The
Catholic
Church
in
the
New
Testament...
Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 16:18,
that He will build His Church
on solid rock, the rock of Simon-Peter.
It is generally recognized that the point of actual founding of the Catholic
Church is at the cross in John 19:34, "...but one of the soldiers
opened His side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood
and water."
At Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4, the Apostles were given the authority, and
the power, by the Holy Spirit with which to commence the building of the
Church. Notice
in Acts 2:14-36 that Peter, the same Peter who denied Christ three times
and ran off and wept (Matt 26:69-75), is immediately emboldened and gives
his first discourse.
The blueprint for the birth and growth of the Catholic
Church was drawn by Jesus Christ Himself.
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man
took and sowed in his field. This indeed is the smallest of all the seeds;
but when it grows up it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so
that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches." Matthew
13:31-32
Jesus Christ planted that tiny seed, and He has tended it, and watered
it, and loved it, and nourished it, and protected it, and watched it grow
and expand for almost 2000 years. He will continue to watch over His Church
until the end of time. That is His promise.
The word 'Catholic'
is taken from the Greek 'Katholicos',
which translated, means 'Universal'.
The Greek word was Latinized into 'Catholicus'.
Taking the true meaning of the word, we find that the 'Catholic
Church' is mentioned in Scripture in Matt
28:19-20, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of 'ALL'
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe 'ALL'
that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you 'ALL'
days, even unto the consummation of the world." The three 'ALLS'
are ALL people,
ALL truth, for
ALL time, truly
'Universal',
truly 'Catholic'.
Throughout the Old Testament GOD dealt with His chosen people, His
'firstborn' (Ex 4:22) the Hebrews, the Israelites, and the Jews. His first
covenant was with Adam and Eve, a small group. As the Old Testament progressed,
GOD's covenants encompassed a larger and larger group of people, Noah and
his family, then Abraham and his tribe, then Moses with many tribes, then
David with his Kingdom. Now in the New Testament, Jesus Christ fulfilled
the promise of the Old Testament and invoked a New Covenant, a worldwide
covenant, encompassing not only the Jews, but all people everywhere, every
country, every tongue, every race, universal, Catholic.
Jesus Christ gave a specific command to his
Apostles for them to do this...
Acts 1:8, "...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
upon you, and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem (local) and in
all Judea and Samaria (spreading out) and even to the very ends of the
earth (worldwide - universal - all encompassing - CATHOLIC)."
The Catholic Church,
the only Church which Jesus Christ founded,
was persecuted by both the Jews and the Romans from the very beginning.
The Jews wanted to stamp out this new Christianity because Christ called
Himself GOD. The Romans wanted to destroy this new Christianity because
Christ called Himself a King. The infant Church
had to practice in hiding or fade into oblivion. But fade it would not
because its founder was GOD Himself who promised the Gates of Hell would
not prevail against His Church. Matt 16:18
The very first Church gatherings were not
in churches (buildings) at all but in the
homes of loyal Christians. These gatherings were done in great secrecy
in order to avoid persecution. The faithful had to use code words to communicate,
such as Babylon for Rome, and the fish symbol. The word 'fish' is Icthus
in Greek, the dominant language of the time. Icthus is the first letters
of 'Jesus Christ Son of GOD Savior'. Fish are used as a symbol of the faithful,
referring to the miraculous catch (Luke 5:1-7), and that some of the Apostles
were fishermen.
"And continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread in their houses..."
Acts 2:46
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who for my life
have risked their own necks. To them not only I give thanks but also the
Churches of the Gentiles.
Greet also the Church that
is in their house. Greet my beloved Ephaenetus, who is the first fruits
of Asia to Christ."
Romans 16:3-5.
"The Churches of
Asia greet you.
Aquila and Priscilla with the Church at
their house (Corinth)
greet you heartily in the Lord." 1Cor 16:19
"Greetings to the brethren who are at Laodicea
and to Nymphas and the Church that
is in his house." Col 4:15-16
"And to Appia, the sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier,
and to the Church that is in thy house:"
Philemon 1:2
Notice in Romans and Corinthians above, that the Church
had already spread to Asia.
It was prophesied by Caiphas, the high priest, that Jesus would gather
all of His Children into ONE.
"This, however, he said not of himself; but being high priest that
year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation; and not only
for the nation, but that He might gather into
ONE the Children of GOD who were scattered abroad."
John 11:51-52
The beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy is in the book of Acts.
The new Church
expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion was
due in part to the fact that the Romans had built excellent roads connecting
the various cities. The Apostles used these roads to advantage.
"Now they who received his word were baptized, and there were added
that day about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41
"And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord increased
still more..." Acts 5:14
"Now in those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing..."
Acts 6:1
"So the Churches grew
stronger and stronger in the faith and increased in numbers daily."
Acts 16:5
"And the Word of the Lord continued to spread, and the number of the
disciples increased rapidly in Jerusalem;
a large number also of the priests accepted the faith." Acts 6:7
"Now throughout all Judea
and Galilee and
Samaria the Church
was in peace and was being built up, walking in fear of the Lord, and it
was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 9:31. The command of Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8 is being carried out.
"And news concerning them came to the ears of the Church
in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:22
"But the Word of the Lord continued to grow and spread." Acts
12:24
Starting in Acts 13:1, the worldwide, universal, Catholic
Church began to expand to eventually include
all of humanity...
"Now in the Church at
Antioch there
were prophets and teachers, among whom were Barnabas and Simon, called
Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen the fostering brother of Herod
the tetrarch, and Saul." Acts 13:1
"On arriving at Jerusalem they
were welcomed by the Church and
the Apostles and Presbyters (priests), and they proclaimed all that GOD
had done with them." Acts 15:4
"Then the Apostles and the Presbyters (priests) with the whole Church
decided to select representatives and to send
them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas. Acts 15:22
"But I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is in the ministry of
the Church at
Cenchrea..."
Rom 16:1
"..to the Church of GOD
at Corinth."
1Cor 1:2, 2Cor 1:1
"Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy to the Church
of the Thessalonians."
