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.

American Christian Branches Among European Founded Churches

The following American Christian branches to European founded churches take their beginning from the history chart of the preceding page. The date before each denomination indicates the beginning of that American branch church fellowship.

Lutheran Branch

1818 - Ohio Lutheran Synod 1930 - American Lutheran Church 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1820 - General Lutheran Synod 1863 - United Synod South 1867 - General Lutheran Council 1918 - United Lutheran Church in America 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1847 - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1976 - Association of Evangelical Lutherans 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1854 Iowa Lutheran Synod 1930 - American Lutheran Church 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1860 - Swedish Augustana Synod 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1872 - American Evangelical Lutheran Church 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1890 - Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1896 - United Evangelical Lutheran Church 1960 - American Lutheran Church 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1900 - Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1918 - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

1929 - Apostolic Lutheran Church of America

Reformed Branch

1628 - Dutch Reformed Church 1857 - Christian Reformed Church 1926 - Protestant Reformed Churches of America 1867 - Reformed Church in America
1628 - Puritans/Congregationalists Evangelical Protestant Church of North America 1931 - Congregational Christian Churches 1957 - United Church of Christ
1790 - Universalists 1961 - Unitarian Universalist Association
1793 - German Reformed Church 1826 - Churches of God in North America 1869 - Reformed Church in the United States 1934 - Evangelical and Reformed Church 1957 - United Church of Christ
1801 - Christians/Churches of Christ 1832 - Christian Church/Disciples of Christ
1807 - Disciples of Christ 1832 - Christian Church/Disciples of Christ
1849 - Evangelical Synod of North America 1934 - Evangelical and Reformed Church 1957 - United Church of Christ

Anglican Branch

1787 - Protestant Episcopal Church 1861 - North Protestant Episcopal Church 1865 Protestant Episcopal Church 1873 - Reformed Episcopal Church 1861 - South Protestant Episcopal Church 1865 Protestant Episcopal Church 1873 - Reformed Episcopal Church

Presbyterian Branch

1706 - Presbyterian Church 1741 - New Side Presbyterian Church 1758 - Presbyterian Church 1741 - Old Side Presbyterian Church 1758 - Presbyterian Church 1810 - Cumberland Presbyterian Church 1837 - New School 1870 - Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. 1937 - Orthodox Presbyterian Church Bible Presbyterian Church 1956 - Bible Presbyterian Church 1965 - Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod 1982 - Presbyterian Church of America 1837 - Old School 1861 - Presbyterian Church, Confederate States Presbyterian Church in the United States 1973 - Presbyterian Church of America 1983 - Presbyterian Church, USA 1870 - Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. 1937 - Orthodox Presbyterian Church Bible Presbyterian Church 1956 - Bible Presbyterian Church 1965 - Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod 1982 - Presbyterian Church of America 1752 - Reformed Presbytery 1833 - Reformed Presbyterian Church of No. America (Covenanters) Associate Presbyterian Church 1858 - United Presbyterian Church of No. America 1958 - United Presbyterian Church, USA 1983 - Presbyterian Church, USA Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 1822 - Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanters) 1958 - United Presbyterian Church, USA 1983 - Presbyterian Church, USA 1774 - Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America 1965 - Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod 1982 - Presbyterian Church of America

Baptist Branch

1639 - British Separatists 1672 - Seventh-Day Baptists 1727 - Free Will Baptists 1770 - Old Lights 1787 - General Association of Separatists Baptists 1814 - Baptist Missionary Convention 1827 - Primitive Baptists 1845 - Northern Baptist Convention 1932 - General Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches 1947 - Conservative Baptist Assoc. of America 1950 - America Baptist Convention 1770 - New Lights 1780 - Free Will Baptists (North) 1827 - Primitive Baptists 1910 - Northern Baptist Convention 1814 - Baptist Missionary Convention 1845 - Southern Baptist Convention 1895 - National Baptist Convention of America 1915 - National Baptist Convention of the U.S.A., Inc. 1961 - Progressive Baptist Convention 1905 - American Baptist Association 1895 - Northern Baptist Convention of America 1932 - General Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches 1947 - Conservative Baptist Association of America 1950 - American Baptist Convention

