Scriptural Reference for Catholic Apologetics 

A collection of some Scripture references that explains and / or supports the fundamental beliefs of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. 

"From a Catholic perspective, having to rely on the Scriptures alone to prove the teachings of the Church is illogical and "unbiblical." This is because we only know of the inspiration of the Scriptures due to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, who determined the canon of Scripture at the end of the fourth century. Nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. To the contrary, while every Scripture passage in the Bible is inspired (see, for example, 2Tim 3:16 in reference to the Old Testament Scriptures), it is the Church, not the Scriptures, that is the pillar and bulwark of the truth. (1Tim 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Mat 18:17)." 

"What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Mat 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Mat 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah 22:20-22), and charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus' flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Mat 16:19, 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20, 6:6, 8:18, 9:17, 13:3; 1Tim 4:14, 5:22; 2Tim 1:6). It is through the teaching authority and apostolic tradition (1Cor 11:2; 2Thess 2:15, 3:6) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26, 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Eph 3:10)." 

Sola Fide? 

Faith without works?

"What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?...So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead....You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone....For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." (Jas 2:14-26)

Even Christians must avoid sin

"For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries." (Heb 10:26-27)

" No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. . . . No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother." (1John 3:6,9-10)

Not enough merely to assent: Must do God's will

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)

"Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mat 7:21)

"And behold, one came up to him, saying, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?' And he said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.'... The young man said to him, 'All these I have observed; what do I still lack?' Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'" (Mat 19:16-21)

"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder." (Jas 2:19)

"And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says 'I know him' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;" (1John 2:3-4)

Need for self-discipline

"Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1Cor 9:25-27)

Works will be judged

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body." (2Cor 5:10)

"For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek....For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." (Rom 2:6-10,13)

"Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." (Rom 3:31)

"Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me'....Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me'....And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Mat 25:32-46)

"Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the men servants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more." (Luke 12:43-48)

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done." (Rev 20:12)

"Work out your salvation"

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Phil 2:12) 
Salvation & Justification 

Must remain in Christ, persevere, or be cut off
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:4-6)

"For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off." (Rom 11:21-22)

"And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard" (Col 1:21-22)

Possibility of falling, disqualification

"But I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1Cor 9:27)

"Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it." (Heb 4:1)

Warned to avoid presumption

"Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." (1Cor 10:12)
Souls of wandering Christians are "dead"

My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." (Jas 5:19-20)

Perils of backsliding

"For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness
of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt. For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned." (Heb 6:4-8)

"For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries." (Heb 10:26-27)

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them."(2Pet 2:20-21)

Purified from sins

"[I]f we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." (1John 1:7)

"For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." (2Pet 1:9)

Sin put/taken away

"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)

"But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Heb 9:26)

Cleanse/remove sin

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Ps51:1-2)

"[A]s far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." (Ps 103:12)

Future justification

"For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." (Rom 2:13)

"For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Rom 3:20)

Justifications of Abraham

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go." (Heb 11:8; referring to Gen 12:1-4)

"For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" (Rom 4:2-3; referring to Gen 15:5-6)

"And he brought [Abraham] outside and said, 'Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness." (Gen 15:5-6)
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works" (Jas 2:21-22; referring to Gen 22:1-18)

Become partakers of the divine nature

"[H]e has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature." (2Pet 1:4)

Sola Scriptura? 

Not everything is in the Bible "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;" (John 20:30)

"But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

Paul speaks of oral tradition

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (2Thess 2:15)

"and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2Tim 2:2)

"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you." (1Cor 11:2)

"And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." (1Thess 2:13)

Scriptures not easy to understand, can be distorted "So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the
other scriptures." (2Pet 3:15-16)

Against personal interpretation of Scripture

"First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2Pet 1:20-21)

Eucharist 

Bethlehem, the city Jesus was born, means House of Bread

Last Supper

"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mat 26:26-28; also Mark 14:22, 24; Luke 22:19-20; 1Cor 10:24-25)

Jesus' Eucharistic Discourse

"'[M]y Father gives you the true bread from heaven...I am the bread of life;..." The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, 'I am the bread which came down from heaven.' ...Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves....I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.' The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.'... Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.' ...After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him." (John 6:32-68)

Symbolic?