1Thess 1:1, 2Thess 1:1
"The Church which
is at Babylon
(Rome), chosen
together with you, greets you, and so does my son Mark." 1Pet 5:13
"To the angel (Bishop) of the Church
at Ephesus write..."
Rev 2:1
"And to the angel of the Church
at Smyrna write..."
Rev 2:8
"And to the angel of the Church at
Pergamum write..."
Rev 2:12
"And to the angel of the Church at
Thyratira write..."
Rev 2:18
"And to the angel of the Church at
Sardis write..."
Rev 3:1
"And to the angel of the Church at
Philadelphia write..."
Rev 3:7
"And to the angel of the Church
at Laodicea write..."
Rev 3:14
Cyprus, Acts
13:4
Iconium, Acts
14:1
Lystra, Acts
14:7
Derbe, Acts 14:19-20
Philippi, Acts
16:12
Thessalonica,
Acts 17:1-2
Berea, Acts 17:10
Athens, Acts
17:16
Corinth, Acts
18:1-2
Ephesus, Acts
18:19
Tyre, Acts 21:3-6
Malta, Acts 28:1-10
Rome, Acts 28:16-30
Implied...
Pamphylia, Acts
14:23
Perge, Acts 14:24
Attalia, Acts
14:24
Phoenicia, Acts
15:3
Caesarea, Acts
18:22
"For from you the Word of the Lord has been spread Abroad,
not only in Macedonia
and Achaia,
but in Every Place Your Faith In GOD Has Gone
Forth, so that we need say nothing further."
1Thess 1:8
"Amen I say to you, wherever in the Whole
World this Gospel is preached, this also that
she has done shall be told in memory of her." Matt 26:13
"But I say; Have they not heard? Yes, indeed, Their voice has gone
forth into All the Earth,
and their words Unto the ends of the World."
Rom 10:18
"And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the Whole
World, for a witness to All
Nations; and then will come the end."
Matt 24:14
"Go, therefore and make disciples of All
Nations..." Matt 28:19
And He said to them, "Go into the Whole
World and preach the Gospel to every creature."
Mark 16:15
"But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them and confirmed
the preaching by the signs that followed." Mark 16:20
The Liturgy
of the Mass began to develop...
"And they continued steadfastly in the teaching
of the Apostles and in the Communion of the
Breaking of the Bread and in Prayers."
Acts 2:42
"I will declare thy name to
my brethren; in the midst of the Church I
will praise thee."
Heb 2:12
Incense is
used at Mass...
"According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when
he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people
were praying outside at the hour of incense."
Luke 1:9-10
"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer;
and there was given to him much incense,
that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden
altar which is before the throne. And with the prayers of the saints there
went up before GOD from the angel's hand the smoke of the incense."
Rev 8:3-4
The Catholic Church uses
incense today,
and offers it up with the prayers of the saints. Does your church do these
things?
The Apostles preached to the Jews in the synagogues
on Saturday because that was their 'Sabbath'
and the Apostles knew that was the time to preach to the greatest number
of Jews gathered together. Then on the next day, Sunday,
they preached the new Christianity to the Jewish converts, and to the Gentiles.
"And the next Sabbath almost
the whole city gathered to hear the Word of the Lord." Acts 13:44
"And he would preach in the synagogue every Sabbath,
and try to convince the Jews and Greeks."
Acts 18:4
"And on the first day of the week (Sunday),
when we had met for the Breaking of the Bread (the
Holy Eucharist
of the Mass),
Paul addressed them, as he was to leave the next morning, and he prolonged
his address until midnight." Acts 20:7
As the number of Churches increased at a rapid
pace, it soon became obvious that there had to be a centralized seat of
authority with which to oversee them all, and to insure that they all spoke
with the same one voice of truth. Was this to be Jerusalem, since some
say that James had the authority since he was the Bishop of Jerusalem and
not Peter? Absolutely not, because the Apostles heard from the lips
of Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 24, that Jerusalem would soon be destroyed.
James may have been the Bishop of Jerusalem, but Peter was the Bishop of
all the world. See Acts 1:8. This central seat of authority became Rome,
and the Papacy, and the Magisterium. The story of how this all came about
is well documented by the Church Fathers.
The Catholic Church has
Apostolic Succession...
Didache, 15:1. J9
*Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 42:1, 44:3. J20
*Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:1, 3:3:4, 4:26:2, 4:33:8, 5:20:1, J209-257
*Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 32:1. *J296
*Clement of Alexandria, Who is the Rich Man That is Saved 42:2 J438
Firmilian, Letter to Cyprian 75:16. J602,602a
Council of Laodicea, Canon 12. J745g
Poem against the Marcionites 3:276. J897
Epiphanius of Salamis, Against All Heresies 27:6. J1092
The Catholic
Church has the Authority...
*Ignatius, Letter Ephesians 5:3. J38a,b,43,44,47,48,49,58a
*Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrneans 8:1. J65
Tertullian, Against Marcion 4:5:1. J341
**Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani 5:6. J1581
Augustine, Against Faustus 33:6+. J1607, *J1631
Catholic Church,
in which all references mention the Catholic
Church by name...
*Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrneans 8:1-2. J65 106AD
Martyrdom of St. Polycarp 16:2. J77,79,80a,81a, 155AD
*Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 7:17:107:3. J435 202AD
Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church
4-6. J555-557 251AD
Cyprian, Letter to Florentius 66:69:8. J587 254AD
*Lactantius, Divine Institutions 4:30:1. *J637 304AD
Alexander of Alexandria, Letters 12. J680 324AD
Athanasius, Letter on Council of Nicea 27. J757 350AD
*Athanasius, Letter to Serapion 1:28. J782 359AD
Athanasius, Letter to Council of Rimini 5. J785 361AD
*Cyril of Jerusalem, Catachetical Lectures 18:1. J836-*839
Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u 382AD
Serapion, The Sacramentary 13:1. J1239a 350AD
*Pacian of Barcelona, Letter to Sympronian 1:4 J1243 375AD
*Augustine, Letter to Vincent the Rogatist 93:7:23. J1422
Augustine, Letter to Vitalis 217:5:16. J1456 427AD
*Augustine, Psalms 88:2:14, 90:2:1. J1478-1479 418AD
*Augustine, Sermons 2, 267:4. *J1492, *J1523 430AD
*Augustine, Sermon to Catechumens on the Creed 6:14. J1535
*Augustine, The True Religion 7:12+. *J1548, *J1562, J1564
**Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani 4:5. *J1580-1581
*Augustine, Christian Instruction 2:8:12+. *J1584, J1617
Augustine, Baptism 4:21:28+. J1629, J1714, J1860a, J1882
*Augustine, Against the Pelagians 2:3:5+. *J1892, *J1898
Innocent I, Letter to Probus 36. J2017
*Fulgence of Ruspe, Forgiveness of Sins 1:19:2, J2251-2252
*Damasus, Decree of Damasus 1. J910s
Catholic Church,
Antiquity of...
