You will frequently find references to the Early Church Fathers, and their writings have been preserved and quoted frequently. Indeed, for the traditionalist churches, they are practically equal to Scripture.
Unfortunately these men are the ones from whom the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches get their false teachings. Thus the word “Catholic” and “tradition” can apply to either the RCC or the EOC in this context.
The Church Fathers were generally bishops, and they are grouped as (a) Apostolic Fathers, (b) Ante-Nicene Fathers, (c) Nicene Fathers, and (d) Post-Nicene Fathers, and they existed from the first to the fifth centuries AD.
They introduced many errors into Christianity, which have now become carved in stone. Some of those errors are :
1. Churches should have a ruling bishop over and above the elders, who are accountable to him [In Scripture there is no difference between elders and bishops (who are the pastors), and there must always be a plurality of elders in every church].
2. There is a middle state between Heaven and Hell called Purgatory [In Scripture it is either Heaven or Hell, with Sheol/Hades as the temporary abode of the unsaved dead].
3. The Eucharist literally becomes the body and blood of Christ [In Scripture the bread and the cup symbolize the body and blood of Christ].
4. Water baptism regenerates a soul and washes away sins [In Scripture water baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of the believer with Christ].
5. Mary was “the second Eve” and should be venerated as “the Mother of God” [Scripture reveals that Mary was simply the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, and that even while on earth, Christ gave her no special status].
6. Asceticism and monasticism were necessary for salvation and sanctification [In Scripture Paul condemns asceticism, and monasticism is foreign to the Bible].
7. “Holy water” has supernatural properties [There is no such concept in the Bible].
8. Prayers to the departed saints and prayers for the dead are acceptable to God [There is no such teaching in the Bible].
9. A celibate priesthood is a necessity [Celibacy is the except according to Christ, and elders are to be married and have children. Also, all believers constitute a Royal Priesthood].
10. Church “tradition” has equal authority with Scripture [The Bible makes it crystal clear that the Word of God – Scripture – is the sole authority for all Christians”].
We could list many other erroneous teachings, but we can now see why the RCC and EOC have elevated what they call “Holy Tradition” to the level of Scripture. Therefore people in these churches have to make a critical decision -- should we go along with tradition, or should be believe only what is revealed in Scripture?
Unfortunately these men are the ones from whom the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches get their false teachings. Thus the word “Catholic” and “tradition” can apply to either the RCC or the EOC in this context.
The Church Fathers were generally bishops, and they are grouped as (a) Apostolic Fathers, (b) Ante-Nicene Fathers, (c) Nicene Fathers, and (d) Post-Nicene Fathers, and they existed from the first to the fifth centuries AD.
They introduced many errors into Christianity, which have now become carved in stone. Some of those errors are :
1. Churches should have a ruling bishop over and above the elders, who are accountable to him [In Scripture there is no difference between elders and bishops (who are the pastors), and there must always be a plurality of elders in every church].
2. There is a middle state between Heaven and Hell called Purgatory [In Scripture it is either Heaven or Hell, with Sheol/Hades as the temporary abode of the unsaved dead].
3. The Eucharist literally becomes the body and blood of Christ [In Scripture the bread and the cup symbolize the body and blood of Christ].
4. Water baptism regenerates a soul and washes away sins [In Scripture water baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of the believer with Christ].
5. Mary was “the second Eve” and should be venerated as “the Mother of God” [Scripture reveals that Mary was simply the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, and that even while on earth, Christ gave her no special status].
6. Asceticism and monasticism were necessary for salvation and sanctification [In Scripture Paul condemns asceticism, and monasticism is foreign to the Bible].
7. “Holy water” has supernatural properties [There is no such concept in the Bible].
8. Prayers to the departed saints and prayers for the dead are acceptable to God [There is no such teaching in the Bible].
9. A celibate priesthood is a necessity [Celibacy is the except according to Christ, and elders are to be married and have children. Also, all believers constitute a Royal Priesthood].
10. Church “tradition” has equal authority with Scripture [The Bible makes it crystal clear that the Word of God – Scripture – is the sole authority for all Christians”].
We could list many other erroneous teachings, but we can now see why the RCC and EOC have elevated what they call “Holy Tradition” to the level of Scripture. Therefore people in these churches have to make a critical decision -- should we go along with tradition, or should be believe only what is revealed in Scripture?
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