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1Cor 11:26-29)

In Scriptures, "eat flesh" and "drink blood" does have symbolic meaning, but it is to kill or do bodily harm.

Pss 27:2 "When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, these my enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall." (NAB) 

Rev 17:6 "And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.  "

Jesus would explain His parables to His disciples...

Mark 4:34 "...to His own disciples He explained everything.”
And yet in the Bread of Life discourse in John 6 when all took Him literally, and many were leaving Him, He does not do that, but rather says to the Apostles...
John 6:67 " ...Will you also go away?"

"Breaking of bread" in apostolic church

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)

Passover lamb foreshadows Christ & Eucharist

Sacrificial lamb must be eaten
"Your lamb shall be without blemish.... the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs.... They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.... its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning, anything that remains until the morning you shall burn." (Exod 12:5-10)

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

"Christ, our Paschal lamb, has been sacrificed." (1Cor 5:7)

Christ still reigns as the Paschal lamb

"And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain" (Rev 5:6)

Melchizedek

Melchizedek King of Salem, the name in itself has meaning. Melchizedek means King of Righteousness and Salem means Peace. Melchizedek points toward the one who truly is the King of Righteousness and Peace.

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!' And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." (Gen 14:18-20)

"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'" (Pss 110:4)

"Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Heb 6:20; see also Heb 7:1-17)

Baptism 

And children

"Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" (Mat 19:14)

"And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.'" (Acts 2:38-39)

Baptism of households implies children

"And when [Lydia] was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us." (Acts 16:15)

"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God." (Acts16:33-34)

"I did baptize also the household of Steph'anas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else." (1Cor 1:16)

Baptism (New Covenant)/Circumcision (Old) parallels

"In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." (Col 2:11-12)

"He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised" (Gen 17:12)

Parallels to those forgiven/healed on the basis of others' faith

"And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.'" (Mk2:3-5, emphasis added; also Mat 9:2-7)

"As he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.' ... When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, 'Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith....Go; be it done for you as you have believed.' And the servant was healed at that very moment." (Mat 8:5-13)

Necessity and efficacy of baptism

"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:5)

"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Rom 6:4)

"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;" (Mat 28:19-20)

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved;" (Mark 16:16)

"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:37-38)

"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16)

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal 3:27)

"Baptism, which corresponds to [the water of the Flood], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1Pet 3:21)




Confirmation 

"Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-17)

Sin and Forgiveness 

Authority delegated to Apostles
"Jesus said to [the disciples] again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:21-23)

"Truly, I say to you [the disciples], whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mat 18:18)

Mortal/venial sin distinction

"If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal." (1John 5:16-17)

"And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required;" (Luke 12:47-48)

Ministry of reconciliation

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2Cor 5:18-20)

"Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices." (Acts 19:13)





Anointing, confession, and forgiveness

"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [Gk. presbuterous] of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." (Jas 5:14-16)

Confession part of repentance in baptism of St. John the Baptist
"John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:4-5)

Purgatory 

Liberation only after expiation

"As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in
prison. I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper." (Luke 12:58-59; see also Mat 5:25-26)

Saved only as through fire

"For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ....If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." (1Cor 3:11-15)

Nothing unclean enters Heaven

But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev 21:27)

Souls in heaven are perfected

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,...and to the spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb 12:22-23)

God's loving discipline
"It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?...For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." (Heb 12:6-11)

Forgiveness in the age to come

"And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (Mat 12:32)

Gospel preached to the dead "spirits in prison"

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey....For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God." (1Pet 3:18-19, 4:6)

Atonement for the dead (in Deuterocanon)

"He also took up a collection...and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." (2Macc 12:43-45)

Paul's prayer for dead Onesiphorus

"May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiph'orus, for he often refreshed me;...may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day" (2Tim 1:15-18)

Intercession for others' non-mortal sins

"If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal." (1John 5:14-17)

Petrine Ministry-Papacy 

Peter usually mentioned as first/foremost Apostle
"The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and John his brother..." (Mat 10:2)

