Quote:
Originally Posted by YP0534
And my thought is that there isn't a gap at all, that the continuity there is fully expressed in Roman Catholicism. The adaptation of Christian practice to local pagan customs was something that seems to have begun quite early. Consider where such an idea came from. It could not have originated from Jerusalem's line and seems incompatible with John's thought as well. But Paul advocated becoming all things to all men, didn't he? We know that the persecutions were devestating and the times were chaotic. I don't know to what extent we have adequate coverage of the events descending into the catacombs and later emerging from them but I don't think it's at all unreasonable to say what emerged was distinctly Pauline in character, hence the secular claims concerning the origins of Christianity.
I'm not sure there's a gap, aron.
Who's vision of Christian practice was designated by Constantine?
James' or Paul's?
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Very interesting challenge. I would have earlier said James, but must out of deference pause.
Ohio I think earlier put it well, when he said that Paul's final trip to Jerusalem proved the victory of James, and the capitulation of Paul. But maybe Paul's model swallowed James', not vice versa. Or maybe we should simply say what emerged was an amalgam of the two.
Did James & Co. being "zealous for the Law" (Acts 21:20) find its replacement for the Mosaic law in the hierarchies of Paul?
Even John is not without shadow of suspicion here. Didn't one of his ostensible acolytes first advocate bishops being over the elders? My dim memory seems to think so.
So it's hard for me to find the point where the worm turned. I simply think it's in our old nature, which tries to bustle into God's house, full of grand ideas and important duties. Religion is simply the old man trying to be new.
My own definitive "turn for the worse" is the moment right after Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ of God, when he says, "Not so, Lord!", and immediately goes from expressing the Father to expressing Satan. That's how close the enemy is.
That's why I don't like organizing. We cause enough trouble already just by showing up. Why compound the damage by creating permanent structures?
