Is the Catholic Catechism Corrupt? Or Trustworthy? ... See for Yourself!

WHO WILL GO TO HEAVEN? INTERNAL INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:

Exclusivism VS. Inclusivism/Pluralism/Universalism

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Religious Exclusivism - doctrine or belief that only one particular religion or belief system is true

Religious Inclusivism - Jesus’ death also provide salvation for some who do not believe, salvation for people apart from conscious faith in Christ, but still only through Jesus; followers of other religions and even atheists can be saved by responding to God’s general revelation

Religious Pluralism - acceptance of the concept that two or more religions with mutually exclusive truth claims are equally valid

Religious Universalism - a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved

Religious Syncretism - blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system

                                      Is Jesus the           Do you have

                                    only way?        to respond?

Exclusivism - only one way, requires a response                   YES               YES

Inclusivism - general revelation saves, must be sincere         NO               YES

Pluralism - many ways to God                         NO                NO

Universalism – everyone is going to be saved                         NO                                 NO

Some Catholic claims to exclusivism in The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

• ““The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. … This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.” (CCC 816)

• “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal hope toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (CCC 816)

• “Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office…Hence the Church teaches that ‘the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ” (CCC 862)

• “They could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse to enter it or to remain in it” (CCC 846)

• “The second precept ‘You shall confess your sins at least once per year’ ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness” (CCC 2042)

• “No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother” (CCC 181)

• “Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God” (CCC 1445)

• “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal hope toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (CCC 816)

• “It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated  that one of them cannot stand without the others.  Working together each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.” (CCC 95)

• “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone”(CCC 85)

• “the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church.  The Church is where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation.  The Church is ‘the world reconciled.’” (CCC 845)

• MORAL EXCLUSIVISM vs. MORAL INCLUSIVISM: “to the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs” (CCC 2032)

Some claims to inclusivism and pluralism in The Catechism of the Catholic Church: 

A Concerning Inconsistency within the CCC and with the Scripture…

• PROTESTANTISM: “All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have the right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church” (CCC 818)

• “Many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church…Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as a means of salvation” (CCC 819)

• ISLAM: “The Church’s relationship with the Muslims.  ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (CCC 841)

• OTHER RELIGIONS: “the Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for God who is unknown yet near…the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as a ‘preparation for the Gospel’” (CCC 843)

• EVERYONE OUTSIDE CATHOLIC EXPOSURE: 

• “Those, who through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but nonetheless seek God with a sincere heart, and moved by grace, try in their own actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation” (CCC 847)

• “Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved.  It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity” (CCC 1260)

• “those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, can be saved even if they haven’t been baptized” (CCC 1280)

“Who will go to Heaven?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• 2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (ESV)

• 1 Cor 2:5 “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Universal Accountability to God:

• Romans 1:18–23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (ESV)

• Romans 3:10–12 “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (ESV)

• Romans 5:10–11 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (ESV)

• Joshua 23:16 "if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.” (ESV)

God’s Inclusive Invitation to All:

• John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

• 1 Timothy 2:3–5 "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (ESV)

• 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (ESV)

• Romans 2:4–5 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.” (ESV)

Salvation is through faith alone in Jesus (exclusive means & response):

• Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV)

• John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (ESV)

• Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

• Romans 10:13–15 “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ [14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (ESV)

• 2 John 9 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (ESV)

• 2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” (ESV)

• John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Proverbs 30:5–6 "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (ESV)

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Why is the Catholic Bible Different? Are the Extra Books Trustworthy?

WHY IS THE CATHOLIC BIBLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS?  IS THE DEUTEROCANON/APOCRYPHA TRUSTWORTHY?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

• “It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated  that one of them cannot stand without the others.  Working together each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.” (CCC 95)

• “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone” (CCC 85)

• “The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magesterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.” (CCC 100)

• “It was by the apostolic Tradition that the Church discerned which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred books.” (CCC 120)

• “Tobit, Judith…1 and 2 Maccabees…Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)…Baruch” (CCC 120)

• READ THE APOCRYPHA FOR YOURSELF HERE: www.biblestudytools.com/rhe/ 

Problematic passages of The Deuterocanon to Consider:

• Tobit 6:5-7 "Then the angel said to him: Take out the entrails of this fish, and lay up his heart, and his gall, and his liver for thee: for these are necessary for useful medicines. 6 And when he had done so, he roasted the flesh thereof, and they took it with them in the way: the rest they salted as much as might serve them, till they came to Rages the city of the Medes. 7 Then Tobias asked the angel, and said to him: I beseech thee, brother Azarias, tell me what remedies are these things good for, which thou hast bid me keep of the fish? 8 And the angel, answering, said to him: If thou put a little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or from woman, so that they come no more to them.”

• Tobit 6:19“burn the the liver of yonder fish, and therewith the demon shall be driven away” 

• Tobit 8:2-3 “remembering what the angel had said, he took out from his wallet a piece of the fish’s liver, which he burnt on live coals.  With that, the evil spirit fled; it was overtaken by the angel Raphael in the waste lands of Upper Egypt, and there held prisoner”

• Tobit 11:13-15 “Tobias took out the fish’s gall and rubbed it on his father’s eyes.  He waited, maybe, for half an hour…and immediately his father’s sight was restored."

• This practice of burning the fish’s guts to drive the demonic away is identical to witchcraft.  Is there any biblical justification for it?

  • Deuteronomy 18:9–14 "When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer [11] or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, [12] for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. [13] You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, [14] for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.” (ESV)

  • Deuteronomy 32:17 "They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.” (ESV)

  • 1 Corinthians 10:20 “No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (ESV)

• Tobit 4:11 "For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness."  

• Tobit 12:9 "For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.”

• Sirach 3:3, 30 “Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins...Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for sin”

• The Bible speaks clearly about giving being willing and joyous, not out of motives of avoiding Hell by buying your forgiveness.  Scripture is clear that forgiveness comes through faith in Jesus alone.

• Why does Sirach say honoring one’s father makes an atonement for sins?  Where is that in the Bible?  Doesn’t that oppose the clear teaching of Galatians 2:16 and many other passages which explain justification does not come by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ?

  • Galatians 2:16 “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (ESV)

• Does giving make an “atonement for sin” or “purgeth away sins”?  Isn’t that contrary to 1 John 1:7 and Hebrews 9:14 & 22?

  • 1 John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (ESV)

  • Hebrews 9:14 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (ESV)

  • Hebrews 9:22 “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (ESV)

• Tobit 3:24 “Raphael, one of the Lord’s holy angels, was sent out, bearing common deliverance to the suppliants of a single hour”

• Tobit 12:15 “I am the angel Raphael, and my place is among those seven who stand in the presence of the Lord”

• "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" Tobit 12:15.

  • Why is Raphael/Azarias not referenced or mentioned in the Protestant canon of the Bible?  Why does Tobit have so many references (almost every chapter multiple times) to angels compared to other books of the Bible?

  • Why are Michael and Gabriel the only named angels in the Protestant canon of the Bible? (Daniel 8:16, 21; 10:13,21; 12:1, Luke 1:9–26; Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7)

  • Why does the name Raphael appear for angels in Islam, Mormonism, the Babylonian Talmud, and the book of 1 Enoch?

• Tobit 12:16-22 “the fell down trembling, face to earth.  Peace be with you, the angel said…for three hours together, face to earth, they gave thanks to God”

• When Tobias and his father fall down before the angel Raphael, why does the angel not stop them from bowing down (for three hours)?  Like the angel rebukes John in Revelation 22:8-9 from bowing down in front of him?

  • Revelation 22:8–9 “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, [9] but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (ESV)

Sirach 12:4-7 advices, “Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner. Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly; hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him... give unto the good, and help not the sinner.” 

Tobit 4:17 “Bestow thy meat and thy drink upon a just man’s burying, never share them with sinners.”

• Is this in line with Jesus’ commands and other biblical guidance?

• Proverbs 25:21–22 “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, [22] for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” (ESV)

• Luke 6:27–31 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. [29] To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. [30] Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. [31] And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (ESV)

• Romans 12:20–21 “To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (ESV)

• Wisdom 8:19,20 “For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit. Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.” 

• Is anyone born without sin?  Is anyone without sin?  What does 1 John 1:8 say about that?  How could the author of Wisdom be an exception?

  • 1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (ESV)

  • Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (ESV)

  • Romans 3:10 “None is righteous, no, not one” (ESV)

  • Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”

  • Romans 5:18–19 “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.” (ESV)

  • Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

  • Jeremiah 17: 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

• 2 Maccabees 12:43 "And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection.”

• 2 Maccabees 12:44-46 “For if he had not hoped that the that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead, 45 And because he considered that the who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. 46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”

• Is there anywhere in the Bible that supports the practice of offerings or prayers for the dead?

• Judith 1:5 "Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor, king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against Arphaxad and overcame him.”

• Why does Judith claim Nebuchadnezzar to be the king of the Assyrians when he was the king of the Babylonians?

  • “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon” appears over 50 times in the Bible and even more across historical artifacts.  He is never referenced as a king of Assyria anywhere other than this passage.  Why does this passage get it wrong?

  • 2 Kings 24:1 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon”

• Baruch 6:2, "And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will bring you away from thence with peace.”

• Jeremiah 25:11 says the Jews would serve in Babylon for 70 years while Baruch says seven generations.  Why the difference?

  • Jeremiah 25:11 "This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” (ESV)

  • ESV Study Bible Note: “This is probably counted from the first exile in 605 B.C. to the first return, variously dated from 538 to 535 (2 Chron. 36:21; Ezra 1:1). However, 70 may be a rounded number, as it is elsewhere (Ps. 90:10; cf. Matt. 18:22).”

Other concerning passages:

• Sirach (Ben Sira) 40:29-30 “My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want. 30 The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man's meat.”

• [You should divorce if your wife does not obey you] Sirach 25:35-36 “If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies. 36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.”

• Jeremiah took the tabernacle of the ark to a cave in the mountain Moses saw Canaan. 2 Maccabees 2:1-16

• 2 Maccabees 2:5 “And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.”