Hermas, The Shepherd Vis 2:4:1. J82
Anonymous 2nd Letter of Clement to Corinthians 14:2. J105
Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 7:17:107:3. J435
Augustine, Letter to Deogratias 102:15. J1428
*Augustine, Psalms 90:2:1. J1479
Augustine, Predestination of Saints 9:18. J1985
Gregory I, Letter to John 5:44:18. J2295 595AD
Catholic Church will
last Forever...
Clement, Letter to Corinthians 42:1,64. J20,29a 80AD
*Anonymous, 2nd letter of Clement to Rome 14:2. J105
*Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church
4. J555-556
Cyprian, Letter to the Lapsed 33:27:1. J571
*Hilary, The Trinity 7:4. J865 Augustine, Psalms 90:2:1. J1479
*Augustine, Sermon to Catechumens 6:14. J1535
Catholic Church
Founded...
Clement, Letter to Corinthians 42:1. J20
*Hermas, The Shepherd Vis 2:4:1-3:5:1. J82-84 140AD
Anonymous, Letter of Clement 14:2. J105
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:16:6. J217a
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 9:3. J289
*Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 7:17:107:3. J435 202AD
Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church
4. J555-556
*Cyprian, Letter to the Lapsed 33:27:1. J571
*Hilary of Poitiers, The Trinity 7:4. J865
*Augustine, Homilies on John 9:10. J1814
Catholic Church
in Rome Founded...
*Clement, Letter to the Corinthians, Address. J10a 80AD
Ignatius, Letter to the Romans, J52
*Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:3. J210-211
Cyprian, Letter to Cornelius 59:55:14. J580
*Council of Constantinople, Canon3. J910d
*Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u
*Optatus of Melvis, Schism of Donatists 2:2. J1242
Catholic Church
Unity...
Didache 4:3. J1b
Ignatius, Letter to the Philadelphians 3:2. J56
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 20:4. J292
*Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church
4. J555-556
Catholic Church is
Universal...
Didache, 9:1,10:1. J6,7
Clement, Letter to Corinthians 5:1. J11
Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians 3:2. J38
Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, Address. J77,79,81a
Hermas, The Shepherd Par 9:17:4. J93
Anonymous, Letter to Diogenetus 6:1. J97a
Aristides of Athens, Apology 15. J112
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 110. J144
*Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1:10:1. J191,192,215,257
*The Muratorian Fragment. J268
*Tertullian, Against the Jews 7:4. J320a
Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation Greeks 10:110:1. J405
*Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 18:23. J838
*Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u
Catholic Church is
an Infallible Church...
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:4:1. *J213
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 28:1. J295
Augustine, Against Letter of Mani 5:6. J1581
Catholic Church has
an Infallible Pope...
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 23:10. J294, 200AD
Cyprian, Letter to Cornelius 59:55:14. J580, 252AD
*Augustin, Sermons 131:10+. *J1507, *J1892
*Peter Chrysologus, Letter to Eutyches 25:2. J2178
Papal succession...
*Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church
4. J555-556
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:3, 4:26:2. J211,237
Firmilian, Letter to Cyprian 75:17. J602a
Athanasius, Letter to Julius I 22:35. J806a
*Optatus of Milevis, Schism of Donatists 2:2. J1242
*Augustine, Letter to Generosus 53:1:2. J1418
Peter was indeed in Rome...
Dionysius, Letter to Soter of Rome
2:25:8. J106a,b 198AD
*Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:1:1. J208, 3:3:3 *J211 180AD
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 32:1,36:1. J296-297
Tertullian, Antidote Against the Scorpion 15:3. J368a
Clement, Fragment in Eusebius, History 6:14:1. J439-440
Peter of Alexandria, Penance Canon 9. J611gg 306AD
*Lactantius, Deaths of the Persecutors 2:5. J647a
*Eusebius, The Chronicle *J651aa 42AD, *J651cc,dd 320AD
Eusebius, History of the Church
3:1:1. J652a
*Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 6:14. J822c
*Damasus I, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u 382AD
Epiphanius of Salamis, Against All Heresies 27:6. J1092
Optatus of Milevis, Schism of Donatists 2:2. J1242
The Papacy...
*Cyprian of Carthage, Letters 8:2:1. J568a,570b 250AD
Arius, Letter to Alexander of Alexandria, J651 320AD
Rufinus, The Apostles Creed 1. J1343a
Peter Chrysologus, Letter to Eutyches 25:2. J2178
The Primacy of Peter...
Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church
4. J555-556
Origen, Commentaries on John 5:3 J479a
Cornelius I, Letter to Cyprian Epist 49. J546-546a
Cyprian, Letter to Quintas 71:1. J592a
Firmilian, Letter to Cyprian 75:17 J602a
Eusebius, History of the Church
2:14:6. J651dd
Aphraates, Treatises 21:13 J693a
*Council of Sardica, Canons, Canon3,*4. J702a,b
Julius I, Letter to Bishops of Antioch 22:35. J806a
*Council of Constantinople, Canon3. J910d
Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u
*Ambrose, On Twelve Psalms 40:30+. J1252a,1261
Jerome, Letter to Damasus 15:2, J1346,1346a
*Augustine, Letter to Generosus 53:1:2. J1418
*Augustine, Sermons 131:10,295:2+. J1507,1526,1892
Innocent I, Letter to Council of Carthage 29:1. J2015f
Peter Chrysologus, Letter to Eutyches 25:2. J2178
*Leo I, Letters 14:11+. J2178a,2179a,2184a,*J2191, 449 AD
The Vatican...
