Asia Departed

The Catholic defense the Church will always exist and therefore it couldn't fall away is met with several examples of Apostasy in scripture.

Paul wrote to Timothy around 65 AD that all those in Asia had departed from him, thus an entire region of churches had disassociated from the Apostle.

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

It is an example of an entire region turning to apostasy. We know that there were still faithful people in Asia and faithful churches, but there were a large number of Apostates as well.

It was common for groups to promote one Apostle over others, some said Peter was superior and Paul wrong about his teaching. Marcion for example completely rejected Paul as a deceiver as many in Rome had as well..

It is this backdrop where Peter wrote that Paul's writings were scripture, giving him support at a time groups were rejecting Paul. Peter even refers to Paul as our beloved.

2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Peter referred to his writings as scripture and says there were other scriptures as well.

We know that large groups can fall away in short periods of time, and we know that a body of New Testament scripture already existed for them to wrest to their own destruction.

Catholics claim we teach the church completely fell away, but we have never taught such. We do believe major regions fell away.