• Wisdom 7:26 “For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.”

• Wisdom 9:19 “For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.”

• “ Sirach implies our actions can bring favor upon ourselves, mitigate our sin in God’s eyes, and anticipate reciprocal responses from those we assist in their time of need" (chapters 3, 7, 12, 17, and 22)

Four Reasons the Apocrypha/Deuterocanon Should Not Be In the Bible

From: www.biblicaltraining.org/library/canon-scripture-wayne-grudem

1. they do not claim for themselves the same kind of authority as the Old Testament writings; 

1. they were not regarded as God’s words by the Jewish people from whom they originated; 

• “When these lists are examined, we find that the earlier ones omit the Apocrypha, and that the later ones (beginning at the end of the fourth century in the West) include it. The Apocrypha began to be put on the same level as our canonical books at about the same time as many other innovations entered into the Church.” www.bible-researcher.com/canon1.html 

1. they were not considered to be Scripture by Jesus or the New Testament authors

• “This fact is confirmed by the quotations of Jesus and the New Testament authors from the Old Testament. According to one count, Jesus and the New Testament authors quote various parts of the Old Testament Scriptures as divinely authoritative over 295 times, but not once do they cite any statement from the books of the Apocrypha or any other writings as having divine authority.” www.biblicaltraining.org/library/canon-scripture-wayne-grudem

• Some of the quotes in the NT of the OT: www.bible-researcher.com/quote01.html 

• No book out of the Canon is quoted from except perhaps the word of Enoch in Jude. - “There are other Hebrew works that are mentioned in the Bible that God directed the authors to use. Some of these include the Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14), the Book of Samuel the Seer, the Book of Nathan the Prophet, and the Book of Gad the Seer (1 Chronicles 29:29). Also, there are the Acts of Rehoboam and the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (1 Kings 14:29). We also know that Solomon composed more than a thousand songs (1 Kings 4:32), yet only two are preserved in the book of Psalms (72 and 127). Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, Paul included a quotation from the Cretan poet Epimenides (Titus 1:12) and quoted from the poets Epimenides and Aratus in his speech at Athens (Acts 17:28).”   www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Jasher.html 

• NOTE: The N.T. does not quote from Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon or Obadiah either. www.biblequery.org/Bible/BibleCanon/WhatAboutTheApocrypha.html 

1. they contain teachings inconsistent with the rest of the Bible.

A Brief History of the Canon of the Bible

www.bible-researcher.com/canon.html

• Peter recognized Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16) & Some of the books of the New Testament were being circulated among the churches (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). 

• In 90 AD. the Jewish Council at Jamnia excluded from the Old Testament all but the writings Jews and Protestants accept today. 

  • by A.D. 250 there was nearly universal agreement on the canon of Hebrew Scripture

• Paul considered Luke’s writings to be as authoritative as the Old Testament (1 Timothy 5:18; see also Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7)

• Clement of Rome mentioned at least eight New Testament books (A.D. 95). 

• Polycarp, a disciple of John the apostle, acknowledged 15 books (A.D. 108).

• Ignatius of Antioch acknowledged about seven NT books (A.D. 115). 

• Muratorian Canon - (A.D. 180) 22 of 27 NT books www.gotquestions.org/Muratorian-Canon.html 

• Later, Irenaeus mentioned 21 books (A.D. 185) & Hippolytus recognized 22 books (A.D. 170-235). 

• The NT books receiving the most controversy were Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 John, and 3 John

• History of when the Books of the Bible were written: www.bible-researcher.com/history1.html 

• The first “canon” was the Muratorian Canon, which was compiled in AD 170

  • The Muratorian Canon included all of the New Testament books except Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and 3 John - www.bible-researcher.com/muratorian.html 

• In AD 363, the Council of Laodicea stated that only the Old Testament (along with one book of the Apocrypha) and 26 books of the New Testament (everything but Revelation) were canonical and to be read in the churches. 

• Jerome on the Canon - on omitting most of the Apocrypha due to it being in Greek and not Hebrew: www.bible-researcher.com/jerome.html 

• Hebrew Bible VS. Greek Septuagint VS. Latin Vulgate - www.bible-researcher.com/canon2.html 

• “The first direct application of the term canon to the Scriptures seems to be in the verses of Amphilochius (cir. 380 A.D.), where the word indicates the rule by which the contents of the Bible must be determined, and thus secondarily an index of the constituent books.”

• “Among Christians there was no consensus until Jerome died and Augustine championed the Apocrypha at the Council of Carthage in 397 AD. These writings were in Bibles used by Christians for over 1,100 years. Even the King James Bible originally included it.”

• “The Council of Hippo (AD 393) & the Council of Carthage (AD 397) also affirmed the same 27 books as authoritative.”

• “Many early Christian leaders did not believe the Apocrypha scripture. Some are: Athanasius, Ambrose, Amphilochus, Athanasius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory Nanzianzus, Jerome, Melito of Sardis, and Origen. The Jews Josephus and Philo also rejected it. Many others, such as Justin Martyr, wrote volumes yet never once cited it. Athanasius and Ambrose were inconsistent. Even many for it, like Augustine, believed it inspired in a lesser way.”

• First Council of Nicaea (AD 325), First Council of Constantinople (AD 381), Council of Ephesus (AD 431), Council of Chalcedon (AD 451), Second Council of Constantinople (AD 553), Third Council of Constantinople (AD 680), and Second Council of Nicaea (AD 787)

• 1380-1382 John Wycliffe and associates make first translation of the whole Bible into English

• 1388 John Purvey revises Wycliffe Bible

• 1455 Gutenberg’s Latin Bible—first from press

• 1516 Erasmus’s Greek New Testament, forerunner to the Textus Receptus used by KJV translators

• 1522 Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German (complete Bible in 1534)

• Roman Catholic Church officially added the Apocrypha / Deuterocanonicals to their Bible at the Council of Trent in AD 1546

Helpful Links for More Information

• READ THE APOCRYPHA FOR YOURSELF HERE: www.biblestudytools.com/rhe/

• The Apocrypha/Deuterocanon - www.gotquestions.org/apocrypha-deuterocanonical.html

• The books of the Apocrypha include 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, Prayer of Manasseh, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees, as well as additions to the books of Esther and Daniel. Not all of these books are included in Catholic Bibles. www.bible-researcher.com/canon2.html#reform 

• 1 & 2 Esdras - www.gotquestions.org/first-second-Esdras.html 

• The Book of Tobit - www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Tobit.html

• Book of Judith - www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Judith.html 

• The Book of Enoch - www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Enoch.html

• The Wisdom of Solomon - www.gotquestions.org/Wisdom-of-Solomon.html 

• Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) - www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Ecclesiasticus.html 

• Baruch - www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Baruch.html

• The Letter of Jeremiah - www.gotquestions.org/letter-of-Jeremiah.html 

• The Prayer of Manasseh - www.gotquestions.org/Prayer-of-Manasseh.html 

• 1 & 2 Maccabees - www.gotquestions.org/first-second-Maccabees.html

  • 2 Maccabees discusses several doctrinal issues, including prayers and sacrifices for the dead, intercession of the saints, and resurrection on Judgment Day. The Catholic Church has based the doctrines of purgatory and masses for the dead on this work.

• Additions to Esther - www.gotquestions.org/Book-Esther-God.html

  • Extra chapters - www.biblestudytools.com/rhe/additions-to-esther 

• Additions to Daniel - 

  • Bel and the Dragon - www.gotquestions.org/Bel-and-the-Dragon.html 

  • Prayer of Azariah (addition to Daniel 3) - www.gotquestions.org/Prayer-of-Azariah.html 

  • Book of Susana - www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Susanna.html 

• www.gotquestions.org/content_Bible_apocrypha.html 

BOTTOM LINE: Very few early church fathers quoted or referenced the Apocrypha/Deuterocanon with any consistency.  It wasn’t until after Constantine became Emperor and the Edict of Milan (313 A.D.) was issued that the Apocryphal books began to gain validity, primarily under Latin/Roman church leaders.

Here are Apocryphal books early Christian writers referred to: (reference below from: www.biblequery.org/Bible/BibleCanon/WhatAboutTheApocrypha.html )

Cr 1 Clement (of Rome) (16 pgs) 96/98 A.D.

Ba Epistle of Barnabas (13 pgs) c.100 A.D.

Ig Ignatius (21 pgs) c.110-117 A.D.

Pa Papias disciple of John (3 pgs) 110-113 A.D.

Di Didache (Teach. of 12 Disc.)(6 pgs) before 125 A.D.

Dg (anonymous) to Diognetus (6 pgs) c.130 A.D.

Po Polycarp, disciple of John (4 pgs) c.150 A.D.

Jm Justin Martyr (119 pgs) c.138-165 A.D.

He Shepherd of Hermas (47 pgs) 160 A.D.

Th Theophilus [Antioch] (33 pgs) 168-181/188 A.D.

Me Melito of Sardis (11 pgs) 170-177 A.D.

Ae Athenagoras (34 pgs) c.177 A.D.

Ir Irenaeus (264 pgs) 182-188 A.D.

Ca Clement of Alexan. (424 pgs) 193-217/220 A.D.

Te Tertullian [Rome] (854 pgs) 200-220 A.D.

Hi Hippolytus, (233 pgs) 225-235/6 A.D.

Or Origen (622 pgs) 230-254 A.D.

Nv Novatian (39 pgs) 250-257 A.D.

an Anonymous against Novatian(7 pgs) c.255 A.D.

And Treatise on Rebaptism (11 pgs)

Cp Cyprian and friends (270 pgs) 248-258 A.D.

Not shown are Bardesan (154-230) [ref. to Gen] or Julius Africanus (232-245 A.D.). [Neh,Dan by name, allude Ex]

W = Books or quotes mentioned by name or by writer

G = Mentioned as words of God + quoted

B = Mentioned as scripture or quoted + "it is written"

Q = quote of 1 or more verses. 1/2 = quote of 1/2 a verse

A = Allusion. - = no reference 

Disputed Books of the Old  Testament

The table below shows which of the disputed Old Testament books are included in Christian catalogs of canonical books up to the eighth century. 

