The word Catholic

By c.pio

                

Why Catholic, where can we find it in the bible? Frequently asked question in every Catholic Apologetic forum and group I have joined.

Before answering this question, although similar in approach and partly tackled, I would like to point out first that this article is not intended to address the issue on whether or not Christ gave an Exclusive Specific Proper Name for his Church. (This is another issue to address with).

The word Catholic

The word Catholic was first coined by Ignatius of Antioch, a direct hearer and disciple of the Apostle John:

Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. (ekklesia katholicos) [letter to the Smyrneans (35-107 A.D.)]

ekklesia katholicos soon became in many cases a mere appellative or proper name of the true Church founded by Christ.

The word katholicos is a Greek word derive from two words kata-, down, along, according to; + holou (from neuter genitive of holos, whole.) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company and the same explanation given by Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001 Douglas Harper

It is worthy to note that the original language of the New Testament books was written in Greek, so by going back to its original language we can find verses that deal to the question on where is that in the bible.

Acts 9:31

Greek

Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησία καθ’ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχεν εἰρήνην οἰκοδομουμένη καὶ πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνετο.

Transliteration

ē men oun ekklēsia kath olēs tēs ioudaias kai galilaias kai samareias eichen eirēnēn oikodomoumenē kai poreuomenē tō phobō tou kuriou kai tē paraklēsei tou agiou pneumatos eplēthuneto.

ἐκκλησία	καθ'	ὅλης
ekklēsia	kath'	holēs
churches	throughout	all

Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these things.

ὅλην	τὴν	ἐκκλησίαν
holēn	tēn	ekklēsian
all	the	church,

Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas chief men among the brethren.

ὅλῃ	τῇ	ἐκκλησίᾳ
holē	tē	ekklēsia
all	the	church,

Therefore, ekklesia katholicos which means "Universal Church" can be trace within the core text of the bible: holen ten ekklesian means “The Whole Church” or ekklesia kath holes which simply means “The Church throughout the whole” which were both used by no less than the Apostles themselves.

Matthew 28:19 therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Because the Church that Christ founded is a Universal Church – a Catholic Church… races from all nations gathered before him.