The third chapter of the Dogmatic constitution on the Church from the perspectives of the first time of the Church. Küng’s ecclesiological view

Abstract

This paper is trying to make a valid criticism of the third
chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution about the Church Lumen
Gentium on the basis of the presentation of biblical-historical
sketches of the Early Church, which is primarily based on the
exegetical research of individual experts and also on Küng’s theological
interpretation of the development of the Church’s Council
teachings. The Church, fundamentally regarded as the mystery,
sacrament, and community of God’s people, in the chapter on
hierarchy is well placed within the institutional frameworks, and
they cannot provide sufficient space for freedom, as it was manifested
in the first centuries of Christianity. From the time of Constantine
the Great and the later alliance of the Church and the
state, bipolarity among Christ’s believers takes place in the fraternal
community of Christians, and it still exists today, although
the last Council has clearly pointed out the same dignity of
every member of God’s people. Therefore, after the analysis presented
in the first two chapters of this paper, in conclusion we
pointed to the possible options for different ways of conception
of church communities.