Y indicates that the book is plainly listed as Holy Scripture; 

N indicates that it is placed in an inferior class of books; 

M indicates that the terminology of the author may be construed as a reference to the book as Holy Scripture. 

An S indicates that the author does not mention the book in his catalog, which implies its rejection. See notes on the authorities below.

http://www.bible-researcher.com/canon4.html

Esth. - Esther 

Bar. - Baruch 

Eccl. - Ecclesiasticus 

Wisd. - Wisdom of Solomon 

Tob. - Tobit 

Jud. - Judith 

Mac. - First and Second Maccabees

Pseudepigrapha: www.gotquestions.org/pseudepigrapha.html

• 1) they were written under false names

• 2) They contain anachronisms and historical errors 

• 3) They contain outright heresy

  • Testament of Hezekiah, the Vision of Isaiah, the Books of Enoch, the Secrets of Enoch, the Book of Noah, the Apocalypse of Baruch (Baruch was Jeremiah’s scribe according to Jeremiah 36:4), the Rest of the Words of Baruch, the Psalter of Solomon, the Odes of Solomon, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Testament of Adam, the Testament of Abraham, the Testament of Job, the Apocalypse of Ezra, the Prayer of Joseph, Elijah the Prophet, Zechariah the Prophet, Zechariah: Father of John, the Itinerary of Paul, the Acts of Paul, the Apocalypse of Paul, the Itinerary of Peter, the Itinerary of Thomas, the Gospel According to Thomas, the History of James, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the Epistles of Barnabas.

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Halloween (Part 2): the Paranormal

Much of Halloween is focused on what some might call the “paranormal,” or supernatural themes, objects, activities, and beings.  So what is the paranormal? Should I be scared? Is it real, or is it all fake and pretend?

Some paranormal “occurrences” are nothing but fraudulent hoaxes.  Yet some paranormal activities are very real and spiritually significant.

1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (ESV)

Are ghosts real? Can my dead relatives come back to talk to me? What about familiar spirits and spirit guides? Can a place be haunted? Is it wrong to talk to or hunt ghosts? Is it wrong to go to haunted houses?

Any real “ghost” sightings or hauntings are actually disguised demons trying to gain your attention and affection.  They either want you to 1) be afraid of their powers, 2) be self-confident in your abilities, or 3) be distracted from God by being absorbed into whatever experience they are presenting.  Avoid the temptations of these experiences and flee from their evil.

2 Corinthians 11:14 “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light”

What’s the one sure-fire thing I can do to survive paranormal attacks? (FYI: Don’t miss this!)

Real “paranormal” activities and beings are clearly demonic when they fail to accurately point to Jesus and His biblical truth, love, and righteousness.  The only way to survive such paranormal attacks is by repenting of sin and being born again with saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Christians, if you ever come under paranormal/demonic attack, there is only one strategy for success.  Don’t try to fight these spiritual battles in your own power, seek Jesus and His truth. Repent from sin.  Walk in righteousness.  Renew your mind with His truth (Romans 12:1-3) and “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

James 4:7–8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

"Study Satan’s tricks, and acquaint yourself with his tactics." William Gurnall

What is evil? What is good? How can I know what is true and what is false? Which is the best book on this topic? Who is the best person to talk to on this topic?

There is a spiritual battle raging around us between the followers of Christ against the unseen spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).  Although many authors and books seek to describe this warfare, the best place to start and finish is in the Bible.  If you are a Christian, the Bible is your weapon as a “sword of the Spirit” who is within you.  Don’t go unarmed into battle, cite the Scripture with your lips and with your life.

Ephesians 6:16–17 “In all circumstances take up…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

"Do not pretend you want to be led into truth if you will not bother to study the whole Word of God." William Gurnall

What about Ouija boards? Voodoo dolls? Horoscopes? Palm reading? Séances? Mediums? Mystics? Incense? Crystals? New age medicine? Tarot cards? Psychics? Fortune Tellers? Witchcraft? Eastern religious practices (therapies/massages, yoga, reiki)? Trances? Dowsing (water witching or divining)? Hypnosis? Trances?

These are real religious objects and activities that do not honor God.  There is no neutral territory in this universe.  God is actively and patiently showing you His love and truth through the Bible and genuine Christians.  Satan is actively seeking to keep you away from a sincere devotion to God and uses many “new age” and “paranormal” routes to gain your trust, attention, and worship.  Listen to God’s many biblical warnings on these idolatrous and demonic practices.

1 Corinthians 10:21–22 "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”

"Every ignorant soul is the willing slave of Satan." William Gurnall

Is it ok to watch paranormal movies and TV shows? Read books and blogs? Is there any harm in Zombies? Pokémon? Cartoon witches? Avatars? Vampires? Werewolves? Should Christians “celebrate” Halloween?

Sometimes we face complicated decisions that are best left up to Christian conscious.  We should study God’s Word, evaluate our motivations, consider the potential impact on our Christian obedience and witness, and prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

If a Christian finds peace about participating in Halloween activities, they must use wisdom.  Many faithful Christians have a clear conscience about participating in certain Halloween activities by taking with precautions about their destinations, costumes, and behaviors.  Some believers see Halloween as a wonderful witnessing opportunity in which their neighbors and strangers will visit their homes or community outreach events (Galatians 5:13 and 1 Peter 2:16).

1 Corinthians 10:23–24 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

What if I am just a “normal Christian”? Does this subject really affect me? Am I safe from all of this paranormal and demonic stuff?  How can I prepare for future...Spiritual Attacks? Mental Attacks? Physical Attacks? Marriage Attacks? Parenting Attacks? Workplace Attacks? Church Attacks? How can I live with ongoing struggles and suffering? What if Satan doesn’t leave me alone?

The lessons of Halloween carry over throughout the year.  Everyday we all face spiritual battles where “we do not wrestle with flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:10-20).  We must daily prepare as we go into spiritual battle.  As we mature in our faith, our perspective and passions may change or grow regarding the details of Halloween.  May we seek to use our Christian freedom in ways that honor Jesus and share His light with a dark and dying world.  May we live with joy in our salvation and move forward with bold courage against Satan and his demons!

Luke 10:17 “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’”

Want a free resource about spiritual warfare in the early church?  To find summaries of some of Neil Anderson’s most important works? To pick up a Bible reading plan for 2023? Then please visit www.spiritualwarfare.blog/free-books for some of my free e-books and writings.

Halloween (Part 1): The Silly and The Serious

What goes through your mind when you think of Halloween? Costumes, tricks, treats, haunted houses, decorations, parties, or movies?

Halloween is full of all sorts of activities that many people enjoy and celebrate.  It has become a highly commercialized holiday that is given a lot of attention and resources.  The practices surrounding Halloween should cause Christians to ask important spiritual questions.

Here are some frequently asked questions we should consider…

Is demonic possession real? What can a demon do to me? Can the devil or a demon make me do something I don’t want to do?

Yes, demonic possession is real.  Demons can tempt, attack, and live within humans.  Satan already controls everyone who is not born again with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  While not every unbeliever is possessed by a demon, demonically-possessed humans sometimes evidence (manifest) the presence of demons in supernaturally scary ways.

2 Corinthians 4:4 “the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers”

Can a Christian be possessed by a demon? “Demonized”? “Have” a Demon?

No. If someone truly repents from sin, treasures Jesus more than anyone or anything, and trusts in Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, then they are saved and in-dwelt by God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16).  A genuine believer cannot be possessed or controlled by a demon since Jesus is in them through the Holy Spirit.  Believers can be tempted and deceived by demonic spirits and influences. Christians have personal responsibility for their actions, inactions, and beliefs and accordingly must “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Can a Christian be harassed by a demon? Oppressed? Attacked?

Yes. As one example, we know that the apostle Paul was attacked and harassed by a demon.  We do not always know the specifics of why demons attack true believers. We do know that if we dependently seek God in these seasons of attack, He will strengthen and grow us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 John 4:4).

2 Corinthians 12:7 “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger [angel] of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”

Can someone be a Christian and their life not demonstrate real change?

No.  True believers always evidence a changed life through the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit (Matthew 13:19-23, Galatians 5:16-24, 1 John).  Genuine Christians are not perfect but will manifest a decreasing pattern of sin and an increasing pattern of righteousness.  May you be able to look backwards and see God’s progressive work on your life and look forward to how He will continue to mature you as you seek Him in spirit and truth.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

As you see scary or silly Halloween costumes, decorations, and advertisements may you be reminded that this is not simply a pretend subject.  Our spiritual state matters.  Satan and his demons are on the prowl, seeking to deceive and destroy us.  If you are not yet a Christian, why would you wait another day to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

If you are a Christian, have confidence that God is with you and in you.  Do not fear.  Put on the full armor of God daily and be like Paul, seeking to “boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel” everywhere you go. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

1 John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Want a free resource about spiritual warfare in the early church?  To find summaries of some of Neil Anderson’s most important works? To pick up a Bible reading plan for 2023? Then please visit www.spiritualwarfare.blog/free-books for some of my free e-books and writings.

How Can Marriages Be Annulled? What Does the Bible Say about Catholic Divorce and Remarriage?

CAN MARRIAGES BE ANNULLED?WHAT ABOUT REMARRIAGE?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Can marriages be annulled?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “The Church, after an examination of the situation by the competent ecclesiastical tribunal can declare the nullity of a marriage, i.e., that the marriage never existed.  In this case the contracting parties are free to marry, provided the natural obligations of a previous union are discharged.” (CCC 1629)

• “A case of marriage with disparity of cult (between a Catholic and a non-baptized person) requires even greater circumspection” (1633)

• “In the case of disparity of cult an express dispensation from this impediment is required for the validity of the marriage. (1635)

• “the remarriage of persons divorced from a living, lawful spouse contravenes the plan and law of God as taught by Christ.  They are not separated from the Church, but they cannot receive Eucharistic communion.” (CCC 1665)

• [Encouragement to divorce if your wife does not obey you] Sirach 25:35-36 “If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies. 36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.”