"[A]nd when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James." (Acts 1:13) 
"Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray....Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him." (Luke 9:28-32)

Peter speaks for the Apostles

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus....Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?'" (Mat 18:1, 21)

"And he asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ.'" (Mark 8:29)

"Peter said, 'Lord, are you telling this parable for us [the disciples] or for all?'" (Luke 12:41)

"Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also wish to go away?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.'" (John 6:67-69)

Pentecost: Peter speaks for Apostles

"But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, 'Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words'....Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;'" (Acts 2:14-40)
Peter works first healing

"But Peter said, 'I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong." (Acts 3:6-7)

Baptism of Gentiles revealed to Peter

"Then Peter declared, 'Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?' And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." (Acts 10:46-48)


Simon the rock

"Jesus looked at him, and said, 'So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas' (which means Peter)." (John 1:42)

"And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek: Petros; Aramaic: Kepha; cf. Gk. lithos=small rock], and on this rock [Gk: petra; Aramaic: kepha] I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." (Mat 16:18)

Power of the keys (symbol of authority)

Jesus to Peter: "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 be loosed in heaven." (Mat 16:19)

"And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isa 22:22)

"Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." (Rev 1:17-18)

Simon Peter the shepherd

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' A second time he said to him, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' And he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'" (John 21:15-17)

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." (Luke 22:31-32)

"Brothers" -adelphoi- of Jesus 

"Brothers" of Jesus are children of the Virgin Mary's "sister" Jesus' "brothers" James and Joseph are the children of "Mary the wife of Clopas," who is the Virgin Mary's "sister":
"are not [Jesus'] brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?" (Mat 13:55; see also Mark 6:3)

"[S]tanding by the cross of Jesus were his mother [Mary], and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene" (John 19:25)
"There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome." (Mark 15:40)

"Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee." (Mat 27:56)

Matthew refers to her as "the other Mary." (Mat 27:61, 28:1)

Septuagint and KJV use "brother" to describe kinsmen Lot, Abraham's nephew (Gen 11:26-28), described as Abraham's "brother" (Gen 14:14)

Laban, Jacob's uncle, calls Jacob his "brother" (Gen 19:15)

Jesus commits Mary to care of John, not to a "brother"

"When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." (John 19:26-27)

"not until" = not up to the point that, "did...after"
"but [Joseph] knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus." (Mat 1:25)

"And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to [until] the day of her death." (2Sam 6:23)

"And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four." (Luke 2:36)

"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you." (Gen 28:15)












Mary 

The Annunciation - Hail, Mary

"And [the angel Gabriel] came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" (Luke 1:28)

Blessed among women

"Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my
Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.' And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.'" (Luke 1:41-48)

Jesus gives Mary to the Church as mother

"When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." (John 19:26-27)

Enoch and Elijah assumed into heaven

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God." (Heb 11:5, see Gen 5:24)

"And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli'jah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2Kgs 2:11)

Coronation awaits saints

"Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." (2Tim 4:8)

"Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him." (Jas 1:12)

"And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory." (1Pet 5:4)
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev 2:10)

Mary's intercession

"On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'" (John 2:1-5)

Allusions to Mary at beginning and end of history

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Gen 3:15)

"And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. . . .[S]he brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne" (Rev 12:1-2,5)

Saints 

God of the living: Patriarchs still alive with God

"And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong." (Mark 12:26-27)

Parts of the same vine/body

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:6)

"But God has so composed the body...If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1Cor 12:24-27)

"For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Rom 12:4-5)




Intercessory Prayer

"Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints" (Eph 6:18)

"I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf" (Rom 15:30)

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power" (2Thess 1:11)

Veneration of angels united with God

"And he said, 'No; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and said to him, 'What does my lord bid his servant?'" (Josh 5:14)

"So [Gabriel] came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened and fell upon my face." (Dan 8:17)

Saints' union with/direct vision of God

"[W]hen the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. . . . For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood." (1Cor 13:10,12)

"Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1John 3:2)

Saints like angels, alive to God

"And Jesus said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are
given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage
about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him..'" (Luke 20:34-38)

