The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church
Title | The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church PDF eBook |
Author | Joseph F. Kelly |
Publisher | Liturgical Press |
Pages | 236 |
Release | 2009-09-01 |
Genre | Religion |
ISBN | 0814657036 |
There have been twenty-one universal gatherings 'ecumenical councils' of the Catholic Church. The first opened in 325, the last closed in 1965, and the names of many ring out in the history of the church: Nicea, Chalcedon, Trent, Vatican II. Though centuries separate the councils, each occurred when the church faced serious crises, sometimes with doctrinal matters, sometimes with moral or even political matters, and sometimes with discerning the church's relation to the world. The councils determined much of what the Catholic Church is and believes. Additionally, many councils impacted believers in other Christian traditions and even in other faiths. In this accessible, readable, and yet substantial account of the councils Joseph Kelly provides both the historical context for each council as well as an account of its proceedings. Readers will discover how the councils shaped the debate for the following decades and even centuries, and will appreciate the occasional portraits of important conciliar figures from Emperor Constantine to Pope John XXIII.
The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787)
Title | The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787) PDF eBook |
Author | Leo D. Davis |
Publisher | Liturgical Press |
Pages | 344 |
Release | 2017-03-15 |
Genre | Religion |
ISBN | 0814683819 |
This unique work - no other work yet available in English treats this subject - illustrates the contribution of these Councils in the development and formulation of Christian beliefs. It then shows how their legacies lingered throughout the centuries to inspire - or haunt - every generation.
Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church
Title | Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church PDF eBook |
Author | Hubert Jedin |
Publisher | |
Pages | 272 |
Release | 1960 |
Genre | Religion |
ISBN |
The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church
Title | The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church PDF eBook |
Author | Henry Robert Percival |
Publisher | |
Pages | 706 |
Release | 1900 |
Genre | Christian literature, Early |
ISBN |
The Ecumenical Councils
Title | The Ecumenical Councils PDF eBook |
Author | William Porcher Dubose |
Publisher | |
Pages | 452 |
Release | 1897 |
Genre | Church history |
ISBN |
The Seven Ecumenical Councils
Title | The Seven Ecumenical Councils PDF eBook |
Author | Henry Robert Percival |
Publisher | |
Pages | 724 |
Release | 1900 |
Genre | Church history |
ISBN |
The 21 Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church. Short Overview
Title | The 21 Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church. Short Overview PDF eBook |
Author | Pierre Mvogo Amougou |
Publisher | GRIN Verlag |
Pages | 10 |
Release | 2021-09-29 |
Genre | Religion |
ISBN | 3346502791 |
Scientific Essay from the year 2018 in the subject Theology - Historic Theology, Ecclesiastical History, grade: note, , course: patristics, language: English, abstract: The following work provides a quick overview over all 21 ecumenical councils as of today held by the Catholic Church. Every several hundred years, cardinals, bishops, priests, theologians and other Catholic leaders, get together under the leadership of the Pope to discuss doctrine and the future of the Church. These are called ecumenical councils. So far, there have been 21 councils in the history of the Church since 325 A.D. (Prior to that, serious persecution prevented widespread meetings. There were, however, less organized councils.) In the Bible we have an example of a Church council (Acts 15-16). Paul and Barnabus went to Jerusalem in Israel to settle the circumcision issue.” As they (Paul and Timothy) went through the towns they delivered to the believers the rules decided upon by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and they told them to obey those rules.” (Acts 16:3) This is a good example of the Lord using the “Church” to decide on matters of interpretation. The councils are part of the glue of the Church and are extremely important because it is where the Church settles many issues about what God is saying in Scripture and what he is saying to his Church. They are also where the Church officially responds to doctrinal threats. Sometimes we hear Evangelicals say something like, “Catholics made up the doctrine of [insert your favorite Catholic doctrine] at such and such a council” when, in truth, the Church was simply officially defining something that it had always believed as a response to a challenge from those opposed to the Catholic doctrine. Catholics believe the Holy Spirit is seriously present, guiding the proceedings at these councils. Jesus said to Peter, “...you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Catholics believe that was Jesus’ promise that he would protect the Church from doctrinal error. This doctrinal protection is called “infallibility“. It does not mean that Catholics leaders throughout history would not be “indefectible” on issues other than doctrine. These councils are called ecumenical because there are several rites in the Catholic Church including the Eastern Rite (Byzantine, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean). All of these rights recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader. The largest rite is the Latin-Rite (that’s the one most people know).