“Can marriages be annulled?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Mark 10:7–9 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, [8] and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. [9] What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (ESV)

• Romans 7:2–3 “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. [3] Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 7:39 “A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” (ESV)

• SEE: “What Does the Bible Say about Divorce and Remarriage?” www.trustworthyword.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-divorce-and-remarriage

“Can marriages be annulled?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Is the concept of “annulment” (that a “marriage never existed”) a biblical concept? If so, where?

• How does that differ with Romans 7:2 and 1 Corinthians 7:39 saying that only death ends a marriage?

• Does the Bible ever distinguish between marriages inside or outside the church?

• Is it right to provide an avenue of allow marriage to a non-believer when the Bible prohibits it clearly (1 Corinthians 7:39)?

• Is not withholding Eucharistic communion withholding forgiveness? 

• Why would Sirach 25:35-36 encourage divorce in such a sweeping manner?  Does the Bible encourage it or permit it on rare occasions?

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Who Goes to Purgatory? Will I Go to Purgatory? Do Indulgences Help Us?

WILL I GO TO PURGATORY?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Will I go to purgatory?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “Woe on those who will die in mortal sin!” (CCC 1014)

• “Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life” (CCC 1472)

• “every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified here on earth, or after death in a state called Purgatory” (CCC 1472)

• “this purification frees one from what is called the ‘temporal punishment’ of sin” (CCC 1472)

• “A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain” (CCC 1472)

• “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven - through purification or immediately, or immediate and everlasting damnation. ‘At the evening of life we shall be judged on our love.” (CCC 1022)  

• “the souls of all the saints…and other faithful who died after receiving Christ’s holy Baptism (provided they were not in need of purification when they died, … or, if they then did need or will need some purification, when they have been purified after death, …)…will be in heaven” (CCC 1023)

• “All who died in God’s grace and friendship, but  are still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (CCC 1030)

• “The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1031)

• “The Church formulated their doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence [1439] and Trent [1563].  The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.” (CCC 1031)

• “for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire” (CCC 1031)

• “we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come” (CCC 1031)

• “From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (CCC 1032) 

• “The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead” (CCC 1032)

• “Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them” (CCC 1032)

DO INDULGENCES HELP US?

“Do indulgences help us?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions throughout the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints” (CCC 1471)

• “relatives who must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God” (CCC 2299)

• “An indulgence…removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.  The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.” (CCC 1471)

• “every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creates, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death, in the state called Purgatory” (CCC 1472)

• “a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory, and those who are still pilgrims on earth.  Between theme there is, too, and abundant exchange of good things.’  In this wonderful exchange the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others.  Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified for the punishments for sin” (CCC 1475)

• “This treasury includes as well the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (CCC 1477)

• “In this treasury too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints” (CCC 1477)

• “In this way they attained their own salvation and at the same time cooperated in saving their brothers” (CCC 1477)

• “Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them so that the temporal punishments for their sins may be remitted” (CCC 1479)

• “Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory” (CCC 1498)

• 2 Maccabbees 12:43, "And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection.”

“Will I go to purgatory? Do indulgences help us?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• 1 John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (ESV)

• Romans 5:8 “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

• 1 Corinthians 13:15 “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (ESV)

• 1 Peter 1:7 “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (ESV)

• Hebrews 7:27 “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (ESV)

• 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (ESV)

• Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (ESV)

• Philippians 1:23 “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

• Job 1:5 "And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.’” (ESV)

• Luke 23:43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (ESV)

• Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.” (ESV)

• Romans 8:1–2 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (ESV)

• 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)

• Colossians 2:13–14 "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (ESV)

“Will I go to purgatory? Do indulgences help us?” - Important Questions to consider:

• Were Job’s sons alive or dead when made offerings for them (Job 1:5)?

• Does 1 Corinthians 13:14-15 speak about people being burned up or their works being burned up to evidence their quality/genuineness?  Does it talk about the person being burned or escaping from the fire or being cleansed by the fire?

• If the Bible speaks so much about Heaven and Hell, why did it take the Catholic Church 1400+ years to approve a statement on Purgatory?

  • “The Church formulated their doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence [1439 A.D.] and Trent [1563 A.D.].” (CCC 1031)

• What were the motives of the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory?  How were they connected with indulgences and money/fundraising?  Why were Martin Luther and other reformers so much against this abuse of power and manipulative tactics?

• Why does the Bible have so many warnings about adding to it?  What is the danger? What is the offense?  How has the Catholic Church offended God in the invention of purgatory?

• Where is the concept of indulgences in the Bible?

• What does Romans 8:1-2 mean?  What does 1 John 1:9 mean?

• If our debt has been fully paid (Colossians 2:13–14), why is there a need for Purgatory or Indulgences?

• SEE: “What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?” www.trustworthyword.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-heaven 

• SEE: “What Does the Bible Say About Hell?” www.trustworthyword.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hell

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Why Do Catholics Talk to the Dead? Is it OK to Pray to Mary, the Saints, & Angels?

SHOULD WE PRAY TO MARY AND SAINTS?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

Merriam-Webster’s Definitions:

Necromancy - the practice of talking to the spirits of dead people

Medium - a person through whom other persons try to communicate with the spirits of the dead

“Should we pray to Mary and Saints?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “We can pray with and to her.  The prayer of the Church is sustained by the prayer of Mary” (CCC 2679)

• “prayer unites us in the Church with the Mother of Jesus” (CCC 2673)

• “the Churches developed their prayers to the holy Mother of God” (CCC 2675)

• “in countless hymns and antiphons expressing this prayer…entrusts the supplications and praises of the children of God to the Mother of Jesus” (CCC 2675)

• “we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us” (CCCC 2677)

• “by entrusting ourselves to her prayer we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her” (CCC 2677)

• “Medieval piety in the West developed the prayer of the rosary” (CCC 2678)

• “Mary is the perfect Orans (pray-er)” (CCC 2679)

• “The witnesses…especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints…constantly care for those whom have left on the earth.  Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan.  We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.” (CCC 2683)

• “it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ she offers suffrages for them” (CCC 958)

• “prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC 2559)

• Where is confessing to God?

• “In prayer, the pilgrim Church is associated with that of the saints, whose intercession she asks” (CCC 2692)

• “it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ she offers suffrages for them” (CCC 958)

• “The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the house of death. … to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us ‘at the hour of our death’ in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death” (CCC 1014)

• “This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: ‘Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.” (CCC 1032)

• “The Christian funeral…aims at expressing efficacious communion with the deceased” (CCC 1684)

• “The Church…asks [to the Father] to purify his child of his sins and their consequences and to admit him to the Paschal fullness of the table of the Kingdom. … by communicating the Body of Christ…by praying for him and with him.” (CCC)

• “saints…constantly care for those whom they have left on earth…their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan.  We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.” (CCC 2683)

• “the Church…sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors” (CCC 828)

“Should we pray to Mary and Saints?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Deuteronomy 18:10–12 “There shall not be found among you…a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you." (ESV)

• Leviticus 19:31 “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.” (ESV)

• Isaiah 8:19 "And when they say to you, ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?’” (ESV)

• 1 Samuel 28:15 “Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” (ESV)

• 1 Chronicles 10:13–14 "So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also [14] He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." (ESV)

• Isaiah 45:20 “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.” (ESV)

• Hebrews 7:27 "He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (ESV)

• James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (ESV)

• Romans 8:26–27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [27] And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (ESV)

• Romans 8:34 “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (ESV)

IS IT OK TO PRAY TO ANGELS?

“Is it ok to pray to angels?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “the Church…invokes their [the angels] assistance in the funeral…’May the angels lead you into Paradise…she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly ? (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels’” (CCC 335)

• “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life” (CCC 336)

• “The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being.” (CCC 352)

“Is it ok to pray to angels?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• NOTE: The Bible does not mention Raphael or particular “guardian” angels assigned to each believe nor does it support praying to them for assistance as prayer is an act of worship and angels refuse worship.

• Why does the book of Tobit give so much attention to angels compared with every other book of the Bible?  Does that concern you about its trustworthiness?  Should it?

• Revelation 22:8–9 “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, [9] but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (ESV)

• Colossians 2:16–19 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. [17] These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. [18] Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, [19] and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.” (ESV)

• Hebrews 13:5 "he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (ESV)

• Romans 1:22–25 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (ESV)

“Should we pray to Mary, Saints, or Angels?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Where does the Bible describe or prescribe praying to Mary, Saints, or Angels?

• Why would we talk to angels when we have the Spirit of God within us, to whom we can speak at anytime?  Is not the God the Holy Spirit more powerful than angels?  

• Is it not insulting to ignore the Holy Spirit (whose job is to intercede for us) and instead speak to created beings rather than the Creator?

• Where does the Bible say that every believer have an individual angel assigned to them?

• How is praying to unseen spiritual beings not a form of worship?

• Where does the Bible describe the dead as praying for the living?

• Is talking to the dead (Mary and Saints) in prayer any different than necromancy?  Why or why not?

• Why does God give so many warnings about necromancy and mediums like in Isaiah 8:19?

• Why was Saul’s sin “that he did not seek guidance from the Lord” directly so serious? (1 Chronicles 10:13–14)

• When was prayer to Mary, the saints, and angels invented by the Catholic Church?  Why?

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Are Images of Jesus, Mary, Saints, or Angels Helpful or Harmful? Do Relics & Rosaries have Power?

 ARE IMAGES AND STATUES OF JESUS, SAINTS, ANGELS, OR MARY HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?

DO RELICS AND ROSARIES HAVE SPIRITUAL POWER?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

Merriam-Webster’s Definitions to Consider: How similar are these terms?

