3, 3, 1
“When, therefore, we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek among others
the truth which is easily obtained from the Church. For the Apostles, like a rich
man in a bank, deposited with her most copiously everything which pertains to the
truth; and everyone whosoever wishes draws from her the drink of life. For she is
the entrance to life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers. That is why it is
surely necessary to avoid them, while cherishing with the utmost diligence the
things pertaining to the Church, and to lay hold of the tradition of truth...In the
Church, God has placed apostles, prophets and doctors, and all the other means
through which the Spirit works; in all of which none have any part who do not
conform to the Church. On the contrary, they defraud themselves of life by their
wicked opinion and most wretched behavior. For where the Church is, there is the
Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God, there the Church and every grace.”
3, 3, 2
“The successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient Church known to
all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious Apostles, Peter and
Paul, that Church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us
after having been announced to men by the Apostles. For with this the whole
world; and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the Apostolic
tradition...”
3, 3, 3
“The blessed Apostles (Peter and Paul), having founded and built up the Church
(of Rome), they handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus. Paul makes
mention of this Linus in the Epistle to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and
after him, in the third place from the Apostles, Clement was chosen for the
episcopate…In this order, and by the teaching of the Apostles handed down in the
Church, the preaching of the truth has come down to us.”
3, 4, 1
“If there should be a dispute over some kind of question, ought we not have
recourse to the most ancient Churches in which the Apostles were familiar, and
draw from them what is clear and certain in regard to that question? What if the
Apostles had not in fact left writings to us? Would it not be necessary to follow the
order of tradition, which was handed down to those to whom they entrusted the
Churches?”
3, 19, 1
“Nevertheless, what cannot be said of anyone else who ever lived, that He is
Himself in His own right God and Lord and Eternal King and Only-begotten and
Incarnate Word, proclaimed as such by all the Prophets and by the Apostles and
by the Spirit Himself, may be seen by all who have attained to even a small portion
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