Catholic Biblical Apologetics; Christ...instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all.

CatholicApologetics.org ^ | 02-16-10 | Dr. Robert Schihl and Paul Flanagan

[Salvation]

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.

Christ at the same time instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all people.

 

Christ at the same time instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all people.

This was confirmed by the way the Apostles acted:

Acts 1 - 12

These chapters narrate the exercise of the threefold powers of the Twelve Apostles as well as the miracles through which God confirmed their apostolic powers.

The Apostles took to themselves and exercised the power of teaching:

Mk 16:19-20

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Act 5:12-42

Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. ... (the angel of the Lord) ... said, "Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life." When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. ... Then someone came in and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people." ... And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.

The Apostles took to themselves and exercised the power of sanctifying:

Act 2:14, 37-38

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them (the Pentecost crowd), ... Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" 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."

The Apostles took to themselves and exercised the power of ruling:

making laws

Act 15:1- 16:5

The Council of Jerusalem

making judgments

Act 5:1-11

Ananias, Sapphira and their deception regarding the sale price of their property

The Apostles understood that their powers were hierarchically conferred:

Act 1:16-26

in designating a successor to Judas

Gal 1:1, 12, 18 and 2:2, 7-9

in establishing, understanding and confirming the apostolate of Paul

Act 14:23

in designating priests for the churches

Act 6:1-6

in ordaining deacons

The Apostles also understood that their powers were to be exercised hierarchically:

Act 2:37-43

in uniting and governing the primitive church community

Act 8:2-25

in building and confirming all the churches of Samaria

Act 11:20-26

in building and confirming the church in Antioch

Act 9:31; 15:36

in the vigilance over the newly constituted churches

Act 10:1-48

in admitting gentiles into the church

Act 15: 1-31

in deciding the grave question of judaizing

This society which Christ instituted He called the Church.

The Greek, ekklesia, and the Latin, ecclesia, translates the Hebrew, qahal, meaning principally, assembly.

In the New Testament, the word occurs 114 times, 3 times in Matthew's Gospel, 23 times in the Acts of the Apostles, 63 times in Paul's epistles, 20 times in Revelation, and 5 times within the other epistles of the Apostles. The term ekklesia, ecclesia, church was used exclusively by the authors of the New testament for the gathering of Christians while the word, synagoge, was reserved to signify the gathering of Jews.

Mt 16:18-19

"And so I say to you, you are 'Rock', and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Mt 18:17

"If he refuses to listen to them (two or three witnesses), tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector."

[Salvation]

Continuing with Christ, the Church and the Apostles.

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[GeronL]

The heirarchy was You > Jesus > God.

Everything else is manmade

[James C. Bennett]

I think you’ve got that reversed, LOL!

[Salvation]

Christ chose the apostles — so they are a part of it too. Then they ordained priests, deacons, but the power came from the Holy Spirit and Christ.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Well said Salvation.

Thank you for posting this.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Christ...instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all.

No He didn't. He organised a local church, and told it to propagate itself as other local churches. There is no earthly authority in Christianity above the local church pastor.

[JPII Be Not Afraid]

It really is quite simple if you think about it. Would Donald Trump start a new business that would be here until the end of time, then just walk away and let it run itself?

I don't think so, it would fall apart. He would appoint a president and vice presidents to make sure it ran as it should. The business would never prosper if left unattended.

The same with the Catholic Church. Do you really think Jesus would set up his church here on earth and then just let it run itself. Take a look around at all the different denomination there are today. Who would be right?

Jesus set up his church here on earth with a president (Peter) and his vice presidents (the apostles) so that the church would remain true to what his teaching are. The church has not been perfect, but that is what you get when you leave things to men, unperfect human beings as we are, we fail, but the church never does. That is because God uses the Holy Spirit to guide the Catholic Church in the truth.

Think about it, the Catholic Church has followed through for 2000 years, but about 500 years ago a split happened that lead to over 25,000 new denominations. I ask again, Who is right? The Catholic Church, with all of its problems is still the true church here on earth that was started by Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus didn't leave an instruction manual, when he rose to heaven. He didn't write a bible, But he did leave the structure to make sure his truth prevailed and that Satan would not prevail in the end.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“Everything else is manmade”

Yes, religion is manmade. All religion is manmade. Jesus did not come to start a religion. He came to draw us to the Father. He died, was buried, rose and ascended into heaven (the Father’s presence) so that we too might live in the Father’s presence.