Icon - “an object of uncritical devotion; a religious image usually painted on a small wooden panel”

Idol - “an object of extreme devotion; a greatly loved or admired person; a picture or object that is worshipped as a god”

“Are Catholic images helpful or harmful? Do relics and rosaries have power?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word; so it was with the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim” (CCC 2129)

• “the Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. … ‘whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.’ The honor paid to the sacred image is a ‘respectful veneration,’ not the adoration due to God alone” (CCC 2132)

• “The veneration of sacred images is based on the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God.  It is not contrary to the first commandment.” (CCC 2141)

• “Previously God, who has neither a body nor a face, absolutely could not be represented by an image.  But now that he has made himself visible in the flesh and has lived with men, I can make an image of what I have seen of God … and contemplate the glory of the Lord, his face unveiled” (CCC 1159)

• “sacred images of the holy Mother of God and of the saints…truly signify Christ, who is glorifies in them…they make manifest the ‘cloud of witnesses’ who continue to participate in the salvation of the world and to whom we are united…so too are the angels” (CCC 1161)

• “‘Following the divinely inspired teachings of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her)…holy images of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets” (CCC 1161)

Merriam-Webster’s Definitions to Consider:

Amulet - a small object worn to protect the person wearing it against bad things (such as illness, bad luck, etc.)

Charm - something worn about the person to ward off evil or ensure good fortune

Fetish - an object of irrational reverence or obsessive devotion

“Are Catholic images helpful or harmful? Do relics and rosaries have power?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “Medieval piety in the West developed the prayer of the rosary” (CCC 2678)

• “Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lector divine or the rosary” (CCC 2708)

• “The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel,’ express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.” (CCC 971)

• “sacramentals…prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it” (CCC 1670)

• “from the Paschal mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ…all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power.  There is scarcely any proper use of material things which cannot be thus directed toward the sanctification of men and the praise of God” (CCC 1670) 

• “among sacramentals, blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first” (CCC 1671)

“Are Catholic images helpful or harmful? Do relics and rosaries have power?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• 2 Kings 18:4–6 And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). [5] He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. [6] For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses.” (ESV)

• Jeremiah 3:16–17 “And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. [17] At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.” (ESV)

• Revelation 11:19 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple.”

• Exodus 20:4–5 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. [5] You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me" (ESV)

  • Why does the Catholic Church combine the 2nd & 1st commandment into just the “first” commandment & then split out the 10th commandment into two? (CCC 2051)

• Deuteronomy 5:8–10 “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. [9] You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, [10] but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (ESV)

• Leviticus 26:1  “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.” (ESV)

• Deuteronomy 4:16–19 “beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, [17] the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, [18] the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. [19] And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” (ESV)

• Micah 5:13 “and I will cut off your carved images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands” (ESV)

• Psalm 97:7 "All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!” (ESV)

• Ezekiel 7:20 “His beautiful ornament they used for pride, and they made their abominable images and their detestable things of it. Therefore I make it an unclean thing to them.” (ESV)

• Habakkuk 2:18–20 “What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! [19] Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach?Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. [20] But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” (ESV)

• Isaiah 2:8 "Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.” (ESV)

• Acts 17:29 “Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.” (ESV)

• Colossians 2:18 “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind” (ESV)

• Revelation 13:14 “and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” (ESV)

• Revelation 22:8–9 “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, [9] but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (ESV)

• Romans 1:22–25 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (ESV)

• Ezekiel 13:20–21 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. [21] Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD. (ESV)

• Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (ESV)

• Acts 5:15 “so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.” (ESV)

• Acts 19:11–12 “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, [12] so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.” (ESV)

• Acts 19:19 “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” (ESV)

• Mark 5:28 “For she said, ‘If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.’” (ESV)

• Mark 5:34 “And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” (ESV)

“Are Catholic images helpful or harmful? Do relics and rosaries have power?” - Questions to Consider:

• If objects from the Old Testament such as the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim were so important for our faith, why do we not have them today?

• Why did King Hezekiah destroy the bronze serpent in 2 Kings 18:4?  How does verses 5 & 6 describe King Hezekiah?

• Why is the ark of the covenant now in Heaven and not on earth? (Revelation 11:19)

• What does Acts 19:19 teach us about dangers that can be found in objects?  When should we get rid of or destroy objects?  Why is trust the critical issue?

• Why did the early church father Eusebius warn against amulets being dangerous?  When can an object like a rosary, relic, statue, or image become more like an amulet in our hearts?

• Why did people use objects as idols in the Bible?  What were they trying to gain?  What were they trying to get rid of?  When can an object become an idol in our hearts today?

• Why are we warned about putting our trust in objects like horses and chariots (military might) for protection from evil?

• In Acts 5:15-16 was the healing from the proximity to Peter, or from the faith in the Spirit of the Living God that caused them to draw near to Jesus within Peter?

• Did the woman’s proximity to Jesus heal her?  Did the woman’s touching of Jesus heal her?  Or was it her faith?  Objects and proximity to objects are not needed.  Faith in Jesus is what is needed.

• In John 5:1–11 at the Pool of Bethesda Jesus does not choose to heal everyone.  Why not?

• Why doesn’t Jesus, Peter, or Paul require an offering in return for the healing that came?  Is it wrong for the Church to collect offerings in conjunction with healings? 

• SEE: “What Does the Bible Say about Idols?” www.trustworthyword.com/idols

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“If You Could Stop the German Nazi Holocaust, Would You?”

“If You Could Stop the German Nazi Holocaust, Would You?”

Is this a silly, hypothetical question: “If you could stop the German Nazi holocaust, would you?”  Wouldn’t you like to think that such an atrocity wouldn’t have been voted for, paid for, or enabled?  Wouldn’t it be nice to have the confidence that if informed, everyone would’ve wanted to stop such a slaughter?  Although the Nazi holocaust happened in the past, it is an important question with modern-day ramifications and lessons for today.

“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)

If you lived in Nazi Germany from 1941-1945, you lived in the midst of 6,000,000+ Jews, non-whites, and disabled souls being legally slaughtered without mercy…by mass shootings, gas chambers, and labor camps.

What do you call this?

A massacre: “a brutal slaughter of people.”

A holocaust: “destruction or slaughter on a mass scale.”

If you lived in Nazi Germany and had the opportunity to speak up or to vote for a change, would you?  Would you have the courage and conviction to vote to close the concentration camps? If you knew about the mass slaughter going on inside?

“they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters…the land was polluted with blood.” (Psalm 106:37–38)

If you lived in America from 1973-2022, you lived in the midst of an American Holocaust of babies in the womb being legally slaughtered without mercy… by chemical poisoning or dismemberment by suctioning, cutting, or crushing an innocent baby.  296,000+ murders in Kentucky.  63,000,000+ murders in the U.S.

What do you call this?  A massacre.  A holocaust.

“the Lord hates…hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Praise the Lord for the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, a judicial ruling that enabled the modern-day American holocaust of abortion.  Now we have an opportunity to pray, speak, and act.  We have the once-in-a-generation chance to vote for life on November 8 for Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2.  We can affirm that nothing in the state constitution creates a right to abortion or requires government funding for abortion.  We can close down abortion mills in Kentucky for good.

Don’t live in Kentucky? What about your community, state, and country?  How can you make a difference?  Will you?

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8)

If you had being complicit in the days of Nazi Germany, and regretted it, I would pray that you would repent to Jesus for forgiveness, for healing, & for hope.

If you have been complicit in the days of the American abortion holocaust, I pray that you would repent to Jesus for forgiveness, for healing, & for hope.  Our God is willing to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), to include the sin of abortion.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9–10)

“If you could stop the American abortion holocaust, would you?”  This is not a hypothetical question.  You have the chance here in Kentucky.  You can make a difference wherever you live.

We can change ourselves, our state, and our nation.  May we pray and speak up for life.  May we take action for life.  May we vote to defend life.  We have the opportunity, let’s not waste it.

Is It True that Mary Never Died? Did Mary Ascend to Heaven?

 IS IT TRUE THAT MARY NEVER DIED?

A Biblical Study of The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Bible Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions about Catholic Beliefs and Practices

Full Free eBook at www.TrustworthyWord.com/catholic 

Is It True That Mary Never Died? - Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “the Immaculate Virgin…was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things.” (CCC 966)

• “she shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (CCC 974)

• “But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness.  And so they turn their eyes to Mary: in her, the Church is already ‘all-holy’” (CCC 829)

Is It True That Mary Never Died? - Scriptures to Consider:

• Acts 2:32–36 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. [34] For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, [35] until I make your enemies your footstool.’ [36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (ESV)

• 2 Kings 2:10–12 “And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” [11] And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. [12] And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.” (ESV)

• Genesis 5:23–24 “Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. [24] Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (ESV)

• Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.” (ESV)

• Proverbs 30:6 "Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (ESV)

Is It True That Mary Never Died? - Questions to Consider:

• Where does the Bible reference Mary as a Queen?

• Who are the only three people that the Bible references as going directly to Heaven without dying?  Why is there such clear evidence and observation about their ascensions?

• Why would the Bible not reference Mary as ascending directly to Heaven also?  Who observed it happening?  Where is it described?

• When was this idea added to church Tradition? Why did not the apostles or early church fathers speak of this happening with Mary?

• If such a significant claim is made by the Catholic Church, without biblical or early church evidence, is the Catholic Church trustworthy on other issues?

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Was Mary a Virgin Her Entire Life? Did Jesus Have Any Brothers?

