Bible Translators
119-460: Theologians The term Evangelical Catholic (from catholic meaning universal and evangelical meaning Gospel-centered ) is used in Lutheranism , alongside the terms Augsburg Catholic or Augustana Catholic , with those calling themselves Evangelical Catholic Lutherans or Lutherans of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship stressing the catholicity of historic Lutheranism in liturgy (such as
238-939: A Benedictine community in Sala, Sweden and Saint Augustine's House, a monastery in Michigan . Mother Basilea Schlink established the charismatic Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Darmstadt , which contains the motherhouse where the Lutheran nuns reside. The Order of Lutheran Franciscans is a religious institute affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . Lutherans had different views regarding religious imagery than Reformed Christians. Martin Luther in Germany allowed and encouraged
357-553: A Lutheran denomination based in North America, taught: A so-called democratic form of Church polity, or congregational rule/autonomy, where the children rule the father, is unscriptural, non-Catholic, non-Lutheran, and a subversion of God's natural, revealed Order. The form of Church government practiced by the LC-MS and ELCA (and almost all other expressions of American Lutheranism) was condemned by Fr. Luther when Philip of Hesse (perhaps
476-511: A different origin and meaning in Lutheranism than in " Evangelicalism ". (In German, there is a difference between evangelisch and evangelikal ; in Swedish, there is a corresponding difference between evangelisk and evangelikal ). In the Lutheran tradition, evangelical ( evangelisch ) refers to the gospel, with the specific meaning of "grace centered". The opposite of evangelical
595-778: A fixed plan; two more mature scholars acted as "architects", grouped the material, and submitted it to the editors. When approved, the materials were worked up into chapters and again submitted before the final form was fair-copied. An analysis of the Quarta Centuria , (Fourth Century) which appeared in 1560, will give an idea of the contents: This method was applied only to the first thirteen centuries, which were published separately in folio volumes at Basel; I–III in 1559 (reprinted 1560, 1562, 1564); IV in 1560 (reprinted 1562); V and VI in 1562; VII and VIII in 1564; IX in 1565; X and XI in 1567; XII in 1569; and XIII in 1574. The three remaining centuries were completed in manuscript by Wigand (who
714-521: A large and very disorderly wave of Calvinist mob destruction of images and church fittings that spread through the Low Countries in the summer of 1566 was the largest outbreak of this sort, with drastic political repercussions. This campaign of Reformed iconoclasm "provoked reactive riots by Lutheran mobs" in Germany and "antagonized the neighbouring Eastern Orthodox" in the Baltic region. Lutheran Mariology
833-650: A large number of epistles where he makes use of the term: Marcianus, who abides at Aries, has associated himself with Novatian , and has departed from the unity of the Catholic Church. [...] While the Bishop Cornelius was ordained in the Catholic Church by the judgment of God, and by the suffrages of the clergy and people. When we were together in council, dearest brethren, we read your letter which you wrote to us concerning those who seem to be baptized by heretics and schismatics, (asking) whether, when they, come to
952-498: A man of apostolic holiness. According to the apostolic teaching and the doctrine of the Gospel, let us believe in the one Deity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in equal majesty and in a holy Trinity . We authorize the followers of this law to assume the title Catholic Christians; but as for the others, since in our judgment they are foolish madmen, we decree that they shall be branded with
1071-426: A perspective that is completely independent from any of its sources, even though they are as wide-ranging as Gregory of Nazianzus and Alcuin . Not only are the volumes artificially divided by century rather than by historical eras, but each century is treated from a similar perspective, rather than from a fresh perspective for every era of history. Catholics have dissented from controversial historical arguments in
1190-621: A rich history and several usages. The word in English can mean either "of the Catholic faith " or "relating to the historic doctrine and practice of the Western Church ". " Catholicos ", the title used for the head of some churches in Eastern Christian traditions, is derived from the same linguistic origin. In non-ecclesiastical use, it derives its English meaning directly from its root, and
1309-418: A sacramentalism similar to that in orthodox Lutheranism, especially in the high church movement. The Book of Concord states, contrary to " Enthusiast " belief, that salvation can be received only through the means of grace : God's Word and sacraments. The Augsburg Confession stresses that "in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Catholic Church." Article XXIV of
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#17328484872161428-545: A section titled Headgear for Women : "It is laudable custom, based upon a Scriptural injunction (1 Cor. 11:3-15), for women to wear an appropriate head covering in Church, especially at the time of divine service." Traditions, such as episcopal polity and apostolic succession are also maintained and seen as essential by Lutherans of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship; the Church of Sweden for example teaches that "Since this ordinance
1547-625: A sign of reverence for and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Martin Luther advocated the use of the original version of the Hail Mary prayer before it was modified at the Roman Catholic Church's Council of Trent (that is, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.") The 1522 Betbüchlein (Prayer Book) retained
1666-601: A specific meaning. Lutheran Protestantism differs historically from most other kinds of Protestantism in that Lutheranism is the only historical Protestant denomination that confesses belief in three sacraments : regeneration in Holy Baptism , Confession as the sacrament of Absolution , and the Real Presence of Christ in Holy Eucharist . In Anglicanism and Methodism, two other Protestant traditions, there has also been
1785-516: Is "catholic" was summarized in what is known as the Vincentian Canon in the 5th century Commonitory : "what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all." Distinguishing beliefs of Catholicity , the beliefs of most Christians who call themselves "Catholic", include the episcopal polity , that bishops are considered the highest order of ministers within the Christian religion, as well as