Eusebius, History of the Church
fragment 2:25:5. J106a
***Note: The Jxxx references are for "The Faith
of the Early Fathers", by William A. Jurgens
The writings of the Church Fathers are readily
available on the internet, free of charge.
The Catholic Church has
Deacons now, just as it had then. The Deaconate was started...
"So the Twelve called together the multitude of the disciples and
said, 'It is not desirable that we should forsake the Word of GOD and serve
at tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good
reputation, full of Spirit and of wisdom, that we may put them in charge
of this work. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry
of the Word'." Acts 6:1-6
Stephen was chosen as the first Deacon (Acts 6:5) and he also became the
first Martyr, Acts 7:54-60.
The Catholic Church has
priests (presbyters) now, just as it had then...
"And when they had appointed presbyters for them in each Church,
with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had
believed." Acts 14:22
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him bring in the presbyters of the
Church, and let
them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord."
James 5:14
The Catholic Church has
Bishops now, just as it had then...
"Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock in which the Holy
Spirit has placed you as Bishops, to rule the Church
of GOD, which He has purchased with His own
blood." Acts 20:28
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in
Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons."
Philippians 1:1
Before the Apostles passed on, they started a system,
commanded by Jesus Christ, to pass the baton to successors. This was to
insure the perpetuality of the Catholic Church
which Jesus Christ founded. That system is
called 'Apostolic Succession'.
Every Catholic Bishop can show his line of spiritual descent, that is,
who consecrated him, who consecrated his consecrator, and so on, all the
way back to the Apostles. Jesus Christ vested in the Apostles special authority.
This special Apostolic authority has been passed down in unbroken succession
through the Bishops of the Church for almost two thousand years, so that
the present Bishops of the Church truly teach with the voice of Jesus Christ
through the Apostles.
For you can do nothing without
Me...
Jn 15:5, "For without Me, you can do nothing."
Jn 5:19, "...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees
the Father doing..."
Lk 24:48, "...and you yourselves are witnesses to these things."
Mk 2:10, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth
to forgive sins..."
Jn 7:16, "My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me."
Jn 5:30, "Of Myself I can do nothing. As I hear, I judge and My judgment
is just because I seek not My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
Jn 8:28-29, "...when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will
know that I am He, and that of Myself I do nothing: but that I preach only
what the Father has taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not
left Me alone, because I do always the things that are pleasing to Him."
Authority...
Jn 12:49, "For I have not spoken on My
own authority, but He who sent Me, the Father, has commanded Me what I
should say, and what I should declare."
Mt 28:18, "...All power in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me."
Jn 15:15, "But I have called you friends, because all things that
I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
Jn 16:11, "...and of judgment, because the prince of this world has
already been judged."
Lk 24:49, "And I send forth upon you the promise of My Father. But
wait here in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."
Mt 28:19-20, "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am
with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world."
Jn 20:21, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
Jn 17:18, "Even as thou hast sent Me into the world, so I have sent
them into the world."
Jn 17:22-23, "And the glory that thou hast given Me, I have given
to them, that they might be one, even as We are One; I in them and Thou
in Me; that they may be perfected in unity, and that the world may know
that Thou hast sent Me, and Thou hast loved them even as Thou hast loved
Me."
Jn 20:22-23, "...He breathed upon them, and said to them, 'Receive
the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them;
and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.'"
Jn 21:15-17, "Simon, son of John, dost thou love me?.....Feed My sheep."
Note! Jesus did not say feed YOUR sheep. He said Feed MY sheep.
Acts 15:7, "And after a long debate, Peter
got up and said to them, 'Brethren, you know
that in early days GOD made choice among us,
that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and
believe."
Acts 16:4, "And as they passed through the cities, they delivered
to the brethren for their observance the decisions arrived at by the Apostles
and presbyters in Jerusalem."
1Thess 2:4, "But as approved by GOD to
be entrusted with the Gospel, so
we speak not as pleasing men, but GOD, who proves our hearts."
Heb 3:1, "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling,
consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus, who is faithful
to Him who made him..."
Jn 20:29, "Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed
are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."
The Calling...
Gen 3:9, "But the Lord GOD
called the man and said to him, 'Where are
you'?"
1Sam 3:4, "And the Lord called Samuel.
And he answered; 'Here I am'."
Acts 9:10, "...the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias."
And he said, "Here I am Lord."
Lk 6:13, "And when day broke, He summoned His disciples; and from
those He chose twelve,
whom He also named Apostles."
Mk 3:13-14, And going up a mountain, He called
to Him men of His own choosing, and they came
to Him. And He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He
might send them forth to preach."
Jn 15:16, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and have
appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your
fruit should remain; that whatever you ask
the Father in My Name he may give you."
Jn 15:19, "If you were of the world, the world would love what is
its own. But because you are not of this world, but I
have chosen you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you."
Mt 10:1, "Then having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them
power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every kind of
disease and infirmity."
Acts 13:2, "...the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Saul and Barnabas
unto the work to which I have called them."
Acts 9:15, "But the Lord said to him, "Go, for
this man is a chosen vessel for Me, to carry My Name among nations and
kings and the children of Israel."
Eph 4:11, "And He Himself gave some men as Apostles, and some as Prophets,
others again as Evangelists, and others as Pastors
and teachers."
Acts 26:17-18, "...to whom I am now sending thee, to open their eyes
that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of satan
to GOD; that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those sanctified by faith in Me."
Acts 20:28, "Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock in which
the Holy Spirit has placed you as Bishops,
to rule the Church of GOD,
which He has purchased with His own blood."
Gal 1:1, "Paul, an Apostle, sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus
Christ and GOD the Father who raised Him from the dead."
Acts 14:22, "And when they had appointed presbyters for them in each
church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom
they had believed."
Tit 2:15, "Thus speak, and exhort, and rebuke, with all authority.
Let no one despise thee."
1Cor 12:28, "And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first Apostles,
secondly prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of
healing, services of help, power of administration, and the speaking of
various tongues."