WAS MARY A VIRGIN HER ENTIRE LIFE?DID JESUS HAVE ANY BROTHERS?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Was Mary a virgin her entire life?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “led the Church to confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity” (CCC 499)

• “Against this doctrine the objection is raise that the Bible mentions brother and sisters of Jesus.  The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary.  In fact James and Joseph, ‘brothers of Jesus,’ are sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls ‘the other Mary.’  They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression.” (CCC 500)

• “Mary ‘remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin’” (CCC 510)

“Was Mary a virgin her entire life?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Matthew 1:24–25 “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 7:3–5 “The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. [4] For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. [5] Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (ESV)

• John 7:3–5 “So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see  the works you are doing. [4] For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” [5] For not even his brothers believed in him. (ESV)

• Matthew 13:55–56 “Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? [56] And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (ESV)

• Luke 8:19–21 “Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. [20] And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” [21] But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (ESV)

• John 2:12 “After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.” (ESV)

• John 7:5 “For not even his brothers believed in him.” (ESV)

• Acts 1:13–14 “And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. [14] All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 9:5 “Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 15:7 “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (ESV)

• Galatians 1:19 “But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.” (ESV)

• Galatians 2:9 “and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” (ESV)

• Jude 1 “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James”

• James 2:1 “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” (ESV)

• John 2:12 “After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.” (ESV)

“Was Mary a virgin her entire life?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Would having other children detract from Mary’s holiness?  Or add to it according to Gen 1:28?

  • Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (ESV)

  • 1 Timothy 5:14 “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.” (ESV)

• In John 2, Jesus has just performed a miracle changing water to wine and rebuked his mother Mary in the process.  This same passage refers to Jesus’ mother and “brothers” as continuing with him to Capernaum.  Why are these “brothers” referenced and so involved in traveling with Jesus’ mother if they are only cousins or more distant relatives?

• Why is there no historical or linguistic evidence that the Greek words (adelphoi (“brothers”) and adelphai (“sisters”)) support this idea of them not being brothers and sisters but just distant relatives?

• Would Mary not have been a bad wife is she refused to be physically intimate with her husband Joseph?

  • 1 Corinthians 7:3–5 “The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. [4] For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. [5] Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (ESV)

• Why would the Catholic Church invent and propagate the idea that Mary was always a virgin?  If they would twist the Scriptures to misrepresent this, what other areas of their Tradition are untrustworthy?

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Is Mary the Cause of Salvation? Did Mary Save the Whole Human Race?

IS MARY THE CAUSE OF SALVATION?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Is Mary the cause of salvation?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.” (CCC 494)

• “Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert … : ‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the Virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.’ Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary ‘the Mother of all living’ and frequently claim: ‘Death through Eve, life through Mary.” (CCC 494)

• “The Virgin Mary ‘cooperated through free faith and obedience in human salvation. … By her obedience she became the new Eve, mother of the living.” (CCC 511)

• “by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death” (CCC 966)

• “restoring supernatural life to souls” (CCC 968)

• “the Blessed Virgin…under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix” (CCC 969)

• “collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish” (CCC 973)

• “the new Eve, the Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ” (CCC 975)

• “she is inseparably linked with the saving work of her Son” (CCC 1172)

• “The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith.  At Cana, the mother of Jesus asks her son for the needs of a wedding feast; this is the sign of another feast - that of the wedding of the Lamb where he gives his body and blood at the request of the Church, his Bride.  It is at the hour of the New Covenant, at the foot of the cross, that Mary is heard as the Woman, the new Eve, the true ‘Mother of all the living.’” (CCC 2618)

• “by asking Mary to pray for us….we address ourselves to the ‘Mother of Mercy,’ the All-Holy One.  We give ourselves our to her now…our trust broadens further…to surrender ‘the hour of our death’ wholly to her care. … May she welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise” (CCC 2677)

“Is Mary the cause of salvation?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• NOTE: The Bible never mentions Mary being “full of grace” (but uses that phrase with Jesus and Stephen), redeemed from conception, or sinless.  While the Bible describes Mary as “highly favored” (Luke 1:28) and  “blessed . . . among women” (Luke 1:42) it does not support the claim to sinlessness.

• Romans 3:23–24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (ESV)

• Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (ESV)

• 1 John 1:8-10 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us”

• John 2:4 “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me?’”

• Acts 6:8 “Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”

• John 1:14 “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth”

• Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

• Romans 5:17 “For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (ESV)

• Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (ESV)

• John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish”

• 1 John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (ESV)

  Romans 5:18 “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 15:45 “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” (ESV)

• John 14:16 "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (ESV)

• Hebrews 13:6 “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (ESV)

• John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (ESV)

• John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (ESV)

• John 16:7 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (ESV)

• 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (ESV)

• John 2:4 “And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.'” (ESV)

• 1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (ESV)

“Is Mary the cause of salvation?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Why is Mary given titles that are only biblically used as titles to describe God Himself? “Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix [Mediator]”  Why are there no biblical passages giving Mary these titles?

• Did Jesus praise his mother or rebuke his mother for her interference at Cana?

• Why are we called to “trust” and “give ourselves” to Mary?  How is this different than faith and worship?  Doesn’t Peter say to entrust our souls to the Creator?  Where does Peter tell us to entrust our souls to Mary in the Bible?

• Is mercy referred to by the Bible as coming from Mary?  Where does the Bible refer to Mary as the “All-holy” one?

• Do these claims and titles about Mary elevate her to the level of deity (being a god/goddess)?

• Where does the Bible address Mary as the “cause of salvation” (CCC 494)?

• Where does the Bible connect Mary to Eve (CCC 494) as it connects Jesus to Adam (1 Cor 15:45)?

• How do “our prayers” cooperate with Mary to “deliver our souls from death” (CCC 966)?  Where does the Bible describe this practice?Subscribe to “The Catholic Blog” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC03uZywULBplunOmh4nCB2A    

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God's Common-Sense vs. Worldly Non-Sense

On December 19, 1807, in what is now LaRue County, Kentucky, a brave and courageous man named Thomas Whitman stood up for God’s common-sense against the worldly non-sense of slavery in our community.  He knew that it was morally wrong for people to treat other humans as property.  He spoke up.  He took action.

Proverbs 16:17 “The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.” (ESV)

Today, we need more men and women to stand up for God’s common-sense.  God has revealed Himself generally through His creation (Romans 1:19–20) and by writing His law upon our consciences for our own good (Romans 2:15).  We know what is right but often ignore it, avoid it, excuse it, or mock it.  When a person or a nation follows the non-sense of the world, great destruction occurs.  When a person or a nation follows the common-sense of God’s law, it goes much better for us.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Here are some areas you might recognize how our culture is following worldly non-sense instead of God-given common-sense:

•   Finances/Economics - Spending more than you earn leads to indebtedness.  Indebtedness is not indefinitely sustainable and leads to enslavement, poverty, and ruin.

•   Abortion - A human life in a womb is a God-created child.  These children need protection.  They  have their own heartbeats, brains, unique bodies, DNA, and souls.  Shedding innocent blood is wicked no mater how one might try to excuse it.

•   Sexual Immorality - Abandoning God’s plan for sex to remain within marriage, between one man and one woman for life, leads to emotional, relational, mental, and spiritual harm.

•   Homosexuality - Ignoring our anatomical, biological, and reproductive design is twisted, unnatural, unhealthy, and dishonorable to God.  We must resist the temptations of our feelings and pursue what is right according to God’s law.

•   Transgenderism - We are genetically, anatomically, and biologically male or female. Our sex and gender do not change and are not subjective to our feelings or self-identification.  Hormone therapy, makeup, clothes, pronouns, name-changes, and surgeries do not alter the reality of our gender.

•   Gluttony & Laziness - Heavier is not healthier.  Eating more than we exercise is dangerous and deadly.  Poor diet and physical laziness lead to a shorter lifespan and a lower quality of life.

•   Substance Abuse - Poisoning our brains and bodies with drugs, medicines, chemicals, alcohol, and tobacco does permanent harm to ourselves and others.

•   Government - Corruption, wastefulness, and selfishness lead to a nation defeating itself.

•   Gambling - The house always wins. Gambling is foolish, addictive, and leads the vast majority of its participants to significant financial loss over time.

Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

The consequences of following worldly non-sense are self-destructive to our nation and to individuals.   Moral goodness does not and cannot save us from sin… but if our nation follow’s God’s law of common-sense instead of the world’s non-sense, it will go a lot better for us all.  May we have more courageous and bold men and women who speak up and take action on behalf of God’s common-sense for the sake of our future generations.

Jeremiah 18:7–10 “If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.”

Was Mary Always Saved? Did Mary Ever Sin?

WAS MARY ALWAYS SAVED? DID MARY NEVER SIN?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Did Mary ever sin?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace”, was redeemed from the moment of her conception.  That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: ‘The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” (CCC 491)

• “Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long” (CCC 493)

• "from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life” (CCC 508)

• “the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin” (CCC 966)

• “her complete adherence to the Father’s will” (CCC 967)

“Did Mary ever sin?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• 1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (ESV)

• Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (ESV)

• Romans 3:10 “None is righteous, no, not one” (ESV)

• Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”

• Romans 5:18–19 “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.” (ESV)

• Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

• Jeremiah 17: 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (ESV)

“Did Mary ever sin?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Did Jesus or any of the apostles mention that Mary was sinless?

• Does any part of the Bible mention someone (apart from Jesus) who was sinless?

• Is not the claim to Mary’s sinlessness putting her on the same level as Jesus?

• If the implication is that Mary had to be sinless for Jesus to be unstained by sin, then wouldn’t that logic extend to Mary’s parents as well? When would that line of “sinlessness” end?

• What does 1 John 1:8 say about claiming to not have sin?  What does that imply about The Catechism of the Catholic Church?”

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What Is Veneration? Is Mary Our Mother? Should Mary Be Venerated?

WHAT IS VENERATION?  IS MARY OUR MOTHER?  SHOULD MARY BE VENERATED?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

Our word usage matters…what do we mean by the words we use?  

Are they accurate descriptions of our actions?

NOTE: The same word “venerate” is used to describe the Bible, images, Mary, saints, & angels.