1904-552: Is also used in the Martyrdom of Polycarp (AD 156): The Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium, and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place: Mercy, peace, and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied. For, [Polycarp] having through patience overcome the unjust governor, and thus acquired
2023-678: Is currently used to mean the following: The term has been incorporated into the name of the largest Christian communion, the Roman Catholic Church . All of the three main branches of Christianity in the East – Eastern Orthodox Church , Oriental Orthodox Church and Church of the East – had always identified themselves as Catholic in accordance with apostolic traditions and the Nicene Creed . Lutherans , Reformed , Anglicans and Methodists also believe that their churches are "Catholic" in
2142-409: Is employed by Tertullian (AD 200): Where was Marcion then, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus then, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago — in the reign of Antoninus for the most part, — and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of Rome under the episcopate of
2261-511: Is in perfect communion with itself everywhere as the Roman Catholic; and in this respect, consequently, the Roman Catholic has no advantage or superiority, except in the point of numbers. As a further necessary consequence, it is plain that the Roman Church is no more Catholic in any sense than a Methodist or a Baptist. As such, according to one viewpoint, for those who "belong to the Church,"
2380-707: Is informed by the Augsburg Confession and honours Mary as "the most blessed Mother of God, the most blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ," and "the Queen of Heaven." The Smalcald Articles , a confession of faith of the Lutheran churches, affirm the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Lutherans of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship tend to stress a continuity with these pre-Reformational beliefs that have been upheld by many Lutherans theologians since Martin Luther himself. As
2499-426: Is manifest were notoriously held by our holy ancestors and fathers; consent, in like manner, if in antiquity itself we adhere to the consentient definitions and determinations of all, or at the least of almost all priests and doctors. In the early centuries of Christian history, the majority of Christians who followed doctrines represented in Nicene Creed were bound by one common and undivided Catholicity that united
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#17328484872162618-623: Is not "catholic" or "liberal", but legalistic . The Lutheran Church traditionally sees itself as the "main trunk of the historical Christian Tree" founded by Christ and the Apostles, holding that during the Reformation, the Church of Rome fell away. In early Lutheranism, the Gnesio-Lutherans compiled the first modern critical history of the world, the Magdeburg Centuries , to show that
2737-526: Is so integral to the Catholic faith and solidly attested to in the ecumenical councils , the writings of the Church Fathers , and papal teaching, the late well-known Father Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009), (a former longtime Evangelical Lutheran pastor) looked to the day when the term 'evangelical Catholic' would be redundant - when identifying as 'Catholic' would imply active evangelization so strongly that
2856-476: Is the earliest occurrence in Christian literature of the phrase 'the Catholic Church' (ἡ καθολικὴ ἐκκλησία). The original sense of the word is 'universal'. Thus Justin Martyr ( Dial . 82) speaks of the 'universal or general resurrection ', using the words ἡ καθολικὴ ἀνάστασις. Similarly here the Church universal is contrasted with the particular Church of Smyrna. Ignatius means by the Catholic Church 'the aggregate of all
2975-404: Is the true visible Church which does this. But that all visible Churches do not this is plain from the fact that they do not agree among themselves. If every Church would teach the whole truth and nothing but the truth as God has revealed it, there could be no difference. So, then, by calling other denominations Churches, we do not mean to say that one Church is just as good as another. Only that one
3094-525: Is the true visible Church which teaches and confesses the entire doctrine of the Word of God in all its purity, and in whose midst the Sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's institution. Of all Churches, this can only be said of our Lutheran Church. Evangelical Catholics of Lutheran churchmanship cherish the practice of Christian monasticism ; after the Reformation, many monasteries and convents adopted
3213-496: Is this sense of the term, a Roman Catholic who holds to evangelicalism, that former vice president Mike Pence self-identifies as an "Evangelical Catholic". Evangelical Catholics see these evangelical emphases as the core of the 2,000-year tradition of Catholic Christianity. Evangelical preaching movements such as St. Dominic 's, who was called the Vir Evangelicus (evangelical man), are a common point of reference. To Catholics,
3332-409: Is truly and in the strictest sense 'catholic,' which, as the name itself and the reason of the thing declare, comprehends all universally. This rule we shall observe if we follow universality, antiquity, consent. We shall follow universality if we confess that one faith to be true, which the whole church throughout the world confesses; antiquity, if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it
3451-629: The Adiaphoristic controversy, in the course of which he wrote numerous harsh criticisms of the Reformer Philipp Melanchthon ; the bitter feeling generated gave rise to the hostile parties of Philippists and Flacians. All attempts to restore peace failed, and the University of Jena , where Flacius was appointed professor of theology in 1557, became a centre of rigid Lutheranism in strong opposition to Melachthon. His wanderings after 1562, and
3570-567: The Book of Concord , a compendium of belief of the Lutheran churches , teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church". When the Lutherans presented the Augsburg Confession to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1530, they believed it "showed that each article of faith and practice