Anabaptists

1840 - North American Baptist General Conference
1852 - Baptist General Conference

Methodist

1784 - Methodist Episcopal Church 1816 - African Methodist Episcopal Church 1821 - African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 1830 - Methodist Protestant Church/Bible Protestant Church 1939 - Methodist Church 1946 - Evangelical Methodist Church 1968 - United Methodist Church 1843 - Wesleyan Methodist Church of America 1968 Wesleyan Church 1844 - Methodist Episcopal 1860 - Free Methodist Church 1908 - Church of the Nazarene 1939 - Methodist Church 1946 - Evangelical Methodist Church 1968 - United Methodist Church 1844 - Methodist Episcopal Church (South) 1870 - Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 1897 - Pilgrim Holiness Church 1968 - Wesleyan Church
1800 - Church of the United Brethren in Christ 1946 - Evangelical United Brethren Church
1807 - Evangelical Church 1946 - Evangelical United Brethren Church
1829 - Primitive Methodist Church
1886 - Church of God (Cleveland, TN) 1923 - Tomlinson Church of God 1943 - Church of God (Queens Village, NY) 1953 - Church of God of Prophecy 1957 - Church of God of All Nations
1886 - Church of God 1922 - Original Church of God, Inc.
1886 - United Holy Church of America, Inc. 1898 - Fire-Baptized Holiness Church 1953 - Emanuel Holiness Church 1911 - Pentecostal Holiness Church 1918 - Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church 1899 - Pentecostal Holiness Church 1911 - Pentecostal Holiness Church
1901 - Pentecostal Union 1917 - Pillar of Fire
1914 - Assemblies of God, General Council
1914 - Church of God by Faith, Inc.
1914 - Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. 1924 - Pentecostal Church, Inc. 1945 - United Pentecostal Church, Inc. Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc.
1917 - Pentecostal Church of Christ
1918 - International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
1919 - Pentecostal Church of God of America, Inc.
1919 - International Pentecostal Assemblies
1919 - Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. 1957 - Bible Way Church, World-Wide
1919 - Bible Standard, Inc. 1935 - Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc.
1932 - Open Bible Evangelistic Association 1935 - Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc.
1932 - Calvary Pentecostal Church, Inc.
1947 - Elim Missionary Assemblies

I think we, as Catholics, are spoiled. We have only One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church with 20 plus rites.

This list is amazing to me. I had no idea there were so many denominations under each heading above.

1 posted on 02/22/2010 8:35:07 PM PST by Salvation

I’m interested in knowing if all these dates are accurate. I noticed that one date was missing in the main document.

2 posted on 02/22/2010 8:37:55 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

3 posted on 02/22/2010 8:39:26 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: lightman; xzins; sionnsar; Huber

4 posted on 02/22/2010 8:40:46 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Salvation; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

5 posted on 02/22/2010 8:41:41 PM PST by narses ("lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi")

6 posted on 02/22/2010 8:43:51 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

LOL, yeah, just one:

American Catholic Church in the United States
Antiochian Catholic Church in America
Apostolic Catholic Church
Armenian Catholic Church
Belarusian Greek Catholic Church
Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
Bulgarian Catholic Church
Byzantine Catholic Church
Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada
Celtic Catholic Church
Chaldean Catholic Church
Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
Communion of Christ the Redeemer
Coptic Catholic Church
Croatian Greek Catholic Church
Ethiopian Catholic Church
Free Catholic Church
Georgian Catholic Church
Greek Catholic Church
Hungarian Greek Catholic Church
Italo-Greek Catholic Church
Liberal Catholic Church
Macedonian Catholic Church
Mariavite Church
Maronite Catholic Church
Melkite Catholic Church
Old Catholic Church
Old Catholic Church in Europe
Old Catholic Church of America
Orthodox-Catholic Church of America
Palmarian Catholic Church
Philippine Independent Church
Polish National Catholic Church
Romanian Catholic Church
Russian Catholic Church
Slovak Greek Catholic Church
Spiritus Christi
Syrian Catholic Church
Syro-Malabar Church
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
True Catholic Church
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

The religion of Ted Kennedy is always good for a belly laugh.

