Cover-Letter When Unknown Catholic History Changed Christianity

Transcription

1 Cover-Letter When Unknown Catholic History Changed Christianity How Popes Introduced Plato s Ascetic Philosophy and Transformed Catholic beliefs of Marriage, Sex, Female Equity and anti-semitism It was surprising for this Catholic historian, and many viewers I imagine, when new Religious Television documentaries were released at Easter-time. A new informative documentary from CNN Television, Finding Jesus, discussed the little known Christian leader of ancient Christianity, St. James the Just, a leader who is rarely mentioned; few modern Christians are aware that Jesus older brother James was the only Christian leader ever elected by the apostles after Jesus crucifixion; undoubtedly this documentary pleased the growing numbers of Catholic historians who are now revisiting ancient Catholic history since the numerous reports of priestly sex abuse in Even though only Jews were the first Christians it s surprising for Catholics to discover the apostles elected only Jesus brother James as their leader, but not my patron saint, St. Peter. For centuries we Catholics were taught St. Peter was both the first pope and leader of Christianity. Today however, previously unknown historical events such as this, which are changing early Christian beliefs, are becoming common place; Catholic historians have now discovered ancient changes in Christianity are often the source of today s modern Church scandals. Christians are also surprised to understand there were no popes at all in Christianity before Pope Siricius received the title under the auspice of the pagan Emperor, Theodosius I, four centuries after Jesus crucifixion and fifty years after Constantine absorbed expanding Christianity. Theodosius was a lifelong pagan and totally illiterate of Jesus tribal Jewish nature when he graced Siricius with the momentous title pope. Traditionally the term Pontifex Maximus (Latin, literally: "greatest pontiff") was originally identified as the high priest of the Pagan Roman Empire s College of Pontiffs, a title previously reserved for the Emperor alone. Theodosius had great interest in expanding and melding Rome s pagan sects into Rome s prized new religion, Christianity. Since the time of Theodosius I ( ) this ancient pagan title is no longer associated with the dignity of the Roman Emperor who was thereafter identified only as the Emperor of Rome. This new neo-pagan title was a critical negative change for original Christianity which had forever rejected all pagan beliefs. These unknown Catholic anomalies, such as discovering St. James original leadership, and the later importance of Emperor Theodosius, are shocking when we discover there were no Christian priests or popes in first Christianity as we are taught today. Surprisingly though, women in first Christianity were ordained, as were men, to leadership positions in first century Christianity. Discovering these important but little known events in early Christianity and its later development were rarely known before 2002 and the worldwide revelation of sexually abusive celibate priests. New discoveries of such unknown historical anomalies are now becoming

2 commonplace. Reexamining the origin and development of ancient church history Catholic historians now understand changes which have come to light, changes that are now recognized as the source of sexual scandals such as the misogynistic elimination of women from ordained positions of leadership equal to men, which women occupied in the first Christian Churches. Since the untimely death of Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962, who wished to remove ancient belief s which have no place in Christianity, we now recognize other changes such as today s denial of birth control for women which was accepted and practiced by first Jewish-Christian followers of Jesus during a time we now call, The Deposit of Faith, taught by Christ. As church history and its second century changes are newly revealed we Catholics understand the chaotic problems and unknown changes experienced by the first Christians; beginning when Jewish-Christians refused to rebel against Rome when Jews were killed after a pseudo- Messiah, Simon Bar Kokhba failed in his revolt against Rome. Forever separated when both groups fled across the empire during the last generation of original Christianity, Jewish- Christianity; and with no individual leader such as Jesus brother James after 135AD, many Gnostic-Gentiles converted entered Christianity, bringing foreign beliefs. More problematic, late in the second century before the New Testament existed, the remaining Christians were absorbed by Platonic and Stoic scholars who converted and became leaders of Christianity; they are termed Patristic Fathers, all of whom were ascetic pagan-celibates. As lifelong followers of Plato ascetic philosophy the Patristics rejected alcohol, animal flesh, and primarily the fear of female sexual temptation which they soon imbued into Christianity, as it remains today. Desiring to separate Christ from tribal Judaism which required married priests, the Patristics rejected the Jewish Old Testament on which Jesus founded Jewish-Christianity; it was no longer important for the pagans since the Jews had rejected the Christ. For this reason anti-semitism dominated Christianity until the twentieth century. After 135AD and the dispersion original Jewish-Christian beliefs were being replaced by scholarly ascetic-platonic converts who rejected original Christian beliefs supporting married leaders, including the apostles. Today Catholicism teaches: If anyone says that the married state excels the state of virginity or celibacy, and that it is better and happier to be united in matrimony than to remain in virginity or celibacy let him be anathema! This gross non- Christian remnant of ascetic Platonic-Papal doctrines today are recognized as the source of today s misogynistic sex and gender scandals, and often sex abuse of Catholic youth, male and female. Faithful Catholic parishioners now recognize the preposterous number of sexual scandals resulting from ancient Platonic-Papal doctrines which first appeared in the second century after Christ, doctrines which the Vatican has obscured for centuries. Outrageously covert Hierarchical conspiracies between popes and Vatican operatives in the 20th Century are shocking; Vatican intrigue employed to protect clandestine papal doctrines are now provable; today we read of theological chicanery which cannot be elevated to the level of mere apostasy, employed only to conceal the disenfranchisement of women. Since the earliest centuries popes freely inserted

