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Luther tried

1) Ignatius of Antioch's letter is not inspired scripture.
just like our conversation is not inspired scripture... truth is still truth

1+1=2 is not scripture, but it is true
2) He wrote long before Catholicism existed,
even though he mentions it... here is another

When finally he concluded his prayer, after remembering all who had at any time come his way – small folk and great folk, distinguished and undistinguished, and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world – the time for departure came. So they placed him on an ass, and brought him into the city on a great Sabbath (The Martyrdom of Polycarp 8 [A.D. 110]).
 
The word "catholic" appears in the Bible in Acts 9:31, where it refers to "the church throughout [all] Judea, Galilee, and Samaria". The word "catholic" comes from the Greek word katholikos, which means "universal". It is a combination of the Greek words kata (concerning) and holos (whole).
Loose handling of the Scriptures. . .which explains a lot.

The word "catholic" (katholikos) is not in the Bible.
 
Peter made his rounds to the Church throughout.... they are all under the same umbrella -- different bishops [Jerusalem, Antioch, etc.]
Peter, as an apostle, visited the assemblies in various places (just as Paul and other apostles did). Each assembly would have one or more pastor/teachers, elders and deacons, depending upon its size.
 
just like our conversation is not inspired scripture... truth is still truth

1+1=2 is not scripture, but it is true

even though he mentions it... here is another

When finally he concluded his prayer, after remembering all who had at any time come his way – small folk and great folk, distinguished and undistinguished, and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world – the time for departure came. So they placed him on an ass, and brought him into the city on a great Sabbath (The Martyrdom of Polycarp 8 [A.D. 110]).
1) Whether or not something that is not inspired scripture is the truth needs to be established, not assumed. We need to test it against scripture.

2) Why did you omit the part of my post, in which I said that it's safe to assume that when Igatius of Antioch wrote his letter, he meant "catholic" simply in the sense of the universal church of believers in Jesus Christ? I think we know the answer...
 
Loose handling of the Scriptures. . .which explains a lot.

The word "catholic" (katholikos) is not in the Bible.
same universal church ...

The term “Catholic”, derived from the Greek word καθολικός (katholikos), which means “universal” or “general”, was also used to describe the Church in the early 2nd century. The term katholikos is equivalent to καθόλου (katholou), a contraction of the phrase καθ’ ὅλου (kath’ holou) meaning “according to the whole”. Thus the full name Catholic Church roughly means “universal” or “whole” church

Acts 9:31 (Greek Bible), “ai men oun ekklēsiai kath olēs tēs ioudaias kai galilaias kai samareias eichon eirēnēn oikodomoumenai kai poreuomenai tō phobō tou kuriou kai tē paraklēsei tou agiou pneumatos eplēthunonto” EKKLESIA KATH’OLES.
 
just like our conversation is not inspired scripture... truth is still truth

1+1=2 is not scripture, but it is true
All truth is not Scripture.

Just because something is true does not make it authoritative to the body of Christ.
 
Peter, as an apostle, visited the assemblies in various places (just as Paul and other apostles did). Each assembly would have one or more pastor/teachers, elders and deacons, depending upon its size.
and one to lead them all.... Peter, the one with the keys
 
same universal church ...

The term “Catholic”, derived from the Greek word καθολικός (katholikos), which means “universal” or “general”, was also used to describe the Church in the early 2nd century. The term katholikos is equivalent to καθόλου (katholou), a contraction of the phrase καθ’ ὅλου (kath’ holou) meaning “according to the whole”. Thus the full name Catholic Church roughly means “universal” or “whole” church

Acts 9:31 (Greek Bible), “ai men oun ekklēsiai kath olēs tēs ioudaias kai galilaias kai samareias eichon eirēnēn oikodomoumenai kai poreuomenai tō phobō tou kuriou kai tē paraklēsei tou agiou pneumatos eplēthunonto” EKKLESIA KATH’OLES.
The word catholic (katholikos) is not in the Bible.
 
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1) Whether or not something that is not inspired scripture is the truth needs to be established, not assumed.
Are you assuming Polycarp and Ignatius are figments of my imagination?
We need to test it against scripture.
What part of universal do we test?
2) Why did you omit the part of my post, in which I said that it's safe to assume that when Igatius of Antioch wrote his letter, he meant "catholic" simply in the sense of the universal church of believers in Jesus Christ? I think we know the answer...
... we do know the obvious answer -- there was only one church established by Christ at that time.... His Catholic Church.
 
and one to lead them all.... Peter, the one with the keys
One ring to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them. (J.R.R. Tolkien)

It's ironic that Tolkien was RC.

