martyrdom. In these epistles is also found the first use of the term “Catholic
Church”:
“I am writing to all the Churches and I enjoin all, that I am dying
willingly for God’s sake, if only you do not prevent it. I beg of
you, do not do me an untimely kindness. Allow me to be eaten by
the beasts, which are my way of reaching to God” (Letter to the
Romans 4, 1);
“It is necessary, therefore, – and such is your practice – that you do
nothing without the bishop, and that you be subject also to the
presbytery, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope, in whom
we shall be found, if we live in Him. It is necessary also that the
deacons, the dispensers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, be in
every way pleasing to all men. For they are not the deacons of food
and drink, but servants of the Church of God...” (Letter to the
Trallians 2, 2);
“Take care, then, to use one Eucharist, so that whatever you do,
you do according to God: for there is one Flesh of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, and one cup in the union of His Blood; one altar, as there is
one bishop with the presbytery and my fellow servants, the
deacons” (Letter to the Philadelphians 4, 1);
“I did my best as a man devoted to unity. But where there is
division and anger, God does not dwell. The Lord, however,
forgives all who repent, if their repentance leads to the unity of
God and to the council of the bishop. I have faith in the grace of
Jesus Christ; and He will remove from you every chain” (Ibid. 8,
1);
“They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do
not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus
Christ, Flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in
His goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are
perishing in their disputes” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 7, 1);
“You must all follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father,
and the presbytery as you would the Apostles. Reverence the
deacons as you would the command of God. Let no one do
anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be
considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop, or
by one whom he appoints. Wherever the bishop appears, let the
people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the
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