Deceased Onias and Jeremiah interceded for Jews

"What he saw was this: Onias, who had been high priest, a noble and good man, of modest bearing and gentle manner, one who spoke fittingly and had been trained from childhood in all that belongs to excellence, was praying with outstretched hands for the whole body of the Jews. Then likewise a man appeared, distinguished by his gray hair and dignity, and of marvelous majesty and authority. And Onias spoke, saying, 'This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people and the holy
city, Jeremiah, the prophet of God.'" (2Macc 15:12-14)

Paul's suffering for the church completes Christ's

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church" (Col 1:24)

Intercession of the saints

"And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God." (Rev 8:3-4)

People called holy (cf. "Holy Mary," "Holy Father")

Examples: John the Baptist a "holy man" (Mark 6:20);
God speaks through "holy prophets" (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21);
Letter to the Hebrews directed to the "holy brethren" (Heb 3:1);
Children of a believer "are holy" (1Cor 7:14);
Mystery of Christ "revealed to his holy apostles." (Eph 3:5)
Church
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)

Christ's love for the church.

"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." (Eph 5:25-27)

Church is pillar & foundation of the truth
"I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth." (1 Tm 3:14-15)

Christ protects the church

"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." (Mat 16:18)Church Unity

"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me." (John 17:20-22)

Obey church leaders

"Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Heb 13:17)

Church as final authority

"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." (Mat 18:17)

Excommunication

"For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1Cor 5:3-5)

"By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenae'us and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1Tim 1:19-20)

In personam Christi

Jesus sending out the seventy: "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16)

To the Apostles at the Last Supper:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me." (John 13:20)

"So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2Cor 5:20)

"and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus." (Gal 4:14)

"But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?. . . You have not lied to men but to God.' When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died." (Acts 5:1-5)

Development of doctrine

Jesus to Apostles: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. . . . I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;
for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:7, 12-15)

From mustard seed to great tree

"Another parable he put before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.'" (Mat 13:31-32; see also Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)

Pharisees succeeded Moses (seat of Moses)

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice." (Mat 23:2-3)

Apostolic succession

"'For [Judas] was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.... For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'His office let another take.' So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us... must become with us a witness to his resurrection.' And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as. And they prayed and said, 'Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.' And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:15-26)
"This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you" (Ti 1:5)


Role of presbyters/elders (priests)

"The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter." (Acts 15:6)

"Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsab'bas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, with the following letter: "The brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cili'cia, greeting.'" (Acts 15:22-23)

"Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you." (1 Tm 4:14)

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching;" (1 Tm 5:17)

"Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man's sins; keep yourself pure." (1 Tm 5:22)

"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." (Jas 5:14-15)

Call no one father?

"What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?" (Rom 4:1)

Priesthood and Worship

"For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel." (1Cor 4:15)

"And Stephen said: 'Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopota'mia, before he lived in Haran'" (Acts 7:2)

"[F]or you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God" (1Thess 2:11-12)

"I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father." (1John 2:13)




Paul unmarried

"I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do." (1Cor 7:7-8)

Celibacy (Church practice; not a dogma)

"The disciples said to him, 'If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.' But he said to them, 'Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.'" (Mat 19:10-12)

"I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided." (1Cor 7:32-34)

Members of body have different roles

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;" (1Cor 12:4-5)

"And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?" (1Cor 12:28-29)

Vain repetition?

"And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" (Rev 4:8)

Kneeling

"Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven;" (1Kgs 8:54)

"Then [Solomon] knelt upon his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;" (2Chr 6:13)

"And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, 'Lord, have mercy on my son...'" (Mat 17:14-15)

"But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'" (Luke 5:8)

"[F]or it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.'" (Rom 14:11)

"[A]t the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Phil 2:10)

"And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever;" (Rev 4:9-10)


Incense

"[A]nd going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Mat 2:11)

"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev 5:8)

"And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God." (Rev 8:3-4)

God commands the making of images

God commands the making of golden cherubim (Exod 25:18-22, 26:1,31) and the bronze serpent (Num 21:8-9);

Solomon's temple contained statues of cherubim and images of cherubim, oxen, and lions (1Kgs 6:23-35, 7:29-36).