You do realise that the "keys" were given to all the disciples, don't you? (Matt. 18:18)
 
The word catholic is not in the Bible.
like the word bible is not in the bible
like the word trinity is not in the bible
like the words altar call are not in the bible
etc.
 
One ring to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them. (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Indeed.... Tolkien the Catholic -- almost had Lewis convert fully, but Lewis had 'Ulsterior motives' ;)
 
Are you assuming Polycarp and Ignatius are figments of my imagination?
Don't be ridiculous.

What part of universal do we test?
A daft question...


... we do know the obvious answer -- there was only one church established by Christ at that time.... His Catholic Church.
There has always been only one universal body of Christ, comprised of all those who believe in him. This is represented by an assembly in each town or village where there are Christians.
 
You do realise that the "keys" were given to all the disciples, don't you? (Matt. 18:18)
By bible alone? there are no keys in Mt 18... go back two chapters and they will appear 🪄
 
The word "catholic" appears in the Bible in Acts 9:31, where it refers to "the church throughout [all] Judea, Galilee, and Samaria". The word "catholic" comes from the Greek word katholikos, which means "universal". It is a combination of the Greek words kata (concerning) and holos (whole).
This is a lie!
The word in Acts 9:31 is
church G1577 ἐκκλησία
-----
[Analytics]
church (77x) G1577 (114x)

[Mounce Greek Dictionary]
gk G1711 | s G1577 ἐκκλησία ekklēsia 114x
a popular assembly, Acts 19:32, 39, 41; in NT the congregation of the children of Israel, Acts 7:38; transferred to the Christian body, of which the congregation of Israel was a figure, the Church, 1 Cor. 12:28; Col. 1:18; a local portion of the Church, a local church, Rom. 16:1; a Christian congregation, 1 Cor. 14:4 → church.
☞ mounce | niv | esv | csb | nrsv | nkjv | kjv

[Easton’s Bible Dictionary]
Church: Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., “the Lord’s house”), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship.

In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the “Church of England,” the “Church of Scotland,” etc.

We find the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament:
(1.) It is translated “assembly” in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41).

(2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Heb. 12:23).

(3.) A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Rom. 16:5; Col. 4:15).

(4.) All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (Acts 13:1); so also we read of the “church of God at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2), “the church at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1), “the church of Ephesus” (Rev. 2:1), etc.

(5.) The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Matt. 16:18) are the church of Christ.

The church visible “consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children.” It is called “visible” because its members are known and its assemblies are public. Here there is a mixture of “wheat and chaff,” of saints and sinners. “God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute the catholic or universal visible church.” A credible profession of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this church. This is “the kingdom of heaven,” whose character and progress are set forth in the parables recorded in Matt. 13.

The children of all who thus profess the true religion are members of the visible church along with their parents. Children are included in every covenant God ever made with man. They go along with their parents (Gen. 9:9-17; 12:1-3; 17:7; Ex. 20:5; Deut. 29:10-13). Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great principle. “The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the promises were made] is unto you, and to your children” (Acts 2:38, 39). The children of believing parents are “holy”, i.e., are “saints”, a title which designates the members of the Christian church (1 Cor. 7:14). (See BAPTISM.)

The church invisible “consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head thereof.” This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ. it is called “invisible” because the greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by Him who “searches the heart.” “The Lord knoweth them that are his” (2 Tim. 2:19).

The church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises appertaining to Christ’s kingdom belong, is a spiritual body consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible.


(1.) Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged (Isa. 49:13-23; 60:1-14). When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into “their own olive tree” (Rom. 11:18-24; comp. Eph. 2:11-22). The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were “added” to the “church” already existing (Acts 2:47).

(2.) Its universality. It is the “catholic” church; not confined to any particular country or outward organization, but comprehending all believers throughout the whole world.

(3.) Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an “everlasting kindgdom.”
 
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Bible is in the Greek, see Mt 1:1, etc.
Βίβλος (Biblos)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 976: Properly, the inner bark of the papyrus plant, i.e. a sheet or scroll of writing.

but not all of the bound writings together
"catholic" is not in the Bible.
The Greek word for "Catholic" is καθολικός (katholīkós). This term comes from the Greek words κατά (kata, meaning "according to") and ὅλος (holos, meaning "whole"). So, "Catholic" essentially means "according to the whole" or "universal."

The only Church in town, established by Christ!
 
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