Lk 22:29-30, "And I appoint to you a kingdom, even as My Father has
appointed to Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom;
and you shall sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Lk 10:16, "He who hears you, hears Me; and he who rejects you, rejects
Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects Him who sent Me."
1Thes 2:7, "Although as the apostles of Christ we could have claimed
a position of honor among you, still while in your midst we were as children:
as if a nurse were cherishing her own children..."
1Thes 3:2-3, "...and we sent Timothy, our brother and a servant of
GOD in the Gospel of Christ, to strengthen and comfort you in your faith,
lest any should be shaken by these tribulations. For yourselves know that
we are appointed thereto."
1Thes 2:11, "Inasmuch as you are aware of how we entreated and comforted
each one of you, acting towards you as a father towards his children."
1Thes 5:12-13, "Now we beseech you, brethren, to appreciate those
who labor among you, and who are over you in the Lord and admonish you.
Esteem them with a more abundant love on account of their work. Be at peace
with them."
Passing the Baton...
Heb 6:1-3, "Therefore, leaving the elementary
teaching concerning Christ, let us pass on to things more perfect, not
laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards
GOD, of the doctrine of baptisms and the laying
on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead
and of eternal judgment.".
Psa 109:8, "...May another take up his duties."
Acts 1:20, "...And his ministry let another take."
Acts 20:32, "And now I commend you to GOD and to the Word of His grace,
who is able to build up and to give the inheritance
among all the sanctified.
1Chron 24:5, "And he divided both the families one with the other
by lot; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of GOD..."
1Chron 25:8, "And they cast lots by their courses, the elder equally
with the younger..."
1Chron 24:31, "And they also cast lots over against their brethren
the sons of Aaron before David the king, and Sadoc, and Ahimelech, and
the princes of the priestly and Levitical families, both the elder and
the younger. The lot divided all equally."
Lk 1:8-9, "Now it came to pass, while he was officiating in the order
of his course as a priest before GOD, according to the customs of the priest's
office, that he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord
to burn incense."
Acts 1:15-26, "In those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren,
now in the number of persons met together was about a hundred and twenty,....And
they drew lots between them, and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was
numbered with the eleven apostles."
1Cor 3:10, "According to the grace of GOD which has been given to
me, as a wise builder, I laid the foundation, and another
builds thereon."
The 'Laying on of Hands'
to convey authority and leadership is prefigured in the Old Testament.
Num 27:15-23, Then Moses said to the Lord, "May
the Lord, the GOD of the spirits of all mankind,
set over the community a man who shall act
as their leader in all things, to guide them in all their actions; that
the Lord's community may not be like sheep without a shepherd."
And the Lord
replied to Moses, "Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man of spirit, and
lay your hands upon him. Have him stand in
the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community, and commission
him before their eyes. Invest him with some
of your own dignity, that the whole Israelite
community may obey him. He shall present himself
to the priest Eleazar, to have him seek out for him the decisions of the
Urim in the Lord's presence; and as He directs, Joshua, all the Israelites
with him, and the community as a whole shall perform all their actions."
Moses did as the Lord had commanded him. Taking Joshua and having him stand
in the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community, he
laid his hands on him and gave him his commission, as the Lord had directed
through Moses."
Deut 34:9, "And Joshua, the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of Wisdom;
for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and
the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and he did as the Lord commanded
Moses."
This same rite was practiced in the early Church and continues to this
day. The Bishop, by the 'laying on of hands'
, conveys a succession of Priests and Bishops with a commission, giving
them the authority and the leadership needed to perpetuate the Church which
Jesus Christ founded.
Acts 6:6, "These they set before the apostles, and after they had
prayed they laid their hands upon them."
Acts 9:17, "...and laying his hands upon
him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus, who appeared
to thee on thy journey, that thou mayest recover thy sight and be filled
with the Holy Spirit."
A 'laying on of hands'
is a filling of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:17, "Then they laid their hands
on them and they received the Holy Spirit."
Acts 19:6, " and when Paul laid his hands
on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues
and to prophesy."
Acts 13:3, "Then having fasted and prayed and laid
their hands upon them, they let them go."
2Tim 1:6, "For this reason I admonish thee to stir up the grace of
GOD which is in thee by the laying on of my
hands."
1Tim 4:14, "Do not neglect the grace that is in thee, granted to thee
by reason of prophecy with the laying on of
hands of the presbyterate."
Acts 9:15-17, "But the Lord said to him, 'Go for this man is a chosen
vessel to me, to carry My Name among nations and kings and the children
of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name'. So
Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying
his hands upon him, he said, 'Brother Saul,
the Lord has sent me, Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey, that
thou mayest recover thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit'."
Heb 6:1-3, "Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching concerning
Christ, let us pass onto things more perfect,
not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith
towards GOD, of the doctrine of Baptism and the laying
on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead
and of eternal judgment. AND THIS WE WILL DO IF GOD PERMITS."
Col 1:24-26, "I rejoice now in the sufferings I bear for your sake;
and what is lacking of the sufferings of Christ I fill up in my flesh for
His body which is the Church; whose minister I have become in virtue of
the office that GOD has given to me in your regard. For I am to preach
the Word of GOD fully, the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations,
but now is clearly shown to His Saints."
Eph 2:20, "You are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets
with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone."
Tit 1:5, "For this reason I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldst
set right anything that is defective and shouldst appoint presbyters in
every city, as I myself directed thee to do."
Jn 15:20,"Remember the Word I have spoken
to you..."
2Tim 2:2, "...and the things that thou hast heard from me through
many witnesses, commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn
to teach others."
2Tim 3:14, "But do thou continue in the things that thou hast learned
and that have been entrusted
to thee, knowing of whom thou hast learned them."
2Thess 2:15, "So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold
the teachings that you have learned, whether by word or by letter of ours."
2Tim 1:13, "Hold to the form of sound
teaching which thou hast heard from me, in
the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
1Cor 11:2, "Now I praise you, brethren, because in all things you
are mindful of me and hold fast my precepts
as I gave them to you."
1Thes 2:2, "But although we had previously experienced suffering and
shameful treatment at Philippi, as you know, we had confidence in our GOD
to preach to you the Gospel of GOD amid much anxiety."
