Catholic Biblical Apologetics

Apologetics without apology!

What does the Roman Catholic Church teach about ...? ... and why?

This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries.

This is a set of lecture notes used since 1985 to teach the basis for key doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. The objectives of the course were, and are:

To present the biblical basis for the origin and development of the Roman Catholic Church.
To present the development of the canon of Scripture and evolution of biblical teaching in the Church.
To understand the role of paradosis/tradition in the oral transmission of revelation.
To study the Council of Jerusalem, described in the 15^th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles and its role in the development of doctrine in the conciliar movement in the Church.
To understand the revelation, doctrinal development and practice of the sacramental life in the history of the Church.
To study the role of the Holy Spirit as teaching authority in the Church.
To study the revelation and development of hierarchical authority in the Church.
To understand the hierarchy of truths in the Church as well as the role of private devotion and personal growth in holiness.

The course grew out of the need for the authors to continually answer questions about their faith tradition and their work. (Both authors are active members of Catholic parish communities in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Robert Schihl was a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Paul Flanagan is a consultant specializing in preparing people for technology based changes.) At the time these notes were first prepared, the authors were spending time in their faith community answering questions about their Protestant Evangelical workplaces (Mr. Flanagan was then a senior executive at the Christian Broadcasting Network), and time in their workplaces answering similar questions about their Roman Catholic faith community. These notes are the result of more than a decade of facilitating dialogue among those who wish to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and why.

Salvation: "Being Saved"

The Evangelist John expressed best the meaning of "being saved."

Jn 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

All Christian churches teach essentially the same basic truths about salvation. And these truths are taught in much the same manner. Differences arise in the way or in the process churches teach that a person becomes a Christian--the process of Christian initiation. The essential differences are in terminology and ritual. There is no essential difference theologically. All Christian churches agree that God entered into our human affairs to "save" us from the consequences of sin which is eternal death.

1 Tim 2:4: (God) who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.
Jn 11:25-26: Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

In his loving kindness, it was God who took the initiative in the process of our salvation.

Eph 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God.

God called a people, the Israelites of the Hebrew Scriptures, and from them sent his own Son as the means of our salvation.

1 Thess 5:9: For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The entire goal of Jesus' life and teaching was our salvation.

Jn 12:47: And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Jesus commissioned his disciples and all those who follow him to the same salvation.

Mk 16:15-16: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Christian churches still teach the good news of salvation today.

1 Tim 1:15: This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Lk 5:32: I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.

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