3689-418: The Book of Concord , a compendium of belief of the Lutheranism , teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church". When the Lutherans presented the Augsburg Confession to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1530, they believe to have "showed that each article of faith and practice
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3808-574: The Centuriators of Magdeburg . The chief of the Centuriators was Matthias Flacius . Lutheran theologian Werner Elert argued that due to its revolutionary critical method of presenting history, it is the basis of all modern church history. It is said that Baronius undertook his Annales Ecclesiastici purely to oppose the Magdeburg Centuriators . The Magdeburg Centuries demonstrates
3927-848: The Centuries, made to discredit the papacy, including the identification of the pope as the Anti-Christ , and the legend of Pope Joan . The full title of the work is Ecclesiastica Historia, integram Ecclesiae Christi ideam, quantum ad Locum, Propagationem, Persecutionem, Tranquillitatem, Doctrinam, Hæreses, Ceremonias, Gubernationem, Schismata, Synodos, Personas, Miracula, Martyria, Religiones extra Ecclesiam, & statum Imperii politicum attinet, secundum singulas Centurias, perspicuo ordine complectens: singulari diligentia & fide ex vetustissimis & optimis historicis, patribus, & aliis scriptoribus congesta: Per aliquot studiosos & pios viros in urbe Magdeburgicâ . The first three folio volumes of
4046-547: The Confessional Lutheran movement who follow the late Arthur Carl Piepkorn , the Evangelical Catholic Orthodoxy of Gunnar Rosendal , the more theologically moderate high ecclesiology of Carl Braaten , the very liberal Evangelical Catholicity of Nathan Söderblom , or even the more liberal Catholicism of Friedrich Heiler , and the ecumenical vision of Hans Asmussen and Max Lackmann , as well as
4165-642: The East–West Schism of 1054, those terms had just the basic geographical meanings, since only one undivided Catholicity existed, uniting the Latin-speaking Christians of West and the Greek-speaking Christians of the East. After the Schism, terminology became much more complicated, resulting in the creation of parallel and conflicting terminological systems. The Greek adjective katholikos ,
4284-659: The Evangelical Catholic Church , Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church , Lutheran Church - International , and the Lutheran Episcopal Communion . The Nordic Catholic Church in Norway has roots in High Church Lutheranism. However, most Evangelical Catholic Lutheran clergy and Evangelical Lutheran parishes are part of mainstream Lutheran denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ,
4403-567: The Evangelical Church in Germany , and the Church of Sweden . Many Lutherans hold beliefs that would be characterized as being of the Evangelical Catholic churchmanship of Lutheranism, but prefer to be called simply as "Lutherans" as they view the catholic nature of Lutheranism to be inherent in Lutheranism and prefer to stress the unity within Lutheranism as a whole. In 1976, Joseph Ratzinger , later Pope Benedict XVI, suggested that
4522-578: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya . The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada defines its doctrinal basis as such: "We derive our teachings from the Holy Scriptures and confess the three ecumenical creeds of the Christian church. We hold to orthodox catholic theology as enunciated in the ecumenical councils of the first five centuries of Christianity." Some small "Evangelical Catholic" church bodies include
4641-449: The Mass ), beliefs (such as the perpetual virginity of Mary ), practices (such as genuflection ), and doctrines (such as apostolic succession ). Evangelical Catholics teach that Lutheranism at its core "is deeply and fundamentally catholic". The majority of Evangelical Catholic Lutheran clergy and parishes are members of mainstream Lutheran denominations. The Augsburg Confession found within
4760-487: The Muratorian fragment ( circa 170 A.D.), which refers to certain heretical writings as 'not received in the Catholic Church'. So too Cyril of Jerusalem , in the fourth century , says that the Church is called Catholic not only 'because it is spread throughout the world', but also 'because it teaches completely and without defect all the doctrines which ought to come to the knowledge of men'. This secondary sense arose out of
4879-459: The Nicene Creed of AD 381. In particular, along with unity, sanctity , and apostolicity , catholicity is considered one of Four Marks of the Church , found in the line of the Nicene Creed: "I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church." During the medieval and modern times, additional distinctions arose regarding the use of the terms Western Catholic and Eastern Catholic . Before
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4998-681: The Old Catholic movement of the 19th century. Today it belongs to the Anglican Communion . In England, Ulric Vernon Herford (1866–1938), irregularly consecrated as Mar Jacobus, Bishop of Mercia & Middlesex, founded The Evangelical Catholic Communion. His succession line was brought to the United States in the 1960s and continues in the Syro-Chaldean Church of North America . Some members of various Christian denominations may use
5117-774: The Protestant Reformation . Increasingly, the Roman Catholic Church is appropriating the evangelical witness of the recent popes and their encyclicals, especially Pope Paul VI's Evangelii nuntiandi ( On Evangelization in the Modern World ), John Paul II's Redemptoris missio ( The Mission of the Redeemer ), and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's Declaration Dominus Iesus ( The Lord Jesus ), for which Pope Benedict XVI
5236-907: The Ritualist movement in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, also published a periodical called "The Evangelical Catholic." Muhlenberg's vision has influenced the Reformed Episcopal Church and some on the Free Church of England . Already earlier, there was an evangelical revival in the Roman Catholic Church in Germany , involving Boos , Gossner and Feneberg . This evangelical revivalist movement also spread to German Lutheranism. The Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church in Portugal has its origins in
5355-460: The laying on of hands . What made the Church of Sweden an evangelical-catholic church was to Archbishop Söderblom the fact that the Reformation in Sweden was a 'church improvement' and a 'process of purification' which did not create a new church. As a national church, the Church of Sweden succeeded in bringing together medieval Swedish tradition with the rediscovery of the gospel which the Reformation brought with it. Archbishop Söderblom included