Rom 10:14-15, "How then are they to call upon Him in whom they have
not believed? But how are they to believe Him whom they have not heard?
And how are they to hear if no one preaches?
And how are men to preach unless they be sent?"
1Thes 3:10, "Night and day we pray more and more that we may see you
again, and may supply those things that are
lacking to your faith."
1Thes 5:14, "And we exhort you, brethren, reprove
the irregular, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient towards
all men."
1Pet 5:1-4, "Now I exhort the presbyters among you, I your fellow
presbyter and witness of the sufferings of Christ, the partaker also of
the glory that is to be revealed in time to come, tend
the flock of GOD which is among you, governing not under constraint, but
willingly, according to GOD; not yet for the sake of base gain, but eagerly;
nor yet as lording it over your charges, but becoming from the heart a
pattern to the flock. And when the Prince
of the Shepherds appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
Heb 13:7, "Remember your superiors, who spoke to you the Word of GOD.
Consider how they ended their lives, and imitate
their faith."
Heb 13:17, "Obey your superiors and be subject to them, for
they keep watch as having to render an account of your souls; so that they
may do this with joy, and not with grief,
for that would not be expedient for you."
1Thess 5:12, "Now we beseech you, brethren, to appreciate those who
labor among you, and who are over you."
Mt 16:15-19, "...'But who do you say that I am'? Simon Peter answered
and said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living GOD'. Then Jesus
answered and said, 'Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood
has not revealed this to thee, but My Father in Heaven. And I say to thee,
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give thee the keys of
the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven, and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'"
Mt 18:17-18, "And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the Church,
but if he refuse to hear even the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen
and the publican. Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also
in heaven."
Jn 14:15-17, "If you love Me, keep My commandments, and I will ask
the Father and He will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever,
the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees
Him nor knows Him."
Jn 16:23, "And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Amen, amen, I
say to you, if you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will give it
to you."
Eph 3:21, "To Him be glory in the Church
and in Christ Jesus down through all the ages of time without end.
Amen."
What the Apostles had to say regarding Apostolic
Succession...
Didache 15:1, "Elect for yourselves, therefore, Bishops and Deacons
worthy of the Lord..."
What an Apostolic Father of the Catholic Church
had to say about Apostolic Succession...
ST. CLEMENT OF ROME, BISHOP AND APOSTOLIC FATHER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 80 A.D.
CHAP. XLIV.--THE ORDINANCES OF THE APOSTLES, THAT THERE MIGHT BE NO CONTENTION
RESPECTING THE PRIESTLY OFFICE.
"Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there
would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason,
therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this,
they appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave
instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should
succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those
appointed by them, or afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent
of the whole Church, and who have blame-lessly served the flock of Christ
in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time
possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the
ministry. For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the episcopate
those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed are
those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained
a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear
lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that
ye have removed some men of excellent behaviour from the ministry, which
they fulfilled blamelessly and with honour."
What Church Fathers, Church Councils, and early writers had to say about
Apostolic Succession...
IRENAEUS, AGAINST HERESIES 4,33,8, 180 A.D.
"The true gnosis is the doctrine of the Apostles, and
the ancient organization of the Church throughout the whole world, and
the manifestation of the Body of Christ according to the successions of
Bishops, by which successions the Bishops have handed down the Church which
is found everywhere."
IRENAEUS, AGAINST HERESIES 5,20,1, 180 A.D.
"For all these [heretics] are of a much later date than
are the Bishops to whom the Apostles handed over the Churches."
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, WHO IS THE RICH MAN THAT IS SAVED 42,2, 200 A.D.
"After the death of the tyrant, the [Apostle John] came back to Ephesus
from the island of Patmos; and upon being invited, he went even to the
neighboring cities of the pagans, here to
appoint Bishops, there to set in order whole Churches, and there to ordain
to the clerical estate such as were designated by the Spirit."
FIRMILIAN BISHOP OF CAESAREA, LETTER TO CYPRIAN 75,16, 255 A.D.
"Therefore the power of forgiving sins was given to the Apostles and
to the Churches which these men, sent by Christ, established; and to the
Bishops who succeeded them by BEING ORDAINED IN THEIR PLACE."
TERTULLIAN, THE DEMURRER AGAINST HERETICS 32,1, 200 A.D.
"Moreover, if there be any (heresies) bold enough to plant themselves
in the midst of the apostolic age, so that they might seem
to be handed down by the Apostles... we can say to them: let them show
the origins of their churches, let them unroll the order of their bishops,
running down in succession from the beginning, so that their first bishop
shall have for author and predecessor some one of the Apostles or of the
apostolic men who continued steadfast with the Apostles."
TERTULLIAN, THE DEMURRER AGAINST HERETICS 32,2-3, 200 A.D.
"For this is the way in which the apostolic Churches transmit their
lists: like the Church of the Smyrneans, which records that Polycarp was
placed there by John; like the Church of the Romans where Clement
was ordained by Peter. In just this same way the other Churches display
those whom they have as sprouts from the Apostolic seed, having been established
in the episcopate by the Apostles."
COUNCIL OF LAODICEA, CANON 12, 343 A.D.
"That Bishops are to be appointed to ecclesiastical leadership by
the judgment of the metropolitans and their surrounding Bishops, after
they have been examined at length as to their knowledge of the faith and
quite frankly as to their deportment."
This is only a small sampling of the early writings in support of Apostolic
Succession. There are many more.
The Catholic Church has
seven Sacraments now, just as it had then...
Baptism: Matt
28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, John 3:1-5, Acts 8:26-39, Rom 6:3-4, Eph 4:4-7.
Reconciliation: Matt
16:19, Luke 5:17-26, 7:36-50, 13:1-5, John 8:3-11, 20:23.
Confirmation: Acts
1:8, 2:1-4, 8:14-20, 19:1-7, 2Cor 1:21-22, Eph 1:13.
Holy Eucharist: Malachi
1:11, Matt 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-27, Luke 22:19-20, John 6:All,
1Cor 11:17-29, Heb 7,8,9.
