Another very common objection we can find to the Catholic understanding of prayer to the saints is this: God does not answer prayers based on who is praying. God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15)….. No one in heaven has any greater access to God's throne … Continue reading The Saints – Does God Hear Prayers Based On Who is Praying?
The Saints and Their Relics
The catechism tells us “Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, … Continue reading The Saints and Their Relics
The Saints – Examples in Scripture
Quite often Catholics are asked if we can provide any examples from the Bible of people in heaven interceding for those on earth. An example of this thinking: “Catholics argue that praying to Mary and the saints is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for us. Let us examine that claim. … Continue reading The Saints – Examples in Scripture
The Saints — Is it Unbliblcal to Acknowledge Only Certain People as Saints?
As Catholics we are certainly known for loving our saints! We have patron saints for a wide array of needs, we know their stories and allow them to inspire and form us, and we rely on their intercessory prayer to help us on our journey to heaven. We consider them as friends who are always … Continue reading The Saints — Is it Unbliblcal to Acknowledge Only Certain People as Saints?
The Saints and the Body of Christ
In my last post I covered the Catholic understanding regarding Christ as our sole mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and why we believe this is not contradicted by our understanding that we can ask the saints for their prayers. The context of that passage after all is intercessory prayer. Because we are … Continue reading The Saints and the Body of Christ
The Saints and Jesus as our One Mediator
This Evangelical site posts a very common objection to the Catholic understanding that we can pray to the saints. That understanding of course is dependent on an accurate view of what we actually mean by praying to the saints, as was covered here. First Timothy 2:5 declares, "For there is one God and one mediator … Continue reading The Saints and Jesus as our One Mediator
The Saints – Does the Bible Forbid Contacting the Dead?
A very common objection to the Catholic practice of praying to the saints is the Bible forbids necromancy, which is defined as “the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to predict the future.” An example of that view: Whenever the Bible mentions praying to or speaking with the dead, it is … Continue reading The Saints – Does the Bible Forbid Contacting the Dead?
The Saints — How Can They Hear a Multitude of People Praying to Them at One Time?
In my last two posts I’ve covered the Catholic understanding of what it means to pray to the saints and the Biblical evidence the saints are indeed aware of what is happening on earth in at least some sense. Even if these things are true, one of the more common objections to the Catholic understanding … Continue reading The Saints — How Can They Hear a Multitude of People Praying to Them at One Time?
The Saints – Do They “Know Nothing” About What is Happening on Earth?
One of the more common Scripture passages used to prove the Catholic understanding of praying to the saints is in error is from Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 -- “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward; but the memory of them is lost. Their love and … Continue reading The Saints – Do They “Know Nothing” About What is Happening on Earth?
The Saints, and What it Means to Pray
One thing that separates most Protestants from Catholics (and Orthodox) is the Catholic and Orthodox churches believe in the “communion of the saints,” and this communion is not broken by death but rather is perfected. As a result, we pray to the saints and request their help with our many needs in this life. This … Continue reading The Saints, and What it Means to Pray
The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter in Rome and Other Final Points
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter in Rome and Other Final Points
The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter’s Weaknesses, and Papal Infallibility
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter’s Weaknesses, and Papal Infallibility
The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter, and the Jerusalem Council
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter, and the Jerusalem Council
The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter, and the Keys to the Kingdom
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope), St. Peter, and the Keys to the Kingdom
The Papacy (Pope) and St. Peter as the “Rock” Part 2
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope) and St. Peter as the “Rock” Part 2
The Papacy (Pope) and St. Peter as the “Rock” Part 1
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope) and St. Peter as the “Rock” Part 1
The Papacy (Pope) and St. Peter – An Overview
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall … Continue reading The Papacy (Pope) and St. Peter – An Overview
Sacred Tradition and the Development of the Old Testament Canon
In my last post I reviewed the development of the New Testament Canon of Scripture, and how the Catholic Church understands that process to be the work of Sacred Tradition. For while the apostles left us many writings, they did not leave us a book we know today as the New Testament. Some books that … Continue reading Sacred Tradition and the Development of the Old Testament Canon
Sacred Tradition and the Development of the New Testament Canon
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 St. Paul writes “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” What is “all” Scripture? At the time of his writing, St. Paul would have been referring to the … Continue reading Sacred Tradition and the Development of the New Testament Canon
Sacred Tradition and the Reliability of Oral Tradition
In his conversion story, Casey Chalk, a convert to Catholicism from a background of evangelical Christianity provides this perspective of sola-Scriptura and Sacred Tradition: “However, I would like to add a few of my own reflections on the inadequacy of sola scriptura. First, Reformed and other Protestants will often argue that it is better to … Continue reading Sacred Tradition and the Reliability of Oral Tradition
Sacred Tradition – An Overview
The well known Protestant and Reformed pastor R. C. Sproul had this to say about a Protestant understanding of sola-Scriptura: “For the classic Protestant, though the individual believer has the right to the private interpretation of Scripture, he is capable of misinterpreting the Bible. But while he has the ability to misinterpret Scripture, he does not have … Continue reading Sacred Tradition – An Overview
Apostolic Succession in the Early Church
In my last two posts (here and here) I reviewed the letters St. Paul wrote to Timothy. From the Catholic perspective these letters show the concept of apostolic succession. Timothy had worked at Paul’s side for many years, and Paul clearly gave him a mission -- to ensure correct doctrine is known, to teach, to … Continue reading Apostolic Succession in the Early Church
Apostolic Succession and Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy
In my last post I reviewed St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy, and how we see in that letter Paul is giving Timothy a mission -- to ensure correct doctrine is known, to teach, to instruct, to command certain behavior from his flock, to correct flawed doctrine and to make sure qualified leaders are appointed … Continue reading Apostolic Succession and Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy
Apostolic Succession and Paul’s First Letter to Timothy
In St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we find what I consider to be one of the most moving lines in all of Scripture. Paul writes to him, “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you.” (1 Timothy 6:20) St. Paul often writes in his role as an apostle how he has been entrusted … Continue reading Apostolic Succession and Paul’s First Letter to Timothy
Apostolic Succession – the Old Testament Model
One of the first items of business we see take place in the New Testament Church is for the apostles to replace Judas among their ranks. In leading the apostles to select the replacement of Judas, St. Peter quotes Psalm 69 – “Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live … Continue reading Apostolic Succession – the Old Testament Model
Between the Farm and the Cross 