5474-404: The "Catholic Church" from other groups who could also refer to themselves as an ἐκκλησία (assembly or church): Since the word Ecclesia is applied to different things (as also it is written of the multitude in the theatre of the Ephesians, And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the Assembly (Acts 19:41), and since one might properly and truly say that there is a Church of evil doers , I mean
5593-401: The "riches of the catholic tradition are already ours, and at our best we embrace that heritage". Apart from its usage in Lutheranism, Evangelical catholic ( catholic is the noun with evangelical modifying) can refer variously to: As used by the Roman Catholic Church , the term evangelical Catholic refers to Roman Catholics in full communion with the Holy See in Rome and who hold
5712-401: The 9th and 11th century. After the East–West Schism , the notion of common Catholicity was broken and each side started to develop its own terminological practice. All major theological and ecclesiastical disputes in the Christian East or West have been commonly accompanied by attempts of arguing sides to deny each other the right to use the word "Catholic" as term of self-designation. After
5831-454: The Augsburg Confession "Of the Mass" states: "Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence." Some Lutheran church bodies claim to also have retained the historical episcopate and apostolic succession . The evangelical feature of Lutheranism is justification by faith , as defined by Law and Gospel and simul iustus et peccator . The term evangelical has
5950-556: The Augsburg Confession might be possible to recognise as a Catholic statement of faith. This did not happen due to differences in understanding of the theology on justification. Various Roman Catholic leaders and theologians, such as Cardinal Kurt Koch have proposed the idea of Lutheran Ordinariates within the Catholic Church, which would allow Lutherans to join the Catholic Church and retain aspects of their liturgy and traditions. Lutherans of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, however, have opposed conversion to Roman Catholicism, arguing that
6069-476: The Ave Maria. The Wreath of Christ , also known as the Pearls of Life, is a set of prayer beads developed by the Swedish Evangelic-Lutheran bishop Martin Lönnebo . They are a devotion used by communicants in the Lutheran churches. Many Lutheran women of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship wear a veil during prayer and worship. The General Rubrics of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America , as contained in "The Lutheran Liturgy", state in
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#17328484872166188-445: The Catholic Church, which is one, they ought to be baptized. They strive to set before and prefer the sordid and profane washing of heretics to the true and only and legitimate baptism of the Catholic Church. [...] We ought by all means to maintain the unity of the Catholic Church, and not to give way to the enemies of faith and truth in any respect. [...] Whose opinion, as being both religious and lawful and salutary, and in harmony with
6307-446: The Catholic faith and Church, we also have followed. In addition to epistles 66, 69 and 70, the term is also found in the epistles 19, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 50, 51, 54, 63, 68, 71, 72, 74, 75. As mentioned in the above quotation from J.H. Srawley, Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315–386), who is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church , and the Anglican Communion , distinguished what he called
6426-438: The Christian congregations' (Swete, Apostles Creed , p. 76). So too the letter of the Church of Smyrna is addressed to all the congregations of the Holy Catholic Church in every place. And this primitive sense of 'universal' the word has never lost, although in the latter part of the second century it began to receive the secondary sense of ' orthodox ' as opposed to ' heretical '. Thus it is used in an early Canon of Scripture ,
6545-538: The Epistle of Manichaeus called Fundamental , chapter 4: Proofs of the Catholic Faith. A contemporary of Augustine, St. Vincent of Lerins , wrote in 434 (under the pseudonym Peregrinus) a work known as the Commonitoria ("Memoranda"). While insisting that, like the human body, church doctrine develops while truly keeping its identity (sections 54–59, chapter XXIII), he stated: In the Catholic Church itself, all possible care must be taken, that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all. For that
6664-417: The Greek phrase καθόλου ( katholou ) ' on the whole, according to the whole, in general ' , and is a combination of the Greek words κατά ( kata ) ' about ' and ὅλος ( holos ) ' whole ' . The first known use of "Catholic" was by the church father Saint Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans (circa 110 AD). In the context of Christian ecclesiology , it has
6783-422: The King's Family of Churches. It governs by an Episcopal polity, embraces the Charismatic renewal, uses different liturgical versions in worship, both Anglican and Lutheran, and supports church missions and church planting. Catholic (term) The word catholic (derived via Late Latin catholicus , from the ancient Greek adjective καθολικός ( katholikos ) ' universal ' ) comes from
6902-434: The Latin-speaking Christians of the west and the Greek-speaking Christians of the east. In those days, the terms "eastern Catholic" and "western Catholic" had geographical meanings, generally corresponding to existing linguistic distinctions between Greek east and Latin west. In spite of various theological and ecclesiastical disagreements between Christian sees, a common Catholicity was preserved. A great dispute arose between
7021-565: The Lutheran Church was a continuation of the Christian church throughout its history, though stripped of abuses originating from the pope. Gnesio-Lutherans such as Joachim Westphal and Andreas Musculus had a "high" understanding of the sacraments, and therefore were strongly opposed to any compromise with Calvinism and Zwingliism , as well as with Roman Catholic doctrine. In the era of Lutheran orthodoxy , theologians Martin Chemnitz and Johann Gerhard (especially in his Confessio Catholica ) made extensive use of patristic sources. They saw