3 Some new Doctrine into the unchangeable Deposit of Faith taught by Jesus, a faith which was later nullified by what is today describes as Development of Doctrine. Note to faithful Catholics: Few Catholics understand the origin of infallible papal doctrines discussed in this brief cover-letter, they represent ancient changes founded on neo-christian philosophies unknown by modern Christians; first introduced by Platonic scholars known as Patristic Fathers in early centuries, during a time when apocryphal pseudo-christian scripture was most authorative before the New Testament was known to exist. Created by Vatican apologists and covertly cloistered in the fog of history these changes are veiled in apocryphal doctrines, 1) Denial of priestly marriage, which has been the source of sexually abused youths since the fourth century, 2) Denial of ordination for women to leadership positions often held equally by both genders in first Christianity, 3) Denial of birth control for women as it was approved by Jesus and the apostles. Each of these ancient papal doctrines nullify recorded traditions of Christ contained in His infallible Deposit of Faith, handed on to later generations, but also later nullified. Of Historically Recorded Importance for Catholic Clerics: After 30 years of independent research in support of all Catholic doctrines this author was later forced to acknowledge that total dependence on apologetic Catholic literature is historically misleading, but fortunately I received many commitments from renowned Catholic theologians who agreed to review and comment on my first controversial book, Illicit Celibacy and the Deposit of Faith. Occupying impressive seats of Catholic theology in prestigious universities I was shocked when the promised reviews did not come. Only later was it understandable why these good men and women could not respond to my request. You will find my letter of appreciation to Joshua McElwee, Letter to Theologians, for his excellent article in National Catholic Reporter explaining why scholarly theologians associated with the Church cannot question papal doctrines under threat of excommunication. This forced theological silence began with Pope Gregory VII s reform c He declared the Roman Church was established by God Alone and had never erred. Consequently, Platonic- Catholic Law based on 4th century Hellenist Laws forced into Christianity by the Patristic Fathers, was infallibly defined in the Council of Trent c For this reason a duplicitous narrative of original Christian beliefs and history from the end of the first century through the end of the fourth century are still taught in Catholic seminaries as legitimate Catholic history, including Pope Siricius infallible declaration of celibacy ex cathedra. For this reason today s untold story of original and legitimate Church history remains cloistered in a fourth century vacuum, replaced by Platonic history which continues to misleads original Christian beliefs as originally taught by Jesus. Therefore, over the past 1700 years transparent pseudo-infallible papal doctrines alone remain in authoratively control over original Catholic doctrines of marriage and human reproduction, sexually abusive celibate priests and misogynistic disenfranchisement of women such as.

4 The Roman Pontiff is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority which the Devine Redeemer willed with Divine assistance when he defines a doctrine regarding Faith and Morals to be held by the Universal Church, and not in virtue of the consent of the Church. Therefore, popes are defined as the only humans graced by God to speak infallibly for God yet history informs us Jesus brother St. James, a married Jew, was elected by the apostles as the only Christian leader three centuries before Emperor Theodosius I created the first Pope, Siricius c.385ad. This illicit law of Papal Infallibility was specifically enforced in Humanae Vitae by Pope VI in 1965, forbidding female contraception, and later Ordinatio Sacerdotalis by Pope John Paul II in 1994 denying Ordination of women. Continuing today Catholic deacons, priests, theologians, canon lawyers, bishops, and even popes are indoctrinated with this fictitious history, which seminarians do not privately accept but cannot challenge. Taught in Vatican seminaries, unless Catholic clerics of any rank personally invest years into historical research they will not understand this confusing covert narrative of illicit fourth century Hellenistic Christianity. Our Catholic problem today is not in the Church; it is the illegitimate hierarchy which had no place in the first Catholic Church, as it remains today infallibly defined. A summary In Closing Unfortunately today, books attempting to expose illicit Christian literature, indoctrinated and unchallenged for 1700 years, have little prospect of acceptance by uninformed moderns; however the modern paradigm shift to electronically recorded ancient literature is now available to the masses, such as CNN s documentary Finding Jesus, is beginning to enlighten our modern world. Today, history has overcome the Hellenistic medieval Vatican power structure which continues to exist in the dark ages. Today there are erudite Catholic historians capable of connecting the dots of infallible papal dictates which are the origin of Catholic scandals, and are capable of explaining original Christian beliefs before the New Testament and Hellenists occupation existed, such as the Didache reveals; today a professional media documentary will historically inform the masses. Exciting today, as are the new Christian media documentaries, the most important Christian story remains unreported the changes forced upon Christianity after Jesus death. When understood these adulterous changes will historically reveal Christianity s mythical understanding of today s falsely recorded Christian history. At age 82 this Catholic historian has written his last book, and it is with sincere hope that informed historians will now launch an activist historical consortium history waits. Attached is document containing 10 brief commentaries which chronologically identify and outline ancient changes, plus an addendum, Will Pope Francis Change the Church? An unknown question. These outlines of historical change explain spurious Holy Traditions that never existed and cannot be historically defended by the Vatican but are the source of today s sexual scandals.