We have invented religion. It is the pagan thing to do. We have to make gods to worship - so much easier than worshipping the one true God. It was not just a Greek or Roman thing to do. The Children of Israel themselves were sidetracked by god-creations of their own making.

Religion with its manmade rules, do’s and dont’s, is also about control. It is about controlling people. God’s plan includes getting all the systems of men out of His way - those systems are Political, Economic, Religious. All will crumble and make way for the coming of the King and His Kingdom.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“Do you really think Jesus would set up his church here on earth and then just let it run itself.”

You are correct, Jesus did not do that. Before He left, He said “I send you another Comforter”, and after He assended into the Father’s presence, He kept that promise, on the Day of Pentacost, when He sent the Holy Spirit to be the direct voice of God to each of us who are a part of the church, the holy catholic church, and the Holy Spirit is the One who oversees the direction for the Church. The church is not about Peter or any of the other Apostles, it is about those who worship in spirit and in truth. It is about us, not about hierarchy. Hierarchy is manmade, in all Christian religious communities.

[JPII Be Not Afraid]

You are right, it is about us and our journey to heaven or hell. But we do need the hierarchy of the church to guide us in the truth. There is only one Holy Spirit and only one truth. Look at the 25,000 other denominations who believe they have the truth because they are following the spirit, it just makes you wonder what spirit it is and where does it come from. There is only one true God and God can not contradict Himself. It is not possible. We need to know what we believe is the truth otherwise there is no reason to believe.

The hierarchy will be judged the same as you and I on how they followed the responsibilities that have been ordained on them. I suspect only harsher, that is why we need to pray for our priests that they teach and remain faithful to the truth. Who else can give us the sacraments?

Don't turn away from the authority of the church, it is the only thing keeping us on the true path to God. If Satan can make you disbelieve your priest, your bishop and the pope, who else can we turn to in matters of faith? Satan would like nothing better. There are some bad priests out there who seem to turn our faith on its head, but they are not the church, they are men, that is why we must educate ourselves as to what the church says because the church is now and forever will be the truth of Jesus Christ. Satan will not prevail!

[narses]

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[AnalogReigns]

Christ...instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all.

Hmmmmmm, sounds like Jefferson and other Founders were right in saying Roman Catholicism was anti-democratic...

[Pyro7480]

No, the Catholic Church is anti-egalitarian.

Speaking of the Founders, have you ever read the Federalist Papers? The authors were quite suspicious of democracy.

[AnalogReigns]

I’m well aware the Federalist Papers showed the Founders were against pure democracy, and opted for a representative form of government—a Republic—which includes essential democratic elements. Those elements are so basic and essential that in common usage today, people use the term “democracy” when they really mean “democratic republic.”

The fact remains that amidst sinful humans, “obligatory hiearchical society for all” smacks of monarchy, tyranny, and the abuse of power, which the Founders, and the Federalist Papers abhorred.

[Ken4TA]

Act 14:23
in designating priests for the churches

Please explain what Acts 14:23 has to do with what is claimed.

The Greek, ekklesia, and the Latin, ecclesia, translates the Hebrew, qahal, meaning principally, assembly.

Terrific! Then Jesus didn't start a "church", right? He started a "way of life" by calling out of the population a group of people to ekklesia, i.e., assemble!

The Apostles took to themselves and exercised the power of ruling: The Apostles also understood that their powers were to be exercised hierarchically:

They did no such thing. Jesus never told them to "rule" over members of the "assembly". They were to be servants (diakonouns). Even Peter stated that the elders (presbuterous) of the group of believers were equal with him (see I Peter 5:1). Read I Timothy 3:1-13, it tells you of the offices members of the assembly should have. The "Catholic" church(?) doesn't follow Paul's directions very good; they have created offices and set rules that are not Scripturally indicated.

[Bigg Red]

Whew! Antipapists are out in numbers today, huh?

A blessed Lent to you, my FRiend.

[Pyro7480]

Thank you! :-)

[Salvation]

It’s not a business deal — the Holy Spirit is involved here. No one walked away.

Even Christ told the apostles that he would be with them always.

Where are you getting this “walked away” idea?

[wintertime]

Christ at the same time instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all people.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Catholic Church is a cult.