7140-551: The Lutheran Confessions nowhere mention such a " doctrine ". The congregational (or priesthood of all believers) form of Church polity has no foundation in the Scriptures, the canons of the undivided Church, the Lutheran Confessions, or the writings of Dr. Martin Luther. For this reason the canons of The Evangelical Catholic Church state that the parish Pastor is the spiritual father of his parish (XIII,1). These views have proved to be influential in all of Lutheranism, especially when ecumenical agreements between churches are made; in
7259-407: The Lutheran faith and continued religious life , including lay oblates . Examples include monasteries such as Amelungsborn Abbey near Negenborn and Loccum Abbey in Rehburg-Loccum , as well as convents such as Ebstorf Abbey near the town of Uelzen and Bursfelde Abbey in Bursfelde . New religious orders were established by Lutherans throughout the centuries such as Östanbäck Monastery ,
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#17328484872167378-424: The Roman Empire, declaring in the Edict of Thessalonica of 27 February 380: It is our desire that all the various nations which are subject to our clemency and moderation, should continue the profession of that religion which was delivered to the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter, as it has been preserved by faithful tradition and which is now professed by the Pontiff Damasus and by Peter, Bishop of Alexandria ,
7497-474: The acceptance of Filioque clause into the Nicene Creed by the Rome, Orthodox Christians in the East started to refer to adherents of Filioquism in the West just as "Latins" considering them no longer to be "Catholics". The dominant view in the Eastern Orthodox Church, that all Western Christians who accepted Filioque interpolation and unorthodox Pneumatology ceased to be Catholics, was held and promoted by famous Eastern Orthodox canonist Theodore Balsamon who
7616-401: The addition of 'evangelical' would be unnecessary. As a group, they are often not disaggregated in social science research, though there have been recent calls to change this. In recent years, the term Evangelical Catholic , has been adopted by high church elements of the Methodist and Reformed churches. This is especially apt among the Reformed, given that one of the older documented uses of
7735-569: The adjective catholic . The Modern Greek equivalent καθολικισμός katholikismos is back-formed and usually refers to the Catholic Church . The terms catholic , catholicism , and catholicity are closely related to the use of the term Catholic Church . (See Catholic Church (disambiguation) for more uses.) The earliest evidence of the use of that term is the Letter to the Smyrnaeans that Ignatius of Antioch wrote in about 107 to Christians in Smyrna . Exhorting Christians to remain closely united with their bishop , he wrote: "Wherever
7854-525: The altar and elsewhere." Lutherans strongly defended their existing sacred art from a new wave of Reformed-on-Lutheran iconoclasm in the second half of the century, as Reformed rulers or city authorities attempted to impose their will on Lutheran populations in the " Second Reformation " of about 1560-1619. Against the Reformed, Lutherans exclaimed: "You black Calvinist, you give permission to smash our pictures and hack our crosses; we are going to smash you and your Calvinist priests in return". The Beeldenstorm ,
7973-415: The bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." From the second half of the second century, the word "catholic" began to be used to mean "orthodox" (non-heretical), "because Catholics claimed to teach the whole truth, and to represent the whole Church, while heresy arose out of the exaggeration of some one truth and
8092-408: The blessed Eleutherus , until on account of their ever restless curiosity, with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled. Clement of Alexandria (AD 202) cites: Therefore in substance and idea, in origin, in pre-eminence, we say that the ancient and Catholic Church is alone, collecting as it does into the unity of the one faith. Cyprian of Carthage (AD 254) wrote
8211-461: The continuity of the Christian faith throughout the ages. As the Centuries put it, Church history shows a "perpetual agreement in the teaching of each article of faith in all ages". Instead of presenting a Restorationist platform, the writers held that "this very form of the teaching which we now have in our churches because of the great kindness of God is that very ancient one, not a new one; genuine, not adulterous; true, not fabricated." The view of
8330-430: The continuity of the pre-Reformation church in Lutheranism, which they understood not as a re-formation of the church, but rather a renewal movement within and for the Christian church, from which the Roman church did truly represent. With regard to the nature of the church, Lutheran theology therefore holds that: There can only be one true visible Church. Of this our Catechism speaks in Question 192: "Whom do we call
8449-491: The crown of immortality, he now, with the apostles and all the righteous [in heaven], rejoicingly glorifies God, even the Father, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world. The Muratorian fragment (AD 177) mentions: [Paul] wrote, besides these, one to Philemon, and one to Titus, and two to Timothy, in simple personal affection and love indeed; but yet these are hallowed in
8568-530: The display of religious imagery in churches, seeing the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a continuation of the "ancient, apostolic church". Lutheran altarpieces like the Last Supper by the younger Cranach were produced in Germany, especially by Luther's friend Lucas Cranach , to replace Catholic ones, often containing portraits of leading reformers as the apostles or other protagonists, but retaining
8687-403: The distorted view that, because The Faithful are a royal priesthood (I Pet. 2:9), all Christians ( the priesthood of all believers ) possess the public office of the ministry. Such a teaching ( i.e. , the mandate or justification of a congregational form of Church polity) is not found in Holy Scriptures; such a practice does not conform to the teachings of Dr. Luther. That is why, without a doubt,
8806-510: The esteem of the Catholic Church, and in the regulation of ecclesiastical discipline. There are also in circulation one to the Laodiceans, and another to the Alexandrians, forged under the name of Paul, and addressed against the heresy of Marcion; and there are also several others which cannot be received into the Catholic Church, for it is not suitable for gall to be mingled with honey. The term
