Fathers of the Church (Index Page)

March 1, 2007 by Dave Armstrong

Fathers6

Four doctors of the Church: left to right: St. Augustine, Pope St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, and St. Ambrose (1516), by Pier Francesco Sacchi (c. 1485–1528) [pubic domain / Wikimedia Commons]

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MY THREE BOOKS ON THE CHURCH FATHERS

Catholic Church Fathers: Patristic and Scholarly Proofs [Nov. 2007]

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The Quotable Augustine: Distinctively Catholic Elements in His Theology [9-1-12]

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The Quotable Eastern Church Fathers: Distinctively Catholic Elements in Their Theology [7-8-13]

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GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

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“Unanimous Consent” of the Church Fathers (Steve Ray) [1996]
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Introduction to Dave Armstrong’s Book, Catholic Church Fathers: Patristic and Scholarly Proofs [10-7-07]

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Anti-Semitism in the Church Fathers and Catholic History: Resources and Recent Catholic Repentance [7-7-08]

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“Unanimous Consent” of Church Fathers: Not Literally All (Does the Phrase “Unanimous Consent of the Fathers” Allow Any Exceptions?) [4-29-08; revised on 10-22-18]
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PROTESTANTISM AND THE FATHERS

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Apostolic [Quasi-] Protestantism?: Dialogue with Eric Svendsen [6-26-96]

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Dialogue on “Perspicuous Apostolic Teaching” (vs. James White) [May-June 1996]

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Early Protestants & St. Augustine: Ambiguity [1-28-04]

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Transubstantiation & Church History: Dialogue w Lutheran [2-12-05; abridged on 10-23-18]
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Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]
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Dialogue: Is Lutheranism or Catholicism Closer to the Fathers? (vs. Kristo Miettinen) [6-3-05]

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Development of Sacrifice of the Mass: Dialogue w Lutheran [9-22-05]
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Church Fathers: Closer to Protestantism? [2007]

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Lutheran Chemnitz Wrong Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (mostly dealing with St. Irenaeus and Tertullian) [8-29-07]

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Lutheran Chemnitz: Errors Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (including analysis of Jerome, Augustine, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Lactantius, Athanasius, and Cyprian) [8-31-07]
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Church Fathers & Justification: Martin Chemnitz vs. Catholicism [9-9-07]
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John Calvin: Ignatian Epistles (c. 110) Not Authentic [6-7-09]

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Luther’s Views of Augustine & the Church Fathers [8-2-09]
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St. Augustine’s Eucharistic Doctrine and Protestant “Co-Opting” [9-25-10]

Reply to Ken Temple’s Extensive (Anti-Catholic) “Review” of Rod Bennett’s Book, Four Witnesses: Part I: The Amazon Review (+ Part II / Part III) [4-27-14]

ST. ATHANASIUS

St. Athanasius’ Rule of Faith (NOT Sola Scriptura) [6-16-03]

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Council of Nicea: Reply to James White: Its Relationship to Pope Sylvester, Athanasius’ Views, & the Unique Preeminence of Catholic Authority [4-2-07]

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St. Athanasius: Catholic, Not Proto-Protestant [12-26-07]

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A Discourse on The Discourse on the Holy Theotokos (Anti-Catholic Distortion of St. Athanasius) [Paul Hoffer, 4-10-09]

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Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #9: “Apocrypha” (Jerome, Athanasius, Etc.) [10-21-17]

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ST. AUGUSTINE

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St. Augustine’s Belief in the Substantial Real Presence [1996]

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Faith Alone: Development of Church Fathers & St. Augustine? [11-24-00]

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Early Development of the Papacy: Random Reflections (includes St. Augustine’s views) [2-26-02]

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St. Augustine (d. 430) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]

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Early Protestants & St. Augustine: Ambiguity [1-28-04]

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Bible and Tradition Issues: Reply to a “Bible Christian” Inquirer (Particularly Regarding St. Augustine’s Position) [3-1-07]

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Purgatory: Refutation of James White (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) (includes lengthy citations of St. Augustine) [3-3-07]

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Augustine’s Confessions: Model for Conversion Stories [6-10-09]

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Luther’s Views of Augustine & the Church Fathers [8-2-09]

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Sacramentalism & Ex Opere Operato (vs. Calvin #37) [10-21-09]

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Radically Anti-Traditional Sacramentalism (vs. Calvin #38) [10-27-09]
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Eucharist: Rationalism, Nestorianism, & Docetism (vs. Calvin #44) [11-30-09]
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Eucharistic Adoration: Idolatry or Biblical? (vs. Calvin #47) [12-2-09]
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Confirmation in the Bible & the Fathers (vs. Calvin #50) [12-17-09]
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St. Augustine and the Intercession of the Dead [Reginald de Piperno, 1-24-10]