Matrimony: Gen
2:18-24, 1Cor 7:2-8, Eph 5:21-33
Holy Orders: Luke
5:1-11, John 1:35-39, 15:15-16, 20:19-23, Acts 6:3-6, 13:3, 1Cor 11:19-27,
2Tim 1:6, Heb 5:1-5, 1Pet 2:5-11.
Anointing of the Sick: Mark
6:13, 16:18, James 5:14-15.
The Bishops
of the Catholic Church of
today vote amongst themselves just as the Apostles did in the ancient Church.
"And they drew lots between them, and the lot fell upon Matthias:
and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles." Acts 1:26
The Catholic Church has
a visible head on earth today (the Pope) just as it did in its infancy,
one who will shepherd the flock and who will represent the invisible head
Jesus Christ...
"And after a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, "Brethren,
you know that in early days GOD
made choice among us, that through MY mouth
the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe." Acts
15:7-11
Right after Peter's discourse in Acts 15:7-11, which was during the first
Church council,
the Council of Jerusalem,
the dissension within the council was abated.
"Then the whole meeting quieted down and listened..." Acts 15:12
This is a prefigurement of the authority of the Pope, "Rome
has spoken, the issue is settled."
Some in the Church will
be given a specific gift...
"Now you are the body of Christ member for member. And GOD indeed
has placed some in the Church,
first Apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles,
then gifts of healing, services of help, , and the speaking
of various tongues." 1Cor 12:27-28
The Catholic Church has
as its 'Power of Administration'
a system of government known as a 'Hierarchy'.
Eph 4:11-16: "And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints
for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we
all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness
in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow
up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole
body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied,
when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself
in love."
There is a correspondence between the apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers, and the vital organs of the Body of Christ. Every
body has vital organs, without which it cannot function. The lesser members
are essential, to be sure, but if they were cut off, the body would merely
be inconvenienced, not destroyed. As the body matures, the cells of the
vital organs reproduce their own cells; the heart, heart cells; the liver,
liver cells, the brain, brain cells, and so forth. They do so with the
material from other living cells: blood, genes, etc. So, as long as the
body lives, its hierarchial
composition will continue. Without this hierarchial
order there is disorder. Lacking unity with the Body of Christ, "children"
(used here of the carnal) are out of control, not in its place and therefore
not functioning properly, remains immature. What member is connected directly
to the head? The body "builds itself up in love" while the members
are members of one another, Rom 12:5,
Eph 4:25. So, there must always be a hierarchy
in the Body of Christ, the Church. If the members are members of one another,
Rom 12:5, Eph 4:25, and the body "builds itself up in love" and
the body "fills the universe in all its parts", then there is
an intimate bond between all the members that is for their upbuilding.
This is the communion/intercession of saints.
Many thanks to Paul Kamalsky for this contribution of the hierarchy
of the Catholic Church.
Through the Catholic Church
there shall be made known the wisdom of GOD...
"Yes, to me, the very least of all saints, there was given this grace,
to announce among the Gentiles the good tidings of the unfathomable riches
of Christ, and to enlighten all men as to what is the dispensation of the
mystery which has been hidden from eternity in GOD, who created all things;
in order that through the Church there
be made known to the Principalities and the Powers in the heavens the manifold
wisdom of GOD according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in
Christ Jesus our Lord." Eph 3:8-10
It is not the Bible, but the Catholic
Church that is the foundation and the pillar
of truth...
"I write these things to thee hoping to come to thee shortly, but
in order that thou mayest know, if I am delayed, how to conduct thyself
in the house of GOD, which is the Church of
the Living GOD, the pillar and mainstay of
the truth." 1Tim 3:14-15
If a dispute arises, first begin at the lowest level to
resolve it, a one on one discussion. If that fails, then take one or two
witnesses with you to confirm the wording of the dispute. If that fails
then appeal to the Church,
the final authority...
"And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the Church,
but if he refuse to hear even the Church,
let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican." Matt 18:15-18.
Jesus Christ is the head of the Catholic
Church...
We are the body...
"And all things He made subject under His feet, and Him He gave as
head over all the Church,
which indeed is His body, the completion of Him who fills all with all."
Eph 1:22
"...just as Christ is head of the Church,
being Himself savior of the body." Eph 5:23
"But just as the Church is
subject to Christ, so also let wives be to their husbands in all things."
Eph 5:24
"Again, He is the head of His body, the Church."
Col 1:18
"I fill up in my flesh for His body, which is the Church."
Col 1:24
Jesus Christ loves the Catholic Church,
and it is holy and spotless...
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ
also loved the Church,
and delivered Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, cleansing
her in the bath of water by means of the Word; in order that He might present
to Himself the Church in
all her glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she
might be Holy and without blemish." Eph 5:25-27
Jesus Christ nourishes His Church
and cherishes it...
"He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his
own flesh; on the contrary he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also
does the Church."
Eph 5:29
We are warned to not persecute the Church
which Jesus Christ founded...
"But Paul was harassing the Church;
entering house after house,
and dragging out men and women, he committed them to prison." Acts
8:3
"And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me"?"
Acts 9:4
Who, or what was persecuted in Acts 8:3? It was the Church. Who did Jesus
say was being persecuted? He said it was Himself. If you persecute His
Church, you persecute Him.
"Do not be a stumbling block to Jews and Greeks and to the Church
of GOD." 1Cor 10:32
"Have you not houses for your eating and drinking? Or do you despise
the Church of GOD and
put to shame the needy?" What am I to say to you? Am I to commend
you? In this I do not commend you." 1Cor 11:22
"For I am the least of the Apostles, and am not worthy to be called
an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church
of GOD." 1Cor 15:9
"For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism; how beyond
all measure I persecuted the Church of GOD
and ravaged it." Gal 1:13
"...as regards zeal, a persecutor of the Church
of GOD." Philip 3:6
"Now I exhort you, brethren, that you watch those who cause dissensions
and scandals contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and avoid
them." Rom 16:17
The Catholic Church WILL
increase in wisdom over time as the Holy Spirit reveals a deeper understanding
of divine public revelation as presented to her in Holy Scripture and Holy
Tradition...
"But there is nothing concealed that
WILL not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that WILL not be made known.