Elisha's bones

"And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Eli'sha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Eli'sha, he revived, and stood on his feet." (2Kgs 13:21)




Jesus' garment

"And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well." (Mat 14:35-36; see also Mark 6:56)

"She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, 'If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.' And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease." (Mark 5:27-29; see also Mat 9:20-22)

Peter's shadow
"[T]hey even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed." (Acts 5:15-16)
Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons

"God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out." (Acts 19:11-12)


Deterocanon 

The Septuagint (ancient Greek translation of OT which included the Deuterocanonicals) quoted by NT writers is noticeably different from Hebrew version (e.g., compare Isa 7:14 with Isa 40:3; Mat 1:23 with Joel 2:30-31; Mat 3:3 with Acts 2:19-29, and Pss 95:7-9 with Heb 3:7-9).
"Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life." (Heb 11:35, alluding to the martyrdom of the mother and sons described in 2Macc 7)
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the testing of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1Pet 1:6-7, cf. Wis 3:5-6)
Paul's discourse on the natural knowledge of the Creator and the sin of idolatry in Rom 1:18-25 tracks the same discussion in Wis 13:1-10.



God's Nature
Only one God. 	Deut 32:39; Is 43:10; 44:6-8; 45:5; Hos 13:4; Mal 2:10; 1Cor 8:6; Eph 4:6 
God is Spirit. 	Jn 4:24; Cf. also 1Jn 4:8; for God is Love. 
God is Creator	Gen 1:1; Job 26:13; Ps 33:6; 148:5; Prov 8:22-31; Sirach 24:8; 2Mac 7:28; Jn 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 11:3 
Is unbounded 	1 Kings 8:27; Jer 23:24; Acts 7:48-49 
Is omnipresent	Ps 139:7; Wis 1:7; Sirach 16:17-18; Jer 23:24; Amos 9:2-3; Eph 1:23 
Is omnipotent	Gen 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; Ex 6:3; Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:14; 21:22 
God the Mighty	Gen 49:24; Ps 24:8; 50:1; Is 10:21; Jer 32:18; 2 Mac 11:13 
God is Merciful	Ex 34:6; 2Chron 30:9; Ps 25:6; 51:1; Is 63:7; Lk 6:36; Rom 11:32; Eph 2:4; Jas 5:11 
Source of life and holiness	Rom 6:23; Gal 6:8; Eph 1:4-5; 1Thess 4:3; 2Thess 2:13-17 
Is Judge of the world 	1Sam 2:10; 1Chron 16:33; Ezek 18:30; Mt 16:27; Acts 17:31; Rom 2:16; 2Tim 4:1; 1Pet 4:5 
Holy Trinity
"Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal" (Athanasian Creed).
Foreshadowing of plurality of Persons in OT 	Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; 18:1-5; 9-10; 16
Action of Triune Godhead in New Testament 	Mt 3:16-17; Lk 1:35; 3:21-22
Plurality of Persons as mentioned in New Testament 	Jn 14:15; 26; 15:26; Acts 1:6-8; Rom 8:9; 1Cor 6:10-11; Eph 4:4-6; 1Pet 1:2; 1Jn 5:6-7; Jude 20:21 
Baptism given in name of Trinity	Mt 28:19
Blessing given in name of Trinity 	2Cor 13:14


