Thinkingstuff
Active Member
Over what period of time? Certainly, Clement doesn't mention infant baptism? By the way your Priest, Pope, Cardinals were much later. Note like in Africa leaders of a tribe are called father. This is the early mediteranian way as well so church leaders would have been referrenced as Papa (Father) recognizing their position. Later the developement of the word Pope became a title. But that was many many years later. Cardinals weren't introduced until after the great schizm. And Priest is a progression in old english from Presbyter. Reading the Didache shows that immersion was still in practice as reading Apostolic Tradition from Hyppolitus. You seem to think this occured overnight. We are actually talking about hundreds of years. You still have to deal with the historical facts. BTW not all ante nicean fathers agreed with each other as they try to develop their theology from scratch so to speak. Since scripture didn't deal with every eventuality. Just like today whether or not moral activity of our online avatar's is a scriptural requirement. Certainly scriptures don't mention our avatars. We can infer that what ever we do should be to the Glory of God from scripture but technically speaking our avatar's aren't us. Or are they by extention? You see how questions and answers can be developed over eventualities not mention in scriptures?The fact is this the basics of the faith never change. - Thinkingstuff
The gospel of justification by faith without works is a basic and Paul says let those who preach justification by works be regarded as "accursed." Baptism of repentant believers is a basic. Churches composed of baptized beleivers is a basic.
However, this is exactly what we see progressive change in - the basics - when we examine the Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene Fathers.
1. Change from gospel basic to sacramental regeneration salvation
2. Change from baptism basic to infant, sprinking, pouring
3. Change from congregations of baptized believers to congregations of unregenerated; unbelieving members.
4. Change from Elders and Deacons to preists, pope, cardinals, nuns, etc
To claim that the "Fathers" (history of apostasy) is not a change of the very basics is hilarious. This is not progressive change but progressive apostasy from the essentials.