Joshua Bennett
The term Catholic was first used by Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans around 107 AD. The term is derived from the Greek phrase katholou, meaning on the whole, according to the whole, in general. By the third century, one out of ten people in the Roman Empire was Catholic. The term was used to refer to a single, visible communion, separate from others. The term Catholic is also found in the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian creeds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First known use of the term "Catholic" | By Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans (circa 110 AD) |
| Term "Catholic" in creeds | Apostles' Creed (AD 360 version), Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed |
| First ecumenical council of the Church | Council of Nicaea, 325 AD |
| Term "Roman Catholic" first used | Communication with the Armenian Apostolic Church in 1208 |
| "Roman Catholic" in legal proceedings | By 1918 in state supreme courts and laws passed in New York |
| "Roman Catholic" in official texts | Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), First Vatican Council (1869-1870), Council of Trent (1545-1563) |
| Term "Acatholic" first used | By zealous members of the Catholic Church before 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
- The term 'Catholic' was first used around 107 AD by Ignatius of Antioch
- The Greek root of the term means universal
- The term was used to refer to the Church as 'everywhere'
- 'Catholic' was used to distinguish the 'true' church from heretical groups
- Roman Catholic is a modern term, largely confined to the English language
The term 'Catholic' was first used around 107 AD by Ignatius of Antioch
The term "Catholic" was first used around 107 AD by Ignatius of Antioch, a first-century bishop and martyr. Ignatius is best known for his seven letters, written while he was being transported from Antioch to Rome for his martyrdom. These letters, addressed to various Christian communities and fellow bishops, are some of the earliest Christian writings outside of the New Testament.
One of Ignatius' letters, known as the "Letter to the Smyrnaeans," contains the earliest known use of the term "Catholic." In this letter, Ignatius writes, "Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8:2). This statement is significant as it uses the term "Catholic" to describe the universal Church, emphasizing the importance of Church unity and the role of bishops.
The term "Catholic" is derived from the Late Latin "catholicus" and the ancient Greek adjective "katholikos," which means "universal." It is a combination of the Greek words "kata," meaning "about," and "holos," meaning "whole." Thus, the term "Catholic" conveys the idea of being "according to the whole" or "on the whole."
Ignatius' use of the term "Catholic" in his letters suggests that it was already in widespread use among early Christians at the beginning of the second century. While we cannot be certain if Ignatius was the first to coin the term, his writings provide valuable insight into the early use of "Catholic" to describe the universal Church.
Ignatius is revered not only for his use of the term "Catholic" but also for his unwavering faith and theological insights. He emphasized the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, considering it a profound mystery where the faithful encounter the real body and blood of Christ. Ignatius' reflections continue to inspire Catholics today, challenging them to embrace their faith wholeheartedly and remain united with the Church.
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The Greek root of the term means universal
The term "Catholic" is derived from the ancient Greek adjective "katholikos", which means "'universal'. The word comes from the Greek phrase "katholou", which means "on the whole, according to the whole, in general". It is a combination of the Greek words "kata", meaning "about", and "holos", meaning "whole".
The first known use of the term "Catholic" was by Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, written around 107 AD. In this letter, Ignatius refers to the "'Catholic Church'", indicating that the term was used to label the Church at this early stage in its history.
By the second century, the term "Catholic" was being used to refer to a single, visible communion, separate from others. It was included in the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian creeds, and has been used by various Christian groups to refer to their own specific denominations. For example, the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Church of the East, all maintain that their own denomination is identical to the original universal church, from which all other denominations broke away.
The term "Catholic" has also taken on a secondary sense of "orthodox" or "true", as opposed to "heretical". This usage can be seen in early Canon of Scripture, such as the Muratorian fragment (circa 170 AD), which refers to certain heretical writings as "not received in the Catholic Church". The notion of "Catholic" as "universal" has persisted, however, and continues to be associated with the idea of a unified, global church.
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The term was used to refer to the Church as 'everywhere'
The term "Catholic" was first used by Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, written around 107 AD while he was being taken to Rome for execution. The term comes from the Greek phrase "katholou", meaning "on the whole, according to the whole, in general". It is a combination of the Greek words "kata", meaning "about", and "holos", meaning "whole".
