UNIT 4: CHURCH AND TEACHER

True or False:
If Catholics had a better understanding of the Church's dogma, they would better understand their own lives and be better prepared to cope with crisis. What assumptions are made here?

The Church's task: Is to tell the world the truth that has been revealed in Jesus Christ.

The Church has received Truth through Scripture and Tradition.

AND IN EVERY AGE

SCRIPTURE IS INERRANT:

BUT: words of Scripture must be read as their meaning emerges from the language, history and culture of the inspired human authors.

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE?

In the Apostolic Era:
The Scriptures were the OT.
No need for the NT, because...
The writers were still living!

BY THE 2ND CENTURY:

• Apostolic writings were circulated
• First came letters--Paul, Peter, etc
• Then finished narratives appeared
• Authenticity was still within memory
• The best writings circulated widely

THIRD CENTURY

• A radical preacher, Marcion
• Taught salvation came thru Jesus
• Main disciple was Paul
• Old Testament God was evil
• Jewish Scriptures (OT) not valid

RESPONSE TO MARCIONISM

• Final statement of the Apostles' Creed
• Canon (list) of Scripture made official
• OT = 46 books from Septuagint
• NT = 27 books, wide circulation
• NT: Apostolic writings, faithful message

What we learn:
"Official" Scripture comes after Tradition--which is the way the Church lives, understands and teaches revealed truth

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The Apostles' Creed:
First statement of DOGMA for the Catholic Church: what a Catholic knows to be specifically revealed by God.

Dogmas--
Infallible and Irreformable;
but, our understanding may deepen over time.

DOCTRINE:
OFFICIAL TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH THAT HELP EXPLAIN AND APPLY REVEALED TRUTH.

The origins of doctrine:
The early Church needed to explain itself to educated pagans and answer those who taught heresy

APOLOGETICS

EARLY APOLOGISTS

Irenaeus of Lyons
Early 2nd century, pastor in Smyrna
Appointed bishop of Lyons

St. Irenaeus

• wanted to teach congregations the faith
• taught that God makes us good, body and spirit
• our bodily life is important; it's not just about Heaven
• Human progress is part of God's plan of salvation

Clement of Alexandria

• Found connections between philosophy and the Faith
• Considered Plato's philosophy "pre-Christian"
• Both Jewish Law and Greek Philosophy pointed forward to the Truth of Jesus' teaching

Tertullian

• Against Philosophy and pagan Myth --only Theology is true
• Church is the OWNER of Scripture: no one else has rights to use it--as heresy
• Church's interpretation of Scripture is authoritative b/c Scripture is from the Church

Origen
*Head of Catechetical School of Alexandria
*Musician, Translator, Theologian, Liturgist

Origen's Christianity

• Only one God, creator and ruler of all
• Jesus Christ, Son of God, fully human & fully divine
• Holy Spirit shares in divine nature of the Father and Son
• Final judgement and resurrection of the body

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