Theology Thursday: Clues from the Early Fathers

If we can agree that the Bible, while complete and containing all things pertaining to life and salvation, certainly needs "interpreting" in a correct manner, we can ask ourselves what, then, is the correct way to interpret the Bibles' teachings on Church and unity of the faith? The Catholic way is to look at what we call "the deposit of faith," or the traditions handed down from the earliest recorded writings of church leaders. Here we find a group often referred to as the "Church Fathers." These men were disciples of the 12 apostles, and the disciples of those disciples. And in their writings we glimpse the issues and ideas of the early Church in such a way as to ensure that we are still living an "authentic" Christian faith. One of the wonderful things about being a Catholic is that I can read the Early Fathers and find in their writings that I am practicing the same, exact, literal word-for-word, thought-for-thought, action-for-action faith that they practiced then. Their writings sound neither obscure nor irrelevant to the Catholic ear but completely and totally... Catholic! It's a fabulous confirmation to read the writings of the earliest Christians and find your own faith in them.
However, many protestants of all denominations also enjoy reading the Church Fathers and find in them value and historical context in which to place their own faith. They know that whatever direction they feel led to take, they cannot stray far from the teachings of the Fathers, for it is only in them that we begin to see the Bible's teachings in light of "accurate" Christian living--and to see the "HOW" that is sometimes unclear or difficult to extrapolate from the scripture.
To read the Church Fathers is to know the faith that Christ Himself taught his own disciples- it's the earliest recorded explanation of Christianity.
So here are a few of my favorite early Fathers quotes on how to "do" Church and on unity in the faith.
As you read them, ask yourself if your own walk of faith conforms to what these earliest of Christian teachers taught? If it doesn't, do you think it should? Why or why not? I'd love to hear from you.

‎"When we refer them to that tradition which originates from the Apostles, which is preserved by means of the succession of presbyters (priests) in the churches, they object to Tradition, saying that they themselves are wiser not merely than the presbyters, but than even the Apostles." St. Irenaeus, "Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D.

 

"Let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian." St. Athanasius, "Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuisc," c. 360 A.D.

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"Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world." St. Polycarp, "The Martyrdom Of St. Polycarp," c. 135 A.D.

"Why are there quarrels and ill will and dissensions and schism and fighting among you? Do we not have one God and one Christ, and one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ? Why do we wrench and tear apart the members of Christ, and revolt against our own body, and reach such folly as to forget that we are members of one another?" St. Clement Of Rome,"First Epistle To The Corinthians," c. 96 A.D.

"He, therefore, who does not assemble with the Church, has even by this displayed his pride, and he has condemned himself." St. Ignatius of Antioch, "Epistle to the Ephesians." c. 105 A.D.

"Although dispersed throughout the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, the Church has received this faith from the apostles and their disciples.... The Church received this preaching and this faith. Although she is scattered throughout the whole world, yet, she carefully preserves it, as if she occupied only one house. She also believes these points just as if she had only one soul, and one and the same heart. She proclaims these things, teaches them, and hands them down, with perfect harmony, as if she possessed only one mouth. For although the languages of the world are different, yet the significance of the tradition is one and the same. For the churches which have been planted in Germany do not believe or hand down anything different. Neither do those in Spain, Gaul, the East, Egypt, Libya, or in the central regions of the world." St. Irenaeus, "Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D.

"Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom will we go?'... Peter, on whom the Church was to be built...taught and showed in the name of the Church that a rebellious and arrogant multitude may depart from the Church. I speak of those who will not hear and obey. However, the Church does not depart from Christ. And the Church consists of those who are a people united to the priest. It is the flock that adhere to its pastor. Therefore, you should know that the bishop is in the Church and the Church is in the bishop. If anyone is not with the bishop, he is not in the Church.... The Church is Catholic and is one. It is not cut or divided. Rather it is connected and bound together by the cement of priests who cohere with one another." St. Cyprian of Carthage, "The Unity of the Catholic Church," c. 250 A.D.

"For this has been the source from which heresies and schism have arisen, that God's priest is not obeyed, nor do people reflect that there is for the time one priest in the Church, who for the time is judge instead of Christ, and if the whole brotherhood would obey him, according to divine teaching, no one would stir up anything against the college of priests...." St. Cyprian of Carthage, "Letters," c. 252 A.D.

"Secede not from the Church: for nothing is stronger than the Church. Thy hope is the Church; thy salvation is the Church; thy refuge is the Church. It is higher than the heavens and wider than the earth. It never grows old, but is ever full of vigor. Wherefore Holy Writ pointing to its strength and stability calls it a mountain." St. John Chrysostom, "Homilies on Eutropius," c. 399 A.D.

"I say and protest that it is as wrong to divide the Church as to fall into heresy." St. John Chrysostom, "Homilies on Ephesians," c. 4th century "Whosoever shall have separated himself from the Catholic Church, no matter how praiseworthy such a person may fancy his life has been, yet for that one crime of having cut himself off from the unity of Christ he shall not have eternal life, but the wrath of God shall abide with him for ever." St. Augustine of Hippo, "Letter 141," c. early 5th century