Jesus Christ
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God" 
Son of God 	Mt 16:16; 26:63-64; 1Jn 4:15
Only begotten of Father 	Jn 1:14; 3:16; 18; 1Jn 4:9 
Is Messiah (Greek: Christos) 	Is 7:14; 9:6; Jer 23:5; 30:9; Ezek 34:23; Mic 5:2; Zech 9:9; (Cf) Jn 1:41; 4:25-26 
Christ is true God 	Jn 1:1; 5:18; 8:58; 20:28; Phil 2:6; Col 1:15-19; 2:9; Tit 2:13 
Christ is true Man (proved by his dying) 	Mt 26:38; 27:50; Mk 15:37; Lk 23:46; Jn 1:14; 19:30; Acts 2:22; 3:22; Phil 2:7; 1Tim 2:5; Heb 2:17; 1Jn 1:2 
Called First and Last	Is 41:4; 44:6; (Cf ) Rev 1:17; 2:8 
Called Alpha and Omega 	Rev 1:8; 21:6; (Cf ) Rev 22:13-16 
Is King of Kings 	Rev 1:5; (Cf ) Rev 17:14; 1Tim 1:17; (Cf ) Rev 15:3 
Is Power and Wisdom of God	1Cor 1:24 
Is the Glory of God	1Cor 2:8; Heb 1:3; Jas 2:1; Rev 21:23 
Is Eternal	Mic 5:2; Jn 1:1; Col 1:17; Heb 1:10 
Is Omniscient	Ps 139; (Cf ) Lk 6:8; Jn 6:64; 13:11; 16:13; 21:17 
Is Unchangeable 	Mal 3:6; (Cf ) Heb 1:12; 13:8 
Is Lord of all 	Acts 10:36; Rom 10:12 

Death of Christ 
Foretold in OT	Ps 22:69; Wis 2:10-20; Is 1:5-6; 53; Jer 11:19; Lam 1:12; Zech 1:12-13; (Cf ) Lk 24:46 
For our Salvation	Is 53:4-10; Mt 20:28; Lk 24:46; Jn 12:24; Rom 5; Eph 5:2; 1Pet 1:18; 2:24 1Jn 2:2; 1Thess 5:10 
Resurrection of Christ
Foretold In OT 	Ps 16:10; (Cf ) Acts 13:35
Foretold by Christ	Mt 17:23; 20:19; Mk 9:9; 14:28; Lk 9:22; 18:33; Jn 2:19; 10:18 
Guarantee of our Faith	1Cor 15:17 
Signifies our new birth	Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; 1Pet 1:3 
Proven by manifestations to disciples 	Mt 28:9; Mk 16:9; Lk 24:13-35; Jn 20:26; 21:1; Acts 1:3; 1Cor 15:6 
Assurance of our own resurrection	Rom 6:5; 1Cor 15:49; 2Cor 4:14; Phil 3:21
________________________________________
Jesus Ascended into heaven
Mk 16:19; Lk 24:50; Jn 20:17; Acts 1:3-9; Eph 4:10; 1Tim 3:16; 1Pet 3:22 
Exalted in glory 
Jn 12:16; Acts 2:32-33; 4:10-11; 7:55; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Phil 2:9; Col 3:1 
Second Coming
Will return in glory
Dan 7:13; Mt 24:30; 25:31; 26:64; 1Thess 4:16; Rev 1:7 
At a time unknown 
Mt 24:44; 25:13 Mk 13:35 Lk 12:40-46;1Thess 5:2 2; Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15 
Will come as Judge
Jn 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2Tim 4:1; 1Pet 4:5; Rev 20:12-13 

Judge of the living and dead
Acts 10:42; Rom 2:16;2Tim 4:1; 1Pet 4:5 
For completion of salvation of just 
Rom 2:7; 1Cor 1:8; Phil3:21; Heb 9:28; 1Pet 1:5 
We should look for his coming
Rom 8:23; 1Cor 1:7;Phil 3:20; Col 3:1-4; 1Tim 1:1; Heb 10:37; 2 Pet 3:12




The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit called Counselor 	Jn 14:16; 26; 15:26; 16:7
Called the Spirit of Truth 	Jn 15:26. 1Jn 5:7 
From Father	Lk 11:13. Jn 3:34; 15:26. 1Thess 4:8. 1Jn 3:24 
Proceeds from Father and the Son	Jn 15:26; 16:7; 16:13
Is given at baptism 	Mt 3:11-16. Lk 3:16. Jn 1:33. Acts 1:5; 2:38; 11:16 
Is given at confirmation(separate from baptism) 	Acts 1:8; 8:15; 10:44; 19:6
Through the imposition of hands 	Acts 8:17; 9:17; 13:2-4;19:6
Holy Spirit dwells in us	Jn 14:17. Acts 2:33. Rom 5:5. 1Cor 3:16; 6:19 Gal 3:14. Eph 1:13. 2Tim 1:14 
Gifts of Holy Spirit	Is 11:1-3; 61:1-2; Lk 4:18-19 
Teacher and revealer of Truth	Jn 14:26; 16:13; Acts 5:32; 9:31; 1Cor 2:10; Eph 3:5 
Inspires men	Acts 4:8; 6:10; 7:55 
Inspired writing of Scriptures	Acts 3:21; 2Tim 3:16; Pet 1:21 
	