8925-523: The four characteristics of evangelicalism . The first is a strong theological and devotional emphasis on the Christian scriptures , often holding to a prima scriptura position regarding the Deposit of Faith. Secondly, evangelical Catholics stress justification by faith alone. A personal need for interior conversion is the third defining mark, and, consequently, the fourth is a deep commitment to evangelization. It
9044-530: The historic episcopate in the tradition-transmitting elements. The Church of Sweden was, according to Söderblom, in an even higher degree than the Anglican Church a via media . —Together in Mission and Ministry: The Porvoo Common Statement Such a view sees the congregational form of church governance as non-Lutheran and not reflective of Lutheranism's identity as a catholic Church; the Evangelical Catholic Church ,
9163-549: The history of Catholicism, and in that spirit wrote his once famous and influential catalogue of anti-papal witnesses, Catalogus testium veritatis, qui ante nostram aetatem reclamarunt Papae (Basel, 1556; enlarged ed., Strasburg, 1562; ed. by Dietericus, Frankfort, 1672). Some four hundred anti-papal witnesses were cited, Pope Gregory I and Thomas Aquinas being included in the number of those who had stood up for truth against "the Papal Antichrist". As early as 1553, Flacius
9282-401: The ignominious name of heretics, and shall not presume to give their conventicles the name of churches. They will suffer in the first place the chastisement of the divine condemnation, and in the second the punishment which our authority, in accordance with the will of heaven, will decide to inflict. Theodosian Code XVI.i.2 Jerome wrote to Augustine of Hippo in 418: "You are known throughout
9401-406: The largest Lutheran denomination in United States, for example, "all episcopal installations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America take place with the participation of bishops in the apostolic succession." In the 19th century, "Evangelical Catholicism" was seen as a vision for the Church of the future. The term was used by Lutherans such as Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach and Heinrich Leo within
9520-514: The late medieval and early modern period, terminology became much more complicated, resulting in the creation of parallel and confronting terminological systems that exist today in all of their complexity. During the Early Modern period, a special term "Acatholic" was widely used in the West to mark all those who were considered to hold heretical theological views and irregular ecclesiastical practices. In
9639-472: The libraries of Austria , Bavaria , Scotland, and Denmark for the same purpose. Research has emphasized the importance of the assistance given by the crypto-Protestant, Caspar von Nydbruck, imperial counselor, and head of the Imperial Library of Vienna , whose influence was exerted throughout Europe on behalf of the work. The editorial board, Gubernatores et Inspectores institut historiæ Ecclesiasticæ,
9758-582: The meetings of the heretics, the Marcionists and Manichees , and the rest, for this cause the Faith has securely delivered to you now the Article, "And in one Holy Catholic Church"; that you may avoid their wretched meetings, and ever abide with the Holy Church Catholic in which you were regenerated. And if ever you are sojourning in cities, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is (for the other sects of
9877-517: The most prominent Prince within the Reformation Movement next to the Elector of Saxony), prevailed upon the synod at Hamburg in 1526 to adopt a form of congregational government ordered by a constitution accepted by all. In January 1527 Dr. Luther convinced Philip to repudiate this plan for congregational government. Such polity ( i.e. , congregationalism ) undermines The Gospel and usually leads to
9996-478: The national/state churches in their respective countries involving matters of both Christian doctrine and ethics”; these dioceses are in altar and pulpit fellowship with one another through the Communion of Nordic Lutheran Dioceses and are members of the confessional International Lutheran Council with their bishops having secured their lines of apostolic succession from other traditional Lutheran churches, such as
10115-550: The numerous domestic controversies between the Reformers, in which Flacius took part until his death (11 March 1575), did not prevent him from becoming the most learned Lutheran theologian of his day, while, in addition to numerous minor controversial works, his untiring energy led him to devise the vast historical work known as "The Centuries". After Martin Luther 's death in 1546, anti-Catholic controversy tended to lose its dogmatic character and to become historical. Flacius critiqued
10234-519: The origin of the term catholic , means 'universal'. Directly from the Greek, or via Late Latin catholicus , the term catholic entered many other languages, becoming the base for the creation of various theological terms such as catholicism and catholicity ( Late Latin catholicismus , catholicitas ). The term catholicism is the English form of Late Latin catholicismus , an abstract noun based on
10353-510: The original meaning because Catholics claimed to teach the whole truth, and to represent the whole Church, while heresy arose out of the exaggeration of some one truth and was essentially partial and local. By Catholic Church Ignatius designated the universal church. Ignatius considered that certain heretics of his time, who disavowed that Jesus was a material being who actually suffered and died, saying instead that "he only seemed to suffer" (Smyrnaeans, 2), were not really Christians. The term
10472-607: The post- Prussian Union church in Germany who were inspired by the church of the Middle Ages, and by neo-Lutheran Friedrich Julius Stahl . The term Evangelical Catholic is often used today instead of the term " High Church Lutheranism " because it is a theological term. It is comparable to the term " Anglo-Catholic " within Anglicanism. Evangelical Catholic Lutheranism is inclusive of the theologically, biblically, and socially conservative ultra-high church Lutheranism of those within
10591-639: The practice of the Orthodox. On the other side of the widening rift, Eastern Orthodox were considered by western theologians to be Schismatics . Relations between East and West were further estranged by the tragic events of the Massacre of the Latins in 1182 and Sack of Constantinople in 1204. Those bloody events were followed by several failed attempts to reach reconciliation (see: Second Council of Lyon , Council of Florence , Union of Brest , Union of Uzhhorod ). During
