My big beef with the apostolic churches

[Standing Up]

So you're saying don't honor or respect them?

it is neither possible for us ever to forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of such as shall be saved throughout the whole world (the blameless one for sinners ), nor to worship any other. For Him indeed, as being the Son of God, we adore; but the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their extraordinary affection towards their own King and Master, of whom may we also be made companions and fellow disciples!
CHURCH FATHERS: Martyrdom of Polycarp (chapter 17)

This early church Father says it is one or the other and never the both. Either one worships God and loves the brethren OR one worships the martyrs and does not worship the Son of God. But that, of course, is warned for us throughout Scripture.

You cannot have it both ways.

 

[narnia59]

it is neither possible for us ever to forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of such as shall be saved throughout the whole world (the blameless one for sinners ), nor to worship any other. For Him indeed, as being the Son of God, we adore; but the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their extraordinary affection towards their own King and Master, of whom may we also be made companions and fellow disciples!
CHURCH FATHERS: Martyrdom of Polycarp (chapter 17)

This early church Father says it is one or the other and never the both. Either one worships God and loves the brethren OR one worships the martyrs and does not worship the Son of God. But that, of course, is warned for us throughout Scripture.

You cannot have it both ways.

I think you need to seriously get a search engine and go through the NT and look for the words "honor" and "respect" and read how we are indeed to honor and respect people, and how that is not the same as worshipping God.

I supposed Paul was worshipping the Corinthians when he 'praised' them for doing as he said?

 

[Standing Up]

To review:

So here is my question for the apostolic church adherents: What original source materials refer to veneration in the first three centuries?

Please cite specific references so that I can look them up in their original context.

An important early source on the veneration of martyrs is the Martyrdom of Polycarp (c. 135 AD), which explains:

...it is neither possible for us ever to forsake Christ...nor to worship any other. For we worship him indeed, as being the Son of God. However, as for the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love them on account of their extraordinary affections towards their own King.
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The Martyrdom of Polycarp (chs. 18-19)also mentions that the relics of the martyrs were treated "as precious stones" and that the church celebrated the martyr's day of death as their "birthday into heaven."
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If you read the quote MrPolo cites within its context, you will find that it is opposite to what he says. It is actually strongly against the veneration of martyrs. If it is an "important early source on the veneration of martyrs", then someone needs to start reading for himself and quit eating pablum.

it is neither possible for us ever to forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of such as shall be saved throughout the whole world (the blameless one for sinners ), nor to worship any other. For Him indeed, as being the Son of God, we adore; but the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their extraordinary affection towards their own King and Master, of whom may we also be made companions and fellow disciples!
CHURCH FATHERS: Martyrdom of Polycarp (chapter 17)

This early church Father says it is one or the other and never the both. Either one worships God and loves the brethren OR one worships the martyrs and does not worship the Son of God. But that, of course, is warned for us throughout Scripture.

You cannot have it both ways.

I think you need to seriously get a search engine and go through the NT and look for the words "honor" and "respect" and read how we are indeed to honor and respect people, and how that is not the same as worshipping God.

I supposed Paul was worshipping the Corinthians when he 'praised' them for doing as he said?

So, love the martyrs, but worship God. This isn't that hard to understand, but I understand it may have cut close for some.

 

[narnia59]

To review:


So, love the martyrs, but worship God. This isn't that hard to understand, but I understand it may have cut close for some.

It's not hard for me to understand at all. It is perfectly good and desirable to love, honor and respect others. It is perfectly good to praise them for the good they have done. The definition of 'venerate'.

And we worship God. We recognize that He is the source of all.

Not even close to being hard to understand.