5 This lifelong Catholic author recalls the prayer, Act of Contrition, which was offered daily as a youth. Continuing to offer this prayer I now request the informed sphere of Vatican authority to join me. O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen Edgar Davie. TEN COMMENTARIES - TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: 1. Before Jesus Jews Reject Plato s Ascetic Belief Jesus the Jew 2. Jesus Brother James Jesus Brother James the Just Becomes the Jewish-Christian Leader Gentile Converts Affect Later Christianity A New Christian Sect Appears The Rejection of Plato s Ascetic-Pagan Philosophy 3. War Chaos and Dispersion Brings Change Absence of the New Testament Scripture until 376AD Second Century Apocrypha Misleads Christians There was No Pope or Infallible Monarch Conflict When There Were no Popes 4. Out of Judea Gnostics Introduce New Christian Beliefs Basilides

6 Cerdo Valentinus Marcion Montanus The Coming Threat 5. Hellenistic Patristic Fathers and Ascetic Platonic Doctrines St. Justin the Martyr, the First Pagan Scholar Bishop Clement of Alexandria Tertullian the Misogynist Origen Against Women Summary 6. The Patristic Legacy The Gnostic Residue Ascetic Brides of Christ 7. Platonic Apocrypha Becomes Holy Tradition c. 230AD How Christianity Change until 375AD The Apocryphal Apostolic Constitutions Becomes Platonic Holy Tradition Development of Doctrine After Constantine and Development of Doctrine Jesus Becomes a God 8. * Platonic Papal Doctrine Transforms the Catholic Church * Change in Jesus Sacrament of Matrimony The Historical Consequence of Platonic Change and Illicit Celibacy Statistics today of Celibacy, Sex and the Catholic Church Medieval Popes and Platonic Asceticism Lose Control

7 9. * How Misogynistic Papal Chicanery Exposed the Illicit Catholic Hierarchy * The Great Apostasy Illicit Papal Infallibility and Power Infallible Papal power, the Deposit of Faith and Women since Theodosius I Women s position in the Didache the Jewish-Christian Catechism Didache Gender and Community Equity Neither Women nor Apostles Were Priests The Jewish Problem Pope John Paul II s Platonic Doctrine Ordinatio Sacerdotalis How 20th Century Apostate Pope Knowingly Subverted Women 10. * The Infallible Platonic Contraception Scandal * The Infallible Papal Monarch s quintessential Coupe De Grace Leaked by Vatican Birth Control Commission Papers Reveal Vatican s Hands. National Catholic Reporter, Gerald Slevin Addendum: Will Pope Francis Return the Church to our Beginning When Unknown Catholic History Changed Christianity TEXT INTRODUCTION: Judaism, from which Christianity arose c.30ad, is the oldest monotheistic religion and its history of conflict and oppression is known to Christians. From the Jewish exodus out of enslavement in Egypt and through the Babylon Exile c.550bc Judaism overcame important threats to their existence. However few modern Christians are aware of the consequences and oppression they endured following Alexander the Great s conquest of Palestine two centuries before Jesus, and how this ancient event affects the Catholic Church today. Discussed here chronologically in order to explain

8 historical incidents and individuals who decreed second century Christian change, events during this time affected Judaism and later Christians, both men and women. Understanding changes that occurred during that time is important for modern Catholics to understand changes in modern Christianity which the Church struggles with today. 1. Before Jesus Jews Reject Plato s Ascetic Beliefs Asceticism is utterly rejected by Judaism; it is considered contrary to God's wishes for the world Jewish Library Few modern Christians understand the centuries of religious trauma visited upon Judaism following Alexander the Great s conquest of Palestine c.331bc, and his introduction of Plato s Ascetic philosophy that affected both Jews and later Christianity. Having rejected pagan influence in their homeland for a millennium, Jews confronted for the first time a threat never before experienced. Ominously, along with this occupation came Alexander s pacification policy termed like-mindedness., a policy imposed by Alexander to establish Plato s Greek-Hellenistic philosophies in conquered nations; it was designed to force assimilation of religious beliefs and practice among subjugated peoples. This policy was primarily intended to bring conquered ethnic cultures into unity and harmony with Greece while ostensibly permitting Jewish religious autonomy. Initially attempting to import pagan deities and development of new philosophical systems Alexander, a pantheist, was surprised to find belief in only one god existed within Judaism. This conflict would affect the Jewish world until Jesus appeared two centuries later, and continue to affect Jewish-Christians in the second and third centuries after Jesus. Included in Alexander s likemindedness was Plato s ascetic philosophy, described in the Jewish Virtual Library Asceticism, Rigorous abstention from any form of self-indulgence which is based on the belief that renunciation of the desires of the flesh and self-mortification can bring man to a high spiritual state...judaism did not believe that the freedom of man s soul could be won only by the subjugation of the flesh, a belief which was central in religions based upon anthropological dualism. [1] Governing all pagan beliefs worldwide Plato s ascetic philosophy was a dualistic belief-system pitting one s weak and fragile soul against sinful desires of the flesh. Primarily rejected by all Hellenistic-Gentile belief system priests was to deny sex, alcohol and consumption of meat; but such Jewish beliefs were forbidden, Jews were required to follow their first Biblical commandment from God: Be fruitful, multiply subdue the earth., Genesis 1:28 [2] Within Judaism s tribal society the propagation of children was imperative, girls could not marry before age 12.5 and men were to marry by age 20; to suggest that any Jew should not marry also conflicted with God s second gift in Genesis, Yahweh God said It is not good that man should be alone, I will make for him a helpmate. [3] In the aftermath of the conquests of Alexander the Great, the most significant impact of Greek religion was the importation of foreign deities and development of new philosophical systems. Hellenistic Religion Initially Jews continued to shun Alexander s pagan influences, but remained a controlled culture for two centuries until the arrival of Antiochus IV Epiphanies, who in 173BC began a Jewish persecution that inevitably lead to rebellion. Women were executed for circumcising their babies and swine was sacrificed in the great Jewish Temple, the center of all Jewish beliefs where God Himself resided. A

