Earliest Mention Of The Word Catholic By ST. Ignatius

 

Earliest Mention Of The Word Catholic

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, also known as Ignatius Theophorus, was an early Christian bishop and martyr who lived during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. He is renowned for his letters written to various Christian communities while he was en route to his martyrdom in Rome.

In his writings, Saint Ignatius does not explicitly use the term "Catholic" as a proper noun to refer to the Christian Church. However, he does employ the Greek term "katholikos" (καθολικός), which means "universal" or "general," in reference to the Church. This usage reflects the understanding of the Church as a universal entity encompassing all believers rather than denoting a specific denomination.

It is important to note that during Saint Ignatius' time, the Christian Church had not yet developed the precise terminology that would emerge in later centuries. The term "Catholic" as a proper noun to denote the universal Church gained more prominence in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Saint Ignatius' writings, however, reflect the early understanding of the Church's universality and unity among believers.