TDB 11 The Conversion of Marcus Grodi part 6

We conclude our analysis of Marcus Grodi’s conversion from Presbyterian pastor to Roman Catholic apologist, as he invokes the writings of Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenæus of Lyons and Cyprian of Carthage to provide evidence of Roman and Papal primacy in the early church, and that the Roman bishop and congregation served as the standard of apostolic truth and unity. What we find instead is a collegiality and fraternity of bishops and congregations throughout the known world at the time, as the many bishops exchanged letters of encouragement, admonition and fraternal affection between congregations. And more often than not, those bishops scattered throughout the world had to restrain the bishop of Rome as he stumbled into error, propagated heresy, wavered in indecision and compromised the unity of the church through his impudence, arrogance and petulance. It was the Scriptures, rather, that served as the standard of truth and unity in the early church, and instead of looking to Rome as a standard, the surrounding bishops rather had to bring the Scriptures to bear on the errors of the Roman bishop.

Notes:

Clement of Rome To the Corinthians

James A. Kleist’s 1949 translation of Clement, to the Corinthians, paragraph 63":

“You certainly will give us the keenest pleasure if you prove obedient to what we have written through the Holy Spirit, and extirpate the lawless passion of your jealousy in accordance with the pleas we have made in this letter for peace and concord.”

J. B. Lightfoot’s 1890 translation of Clement, to the Corinthians, paragraph 63:

“Ye will give us great joy and gladness, if ye render obedience unto the things written by us through the Holy Spirit, and root out the unrighteous anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty which we have made for peace and concord in this letter;”

John Keith’s 1896 translation of Clement, to the Corinthians, paragraph 63:

“Joy and gladness will you afford us, if you become obedient to the words written by us and through the Holy Spirit root out the lawless wrath of your jealousy according to the intercession which we have made for peace and unity in this letter.”

Charles Hoole’s 1885 translation of Clement, to the Corinthians, paragraph 63:

“For joy and rejoicing will ye afford us if, becoming obedient to the things that have been written by us, ye put an end, by the suggestion of the Holy Spirit, to the unlawful wrath of your discord,”

Ignatius of Antioch

  Epistle to the Ephesians
  Epistle to the Magnesians
  Epistle to the Trallians
  Epistle to the Romans
  Epistle to the Philadelphians
  Epistle to the Smyrnæans
  Epistle to Polycarp

Irenæus of Lyons, Against Heresies

Roman Catholic Encyclopedia, Pope St. Eleutherius

Cyprian of Carthage

Epistle 25, From the Roman Confessors
Epistle 39, To the People of Carthage, Concerning the Schism of Felicissimus
Epistle 43, To the Roman Confessors, that They Should Return to Unity
Epistle 45, To Cyprian, from Cornelius, on the Return of the Confessors to Unity
Epistle 49, Maximus and the Other Confessors to Cyprian, About Their Return from Schism
Epistle 51, To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatian
Epistle 54, To Cornelius, Concerning Fortunatus and Felicissimus, or Against the Heretics
Epistle 67, To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain, Concerning Basilides and Martial
Epistle 72, To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics
Epistle 73, To Pompey, Against the Epistle of Stephen About the Baptism of Heretics
Epistle 74, Firmilian, Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, to Cyprian, Against the Letter of Stephen

Treatise I, On the Unity of the Church