9 virulent Jewish animus toward paganism arose as described in 1 and 2 Maccabees (Catholic Bible). Under Antiochus occupation the Jewish world was turned upside down with forcible assault of pagan beliefs not previously experienced since the Babylon captivity c.500bc. This change was shockingly assisted by defection of the Jewish High Priest, Jason, when he embraced the Hellenistic lifestyle, becoming a thoroughly Hellenized Jew who went so far as to abandon his Jewish name, Jesus. Embracing his newfound love of Greek culture he supported Hellenism within Judaism, a change that devastated Orthodox Jews. Young priests took up the Greek language, dress, and engaged in nude athletic sporting contests where young priests attempted to hide their mark of circumcision with surgical procedures. Remarkably, after more than a century of pagan occupation Orthodox Jews led by the Maccabees (Hasmoneans) successfully revolted in164bc, one of the most remarkable events in Jewish history. During this revolt Orthodox Jews finally regained their religious freedom when Rome later annexed Palestine in 63BC. This overthrow of Palestine s pagan rulers was followed by a century of relative peace, and in honor of this historical victory Judaism established Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. We have introduced this epoch of Jewish history because it was into this conflicted world of Gentile- Jewish confrontation that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, would soon appear, a time after two centuries of occupation when Plato s ascetic philosophy continued to influence the Jewish sect of Essenes. Most Essenes remained married Jews, but the newly ascetic fundamentalist sect separated and withdrew to Qumran. The great majority of Essenes however remained in both Jerusalem and other communities; other Jewish sects however such as the powerful Pharisees, Sadducees, the dangerous Zealots and Sacarii continued to be adversarial to Roman occupation; Judaism was divided and many such as the devout and peaceful Nazirite and Ebonite Sects became Jewish followers of Jesus. As we can see there were many conflicting belief system during Jesus life. Fortunately, throughout the life of Jesus and the apostles Orthodox Jews and Jewish-Christians continued to reject Platonic-Gentile asceticism which continued to control the known world other than Jews and Jewish-Christians, the Jewish world had changed and Gentiles were not permitted to eat at the same table with Jews or Christians, pagan marriage was forbidden and public intercourse denied. Throughout His life Jesus instructed His apostles, Do not turn your steps to Gentile territory go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel proclaiming the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. [4] However, after two centuries of Greek occupation the influence of pagan philosophies lingered until the Great Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD, 40 years after Christ, when Jews and Jewish-Christians first began to separate. As we continue discussing the early Jewish-Christian movement it is of importance for modern Christians to note that during the life of Jesus and His apostles all Gentile beliefs and practices were condemned. Jesus the Jew He was born, lived, and died as a Jew. Jesus' identity cannot be understood apart from his Jewishness. From Jesus to Christ. Paula Fredriksen Jesus Jewish nature is often misunderstood today, He was born a Jew of a Jewish mother in Galilee, all of his friends, associates, colleagues and disciples were Jews. He regularly worshipped in Jewish communal worship, what we call synagogues. He preached from the Old Testament Jewish Bible. He lived, died and taught only Jews, instructing his apostles to shun Pagan Gentiles. Before there was a Gentile convert to Christianity, before there was a Christian in Rome there were only Jewish-Christians who followed their Jewish Messiah and Jewish Law, the Torah. As a Jewish man Jesus had two sisters

