and as late as 110AD, give or take. Christ died and resurrected around 33AD, again give or take. Writing them seemed to be an after thought to the authors, with the exception of Paul who wrote many letters of correction. Did they come to the realization that Christ might possibly not come in their lifetimes and then decide they better write everything down? Remember John told us, twice, that Christ did many things and the world itself could not contain all the books written, had they been written.
So the early Church father’s writings are not considered scripture. They give insight to how they were practicing Christianity from the beginning, the beginning being around 110AD, not counting the Didache, which may have been written earlier but is unidentifiable as to who wrote it, and then it’s not specific.
Common sense with any new establishment is the older it is, the more details are documented.
It seems alot of Protestants won’t consider the writings of the early Church fathers, using an excuse that their not scriptures, but primarily because upon close inspection, there’s a trend supporting Catholic beliefs. With that said, they can offer no other documentation prior to the 1500s. Christians thoughtout history and into the present day are constantly writing about their faith.
I don’t believe Christ’s Church failed, and I believe there are documents throughout history. I’m reading a book now by Flavius Josephus, a Jewish general from the war with the Romans. If his writings could have survived, surely Church documents survived.
What does one have to lose reading the writings of the early Church fathers? Anyone that knows Christ can tell those writings were written by Christians. There’s the link again.
This is not an attempt to try and convert anyone. I believe you are seeking Him, and if you’re like me, you want to worship Him the way He wants us to worship and not the way that comfortable to us, or fits our lifestyle.