Merriam-Webster’s Definitions: 

Veneration - “respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person”

Worship - “excessive admiration of or devotion to a person”

Adoration - “strong feelings of love or admiration”

Sacred - “worthy of religious veneration, holy, dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity”

Prayer - “an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought”

Genuflect - “to touch the knee to the floor or ground especially in worship”

“Is Mary our mother? Should Mary be venerated?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “the Church venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith” (CCC 149)

• “the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body” (CCC 103)

• “Through the icon of Christ and his works of salvation, it is he whom we adore.” (CCC 1192)

• “Through sacred images of of the holy Mother of God, of the angels and the saints, we venerate the persons represented” (CCC 1192)

• “Jesus is Mary’s only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men” (CCC 501)

“Is Mary our mother? Should Mary be venerated?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Matthew 11:11 “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (ESV)

• Ps 18:3 "I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, & I am saved from my enemies.” (ESV)

• Psalm 71:16 “With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.” (ESV)

• Psalm 72:18 “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.” (ESV)

• Isaiah 26:13 “O LORD our God…your name alone we bring to remembrance.” (ESV)

• Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)

“Is Mary our mother? Should Mary be venerated?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• According the dictionary definitions, how different are the words “veneration”, “worship”, “adoration”, and “sacred”?

• Where is the line crossed from “veneration” to “worship” or “adoration”?

• What are the differences and similarities in Catholic practices of veneration to Mary and worship to God?  What protections are in place so people do not have more affection for Mary than Jesus?

• Considering what Jesus said about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11, why is he not given more honor than Mary in the Bible?  Why is Mary not referenced as “our Mother” in the Bible?

• Does Psalm 71:16, 72:8 or Isaiah 26:13 focus on angels or saints?  Why not

• Does the Bible use the word “veneration”? What does Philippians 4:8 say to do about things that are “worthy of praise”?  Do Catholic practices go beyond “thinking about these things”?

• Does the Bible command the use of images, prayers, the Eucharist, or sacrifices in order to give honor to Mary, the saints, or angels?

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Was Peter Married? Is Priestly Celibacy Biblical?

WAS PETER MARRIED?  IS PRIESTLY CELIBACY BIBLICAL?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Was Peter married? Is priestly celibacy biblical?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate ‘for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.’” (CCC 1579)

• “In the Eastern Churches a different discipline has been in force for many centuries…married men can be ordained as deacons and priests.  This practice has long been considered legitimate” (CCC 1580)

• “Celibacy is a sign of this new life of the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.” (CCC 1579)

“Was Peter married? Is priestly celibacy biblical?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Matthew 19:12 “For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” (ESV)

• Matt 8:14 “when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.”

• Mark 1:30 “Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, &immediately they told him about her.” (ESV)

• Luke 4:38 “And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 9:5 “Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” (ESV)

• 1 Timothy 3:2 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (ESV)

• Titus 1:6 “if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.” (ESV)

• 1 Timothy 4:3 "who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” (ESV)

“Was Peter married? Is priestly celibacy biblical?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Does Matthew 19:12 sound like a voluntary choice among believers or a mandate for all priests?

• Is celibacy is a “sign of this new life of service”, then why wasn’t Peter single?

• Why does the encouragement of 1 Corinthians 9:5 encourage marriage in the example of Peter and Jesus’ brothers?

• In the Biblical descriptions of qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9) for overseers, bishops, elder, or pastors, are there ever any encouragements or mandates for singleness?  Why do these passages both reference the church leaders as being married?

• If the Catholic Church is reconsidering its position on this issue, was it wrong in the past?  What other issues may they have not spoken from the unchanging revelation of God?

• Does the warning of 1 Timothy 4:3 apply to the Catholic Church? For priestly celibacy? For lenten fasting?

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Does Peter Call Himself a Pope or Bishop?

 DID PETER CALL HIMSELF A POPE OR BISHOP?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Did Peter call himself a Pope or Bishop?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• 1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”

• 2 Peter 1:1 “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ”

• 1 Peter 2:25 “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”

• 1 Corinthians 1:12–17 “What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” [13] Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, [15] so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. [16] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) [17] For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 3:4–9 “For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?” [5] What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. [6] I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. [7] So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. [8] He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. [9] For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 3:19–23 “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” [20] and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” [21] So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, [22] whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, [23] and you are Christ's, and Christ is God’s." (ESV)

• 1 Peter 5:1–2 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: [2] shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly” (ESV)

“Did Peter call himself a Pope or Bishop?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Why doesn’t Peter refer to himself more than just a servant or apostle?  If he was leading the church authoritatively wouldn’t he have asserted so in his introduction?  

• Is there anywhere in the Bible where Peter asserts his authority, role, or power over the other apostles?

• Specifically as the foundation of the church, the pope, why doesn’t Peter mention apostolic succession anywhere in the Bible?

• Why are there so many repeated warnings in 1 Corinthians 1 & 3 about following people by name?  If Peter wanted the church to follow his leadership and name, why doesn’t he say so in his writings (1 & 2 Peter)?

• Why does Peter always point to Jesus instead of the church and its sacraments as the hope of salvation?  Why does 1 and 2 Peter (the writings of Peter) sound so different from The Catechism of the Catholic Church?

• Why does the Catholic Church assert the obligation or compulsion for obedience versus the description of 1 Peter 5:1-2 saying “not under compulsion, but willingly”?

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Did Peter have Authority Over All the Apostles?

 DID PETER HAVE AUTHORITY OVER ALL THE APOSTLES?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Did Peter have authority over all the apostles?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. … This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.” (CCC 816)

• “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal hope toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (CCC 816)

• “Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office…Hence the Church teaches that ‘the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ” (CCC 862)

“Did Peter have authority over all the apostles?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Mark 3:14–19 “And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons. [16] He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (ESV)

• Acts 11:4 “But Peter began and explained it to them in order” (ESV)

• Matthew 15:15 “But Peter said to him, 'Explain the parable to us.’” (ESV)

• Acts 2:14 “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.’” (ESV)

• Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (ESV)

• Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (ESV)

• Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (ESV).

• Matthew 18:17–20 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV)

• 1 Corinthians 16:10 “When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.”

• 1 Corinthians 16:16 “be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.”

• 2 Corinthians 8:23 "As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.”

• Revelation 21:14 “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (ESV)

• Acts 10:44–48 “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [45] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. [46] For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, [47] “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days." (ESV)

• Romans 1:7 “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints”

“Did Peter have authority over all the apostles?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church references Jesus’ “choice of the Twelve with Peter as their head” (CCC 765) and solely references Mark 3:14-15 for the evidence of this claim.  Does Mark 3:14-15 reference Peter as the head of the church in any Bible?  Why not?

• Why do these big claims (CCC 816 & CCC 862) have no Scripture cited for their support in The Catechism of the Catholic Church?

• Why does Peter have to answer to the authority of the church at Jerusalem in Acts 11 if he is the head authority?

• Did Peter act more like the spokesman for the apostles or as the authoritative leader of the apostles?

• Why does Paul appear and teach so much more than Peter in the New Testament if Peter was the first Pope?  What about the other leaders who feature prominently in the early church like John and James (brothers of Jesus)?

• Why are some decisions made by the church body and not solely by Peter?

• Why did believers receive the Holy Spirit before taking the Eucharist in Acts 2:38?  Isn’t that out of order for the Catholic sacraments? 

• Why would Peter speak Acts 5:29  if he was also asserting Papal infallibility and the Magesterium of the Church? 

• Why does church discipline’s final step in Matthew 18:17-20 speak about coming before the gathered body of the church and not the church leadership/pastors/priests/bishops?  Why is this binding and loosing language used in reference to the church body (“two or three are gathered in my name”) and not in reference to Peter or a Pope/Bishop/Priest?

• Isn’t the “loosing and binding” authority shared with the local churches?  In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 2 Corinthians 13:10, Titus 2:15, and Titus 3:10-11

• Is the authority of Timothy and Titus based on them being a bishop and having apostolic authority, or being a “fellow laborer”?

• If the future heavenly holy city of Jerusalem has the name of the apostles on it (Revelation 21:14), why doesn’t it recognize Peter as the head, or the first Pope/Bishop, or with some other sort of special recognition?

• Why are all alive Christians referred to as saints in the New Testament?  Is this term only referring to deceased believers specially designated by the Catholic Church?

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Is Peter the First Pope?

 IS PETER THE FIRST POPE (BISHOP OF ROME)?

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

“Is Peter the first Pope?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “Simon Peter holds first place in the college of the Twelve”(CCC 551)

• “Peter has confessed: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Our Lord then declared to him: ‘You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.’” (CCC 552)

• “Christ, the ‘living stone,’ thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the power of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it.” (CCC 552)

• “Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ The ‘power of the keys’ designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church.” (CCC 553)

• “The power to ‘bind and loose’ connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary judgments in the Church.” (CCC 553)

• “Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom” (CCC 553)

“Is Peter the first Pope?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Luke 6:47–48 “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (ESV)

• Mark 8:27–30 “And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” [28] And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” [29] And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” [30] And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.” (ESV)

• Luke 9:20 “Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (ESV)

• Luke 9:32 “Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.” (ESV)

• John 13:8–10 “Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” [9] Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” [10] Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” (ESV)

• Matthew 14:30–31 “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (ESV)

• Matthew 16:22–23 “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” [23] But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (ESV)

• Matthew 17:4–5 “And Peter said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ [5] He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (ESV)

• Matthew 26:33–35 “Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” [34] Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” [35] Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.” (ESV)

• Matthew 26:40–43 “And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? [41] Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [42] Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.” (ESV)

• John 18:10–11 “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) [11] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (ESV)

• Matthew 26:56 “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.” (ESV)

• Matthew 26:69–75 “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” [70] But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” [71] And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” [72] And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” [73] After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” [74] Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. [75] And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (ESV)

• Luke 22:61 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” (ESV)

• John 21:21 “When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’”

• Acts 10:13–16 “And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” [14] But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” [15] And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” [16] This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.” (ESV)

• Galatians 2:11–14 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. [12] For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. [13] And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. [14] But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?’” (ESV)

“Is Peter the first Pope?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Why does Jesus, right after this affirmation to Peter, then rebuke Peter and say “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”? (Matthew 16:21-23 ESV). Is this a characteristic of Papal Infallibility?

