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Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Truth Handling and Teaching Authority
CatholicApologetics.org ^ | 1985-1997 | Dr. Robert Schihl and Paul Flanagan

Posted on 03/24/2010 11:11:58 PM PDT by 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:

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.

Truth Handling and Teaching Authority

Truth Handling and Teaching Authority

Catholic Christians believe that the Bible reveals an order--a hierarchy--among the faithful people to whom Paul commits the role of truth handling: episcopoi (bishops) over presbyteroi (priests, elders) and diaconoi (deacons).

The Bible reveals that the Apostles took the role of episcopoi. Christ and the Evangelists revealed a primary role among the Apostles in the person of Peter or Kephas.

The Catholic Church from Apostolic times believed that Peter ("Rock") is the foundation for the Church of Christ as revealed in Matthew 16.

The Catholic Church believes that there were successors to Peter at the See of Rome as bishops. Successors to Peter are listed by historians from the third century down to our own day. As Bishops of Rome they share the primacy and authority given to Peter by Christ.

First to Peter and then to the other Apostles--and to their successors--Jesus conferred a charism of handling truth with authority. That authority is known as the charism of infallibility.

A recent example of the exercise of that charism in the Church--its teaching authority--can be found in the documents of the Second Vatican Council.



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: apologetics; catholic; catholiclist
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To: Salvation

Which church are you writing of....the Christian or Catholic??


21 posted on 03/27/2010 12:16:39 AM PDT by dasboot
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To: dasboot

Catholic is Christian.


22 posted on 03/27/2010 12:23:07 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: dasboot

Catholic is Christian.

The Catholic Mass is centered on two things
1 — The Liturgy of the Word == Old Testant Reading, New Testament Reading, usually from St. Paul and a GOSPEL reading with the word of Jesus Christ in it. — Totally Catholic and Totally Christian

2 — The Liturgy of the Eucharist == A difference here since some Christians do not believe in the transubstantiation of the bread and wine actually becoming the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ — which Catholic DO BELIEVE!

Again totally centered on Jesus Christ. In other words — I think it is you that is missing out on a true Christian/Catholic celebration. Have you ever attended a Catholic Mass? It was during a Catholic Mass that many formerly Protestants or members of other denominations had a turning point in their lives and made decision to become Catholic.

We welcome you should that be your decision.


23 posted on 03/27/2010 12:28:09 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

When you eat the body and blood....is it body and blood? Taste like it, and everything?


24 posted on 03/27/2010 1:02:13 AM PDT by dasboot
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To: Salvation
I'm confused about what you think doctrine is and how it is different from biblical teaching. Doctrine, by definition, is something that is taught.
25 posted on 03/27/2010 4:50:28 AM PDT by In veno, veritas (Please identify my Ad Hominem attacks. I should be debating ideas.)
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