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.

The Sacraments: The Life of The Christian

The Son of God made Himself present to the world in the human nature of Jesus.

Jesus is the sign of His Father to us; the Church is the sign of the presence of Jesus to us.

Jesus used signs--sacraments--of His presence in ministry during His life: water, bread and wine, touching, spittle, mud, etc.

The Church, the Body of Christ, defines the extension of these signs of His presence in ministry from Apostolic times.

The Bible sets the goal for the life of the Christian--"be holy," "perfect as the Father," "put on Christ."

For the Christian, all stages of spiritual growth in holiness are accompanied by incarnational signs wherein the spiritual becomes physically present--Christ in created nature, present to the Christian as he or she grows in Christ.

Sacraments of initiation into the faith community are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation--Christ present in rebirth, nourishment and empowering.

Sacraments of healing and restoration are Reconciliation and Anointing--Christ present to restore spiritual and physical health.

Sacraments of life for the Church are Matrimony and Orders --Christ present replenishing and building up His Body.

“Baptism is necessary for salvation." Pg. 320, #1257

"The Church does not know of any other means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude..." Pg. 320, #1257

"By Baptism all sins are forgiven…, as well as all punishment for sin." Pg. 321, #1263 (also pg. 257, #985)

Compared to:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12

If baptism is necessary for salvation, would the Apostle Paul have proclaimed: "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;" 1 Corinthians 1:14

The Bible teaches that baptism should occur after salvation, not as a requirement for salvation. When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul answered: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” Acts 16:30

"The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation." Pg. 292, #1129

"There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony." Pg. 289, #1113

Compared to the Bible:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight..." Romans 3:20

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Isaiah 64:6

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." John 20:31

You can cling to your rituals and I'll cling to God's Word.

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