CATHOLIC

CATHOLIC

This term is of Greek origin and means “universal.”
The true Church of Christ is called Catholic because it extends throughout the world and to all times. The Church of Rome has usurped this title, unreasonably applying it exclusively to itself.

“The Catholic Epistles” are five, so called because they were addressed to the Church in general and not to any particular one. They are one epistle from James, two from Peter, one from John and one from Jude.

The first time that the term Catholic applied to the church appears in ecclesiastical literature is in the writings of Saint Ignatius of Antioch (Ep. ad Smyr. 8:2).

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