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St. Augustine and Holy Relics [Reginald de Piperno, 1-26-10]
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St. Augustine Was Catholic, Not Proto-Protestant! [9-25-10]
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St. Augustine’s Eucharistic Doctrine and Protestant “Co-Opting” [9-25-10]

St. Augustine Accepted All Seven Catholic Sacraments [9-25-10]

St. Augustine’s Eucharistic Doctrine: Simultaneous Assertion of Realism and Symbolism [2-17-11]

What Saint Augustine, Bishop, Saint and Doctor of the Catholic Church Actually Held Pertaining to Transubstantiation: A Response to Turretinfan (+ Part Two) [Paul Hoffer, 8-20-11]

St. Augustine’s Holy Communion [2012]

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Introduction to The Quotable Augustine (edited by Dave Armstrong) [8-9-12]

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St. Augustine: Thoroughly Catholic: 135 Proofs [8-30-12]

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St. Augustine, Calvin, and Calvinists Regarding Total Depravity [1-7-14]

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St. Augustine: Astrology is Absurd [9-4-15]

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St. Augustine vs. Radical Vegetarianism [10-4-15]

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Did St. Augustine Accept All Seven Sacraments? [National Catholic Register, 11-15-17]

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BAPTISM AND BAPTISMAL REGENERATION

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Sacramentalism: James White Proves That St. Augustine and Martin Luther Aren’t Christians [11-26-03]

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Apostolic and Early Church Teaching on Baptism [3-8-06]

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Sacraments: Bible & Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #34) [9-25-09]

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Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]

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BIBLE / TRADITION / APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION / SOLA SCRIPTURA / PERSPICUITY / RULE OF FAITH

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“Unanimous Consent” of the Church Fathers (Steve Ray) [1996]

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Dialogue on “Perspicuous Apostolic Teaching” (vs. James White) [May-June 1996]

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Dialogue: Church Fathers on Perspicuity & Sola Scriptura [6-11-00]

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Development of Doctrine: Patristic & Historical Development (Featuring Much Documentation from St. Augustine, St. Vincent of Lerins, St. Thomas Aquinas, Vatican I, Popes Pius IX, Pius X, Etc.) [3-19-02]

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William Webster vs. Tradition, Development, & Truth [4-10-03]
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St. Athanasius’ Rule of Faith (NOT Sola Scriptura) [6-16-03]

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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Debate: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

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Ten Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura: Reply to anti-Catholic Protestant apologist Jason Engwer’s Catholic But Not Roman Catholic Series on the Church Fathers [8-1-03]

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Justin Martyr (d. c. 165) vs. Sola Scriptura [8-1-03]

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Irenaeus (d. c. 200) vs. Sola Scriptura [8-1-03]
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Clement of Alexandria (d. c. 215) vs. Sola Scriptura [8-1-03]
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Hippolytus (d. c. 236) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]
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Dionysius (d. c. 264) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]
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Basil the Great (d. 379) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]

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Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]
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St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]

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St. Augustine (d. 430) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]
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Theodoret (d. c. 458) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]
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Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]

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Gregory of Nyssa (d. c. 395) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [2-6-07]

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Sola Scriptura: Church Fathers (?), & Myself (?), by Analogy [2-7-07]
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Bible and Tradition Issues: Reply to a “Bible Christian” Inquirer (Particularly Regarding St. Augustine’s Position) [3-1-07]

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Chrysostom & Irenaeus: Sola Scripturists? (vs. David T. King) [4-20-07]
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Lutheran Chemnitz Wrong Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (mostly dealing with St. Irenaeus and Tertullian) [8-29-07]
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Lutheran Chemnitz: Errors Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (including analysis of Jerome, Augustine, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Lactantius, Athanasius, and Cyprian) [8-31-07]
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Dialogue with a Lutheran: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-13-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Rule of Faith / Fathers / Ecclesiology (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-17-11]

Reply to William Whitaker’s Sola Scriptura Arguments (Absurd Alleged Biblical Indications Against Apostolic Tradition) [10-20-11]

Reply to a Lutheran on Tradition & the Patristic Rule of Faith [1-10-12; additions on 2-20-18]

David T. King and William Webster: Out-of-Context or Hyper-Selective Quotations from the Church Fathers on Christian Authority: Introduction to the Series [11-8-13]

David T. King and William Webster: Out-of-Context or Hyper-Selective Quotations from the Church Fathers on Christian Authority: Part I: St. Cyril of Jerusalem [11-9-13]

David T. King and William Webster: Out-of-Context or Hyper-Selective Quotations from the Church Fathers on Christian Authority: Part II: St. Basil the Great [11-11-13]

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Sola Scriptura, Cyril of Jerusalem, Logic, & Anti-Catholics [11-9-17]
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Did I Take St. Irenaeus Out of Context (Rule of Faith)? [11-29-17]