10710-456: The precious ties belonging to the Christian name which keep a believer in the Catholic Church, as it is right they should ... With you, where there is none of these things to attract or keep me... No one shall move me from the faith which binds my mind with ties so many and so strong to the Christian religion... For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church. —St. Augustine (354–430): Against
10829-531: The profane also attempt to call their own dens houses of the Lord), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church. For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Church, the mother of us all, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Only-begotten Son of God (Catechetical Lectures, XVIII, 26). Theodosius I , Emperor from 379 to 395, declared "Catholic" Christianity the official religion of
10948-628: The purpose of equipping Catholic ministries to be evangelical. In Greenville, South Carolina , a Catholic organization called the Center for Evangelical Catholicism exists for the purpose of spreading the "New Evangelization" program of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization in Roman Catholic parishes and schools across the United States . Since the call to evangelization
11067-406: The religious image." As such, "Lutheran places of worship contain images and sculptures not only of Christ but also of biblical and occasionally of other saints as well as prominent decorated pulpits due to the importance of preaching, stained glass, ornate furniture, magnificent examples of traditional and modern architecture, carved or otherwise embellished altar pieces, and liberal use of candles on
11186-458: The sense that they too are in continuity with the original universal church founded by the Apostles. However, each church defines the scope of the "Catholic Church" differently. For instance, the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox churches, and Church of the East, each maintain that their own denomination is identical with the original universal church, from which all other denominations broke away. An early definition for what
11305-621: The strongly Roman Catholic-oriented Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church and the more Eastern Orthodox -oriented Evangelical Catholic Church . In Scandinavia, where High Church Lutheranism and Pietist Lutheranism has been highly influential, the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland , Mission Province of the Church of Sweden , and the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Norway entered into schism with their national churches due to "the secularization of
11424-636: The term Evangelical Catholic to indicate the fact that they are evangelical and maintain their catholicity . For example, Methodists and Presbyterians believe their denominations owe their origins to the Apostles and the early church, but do not claim descent from ancient church structures such as the episcopate. However, both of these churches hold that they are a part of the catholic (universal) church. According to Harper's New Monthly Magazine : The various Protestant sects can not constitute one church because they have no intercommunion ...each Protestant Church, whether Methodist or Baptist or whatever,
11543-462: The term 'evangelical' refers to its etymological root—the Greek word euangelion— which means 'good news' or 'Gospel', not to Protestant Evangelicalism . To Catholics, being evangelical is understood in the context of the adherence to the dogma and Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church and in a Catholic interpretation of Scripture , and not in the doctrinal and ecclesiological upheavals of
11662-578: The term Methodist Catholic, or Presbyterian Catholic, or Baptist Catholic, is as proper as the term Roman Catholic. It simply means that body of Christian believers over the world who agree in their religious views, and accept the same ecclesiastical forms. At the end of the 20th century, the Convergence Movement formed new church bodies, including the Charismatic Episcopal Church , the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches , and
11781-598: The term is by John Williamson Nevin and Philip Schaff , during their efforts (from roughly 1841 forward) to repristinate the theology of the German Reformed Church in the United States. In 1849 the Mercersburg Review was founded as the organ of their " Mercersburg Theology ". Beginning in 1851, William Augustus Mühlenberg , the Protestant Episcopal clergyman of Lutheran background, and father of
11900-613: The time of Counter-Reformation the term Acatholic was used by zealous members of the Catholic Church to designate Protestants as well as Eastern Orthodox Christians. The term was considered to be so insulting that the Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church , held in Temeswar in 1790, decided to send an official plea to emperor Leopold II , begging him to ban the use of the term "Acatholic". The Augsburg Confession found within
12019-479: The traditional depiction of Jesus . As such, "Lutheran worship became a complex ritual choreography set in a richly furnished church interior." Lutherans proudly employed the use of the crucifix as it highlighted their high view of the theology of the Cross . Stories grew up of "indestructible" images of Luther that had survived fires by divine intervention. Thus, for Lutherans, "the Reformation renewed rather than removed
12138-413: The true heirs of the original Christianity founded by Jesus Christ and his disciples. Another characteristic of the work is the widespread use of primary sources rather than secondary or tertiary ones. In order to accomplish this, scholars traveled and borrowed manuscripts from all over Europe. With such diverse sources, one might expect a fractured or incoherent presentation of history. Instead, it provides
12257-465: The true visible Church?" Answer : "The whole number of those who have, teach and confess the entire doctrine of the Word of God in all its purity, and among whom the Sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's institution." That there can be but one true visible Church, and that, therefore, one is not just as good as another stands to reason because there is only one truth, one Bible, one Word of God. Evidently that Church which teaches this truth,
12376-600: The use of the term "Catholic Church" is the Letter to the Smyrnaeans that Ignatius of Antioch wrote in about 107 AD to Christians in Smyrna. Exhorting Christians to remain closely united with their bishop , he wrote: Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. Of the meaning for Ignatius of this phrase J.H. Srawley wrote: This
