Bible Encyclopedia: Catholic

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CATHOLIC EPISTLES

kath'-o-lik (epistolai katholikai): In distinction from the apostolic or Pauline epistles which were addressed to individual churches or persons, the term "catholic," in the sense of universal or general, was applied by Origen and the other church Fathers to the seven epistles written by James, Peter, John and Jude. As early as the 3rd century it came to be used in the sense of "encyclical," "since," as Theodoret says, "they are not addressed to single churches, but generally (katholou) to the faithful, whether to the Jews of the Dispersion, as Peter writes, or even to all who are living as Christians under the same faith." Three other explanations of the term have been given, namely,

(1) that it was intended to indicate a common apostolic authorship (only a few support this view);

(2) that it signifies that the seven epistles were universally received as genuine;

(3) that it refers to the catholicity of their doctrine, i.e. orthodox and authoritative versus heretical epistles whose teachings were in harmony with Christian truth. By some misconception of the word "catholic" the Western Church interpreted it as signifying "canonical" and sometimes called these epistles epistolae canonicae. That it was originally used in the sense of "general" epistles is now commonly received.

This is evident from their form of address. James wrote to all Jews, "of the Dispersion," who had embraced the Christian faith. In his first epistle Peter addressed the same Christians, including also Gentileconverts, resident in five provinces of Asia Minor: "elect who axe sojourners of the Dispersion." His second epistle is to all Christians everywhere. John's first letter was evidently written to a cycle of churches and intended for universal use. Jude also had in mind all Christians when he said "to them that are called beloved in God," etc. The seeming exceptions are 2 and 3 Jn, addressed to individuals, but included with the catholic epistles as properly belonging with John's first epistle and of value to the general reader. The character and contents of these seven epistles are treated under their various heads. The letters of James and Jude belong to the Judaic school of Christianity; those of Peter to a broad and non-partisan type of faith that both includes and mediates between the Judaists and Paulinists. John's letters were written after the internal doctrinal controversies of the church had ceased, and the pressure of opposition and error from without tended to unite his "little children" in a new community of love and spiritual life.

Dwight M. Pratt

Library

The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book
The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book. <. The St. Gregory Hymnal
and Catholic Choir Book Various. Produced by Don Kostuch Table of Contents. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/

History of the Catholic Church, Renaissance to French Revolution
History of the Catholic Church, Renaissance to French Revolution. <. History
of the Catholic Church, Renaissance to French Revolution Rev. ...
/.../maccaffrey/history of the catholic church renaissance to french revolution/

Of the Morals of the Catholic Church.
... Of the Morals of the Catholic Church. [De Moribus Ecclesiæ Catholicæ]. ... In the Catholic
Church we find examples of continence and of true Christian conduct. ...
/.../of the morals of the.htm

The Catholic Epistles
... CHAPTER XIX THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES. The New Testament contains seven letters
known as "Catholic," viz. that of James, 1 and 2 Peter ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xix the catholic epistles.htm

What the Doctrine of the Catholic Faith is Concerning the Trinity.
... The fifteen books of aurelius augustinus, Bishop of Hippo, on the TrinityBook I.
Chapter 4."What the Doctrine of the Catholic Faith is Concerning the Trinity ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 4 what the doctrine of.htm

Proofs of the Catholic Faith.
... Against the Epistle of Manichæus Called Fundamental. Chapter 4. "Proofs
of the Catholic Faith. 5. For in the Catholic Church, not ...
/.../chapter 4 name of the.htm

Protestant and Roman Catholic Catechisms.
... Protestant and Roman Catholic Catechisms. ... The first question is "What do we most
need to know?" Roman Catholic catechisms of high authority are: ...
/.../protestant and roman catholic catechisms.htm

Basic Catholic Prayers
4. <. Baltimore Catechism No. 4 Thomas L. Kinkead. Basic Catholic Prayers. [
Prev] [Top] [Next ]. Baltimore Catechism No. 4 Christian Bookshelf. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/basic catholic prayers.htm

The Notes of a True Catholic. ...
... A Commonitory For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the
Profane Novelties of All Heresies. ... The Notes of a TRUE Catholic.� ...
/.../vincent/the commonitory of vincent of lerins/chapter xx the notes of.htm

The Catholic System.
... CHAPTER VIII. THE CATHOLIC SYSTEM. The word catholic, which signifies universal
or general, came into use towards the end of the second century. ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter viii the catholic system.htm

ATS Bible Dictionary

Catholic

This term is Greek, signifying universal or general. The church of Christ is called catholic, because it extends throughout the world, and during all time. In modern times the church of Rome has usurped this title, improperly applying it exclusively to itself.

The "Catholic epistles" are seven, so called because they were addressed to the church or Christians in general, and not to any particular church. They are, one epistle of James, two of Peter, three of John, and one of Jude.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Catholic epistles: The epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude; so called because they are addressed to Christians in general, and not to any church or person in particular.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Universal or general; as, the catholic faith.

2. (a.) Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes.

3. (a.) of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the Catholic emancipation act.

4. (n.) A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.

5. (n.) An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic.

Thesaurus

Catholic
...Catholic epistles: The epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude; so called because
they are addressed to Christians in general, and not to any church or person ...
/c/catholic.htm - 9k

Immaculate
... i-mak'-u-lat kon-sep'-shun: 1. Definition: The historic designation of the Roman
Catholic dogma promulgated by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, in the Papal ...
/i/immaculate.htm - 16k

Conception (6 Occurrences)
... i-mak'-u-lat kon-sep'-shun: 1. Definition: The historic designation of the Roman
Catholic dogma promulgated by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, in the Papal ...
/c/conception.htm - 19k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... The epistles to Timothy and Titus are styled the Pastoral Epistles. (2.) The Catholic
or General Epistles, so called ... John Macartney Wilson. CATHOLIC EPISTLES. ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

Keys (2 Occurrences)
... Since the Reformation it has been recognized, by Catholic and Protestant, that on
the interpretation of this passage depends the authority of the Church of ...
/k/keys.htm - 32k

Apostles'
... It was as resting on this creed that the church could be called "catholic and
apostolic." Of late the creed has been the subject of great controversy, and ...
/a/apostles'.htm - 20k

Power (862 Occurrences)
... Since the Reformation it has been recognized, by Catholic and Protestant, that on
the interpretation of this passage depends the authority of the Church of ...
/p/power.htm - 66k

Dictionaries
... Hagen. Lexicon biblicum. Paris, 1905-, 4 volumes (Roman Catholic). Hamburger. ... New
York: Harper, 1875. Addis, William E. A Catholic Dictionary. New York: Cath. ...
/d/dictionaries.htm - 38k

Church (110 Occurrences)
... (2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given
to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Ephesians 5:23, 25, 27, 29 ...
/c/church.htm - 89k

Dogma
... On the one side stood the doctrines or dogmas of the majority or the "Catholic"
church, and on the other side, those of the heretics. ...
/d/dogma.htm - 10k

Subtopics

Catholic

Catholic Epistles

Catholicity: Inculcated

Catholicity: Paul, in Recognizing Devout Heathen

Catholicity: Peter

Catholicity: Rulers of the Synagogue at Antioch, Permitting the Apostles to Preach

Catholicity: Solomon, in his Prayer

Related Terms

Immaculate

Conception (6 Occurrences)

Epistles (2 Occurrences)