10 and four brothers who worked with their carpenter father Joseph. Later, only seven weeks after Jesus Crucifixion St. Peter preached to visiting Jews in Palestine from across the Empire, celebrating Pentecost in Jerusalem when Peter stood up with the eleven and addressed them in a loud voice...men of Israel, listen what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God [5] At no time during Jesus life were His followers confused, Peter clearly explained Jesus was a man, not a god. Nor was Pilate confused when he posted a sign on Jesus cross, Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews. [6] While most Christians today have developed their own understanding of Jesus life, few realize it would be ten years after His crucifixion before apostolic missionary travels began. After Jesus crucifixion c.30ad and the destruction of the Great Jewish Temple in 70AD the early church relied first on the apostles, and later on Apostolic Fathers to separate orthodox teaching from unorthodox teaching, i.e. bishops who followed one of the apostles, and since the beginning Jesus original Jewish followers recognized Him only as the expected Messiah sent by God to lead the Jewish world. More problematic, the earlier generation of bishops such as those described by St. Paul in I Timothy and Titus, c.55-57ad, were also gone, and in 135AD only one Apostolic Father, Polycarp of Smyrna, remained. It was confusion such as this that will ultimately affect Christianity. We belabor this time of change because 300 years after Jesus crucifixion conflict will develop between the Christians, East and West. Later, before the New Testament was written and dispersed across the Empire in the second century after Jesus Crucifixion, confusion arose. Who is Jesus? It was confusion such as this that will ultimately change Christianity. 1. Before Jesus [1] [2] Genesis 1:28 [3] Genesis 2:18 [4] Matthew 10:6 [5] Acts 2:22 [6] John 19:19 2. Jesus Brother James Jesus Brother James the Just Became the Jewish-Christian Leader Eusebius of Caesarea, Archbishop under Constantine, tells us in his Ecclesiastical History that James was the Lords brother, who had been elected by the apostles to the Episcopal throne at Jerusalem. - Ecclesiastical History 2.23 Surprising for Christians today it is universally agreed by historians that St. James the Just, Jesus brother, became leader of Christianity after Jesus crucifixion, not St. Peter. A surprise to Catholics who are taught St. Peter was the chief apostle and pope, it was actually James not Peter who followed his brother Jesus as leader of the movement we now call Christianity ; St. Peter remained First among equals among the apostles who had elected St. James the Just to be their Christian leader, and it would be the fourth century before the concept of a pope was created. Additionally, The Gospel of Thomas sayings relates the disciples asked Jesus, We are aware that you will depart from us. Who will be our leader? Jesus replied, No matter where you come [from] it is to James the Just that you shall go, for whose sake heaven and earth came to exist. Epiphanius Panarion 29.4, c.374ad.

11 As leader of Jewish-Christianity St. James was strict, he is reported to have carefully monitored apostolic teaching with an eye towards protecting Jewish laws left unchanged (completed) by Jesus. From ancient writings attributed to St. Clement of Rome, but composed by a later writer, we find this historical instruction, The Church at Jerusalem having been governed by St. James for a week of years, the apostles return from their travels and at James s request state what they had accomplished. A record was compiled by Clement of discourses involving the apostle Peter, together with an account of the circumstances... [1] It is acknowledged that James carefully monitored apostolic teachings during a time when Hellenists converts were becoming enamored with Jesus, the Messiah, when Gentile converts were attempting to find similarities with Plato s ascetic philosophy and the teaching of Christ. It is important to understand James support among ordinary Jews and Christians; evidenced describing James by Jewish convert and historian Hegesippus c.150ad, Control of the Church passed to the apostles together with the Lord s brother James whom everyone called the Righteous, for there were many James, but this one was holy from his birth; he drank no intoxicating liquor and ate no animal food; no razor came near his head; he did not smear himself with oil, and did not bathe. He alone was permitted to enter the holy place [Temple] for his garments were not of wool but of linen. He used to enter the sanctuary alone and was often found on his knees beseeching forgiveness for the Jews so that his knees grew like a camel s from his continually bending them in worship of God and beseeching forgiveness for the people. Because of his unsurpassed righteousness he was called the Righteous and Bulwark of the people. Truly, James was a Jew s Jew as well as Christianity s leader.. Following Jesus death, James as the Christian-Jewish leader was extremely successful persuading fellow Jews that Jesus was their long awaited Messiah. Comfortable among all Jewish sects he moved into Jerusalem s married Essene quarters, all of whom became Christians. So successful was his conversion of Jewish neighbors a plot was instigated by Temple authorities in much the same manner as the one against Jesus. James was assassinated in 62AD during a change of Roman Governors when Roman authority was temporarily absent and there is no record the apostles later elected another Christian leader. Surprisingly historians now claim new evidence is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls indicating the assassination failed and James fled with apostles to the Qumran Essenes where the Dead Sea Scrolls will be discovered centuries later. Gentile Converts Affect Later Christianity You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews. Jesus to the Samaritans, John 4: 22 This event will later affect Christianity. For ten years after Jesus death the apostles remained in Jerusalem, and the acceptance of Gentile proselytes into Jewish-Christianity was rigorous and demanding. With its many laws and praxis unique in history James diligently guarded against introduction of foreign thought when Jewish animus toward paganism was handed down through succeeding generations. Until 49AD, two decades after Jesus death, all converts to Christianity were required to first obey Jewish Law, including circumcision that brought about problems among non-jews. When word came to St. James that St. Paul was accepting pagan converts without circumcision or observing Jewish Law problems arose; upon hearing this James reacted strongly, nearly precipitating the first schism in Jewish-Christianity with insistence all converts must follow Jewish Law, becoming so serious that St. James assembled a council of the apostles in Jerusalem during AD, Acts Chapter 15. After discussing how the Holy Spirit was