7 posted on 02/22/2010 8:57:30 PM PST by Anti-Utopian ("Come, let's away to prison; We two alone will sing like birds I' th' cage." -King Lear [V,iii,6-8])

To: Anti-Utopian

As I said above — ONLY 220 rites.

What is the source of your list, please.

8 posted on 02/22/2010 9:04:49 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Anti-Utopian

Some of those are not recognized by the Vatican. Your source for your list, please. Second request.

9 posted on 02/22/2010 9:06:24 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Oops

As I said above — ONLY 22 rites.

My mistake.

10 posted on 02/22/2010 9:07:16 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

The American Catholic Church in the United States - www.accus.us/
Antiochian Catholic Church in America - www.forministry.com/USTNINDPTACCIA/
Apostolic Catholic Church - www.apostoliccatholicchurch.com/
Armenian Catholic Church - www.armeniancatholic.org/
Belarusian Greek Catholic Church - www.catolicos.org/ritosbelarussiancatholicchurch.htm
Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church - http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/705514

And so on. I bet you wish you could just burn 'em all at the stake and seize their property like in the good old days.

11 posted on 02/22/2010 9:28:38 PM PST by Anti-Utopian ("Come, let's away to prison; We two alone will sing like birds I' th' cage." -King Lear [V,iii,6-8])

This isn't a complete list.

What I do find amazing is how quickly these groups die out while The Church continues.

12 posted on 02/22/2010 9:32:45 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

To: Anti-Utopian; Salvation

You do realise that the Maronites, Melkites, Latin, Syro-Malankara, Ukrainian Catholic, Slovak Greek CAtholic, Byzantine CAtholic, Armenian Catholic, Antiochian Catholic are just rites within The Church, correct? i.e. they are dogmatically united in The Church?

This is not the same as comparing say Lutherans and Presbyterians who don't agree on predestination, the episcopal nature or on the nature of the Eucharistic sacrament.

13 posted on 02/22/2010 9:35:59 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

To: Anti-Utopian

The Armenian Catholic Church (Armenian: Հայ Կաթողիկէ Եկեղեցի Hay Kat’oġikē Ekeġec’i) is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in full union with the Roman Catholic Church.

The Belarusian Greek Catholic Church (Belarusian: Беларуская грэка-каталіцкая царква, BHKC), sometimes called, in reference to its Byzantine Rite, the Belarusian Byzantine Catholic Church, is the heir within Belarus of the Union of Brest. It is listed in the Annuario Pontificio as a sui iuris Church, an Eastern rite particular Church in full union with the Catholic Church.

14 posted on 02/22/2010 9:42:56 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

Thanks, those would have applied to yesterday’s thread, but I appreciate the information here.

15 posted on 02/22/2010 9:44:47 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Anti-Utopian

The Apostolic Catholic Church is a mainline protestant denomination that can be classified as paleo-orthodox because its goal is to mediate Christianity to revive its ancient traditions that Jesus Christ had taught humanity.[8] The church manifests itself to be protestant because it does not accept the authority of the Pope nor the Doctrine of Papal Infallibility and the conditions approved in the Vatican II Council that removed some ancient Christian traditions.

16 posted on 02/22/2010 9:46:00 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

17 posted on 02/22/2010 9:47:52 PM PST by Religion Moderator

Yes, I realize that — I was trying to point out that some were not really Catholic and/or recognized by the Vatican.

18 posted on 02/22/2010 9:48:12 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Religion Moderator

19 posted on 02/22/2010 9:50:54 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

Sorry, that wasn't directed at you :)

I think anti-utopian may have fallen under an understandable error: he's mixed 2 groups:

1. different rites within The Church
2. Protestant groups that use the "Catholic" word in their title but are as Protestant as the ELCA or worse (the American... allows gay priests, doesn't it?).

His error is understandable to those who don't know -- you do a commendable job of explaining it

20 posted on 02/22/2010 9:55:42 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

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