“Unanimous Consent” of Church Fathers: Not Literally All (Does the Phrase “Unanimous Consent of the Fathers” Allow Any Exceptions?) [4-29-08; revised on 10-22-18]

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CANON OF SCRIPTURE / DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS

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“Apocrypha”: Why It’s Part of the Bible [1994]

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The New Testament Canon & Historical Processes [1996]

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Development of the Biblical Canon: Protestant Difficulties [2-26-02 and 3-19-02, abridged with slight revisions and additions on 7-19-18]

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Are All the Biblical Books Self-Evidently Canonical? [6-22-06]

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St. Jerome’s Deuterocanon “Anomalies” [11-27-07]

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Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #9: “Apocrypha” (Jerome, Athanasius, Etc.) [10-21-17]

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CHRISTOLOGY / HOLY TRINITY / GOD THE FATHER

Filioque: Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue (William Klimon) [July 1997]

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Church Fathers: God is Immutable, Simple, & Outside of Time [1-18-09]

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Church Fathers on God & Emotions, & Anthropomorphism [1-18-09]
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Bizarre “Eucharistic Christology” vs. Tertullian (vs. Calvin #45) [12-1-09]
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CHURCH / ECCLESIOLOGY

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How Cardinal Newman Convinced me of the Apostolicity of the Catholic Church [1996]

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Bishops in the Apostolic Church [1-16-01; rev. 5-7-03]

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Council of Nicea: Reply to James White: Its Relationship to Pope Sylvester, Athanasius’ Views, & the Unique Preeminence of Catholic Authority [4-2-07]
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Papal Participation in the First Seven Ecumenical Councils [4-22-09]

Sacrifice of the Mass / Cyprian’s Ecclesiology (vs. Calvin #11) [5-19-09]

Popes & Early Ecumenical Councils (vs. Calvin #16) [6-15-09]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Rule of Faith / Fathers / Ecclesiology (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-17-11]

Reply to a Lutheran on Tradition & the Patristic Rule of Faith [1-10-12; additions on 2-20-18]
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CONTRACEPTION

Contraception: Early Church Teaching (William Klimon) [1998]
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DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINE

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William Webster’s Misunderstanding of Development of Doctrine [2000]
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William Webster vs. Tradition, Development, & Truth [4-10-03]
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EUCHARIST AND SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

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St. Augustine’s Belief in the Substantial Real Presence [1996]

Patristic Eucharistic Doctrine: Nine Protestant Scholars [12-1-96]

John Calvin and St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Comparative Eucharistic Theology [6-14-04]

Dialogue on Calvin’s & Patristic Eucharistic Theology (Especially St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Theology of the Eucharist) [6-19-04]

Transubstantiation & Church History: Dialogue w Lutheran [2-12-05; abridged on 10-23-18]

Eucharistic Sacrifice: The Witness of the Church Fathers [9-12-05]

Sacrifice of the Mass: Reflections on Theology & Patristics [9-22-05]

Development of Sacrifice of the Mass: Dialogue w Lutheran [9-22-05]

Sacrifice of the Mass / Cyprian’s Ecclesiology (vs. Calvin #11) [5-19-09]

Sacramentalism & Ex Opere Operato (vs. Calvin #37) [10-21-09]

Transubstantiation: Bible & the Fathers (vs. Calvin #42) [24-25 November 2009]

Eucharist: Rationalism, Nestorianism, & Docetism (vs. Calvin #44) [11-30-09]

Bizarre “Eucharistic Christology” vs. Tertullian (vs. Calvin #45) [12-1-09]

Church Fathers and the Sacrifice of the Mass (Thoroughly Catholic!) [12-11-09]

St. Augustine’s Eucharistic Doctrine and Protestant “Co-Opting” [9-25-10]

St. Augustine’s Eucharistic Doctrine: Simultaneous Assertion of Realism and Symbolism [2-17-11]

What Saint Augustine, Bishop, Saint and Doctor of the Catholic Church Actually Held Pertaining to Transubstantiation: A Response to Turretinfan (+ Part Two) [Paul Hoffer, 8-20-11]

“Re-Presentation” vs. “Re-Sacrifice” in the Mass: Doctrinal History [4-4-18]

LITURGY

Apologia for the New (Pauline) Mass: With Massive Traditional Documentation, Over Against its Detractors / Summary of Vatican II on Liturgical Reform [6-18-08]

St. Augustine’s Holy Communion [2012]

Communion in the Hand, Standing (Norm till 500-900 AD) [9-3-15]

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MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND ANNULMENTS

Divorce: Early Church Teaching [Oct. 1998]

Dialogue on Annulment & Divorce: Essentially Different? [1997-1999]

Sacrament of Matrimony: Bible & Fathers (vs. Calvin #55) [12-23-09]

MARY, THE BLESSED VIRGIN

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Assumption & Immaculate Conception: Part of Apostolic Tradition (vs. James White) [June 1996]