12 bestowed by God upon pagan converts this silenced the Elders who then allowed Paul and Barnabas to speak of their similar success with support of the Holy Spirit. Following their discussion St. James demonstrated his unchallengeable authority with his authoritative decision that ended all discussion, I rule then that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from meat from strangled animals and from blood. Acts 15: This new acceptance of Gentiles occurred at a time when all believed Jesus would soon return during their lifetime. When Jesus did not return later Christian acceptance of Gentile converts who did not understand Jesus or His Jewish nature, or Judaism, or the Old Testament would prove to be disastrous in the second century. A New Christian Sect Appears The Good News is the power of salvation to Jews first, but to pagans as well. St. Paul The expansion of Christianity began with St. James permission for apostles to convert Gentiles; two apostolic missions were to be undertaken as described by St. Paul, So, James, Cephas (Peter) and John, these leaders, these pillars, shook hands with Barnabus and me in a sign of partnership: we were to go to the Gentiles [uncircumcised]and they to the circumcised. [2] Concerning these two important and differing missions requiring much travel there is no doubt Peter spent time in Rome where there were numerous Jews. St. Peter s primary mission however was to travel the Empire and announce to the lost children of the house of Israel (the circumcised) that the Messiah would soon return, and compelled buy this mission Peter traveled far. In Steuart McBirnie, Ph.D. s well researched book we find Peter during many different years in Rome, Antioch, Babylon and several visits to Britain, stating: There is plenty of evidence to show Peter visited Britain and Gaul several times during his lifetime, including the Caradoc- Claudian War. [3]These missions of Peter occurred during the period when St. James remained the leader of Christianity in 62AD, six years before Peter was executed in Rome following his last visit to Britain. With these dual missions Christianity began to change. Paul having been reared in Tarsus, a very pagan city well understood Gentiles as we trace his missionary travels across the Empire and successful effort to convert Gentiles who often knew little of the Jewish Jesus. With the assassination of St. James in 62AD Christian leadership in Jerusalem ended, without James leadership the apostles became independent and equal missionaries under no central authority; there was an equality among equals as Paul often stresses: As for those [apostles] who seemed to be important they make no difference to me those men added nothing to my message. [4] With this apostolic autonomy St. Peter agreed. Speaking to the Elders of Ephesus Peter defined himself as an Elder equal to them, yet he was the most venerated apostle addressing the Elders: To the Elders among you, I appeal to you as fellow Elders...Be shepherds of God s flock that is under your care...not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:1-3. [5] The concept of an infallible papal monarch was unthinkable. The Rejection of Plato s Ascetic-Pagan Philosophy In my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; and I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God we still have wisdom to offer to those who have reached maturity, not of a philosophy of our age,

13 which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we preach in our ministries that God predestined to be our glory before the ages began, [6] St. Paul to the Corinthians. It is of importance to understand St. Paul s differing mission, his conversion of pagans was different. Paul is identified by the church today as the apostolic promoter of celibacy because he was not married in the beginning; Paul was reared in the pagan city of Tarsus and well versed in Plato s ascetic philosophy, which he stridently exposed it in Corinth. Three years later, c.58ad, Paul again feels it necessary to confront Plato s ascetic philosophies when he instructs his disciple Timothy: Have nothing to do with pointless philosophical discussions; they will only lead further and further away from the true religion. Talk of this kind corrodes like gangrene, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus, the men who have gone right away from the truth...some people s faith cannot stand up to them. [7] Later that year, Paul again feels it necessary to instruct the bishop of Colossae of the dangers he faces when challenging pagan philosophers. Make sure you are not trapped by some second-hand empty rational philosophy based on the principles of this world instead of on Christ. [8] As it was with problems confronting the Overseer of Corinth, so too would other Christian leaders be confronted with problems concerning Plato s non-christian philosophies. During this time before the New Testament faith in Christ was taught orally and St. Paul was prepared to instruct. Paul was surely most qualified to expound on Judaism s pagan adversaries, but things were changing quickly; following the death of St. James historians identify the execution of St. Peter, and his wife Perpetua c.67ad; both traveled side by side for 37 years. St. Paul was beheaded that same year in Rome. It is appropriate here to explain that Paul was not a perpetual celibate. The Hellenist celibacy proponent, Bishop Origen c. 250AD later recognized the word yokemate in Philippians 4:3, written c. 58AD to mean wife. Disturbed that Paul had married and attempting to defend Paul s perpetual celibacy Origin insisted Paul s was a marriage of propriety only, to Lydia, with whom Paul lived in Philippi, Acts16: Twenty years earlier St. Clement of Alexandria had also believed St. Paul married and offered a slightly different reason for the relationship, Even Paul did not hesitate in one letter to address his consort. The only reason why he did not take her about with him was that it would have been an inconvenience for his ministry. Clement of Alexandria: Stromata. [9] So St. Paul himself had acknowledged there was no place in Christ s Gospel for Plato s ascetic sexuality, and in 55AD he wrote 1 Corinthians 7: 25, Now, about remaining celibate, I have no command from the Lord. Here at the end of the first century we continue to inform Catholic faithful there were no priests in first Christianity; rather, we seek St. Paul s guidance on the subject as he continues to instruct the Overseer of Corinth, during a time when Jesus was expected to return during their lifetime. Yes, it is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman, but since sex is always a danger let each man have his own wife and each woman her own husband. Corinthians 7:2. This [celibacy] is only a suggestion not a rule. Corinthians 7: 6. Unfortunately, we will soon find this will change as we enter the second century. Toward the end of the first century things changed. With James death in 62AD and destruction of the Great Jewish Temple in 70AD, six years after St. James death, Jewish-Christian Temple worship ended in Jerusalem; the expansion of pagan converts across the Empire were unabated and Jewish leaders fled to the isolated community of Pella in the Decapolis and some Christians followed. Aside from these