12495-565: The very seat of the Apostle Peter , to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, gave it in charge to feed His sheep (Jn 21:15–19), down to the present episcopate . And so, lastly, does the very name of Catholic, which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house. Such then in number and importance are
12614-597: The whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is the true visible Church. Christ says John 8, 31. 32: "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Again Christ says Matt. 28, 20: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Whatsoever He has commanded us, His Word, and nothing else, we should teach. And again, all things which He has commanded us we should teach. That, therefore
12733-473: The work appeared in 1559 at Basel . It was the work of a group of Lutheran scholars who had gathered at Magdeburg, and who are now known to history as the Centuriators of Magdeburg because of the way in which they divided their work (century by century) and the place in which the first five volumes were written; most of the others were written at Wismar or elsewhere, but the subtitle in Urbe Magdeburgicâ
12852-399: The work is generally pessimistic after the fifth century, in keeping with the writers' objective of presenting "the origins and the increments of errors and their corrupting influences." Presenting a view of such corrupting errors by the Catholic Church, increasing and accumulating over a thousand years' time, served to legitimize the Reformation and make Lutherans rather than Catholics into
12971-553: The world; Catholics honour and esteem you as the one who has established anew the ancient Faith" Only slightly later, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430) also used the term "Catholic" to distinguish the "true" church from heretical groups: In the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations keeps me in the Church; so does her authority, inaugurated by miracles, nourished by hope, enlarged by love, established by age. The succession of priests keeps me, beginning from
13090-600: Was patriarch of Antioch . He wrote in 1190: For many years the once illustrious congregation of the Western Church, that is to say, the Church of Rome, has been divided in spiritual communion from the other four Patriarchates, and has separated itself by adopting customs and dogmas alien to the Catholic Church and to the Orthodox ... So no Latin should be sanctified by the hands of the priests through divine and spotless Mysteries unless he first declares that he will abstain from Latin dogmas and customs, and that he will conform to
13209-519: Was composed of Flacius, John Wigand (1523–1587), superintendent at Magdeburg, Matthew Judex (1528–1576), preacher at Magdeburg, Basil Faber (1525–1576), humanist, who collaborated in the first four Centuries , Martin Copusgas, a physician who acted as treasurer, and Eblinek Alman, a burgher of Magdeburg, each of whom had his own assistants. Seven junior assistants were appointed to compile extracts from early Christian writers and historians in accordance with
13328-638: Was essentially partial and local". In 380, Emperor Theodosius I limited use of the term "Catholic Christian" exclusively to those who followed the same faith as Pope Damasus I of Rome and Pope Peter of Alexandria . Numerous other early writers including Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315–386), Augustine of Hippo (354–430) further developed the use of the term "catholic" in relation to Christianity. The 5th century Vincentian Canon, published in Commonitory , defined "catholic" as "what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all." The earliest recorded evidence of
13447-402: Was largely responsible for all the work done between 1564–74), but never published, and the various attempts made in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to continue the work came to naught. In 1624, a complete edition of the Centuries in six folio volumes was issued at Basel by Louis Lucius , who omitted the authors' names and dedications, and introduced various modifications of the text in
13566-422: Was primarily responsible, when he was previously Prefect of the Congregation. New bibles, catechetical materials, youth ministry programs, and young adult ministries witness to greater evangelical zeal within the Church. College campus ministry and parish ministry are focusing more of their resources on outreach (pre-evangelization and evangelization). A Catholic organization called the Evangelical Catholic exists for
13685-489: Was retained. The originator of the idea and the moving spirit of the organization which produced the work was Matthias Vlacich (Latinized Flacius), also known as Francovich, and, from the country of his birth ( Istria ), Illyricus. Born in 1520, he went to university in 1539 in Switzerland and Germany, where, at Augsburg , Basle, Tübingen , and Wittenberg , he converted to Lutheranism. The Augsburg Interim of 1548 led to
13804-563: Was seeking patrons whose financial support should enable him to carry out his plan of a comprehensive church history which was "to reveal the beginnings, the development and the ruthless designs of the Antichrist." The German princes, and the burghers particularly of Augsburg and Nuremberg , helped him generously, but no support was forthcoming from the followers of Melanchthon. He travelled through Germany in search of material while his co-worker, Marcus Wagner (from Weimar near Gotha ), searched
13923-455: Was true first of all to Holy Scripture, and then also to the teaching of the church fathers and the councils". Magdeburg Centuries The Magdeburg Centuries is an ecclesiastical history, divided into thirteen centuries , covering thirteen hundred years, ending in 1298; it was first published from 1559 to 1574. It was compiled by several Lutheran scholars in Magdeburg , known as
14042-405: Was true first of all to Holy Scripture, and then also to the teaching of the church fathers and the councils". The Augsburg Confession further states that: ...one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered. In Lutheranism, the term Evangelical Catholic or Augsburg Catholic has
14161-521: Was very useful and without doubt proceeded from the Holy Ghost, it was generally approved and accepted over the whole of Christendom. . . . It belongs to the office of the Bishop that he in his diocese shall ordain and govern with Priests, and do whatsoever else is required." The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Church of Sweden continue the apostolic succession of bishops who ordain priests through
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