On The Rank Of Bishop And (The Pope)Who Is Highest In That Rank
It is evident, however, that although the people are divided into different dioceses and cities, just as there is one church there also must be one Christian people. Just as the particular people of one church must have one bishop who is head of all the people, so also the whole Christian people must have one who is head of the whole church.
Likewise if the church is to be united, all the faithful must agree on the faith. But there are many questions concerning matters of faith. Because of the difference of opinions, the church would be divided unless it was kept in unity by the decision of one person. Thus one person must be over the whole church in order to keep it united. But it is obvious that Christ never failed to give what is necessary to the church that he loves and for which he sheds his blood. The Lord says of the synagogue, "What more is there that I should have done for my vineyard, and have not done." There is no doubt therefore that it is by Christ's command that one person is over the whole church.
Futhermore no one doubts that the government of the church is ordered in the best way, since this has been done by the one through whom "Kings rule and legislators make just laws." The best government of a society is one that is ruled by one person. This is clear from the end of government which is peace. Peaceful unity among his subjects is the end of the ruler, and one ruler, rather than many rulers, is a more proximate cause of unity. It is clear therefore that the government of the church is so arranged that one person is over the whole church.
This then refutes the presumptuous error of those who try to withdraw from obedience and subjection to Peter and do not recognize his successor, the Roman Pontiff, as the pastor of the universal church.
-St. Thomas Aquinas from the Summa Contra Gentiles.
6 comments:
Christian people must have one who is head of the whole church.
Ephesians 1: 20-23
...which he [God] wrought in the Christ [in] raising him from among [the] dead, and he set him down at his right hand in the heavenlies, above every principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in that to come; and has put all things under his feet, and gave him [to be] head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all:
Likewise if the church is to be united, all the faithful must agree on the faith. But there are many questions concerning matters of faith. Because of the difference of opinions, the church would be divided unless it was kept in unity by the decision of one person.
That one is Christ through the Holy Spirit.
The Lord says of the synagogue, "What more is there that I should have done for my vineyard, and have not done." There is no doubt therefore that it is by Christ's command that one person is over the whole church.
This was in reference to Israel. God finally sent His Son - they cast him out of the vineyard and slew him. You conclusion can't be drawn form the premise you state.
The government of the Church has Christ as head and ALL others on the same level. Jesus himself said, "But *ye*, be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your instructor, and all *ye* are brethren." [Matthew 23:8] Is He contradicting Himself?
ummm, sprocket,
In case you didn't realize it wasn't me who wrote this. It was St. Thomas Aquinas. The greatest thinker and philosopher of the church.
And Christ gave the authority to Peter to be the head of the Church on earth. That authority is passed down from Peter to his successors.
The greatest thinker and philosopher of the church.
He also said "heretics" should be put to death and taught the intellectual inferiority of women.
why do you put the word heretics in quotations? Do you not believe in heresy?
Because it is in question what Aquinas meant by heretics. Some argue he only meant people who tried to remain in the church and spread their beliefs (like Luther), some say he meant people who left the church (like the Muslims believe about the Christian convert in Afganistan), while others say all Christians who do not submit to the authority of the Pope.
Outside of context of Aquinas' view on heretics, what do you see as the definition of a heretic? Someone who proclaims to be a Christian but does not submit to the beliefs of the Catholic church, or a baptized Catholic who disavows Catholicism? I've heard it used in both contexts, and I'm just curious, and not trying to start a fight. ;)
A heretic is someone who promotes something other than what God has provided. The root of the Greek is 'choice'.
The Apostles spoke of those who woul dcome and offer another Gospel - that is those who would denegrate the truth concerning Christ. This was the acid test then and it is the same today.
John wrote to test ALL the spirits to see if they are of God - the criteria was the acknowledgement of Christ (as God) coming in the flesh. [1 John 4]
This test encompasses the nature of God, the relationship with God, the redemption By God, the hope from God. Perhaps we can say the fundamentals, the essentials.
I have no problem with others believers (I'd like to be One with them). My issue is when I try the spirits (by the Spirit and the Word) and the fundametals/essentials are not there. I cannot have fellowship with that. 1 John 1 contains the instruction for how to have fellowship one with another; it is to have pure fellowship with God. If I am pure before God and you are pure before God, He will see to it that those who walk in the light will come together. The only thing then that limits our fellowship is the degree to which we walk in the light has He is in the light (not as someone else is). So, I see we have met here on this blog (or another), I can start to see why God has caused our paths to cross... we have both (all) a desire to walk in the light to some degree. If we didn't we would pass as strangers.
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