14 dispersions Jewish-Christians dwindled within a generation. St. John was isolated in the East and is believed to have died c.90 sad; little else will be known after that date other than the Gospel of John. About this same time a Bishop of Rome, Evaristus, a Hellenic Jew from Bethlehem was elected c.99ad; he would be the last Jewish Bishop. By 130AD the Christian-Jewish movement under James had ended, leaving only the Christian-Gentile movement established by Paul during his mission to Gentiles. The Christian world would slowly change in the second century. 2. Jesus Brother James [1] Clementine Literature &gl=us [2] Galatians 2:9 [3] [4] Galatians 2:6 [5] 1 Peter 5:13 [6] 1 Corinthians 2:4-7 [7] 1Timothy 6:20 [8] Colossians 2:8 [9] Clement of Alexandria. Stromata III english.html+&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us 3. War Chaos and Dispersion Brings Change The rise of Christianity has occupied such a prominent place in the study of the history of religion that it has always dwarfed an interrelated and perhaps more important question: the manner in which Judaism and Christianity separated from each other and came to conceive of each other as the other. How did it come to be that Christians saw the Jews and Judaism as alien and different? Council of Christians and Jews The final separation of Jews and Christians occurred early in the second century; in 135AD another Jewish uprising led by the last pseudo-jewish Messiah Simon Bar Kokhba had failed. Bar Kokhba rallied the Jews who continued to seek a Messiah all except the Christians. Bar Kokhba killed a number of Jewish-Christians, seeing them as enemies, heretics and traitors to the national cause. A Roman invasion precipitated the slaughter of 580,000 Jewish citizens and Jerusalem was razed to the ground. It would be after the United Nations resolution in 1948 that the Jewish Nation would be allowed to return. Jews fled Palestine and were successful in reacquiring their previously legal Roman status as an ancient religion. In other words, Rome was now prepared to tolerate Jews legally. At the same time Christians wished to distance themselves from the Bar Kokhba revolt in the eyes of Rome, but as a new religion separate from Judaism. This separation proved to be illegal under Roman law and having separated from Judaism Christians lost their legal protection as Jews, bringing about Christian persecution. This event forever divided Jews and Christians.

15 This dispersion offered Jews only one solace; since before the Babylonian exile c.500bc Jewish enclaves had been established across the Empire thus offering support to fleeing Jews. Christians on the other hand had no such acceptance. Only one Apostolic Father remained in 135AD, Polycarp, who is reported to have once heard an apostle teach, and he was soon executed. Separated from Judaism the Christian movement became largely composed of Gentile-Pagan converts who had never met a rabbi and knew practically nothing of Christ s Jewish nature or the Old Testament, allowing new non-jewish-christian beliefs to intrude because Christian scripture existed but was unknown. We must consider who these fleeing Jewish-Christians were. Among both Gentile and Christian society perhaps five percent were literate. Only Jews who were somewhat educated, as were those chosen to be Overseers described by St. Paul in his writings to Timothy and Titus, educated men, a good teacher who was respected by all, and one who had not been married more than once. Such Christian-Jewish educators would largely vanish in the years between 70AD and 135AD, leaving only the uneducated and religiously destitute as their generation dwindled. This tragic condition was well described by Catholic Historian Anthony Gilles in his book, People of God: The History of Catholic Christianity. He explains, It is difficult to appreciate the predicament which confronted those Christians who first lived in a church bereft of apostolic leadership Jesus disciples thought they were living in end times. They expected Jesus to come again soon, certainly within the lifetime of the twelve apostles. It wasn t long however before this expectation began to wane. This became a century of change in foreign lands. Absence of the New Testament Scripture until 376AD In this stage of historical development of the Canon of the New Testament we encounter for the first time a consciousness reflected in certain ecclesiastical writers of the differences between the sacred collections in diverse sections of Christianity Old Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. III, page 276 As we move forward into Church history we find confusion and competing beliefs after the apostles regarding the final list of the 27 books which will be accepted into the New Testaments, and will not be accepted until the end of the fourth Century. But until that time competing Christian literature composed of non-christian Apocryphal writings which contained only a few elements of legitimate Christion scripture, it will allow non-christian beliefs to enter early Christianity. In the beginning there was no New Testament. St. Paul taught his Christian disciples: All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for instructing in justice. 2 Tim 3:16. Unfortunately the term Scripture here refers only to the Old Testament. Today there is consensus among Christians that accepts 27 New Testament books as canonical, but no consensus among Biblical scholars agrees to when these books were written; estimates regarding the time-span range from First Thessalonians, 50-60AD until Second Peter, AD. At that time the concept that some New Testament books were authorative didn t exist. It was late in the fourth century after 385AD before the New Testament was officially identified and separated from a sea of non-christian writings, and apocryphal writings that sprung up during the same period caused great confusion regarding which books were of apostolic origin. This vacuum would permit error to enter the Church.