• In parallel accounts of Matthew 16:13-20 (Mark 8:27-30 & Luke 9:20), why does Jesus not mention the claim of Peter being the rock of the church and having the keys to “bind and loose”? If it is that important to the Church why is it only mentioned one book of the Bible?

• What are keys used for? What “unlocks” the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven? What does Jesus say in John 3:3? What does Paul say it takes to be saved in Romans 10:9-10? John in Revelation 3:20?

  • John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (ESV)

  • Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (ESV)

  • Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (ESV)

• What does Jesus’ warning in Matthew 23:13 mean in terms of doors and the kingdom of heaven?

  • Matt23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”

• What about “bind” and “loose” being used in Matthew 18:15-20 in terms of church discipline? Why is Peter’s authority not mentioned in this passage? Why is this authority extended to the church body?

• What about when Peter was wrong…correcting Jesus (John 13:8-10), doubting Jesus with little faith (Matthew 14:30-31), rebuking Jesus (Matthew 16:22-23), misunderstanding the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8), questioning Jesus, promising to never abandon Jesus (Matthew 26:33-35), falling asleep on the Mount of Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 9:32 and Matthew 26:40–43), impulsive (John 18:10–11), abandoning Jesus (Matthew 26:56), denying Jesus (Matthew 26:69–75) to in His presence (Luke 22:61), blame shifting (John 21:21), refusing to obey God’s voice in a vision (Acts 10:13-16), and being hypocritically legalistic and exclusive (“not in step with the truth of the Gospel” Galatians 2:11-14). How do we process that with claims of Papal infallibility? Why did Paul correct him if Peter is the first pope?

• Did Peter ever go to Rome? Why, historically speaking, does the Catholic Church become associated with Rome? Was the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. by Constantine helpful or harmful to Christianity? Did the Roman influence and control co-opt the Catholic Church for its own use? Was the biblical fidelity compromised in order to adapt the biblical message to be syncretized (changed) into a more palatable flavor for a variety of cultural contexts (i.e. by adding purgatory, indulgences, icons, prayers to the dead, etc.)?

• So is Jesus saying that the church is being built on the person of Peter, or the proclamation of the Gospel, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?

• Considering Luke 6:47-48; What is the foundation and rock Jesus is referencing?

• In the Bible, is the test of faithfulness one of succession and lineage or one of consistency with God’s words?

• Matthew 16:17 “And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’” (ESV)

  • Is Jesus conferring a blessing or acknowledging the blessing of God?

• Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (ESV)

  • Is this verse more about Peter and his lineage of popes, or about looking upon and believing in Jesus? What do we do with the many passages about Jesus who conquers death/Hades/Hell (Romans 8:2; Acts 2:24) because “death no longer is master over Him” (Romans 6:9), thus bringing his church (gathered ones) together as “conquerors” (Romans 8:37-39).

• When 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 lay out the office of elder/overseer/bishop/pastor why is there no distinction made about a Pope or head Bishop? Why is there always a plurality of elders referenced in the leadership of local churches?

• Ephesians 2:19–22 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (ESV)

  • In this description of the church, why is Peter not referenced? Why is there no reference to the oversight of a head/lead/arch Bishop or Pope? Is the sole reference to Jesus a reference back to the foundation/rock of the church being on Jesus alone and not on human authority?

• To whom was the name “rock” assigned in the Old Testament (Deut. 32:4, 15, 18, 30–31)? To whom does 1 Corinthians 10:4 assign the name rock?

  • Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (ESV)

  • 1 Corinthians 10:4 "all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” (ESV)

• Acts 8:14 “Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John” (ESV)

  • If Peter is authoritatively in charge of the church, why is he “sent” by the other apostles?

• If Peter has the authority to forgive sins (per CCC 982, 986, 987), where does he do that in the Bible? Like the ways in which Jesus expresses His authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24; 7:49, Acts 10:43, Colossians 1:14, 1 John 1:9) ?

  • “There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive” (CCC 982)

  • “the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of Penance” (CCC 986)

  • “In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments through which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification” (CCC 987)

• John 20:21–23 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (ESV)

  • What did Jesus just show them in John 20:20? Why was this evidence important to their mission? How do the disciples’ response demonstrate their belief?

  • What is the message they are being sent with? How is the Holy Spirit connected to Jesus’ sending of his disciples?

  • Since the words for “forgive” are written as perfect-tense verbs, they represent actions completed in the past with continuing effects into the present and future. Doesn’t this appear to point more towards Christian responsibility to proclaim the Gospel message of forgiveness of sins in the power of the Holy Spirit?

    • ESV Study Bible NOTE: “The idea is not that individual Christians or churches have authority on their own to forgive or not forgive people, but rather that as the church proclaims the gospel message of forgiveness of sins in the power of the Holy Spirit (see v. 22), it proclaims that those who believe in Jesus have their sins forgiven, and that those who do not believe in him do not have their sins forgiven—which simply reflects what God in heaven has already done (cf. note on Matt. 16:19).”

    • Are Christians called to be judges withholding forgiveness from one another? Or are they called to be ambassadors or messengers of the message of forgiveness found in the Gospel?

      • 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (ESV)

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Is Catholic Penance Necessary for Salvation and Forgiveness? What about Forgiveness for Abortion and Suicide?

IS CATHOLIC PENANCE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?

CAN ONLY PRIESTS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FORGIVE SINS?

The Sacrament of Conversion, Penance, Confession, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation (CCC 1423-24)

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“Is Catholic Penance Necessary for Salvation?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “The sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for this who have fallen after Baptism” (CCC 980)

• “the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of Penance” (CCC 986)

• “In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments through which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification” (CCC 987)

• “reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God” (CCC 1445)

• “those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin and have thus lost their baptismal grace…the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and recover the grace of justification.” (CCC 1446)

• “When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect’ (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.” (CCC 1452)

• “imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins” (CCC 1453)

• “Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance” (CCC 1456)

• “the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year” (CCC 1457)

• “without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church” (CCC 1458)

• “whoever confesses his sins…is already working with God” (CCC 1458)

• “Absolution takes away sin” (CCC 1459)

• “the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must ‘make satisfaction for’ or ‘expiate’ his sins. This satisfaction is also called ‘penance’” (CCC 1459)

• “the penance the confessor imposes…must correspond as far as possible with the gravity and nature of the sins committed. It can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices…such penances help configure us to Christ…they allow us to become co-heirs with the risen Christ” (CCC 1460)

• “Indeed bishops and priests, by future of the sacrament of the Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins” (CCC 1461)

• “Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication” (CCC 1463)

• “In danger of death any priest…can absolve from every sin and excommunication” (CCC 1463)

• “the whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace” (CCC 1468)

• “In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and ‘does not come into judgment.’ (CCC 1470)

• “those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy” (CCC 1422)

• “It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.” (CCC 1423)

• “It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.” (CCC 1423)

• “It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure of confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament.” (CCC 1424)

• “It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent ‘pardon and peace.’” (CCC 1424)

• “It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles” (CCC 1424)

• “This is the struggle of conversion directed towards holiness and eternal life to which the Lord never ceases to call us.” (CCC 1426)

• “This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a ‘contrite heart,’ drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.” (CCC 1428)

• “One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience.” (CCC 1493)

• “The confessor proposes the performance of certain acts of ‘satisfaction’ or ‘penance’ to be performed by the penitent in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ.” (CCC 1494)

• “Only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ.” (1495)

• “The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are: - reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace; - reconciliation with the Church; - remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins; - remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments from sin; - peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation; - an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.” (CCC 1496)

“Is Catholic Penance Necessary for Salvation?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Romans 8:39 "nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ESV)

• 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)

• James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (ESV)

• Luke 7:48–50 “And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this, who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” (ESV)

• Romans 5:8–11 “[10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (ESV)

• Romans 8:33–34 “Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (ESV)

• Romans 8:1–2 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (ESV)

• Romans 10:1–4 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. [2] For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (ESV)

• Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (ESV)

“Is Catholic Penance Necessary for Salvation?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Who has the power to forgive according to the Bible?

• What is the purpose of confessing our sins in the Bible? Who do we go to for forgiveness? (1 John 1:9) Who do we go to for accountability, prayer, and healing? (James 5:16)

• Why do you suppose the process of confession to priest began? What are the advantages? What would be the dangers? What does the Bible say?

• After becoming a follower of Jesus, does sin separate us from the love of God?

• When did Jesus die for us? Why did He die for us? What does Romans 8:1-2 mean?

• How should we feel when we realize the undeserved forgiveness Jesus has shown us?

• What is the danger Paul mentions in Romans 10:1-4 about establishing their own righteousness?

• How is someone saved? How can someone know for certain they’ll go to Heaven when they die?

WHAT ABOUT ABORTION & SUICIDE?

• “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.” (CCC 2272)

• In Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Misericordia et misera (November 20, 2016) he writes: “I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year” (http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20161120_misericordia-et-misera.html)

• If the Pope has the power to forgive the sin of abortion, why does he limit it to one year for priest?

• Why does abortion typically result in excommunication? Why is the power of forgiveness restricted to Bishops on some issues like abortion?

• Why does the Catholic Church not excommunicate politicians who endorse abortion?

• “We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for this who have taken their own lives.” (CCC 2283)

  • If murder is a “grave sin” and “grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life” (CCC 1472), then how can suicide (self-murder) result in “eternal salvation” (CCC 2283)?

  • What is “salutary repentance”? Doesn’t biblical repentance always involve our mind and soul? Can repentance happen after physical death? Where is that concept in the Bible?

  • How is that distinct (and not contradictory) from the requirements of repentance and confession through a priest?

  • Is this “exception” simply trying to tickle our “itching ears” about a tough and touchy subject?

    • 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (ESV)

  • Where does the Bible talk about praying for the dead?

  • SEE: “What Does the Bible Say about Abortion?” www.trustworthyword.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-abortion

  • SEE: “What Does the Bible Say about Suicide?”www.trustworthyword.com/suicide

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