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“Live Chat” Dialogue on Patristic Consensus (Particularly, Mariology) (vs. James White) [12-29-00]

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Mary Mediatrix and the Church Fathers (+ Documentation That White Accepts the Scholarship of the Protestant Church Historians I Cite [J. N. D. Kelly and Philip Schaff] ) [9-7-05]

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Church Fathers: Mary is Sinless [7-16-08]

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John Armstrong vs. Church Fathers Re Perpetual Virginity [3-12-13]
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Mary Was a Virgin During Jesus’ Birth (In Partu) [9-19-14; slight modifications and additions on 4-18-18]

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PAPACY AND INFALLIBILITY

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Pope St. Leo the Great, the “Robber” Council of 449, and the Council of Chalcedon in 451 (Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman) [Facebook, 1993]

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Pope Silvester and the Council of Nicaea [August 1997]

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The Development of the Papacy (Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman) [Facebook, 1997]

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Dialogue on (Supposedly Fallible) Pope Honorius [1997]

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Dialogue on Development of Doctrine (Esp. the Papacy) (vs. Jason Engwer) [2000]

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Council of Nicea: Reply to James White: Its Relationship to Pope Sylvester, Athanasius’ Views, & the Unique Preeminence of Catholic Authority [4-2-07]

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Papal Participation in the First Seven Ecumenical Councils [4-22-09]
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Sacrifice of the Mass / Cyprian’s Ecclesiology (vs. Calvin #11) [5-19-09]
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Popes & Early Ecumenical Councils (vs. Calvin #16) [6-15-09]

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Fathers (Esp. Jerome, Gregory) & the Papacy (vs. Calvin #17) [6-15-09]
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Gregory the Great & Papal Supremacy (vs. Calvin #20) [6-25-09]

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St. Bernard & the Papacy / Pope as “Head” (vs. Calvin #21) [6-27-19]
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Did Pope Gregory the Great Deny Papal Primacy & Supremacy? [9-16-17]

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Pope St. Leo the Great (r. 440-461) and Papal Supremacy [9-19-17]

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Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus [Turkey] (393-457), on Roman and Papal Primacy [Facebook, 9-19-17]
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PURGATORY

Purgatory: Refutation of James White (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) (includes lengthy citations of St. Augustine) [3-3-07]

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Dialogue with an Evangelical on Purgatory in the Bible and in St. Ambrose (vs. Bethany Kerr) [10-7-13]

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SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALISM

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Sacraments: Bible & Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #34) [9-25-09]

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Sacraments & the Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #36) [10-19-09]
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Sacramentalism & Ex Opere Operato (vs. Calvin #37) [10-21-09]
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Radically Anti-Traditional Sacramentalism (vs. Calvin #38) [10-27-09]

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Confirmation in the Bible & the Fathers (vs. Calvin #50) [12-17-09]
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Sacrament of Penance: Man-Made Tradition? (vs. Calvin #51) [12-21-09]

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Sacrament of Matrimony: Bible & Fathers (vs. Calvin #55) [12-23-09]
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SALVATION AND SOTERIOLOGY

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Faith Alone: Development of Church Fathers & St. Augustine? [11-24-00]

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Romans 2-4 & “Works of the Law”: Patristic Interpretation (2-16-01)

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Church Fathers & Justification: Martin Chemnitz vs. Catholicism [9-9-07]

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Church Fathers vs. the “Reformation Pillar” of “Faith Alone” [10-24-07]

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Origen (c. 185 – c. 254 ) on Faith, Works, and Judgment [Facebook, 2-27-08]

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2nd Council of Orange: Sola Gratia vs. Total Depravity [1-5-09]
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St. Augustine, Calvin, and Calvinists Regarding Total Depravity [1-7-14]

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John Calvin: All Fathers But One Wrong Regarding Free Will [8-22-15]

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SCIENCE

33 Empiricist Christian Thinkers Before 1000 AD [8-5-10]

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St. Augustine: Astrology is Absurd [9-4-15]

Last updated: 8 February 2019.

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February 2, 2007

Comments on the Question: "Are Protestants Heretical?"

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Ken Sponburg

Dave,

Could you write something on how to respond to Protestants that ask why we should listen to the Church Fathers (why they are so important) and also the fundamentalists who reject the Church Fathers and call them heretics (i.e. David Cloud etc.)? I would love to read an article about that.
Dave Armstrong

I've written about that in various places: various aspects of it.

I think it comes down to the discussion of authority and sola Scriptura. The Catholic has to show how and why SS is false, in order to convince the SS proponent that he is in error. I've done that in two of my books (and a good chunk of a third, and smaller parts of several others).

Once that's done, then the fathers are appreciated as part of the history of the Church and apostolic tradition, because Church and tradition are now accepted as authoritative as well.