16 For these reasons it cannot be said that second century Christianity was founded on New Testament writings that did not exist. Following the death of Christ the Church was initially aware of but three authorities: First, the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures; second, the spoken word of Jesus; and third, the oral testimony and teaching of the apostles to which nothing can be added altered or removed. In the beginning no book was considered to have authority of itself, faith in Christ was spread orally by preaching alone and speaking of spreading the Gospel it was explained by St. Paul when he taught in the Book of Romans 10:14-17, They will not ask Jesus help unless they believe in Him, and they will not hear of Him unless they get a preacher, and they will not have a preacher unless one is sent...so faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ. St. Paul here mentions a preacher and not a priest being sent. Priest did not yet exist at that time, nor did the New Testament. In order to properly understand the historical role of New Testament controversy let us place ourselves in a Church in Caesarea (Palestine) 330 years after Jesus, in a Church where the Book of Hebrews was not approved by the bishop, and therefore forbidden to be read in different churches. All bishops were independent and independently selected or rejected books to be read in their Church, and the Book of Hebrews was rejected in Palestine at that late date. Incidents such as this reveal why Gentile belief s not contained in oral apostolic teaching were successful in misleading early Christian converts. Before 150AD the question had never been raised as to what books were sacred or how many there were. The early Christians were Jews taught by rabbis with teaching authority, it was apostles such as St. Paul who had teaching authority during a time when Christians believed Christ would return during their lifetime; only during the second century after Christ did disputes arise regarding which books were permitted to be read in church, a dispute that lasted for centuries. Early-on in certain large Christian centers such as Rome, Antioch, Alexandria and Corinth, their bishops possessed some writings from the apostles. These few writings were considered authoritative and from city to city other bishop s lists of approved books would vary, and none were necessarily the final word concerning theological disagreements among bishops, many of whom were converts and did not understand Jewish-Christianity. This occurred when no central Christian leadership existed. From one church to another and from east to west across the Empire we find the remaining books: Acts, James, 1&2 Peter, 2-3 John, Jude and Revelation were to one degree or another not accepted. At the same time other competing Apocryphal scripture appeared, the Infancy Gospels purporting to report Christ s miracles as a child, The Acts of Paul and Thecla who demanded celibacy for all Christians and The Secret book of James etc. Second Century Apocrypha Misleads the Christians In ancient times there were dozens of Christian writings claiming apostolic authorship, or for some other reason considered to have authority by some ancient churches, but which ultimately would not appear in the New Testament. - New Testament Apocrypha, Wikipedia. Very early in the second century most Christian bishops such as Apostolic Father St. Ignatius of Antioch and his young bishop friend Polycarp were among the vanishing Apostolic Fathers who understood Christianity; this was a time when ascetic Gentile converts accepted Apocryphal Platonic literature and

17 became leaders. In his letter to Polycarp c.108ad [1] St. Ignatius was concerned with the intrusion of pagan asceticism which had no place in Christianity. Ignatius wrote to Polycarp: Evil practices should be avoided; indeed, have conversations with the faithful to warn them. Thus, tell my sisters [wives] to love the Lord and be content with their husbands in the flesh and in the spirit. In the same way, tell my brothers [clerics] in Christ s Name to love their wives as the Lord loves his Church. If anyone can remain chaste, imitating the Savior in his flesh, let him do so without ever boasting. For if he boasts of it, he is lost; if for this reason he thinks himself better than the bishop, he is condemned. Here Ignatius speaks of ascetics clerics who believe their rejection of the flesh was superior and was becoming a problem. The Christian Church was changing. Not understanding the Old Testament Gentile converts began to create their own scripture as described by one author. The author of Colossians 4:17 tells his readers that they are also to read the letter sent to the Christians in the town of Laodicea. We don t have any authentic letters from Paul to Laodiceans; however...in the second century a couple of letters turned up, all forged in Paul s name. [2] This comment describes an instance of early Christian Apocrypha based on what was alleged to be newly discovered secret knowledge of canonical Christian scripture, i.e. Gnostic. Beginning early in the second century a plethora of writings appear alleging the discovery of new information from Jesus and the apostles not contained in the New Testament. It was not until the end of the fourth century when all Christian literature was finally accepted or rejected by various Christian leaders, and by the end of the third century great confusion existed. Today, the number of apocryphal Christian writings is too voluminous to list, but this is a subject all who wish to understand should be familiar with. Who wrote it; to whom was it written, when was it written and what was the source of their beliefs? As we enter the second century new apocryphal beliefs seduced many Christians and will be discussed and explained, for this reason it is helpful to at least be aware of these ancient writings which can be found on the internet today. It is suggested for those who are interested in this subject to examine EarlyChristianWritings.com. [3] This site includes writings of both early Christian scripture and apocryphal writings, and is explained by unbiased scholarly discussions and links to supporting historical information, permitting readers to juxtapose one against the other. There was No Pope or Infallible Monarch At first not all Western bishops believed the bishop of Rome, or even the popes, were superior to other bishops in authority. The History of Catholic Christianity Anthony Gilles At the end of the first century there was no individual leader who succeeded Jesus brother St. James as leader of Christianity. At this time Christianity was spreading beyond the Roman Empire only five years after St. Peter s death. The suggestion that St. Peter believed himself to be the monarchial leader of Christianity as later popes assert is historically untrue. St. Paul clearly believed he was equal to St. Peter c.56ad in Antioch when Paul confronted Peter to his face, accusing Peter of hypocrisy and manifestly wrong for siding with Judaizers who demanded circumcision for Gentile converts. Galatians 2:11f. And, later that same year c.56 Paul wrote I do not think I am in the least inferior to those arch-apostles, I may not be a trained speaker but I do have knowledge. 2 Corinthians 11:5. St. Peter agreed with Paul that all apostles were equal as earlier noted; charitable to the end St. Peter again addressed his fellow Christian