Questions tagged [early-church]
Relating to first several centuries of the Christian church; usually considered to end in the 4th century
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What is a general survey of the Catholic traditions of the Apostle Paul visiting Spain?
Romans 15:24 describes Paul's desire (prediction?) of going to Spain. Many scholars believe that there is strong evidence in favor of Paul having visited Spain. They point out that it is reasonable to ...
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Earliest quote by a Church Father on how saints can add their merit to the treasury which can then be applied to others
About Treasury of Merit
The teaching of the treasury of merit (GotQuestions article here) in connection to the communion of saints and indulgences is explained in CCC 1476-1477 and is based on the ...
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In regards to Commentaries by Origen Adamantius, what were "characteristics of divine inspiration" for authors that create church doctrines?
After reading works by Origen Adamantius regarding scepticism surrounding the divine inspiration of 1 Corinthians 7:17 & 2 Timothy 3:16 written by the apostle Paul, disciples might wonder if early ...
user50490
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What was the reason and the contents of the title pages "Old Testament" and "New Testament" in the earliest codex (extant or not)?
By dividing the collection of books in the Bible into "Old Testament" and "New Testament", the compiler of the books of the Bible made a strong theological statement that something "old" has passed ...
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What have old Christian writers opined about a couple living with in-laws during marriage?
I understand a question has been asked and was closed on this topic previously, but I wanted to more specifically ask about Christian writings on it, preferably early ones.
Often people today use ...
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What is the biblical and early church basis against religious tolerance?
Christianity is very often labelled as being tolerant, especially towards other religions. But is there a biblical and historical (i.e. the church fathers) basis against so called "religious ...
user60738
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The Apostolic Fathers on "the Gates of Hell" (Matt. 16:18)
According to Britannica:
Apostolic Father, any of the Greek Christian writers, several unknown, who were authors of early Christian works dating primarily from the late 1st and early 2nd centuries. ...
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How Many Fathers of the Catholic Church are There; and Where to Find a Reliable List?
Does anyone know for sure how many Church Fathers have been so declared by the Catholic Church (assuming that the last one is St. John Damascene); and where I may find a reliable list of them?
Thank ...
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What was the early church fathers view of interfaith marriage?
I am very opposed to interfaith marriage and believe interfaith marriage to be a fundamentally wrong view, but what was the Early Church Fathers view of interfaith marriage - ie a marriage between ...
user51922
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Did Early Church Fathers have a Talmud of their own?
The Talmud(s) are compiled of about 2,711 pages. The Mishna, Midrash, and Gemara are many examples of Jewish literature that encompasses every-day life, from halacha (Jewish law) to marriage and ...
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Which church fathers taught involuntary universal salvation?
Which early church fathers (including those now considered heretics like Origen) pre 1054 taught that "all will be saved", including all of the dead without "hearing and believing"? In other words, ...
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What was the early Church Fathers' view on divorce?
Matthew 5:30-32, Luke 16:18, and 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 give clear criteria for divorce, but what was the early Church fathers' view on divorce? Did they adhere to the same Bible principles on this ...
user60738
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Did the Early Church practice the salutation of “Peace to this House”, as had been taught by Jesus in Luke 10:5?
We Jesus instructing his disciples in Lk 10:1-5:
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them,...
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Did any Early Church Fathers believe in postration when praying?
In the old and the new testament, prophets like Moses and Aaron (Numbers 20:6), Abram (Genesis 17:3) David (1 Chronicles 20:6), and Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:39), uses prostrations in prayer, but did ...
user60738
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Looking for works pointing to Christianity as an alternative to human sacrifice
I'm curious if there is any significant scholarly research or works regarding a theory that a key driver of the spread of Christianity was to replace human and animal sacrifice from religious ...
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Did the early church allow statues and images in church?
Protestants are against having statues and images and often quote Exodus 20:4, but Catholics and Orthodox Christians have beautiful statues and images in their church, but did the Early Church Fathers ...
user51922
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Are there any sources other than Acts 2 reporting Xenoglossy during the first centuries of Christianity?
Xenoglossy, the ability to suddenly speak a language one has never learned or studied, is reported to have taken place at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. Are there any other independent sources that ...
user50422
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When did the early church start to require couples to be both baptized Christians before marriage?
This question is prompted by another question that brought up the validity of St. Monica's marriage to Patricius, a pagan. Assuming that Monica and Patricius were married in the church in Thasgate, ...
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Is there a consensus among early Christians on Romans 9?
How did the early church interpret St. Paul in Romans 9? Is there a consensus in early Christianity regarding the relation between predestination and free will?
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Were there any lay Christian writers in the early church?
Were there any lay Christian writers/theologians as prominent as church fathers in the early church? Also, why was there a lack of laity representation in bible studies and theology?
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Leadership over smaller churches in early Christianity
I have heard a claim that during the early Church, bigger churches had leadership positions over smaller churches, which later developed into the idea of a single bishop ruling a dicosese. Are there ...
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What is the Cessationist view on miracle reports surrounding St. Macarius of Egypt?
Macarius of Egypt:
Macarius of Egypt (c. 300 – 391) was a Coptic Christian monk and hermit. He is also known as Macarius the Elder or Macarius the Great.
St. Macarius was born in Lower Egypt. A late ...
user50422
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What proofs that the Jerusalem church held the same belief of St. Paul with regard to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus?
Some critics of Christianity, (Muslims, for example), argue that though Saint Paul believed that Jesus was crucified and his crucifixion has a significance (that he redeems all people from the effects ...
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