The term was used to refer to the Church as "everywhere", as in the phrase "the whole Catholic Church throughout the world". By the third century, one out of ten people in the Roman Empire was a Catholic. As the Church grew and spread across the Empire, it incorporated Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, Romans, freemen, and even slaves—men and women from every tribe and tongue.
The term "Catholic" was used to distinguish the true Church from heretical groups. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) wrote, "In the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom." The Apostles' Creed, written in 360 AD, includes the phrase "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."
The Nicene Creed, written in 325 AD at the First Ecumenical Council of the Church, also includes the term "Catholic". The bishops of that council legislated in the name of "the Catholic Church", referring to it as the true Church of Christ. The term "Catholic" was also used by St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who spoke of "the Catholic Church throughout the world".
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'Catholic' was used to distinguish the 'true' church from heretical groups
The term "Catholic" was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch in a letter written around AD 107. In the letter, he made the first written mention of "the Catholic Church," stating, "Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church." This usage of the term "Catholic" continued and became more frequent in the following centuries.
By the 4th century, Christians were using the term "Catholic" to differentiate between the "legitimate church" and heretical sects. The Nicene Creed of 325 AD, for example, refers to the "'Catholic and Apostolic Church,' claiming that the beliefs spelled out in the creed were representative of all Christians, despite the existence of various sects and heretical beliefs.
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem further emphasized the "Catholic" notion in his Catechetical Lectures, delivered around 350 AD. He used the term "Catholic Church" to distinguish it from other groups that also called themselves "the church." This distinction was also made by Saint Ignatius of Antioch in his letter, where he associated the presence of the bishop with the presence of the Catholic Church, implying a separation from other sects that may not have had bishops.
The use of the term "Catholic" as a proper noun, specifically referring to an adherent of the Catholic Church, is more recent. The earliest citation of this usage in English dates back to around 1425, according to the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. However, the term "Catholic" entered the English language through other languages, particularly Greek (where it means "universal"), and may have been used as a noun in those languages before being adopted into English.
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Roman Catholic is a modern term, largely confined to the English language
The term "Catholic" is derived from the Greek phrase "katholou", meaning "on the whole", "according to the whole", or "in general". It is a combination of the Greek words "kata", meaning "about", and "holos", meaning "whole". The English word "Catholic" comes from the Greek word "Katholiken", which means "universal".
The term "Catholic" has been used to refer to the Christian Church since at least the second century. The earliest surviving written use of the term in reference to Jesus' community is attributed to Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, which dates back to around 107 AD. In this letter, Ignatius emphasizes the importance of following the bishop and the council of presbyters, stating that "wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church".
The term "Catholic" was used to emphasize the inclusive nature of the Christian faith, which was open to people from various backgrounds, such as Greeks and Jews, regardless of their social status or age. It also conveyed the idea that the Catholic Church was the true church, distinct from heretical congregations or sects. By the time of the First Ecumenical Council of the Church in 325 AD, the bishops naturally referred to the universal body as "the Catholic Church" in their official documents.
However, the term "Roman Catholic" is a relatively modern term, largely confined to the English language. Interestingly, during the First Vatican Council in 1870, English-speaking bishops campaigned vigorously and successfully to ensure that the term "Roman Catholic" was not included in any of the Council's official documents about the Church. Similarly, the term "Roman Catholic" is absent from the 16 documents of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Paul VI signed all the documents of the Second Vatican Council as "I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church", avoiding the use of the term "Roman Catholic".
In summary, while the term "Catholic" has ancient roots and has been used since the early days of Christianity, the specific phrase "Roman Catholic" is a more recent development and is primarily used in English-language contexts.
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Frequently asked questions
The first known use of the word "Catholic" was by Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, written around 107 AD.
Ignatius of Antioch used the term "Catholic" to refer to a single, visible communion, separate from others. He wrote of "the Catholic Church", indicating that the term was already understood and in common usage.
The term "Catholic" was derived from the Greek phrase "katholou", meaning "on the whole, according to the whole, in general". It appeared in the Apostles' Creed in 360 AD and was retained as one of the four marks of the true Church of Christ by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. By the third century, one out of ten people in the Roman Empire was a Catholic.
