Theological Thursdays
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NKJV)
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus. This is a Latin phrase that literally means, "outside the church there is no salvation." This statement is commonly attributed to Cyprian in the third century. This statement is connected to another dogmatic position of Cyprian, "You cannot have God for your Father unless you have the church for your Mother. His position which overtook much of Christendom was that the church was like an ark. Anyone outside of the ark could not be saved.
The theology of this phrase is directed towards those who do not accept the discipline, hierarchy, and sacraments of the Roman Catholic church. Therefore the phrase was applied to any who were considered to be "schismatics."
Among those who affirmed this position was Augustine. In 1442 Pope Boniface VIII upheld this position based on the Council of Florence. It was applied during the Reformation period to any and all who separated from the Church at Rome.
It is interesting that as Universalists are elected as Pope that some wiggle room has been introduced to extra ecclesiam nulla salus. After Vatican II some attempts have been made to suggest the possibility of salvation outside of the Roman Catholic church by Catholic theologians.
The sad truth is that there is no salvation in Roman Catholic doctrine. Sadly, the Roman position on justification and atonement places salvation out of reach.
The scripture is clear. Jesus Christ and Christ alone is the means by which atonement is made for men. God declares men to be just by faith in the atoning work of Christ. Extra ecclesiam nulla salus is to be soundly rejected.
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NKJV)
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus. This is a Latin phrase that literally means, "outside the church there is no salvation." This statement is commonly attributed to Cyprian in the third century. This statement is connected to another dogmatic position of Cyprian, "You cannot have God for your Father unless you have the church for your Mother. His position which overtook much of Christendom was that the church was like an ark. Anyone outside of the ark could not be saved.
The theology of this phrase is directed towards those who do not accept the discipline, hierarchy, and sacraments of the Roman Catholic church. Therefore the phrase was applied to any who were considered to be "schismatics."
Among those who affirmed this position was Augustine. In 1442 Pope Boniface VIII upheld this position based on the Council of Florence. It was applied during the Reformation period to any and all who separated from the Church at Rome.
It is interesting that as Universalists are elected as Pope that some wiggle room has been introduced to extra ecclesiam nulla salus. After Vatican II some attempts have been made to suggest the possibility of salvation outside of the Roman Catholic church by Catholic theologians.
The sad truth is that there is no salvation in Roman Catholic doctrine. Sadly, the Roman position on justification and atonement places salvation out of reach.
The scripture is clear. Jesus Christ and Christ alone is the means by which atonement is made for men. God declares men to be just by faith in the atoning work of Christ. Extra ecclesiam nulla salus is to be soundly rejected.
3 comments:
Hi missed you yesterday.
Well written and very thoughtful reading.
Yvonne.
Yvonne - I now, I just didn't have anything to say or maybe I am running out of things to say. Thanks for missing me! And thanks, it is a tough subject but needed to be noted.
I do get comfort from reading your daily posts. I've never know you lost for words.
Take care.
Yvonne.
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