For what you have said in darkness WILL be said in the light; and what
you have whispered in the inner chambers WILL BE PREACHED ON THE HOUSETOPS."
Luke 12:2-3
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My
Name, He WILL TEACH
you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you."
John 14:26
"MANY THINGS
YET I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU, BUT YOU CANNOT BEAR
THEM NOW. But when He, the Spirit of Truth,
has come, He WILL
TEACH you all
the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He
will hear, He WILL SPEAK,
and the THINGS
THAT ARE TO COME HE WILL DECLARE TO YOU."
John 16:12-13
"And He Himself gave some men as Apostles, and some as Prophets, and
others again as Evangelists, and others as Pastors and Teachers, IN
ORDER TO PERFECT THE SAINTS FOR A WORK OF MINISTRY, FOR THE BUILDING UP
OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, UNTIL WE ALL ATTAIN TO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH AND
OF THE DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, TO PERFECT MANHOOD, TO THE MATURE
MEASURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. AND THIS HE HAS DONE THAT WE MAY BE
NOW NO LONGER CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO AND CARRIED ABOUT BY EVERY WIND
OF DOCTRINE DEVISED IN THE WICKEDNESS OF MEN, IN CRAFTINESS, ACCORDING
TO THE WILES OF ERROR. RATHER ARE WE TO PRACTICE THE TRUTH IN LOVE, AND
GROW UP IN ALL THINGS IN HIM WHO IS THE HEAD, CHRIST. FOR FROM HIM THE
WHOLE BODY (BEING CLOSELY JOINED AND KNIT TOGETHER THROUGH EVERY JOINT
OF THE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE FUNCTIONING IN DUE MEASURE OF EACH SINGLE
PART) DERIVES ITS INCREASE TO THE BUILDING UP OF ITSELF IN LOVE."
Eph 4:11-16
"This grace has abounded beyond measure in us in all wisdom and prudence,
so that HE MAY MAKE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY
OF HIS WILL ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE HE PURPOSED IN HIM TO BE DISPENSED
IN THE FULLNESS OF THE TIMES; TO RE-ESTABLISH ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, BOTH
THOSE IN THE HEAVENS AND THOSE ON EARTH."
Eph 1:8-10
"I fed you with milk, not with solid food, FOR
YOU WERE NOT YET READY FOR IT. NOR ARE YOU NOW READY FOR IT, FOR YOU ARE
STILL CARNAL." 1Cor 3:2
"For whereas by this time you ought to be masters, YOU
NEED TO BE TAUGHT AGAIN THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORDS OF GOD; AND YOU HAVE
BECOME SUCH AS HAVE NEED OF MILK AND NOT OF SOLID FOOD. FOR EVERYONE WHO
IS FED ON MILK IS UNSKILLED IN THE WORD OF JUSTICE; HE IS BUT A CHILD.
BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, FOR THOSE WHO BY PRACTICE HAVE THEIR
FACULTIES TRAINED TO DISCERN GOOD AND EVIL."
Heb 5:12-14
"So then, every Scribe instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven is like
a householder WHO BRINGS FORTH FROM HIS STOREROOM
THINGS NEW AND OLD." Matt 13:52
"Now I exhort the presbyters among you - I, your fellow presbyter
and witness of the sufferings of Christ, THE
PARTAKER ALSO OF THE GLORY THAT IS TO BE REVEALED IN TIME TO COME..."
1Pet 5:1-2
"Another parable He set before them saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven
is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed into his field.
This indeed is the smallest of all seeds; but when it grows up it is larger
than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and
dwell in its branches." Matt 13:31-32
The Catholic Church which
Jesus Christ founded will last for all eternity...
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue
that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the
inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their justice with Me, said
the Lord." Isa 54:17
"And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
My Church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt 16:18
"And behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of
the world." Matt 28:20
"And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to
dwell with you forever, the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you shall know Him, because
He will dwell with you, and be in you." John 14:16-17
"Now, to him who is able to accomplish all things in a measure far
beyond what we ask or conceive, in keeping with the power that is at work
in us, to Him be glory in the Church and
in Christ Jesus down through all the ages of time without end. Amen."
Eph 3:21
"And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take
care of what you are about to do to these men. For some time ago there
rose up Theodas, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four
hundred, joined him; but he was slain, and all his followers were dispersed
and he was brought to nothing. After him rose up Judas the Galilean in
the days of the census and drew some people after him; he too perished,
and all of his followers were scattered abroad. So now I say to you, keep
away from these men and let them alone. For if this plan or work is of
men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of GOD,
you will not be able to overthrow it. Else
perhaps you may find yourselves fighting even against GOD'." Acts
5:35-39
Well, clearly, the Catholic Church is
still here after almost 2000 years. It has certainly been tried by many
to overthrow it from without and from within, almost without reprieve for
the entire two millennium. Jews, Romans, Vandals, Heretics, Islam, Protestants,
the French Revolution, Modernists, Hitler, Communists, and many others,
one group after another, have tried and failed, and yet the Church still
stands. It is the oldest, and the largest, and the longest lasting institution
on earth. Having said that, aren't you compelled to agree that the Catholic
Church is of the work of GOD
and not of men? Despite all of this constant
attack, the Catholic Church has
grown to well over one billion (1,045,000,000*) members, or one sixth of
the population of the entire earth, as of January 2000.
(*official Church figure)
The early Church can be compared to the planting of
a seed, an acorn. Over the past almost 2000 years the acorn has grown into
a large and beautiful oak tree.
From this tiny acorn..
to this magnificent oak tree.
The oak tree has all of the qualities of the acorn,
but the acorn does not have all of the qualities of the oak tree.
The Catholic Church is
the only Church which fits perfectly with the pattern of the Early Church
as portrayed by Holy Scripture. There is no other Church which even comes
close to matching it.
"Only you must remain firmly founded in the faith
and steadfast and not withdrawing from the hope of the Gospel which you
have heard.
IT HAS BEEN PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN...." Col 1:23.
Truly Universal, truly CATHOLIC.
©
Written by Bob Stanley, April 10, 1999
Updated May 29, 2001
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