Does "one holy catholic and apostolic church" mean catholic as "universal"?

[Anto9us2]

Or does it mean THE ROMAN CATHOLIC church?

Thoughts?

 

[for_his_glory]

I see no particular religion being holy no matter what denomination it calls itself. It's not about a man's religion, but all about having a personal relationship with Christ by that of the grace of God.

1 Samuel 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

 

[Boaz]

Or does it mean THE ROMAN CATHOLIC church?

Thoughts?

Depends on who is saying it I guess as the RC thinks they are the Only true church, or used to anyway. Catholic small c means universal, meaning one in doctrine, and apostolic as I understand it anyway would mean that it is based on the teachings of Jesus and the foundation that the Apostles laid in the Epistles, appointed by Him for that purpose. Incidentally, the foundation and its being built upon does not mean that other things are added to it. It means the church is built, people added to it, on the apostolic foundation and nothing changed or added. It is Jesus's church. He is the Head, we are the body. So I think it would mean one church that is united in the teachings and doctrines of the Apostles. Held by its Head within boundaries. Have we slipped a bit?

 

[Butch5]

Or does it mean THE ROMAN CATHOLIC church?

Thoughts?

In the Creed catholic means universal.

 

[GodsGrace]

Or does it mean THE ROMAN CATHOLIC church?

Thoughts?

Only one church existed when the Nicene Creed was written to clarify some heresies that had been circulating..basically arianism.

That church was the catholic church...meaning universal. This is why it was called catholic...it was the one Christian church that was all over the known world in the middle east at that time.

When did the Catholic church become the Roman Catholic Church?
Good question.
It started soon after 325 AD when the Nicene Creed was completed.
Constantine decreed that the Christian church was not to be persecuted re the Edict of Milan which stated as such.

An Emporer after him declared Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, and that's when the church began to change.

Rome and the Bishop of Rome was always looked to for advice and finalization of any doctrinal issue or problem that arouse.

So, perhaps the catholic church as we know it today began to change and by, I'd say the 600's when the Bishop of Rome was declared to be the Pope?

 

[Anto9us2]

Orthodox Church - OrthodoxWiki

orthodoxwiki.org

 

[Anto9us2]

Obviously, it is not universally agreed that the Catholic Church was the only church in existence in 325 AD.

 

[Anto9us2]

The undivided church included Catholic and Orthodox.
There were Gnostics and Arians also. In some parts of Europe, Arianism continued for a couple of centuries after the Nicene Creed, although the creed made the definitive statement against Arianism.

Through Cathars and Waldensians, Gnostic influence continued for a long time also.

All this was well before there were any Protestants.

 

[Mungo]

The Nicene Creed (strictly the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed) proclaims "I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church". From this the formal name for the Church at the time was called the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.” When the Church split in 1054 both parts of the Church retained that title. But now one part calls itself mostly by the short name Catholic Church and the other Orthodox Church.

The correct term for the Church led by Pope Francis is Catholic Church not Roman Catholic Church. That appellation was given it by Protestants at the Reformation.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

Or does it mean THE ROMAN CATHOLIC church?

Thoughts?

I think it depends on context.