ACC ~ Mark 16 v15a

COMMON MEN WHO TESTIFIED OF THE UNCOMMON GRACE OF GOD

JUSTIN MARTYR: A band of twelve men went forth from Jerusalem, and they were common men, not trained in speaking, but by the power of God they testified to every race of humankind. FIRST APOLOGY 39. [1]

[1] TLG 0645.001, 39.3.1-4; LCC 1:266.

THE CHURCH REMAINS ONE IN ITS COUNTLESS CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS

TERTULLIAN: Then in this same way the apostles went out to found churches in every city possible. It is from these apostolic churches that all the subsequent churches, one after the other, derived the rule of faith and the seeds of doctrine. Even to today they continue to derive from the apostles that which is necessary in order that they be churches. Indeed, it is for this reason only that they are able to deem themselves as apostolic, as being the offspring of apostolic churches. As in science, every genus reverts to its original for its classification, so with the apostolic church. However many or great these churches may be, they comprise but one primitive church, founded by the apostles, from which they all spring. In this way all are primitive. All are apostolic. They all are one, by means of their unbroken unity, peaceful communion, title of descent, and bond of hospitality. These are privileges that no other rule directs than the one tradition of the same mystery. PRESCRIPTION AGAINST HERETICS 20. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0005, 20.18; ANF 3:252**.

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