 
GOD'S CREATURES AND OUTCOMES
Mary
Foretold in OT	Is 7:14; Mic 5:2-3
Conceived without sin 	Gen 3:15; Lk 1:28 
A Virgin 	Is 7:14; Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:27; 34 
Maintained her virginity	Typified in Ezek 44:2; Lk 1:34 
Mother of God	Is 9:6; Mt 1:23; Lk 1:32; 35; 43; 2:11; Gal 4:4 
Highly blessed 	Lk 1:28; 48 
Was to suffer many sorrow	Lam 1:12; Lk 2:34-35; 48; Jn 19:25 
Meditated on Jesus' words 	Lk 2:51 
Pondered events in Jesus' life 	Lk 2:19
Requested Jesus' first miracle	Jn 2:1-12 
Given to us as our mother 	Jn 19:25-27 
Devoted herself to prayer 	Acts 1:14 
Enoch and Elijah taken (assumed) to heaven. 	Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5; 2 Kings 2:1-13
Annunciation. 	Lk 1:28 
Blessed are you among women. 	Lk 1:42-48 

Man
Created by God 	Gen 1:26-27; 2:7; Job 33:4; Ps 8:5; Eccles 12:7; Wis 2:23; 10:1; Sirach 17:1; 2Mac 7:28; Mt 19:4 Mk 10:6 
Created man and woman 	Gen 1:27; Mt 19:4; Mk 10:6; 1Cor 11:8 
In exalted state 	Gen 1:26; 2:8 
Forfeited by sin 	Gen 3; Wis 2:24; Sirach 25:24; Ezek 28:12-17; Rom 5:12; 1Cor 15:21; 1Tim 2:14 
Prone to temptation 	Rom 7:15-23; 1Cor 7:5; Eph 6:11; 1Thess 3:5; 2Tim 3:12; Jas 4:2; 1Pet 2:11; 5:8 
Offends God by sin 	2Sam 12:13; Ps 32:5; Is 1:2; Jer 2:29; Hos 7:13; Rom 1:18-32; 6:1; Gal 5:17; Eph 4:30; 5:3; Col 3:5 
Subject to death 	2Sam 14:14; Job 14:5; Wis 2:24; Sirach 25:24; Rom 5:12-14; 6:23; 1Cor 15:21-22; Heb 9:27 
Raised to new dignity by Christ	Rom 5:8; 8:9-11; Eph 2:6; Col 2:12; 3:1
Will be judged on merits 	Acts 17:31; Rom 2:6; 11; 14:10; 2Cor 5:10; 11:15 Col 3:25; Heb 11:6; 1Pet 1:17; Rev 20:13 
Promised future resurrection 	2Cor 4:13 -14; Phil 3:11; 1Thess 4:14; 2Tim 2:1; Jn 6:54 
Heaven as reward for good 	Mt 5:12; Col 1:5; Heb 10:34 
________________________________________
Soul & Immortality
Soul created by God 	Gen 2:7; Eccles 12:7; Is 57:16; Zech 12:1
Made in God's image 	Gen 1:26-27; 1Cor 11:7; Col 3:10 
Distinct from body 	Mt 10:28; Acts 2:27; 1Thess 5:23; Heb 4:12 
Soul departs body at death 	Gen 35:18; Eccles 12:7; Lk 12:20 
Soul survives death of body 	Gen 35:18; 1Sam 28:19; 1 Kings 17:22; Mt 10:28; Lk 8:55 
Committed to God's care at death 	Ps 31:5; Acts 7:59; 1Pet 4:19
Souls of just in heaven 	Wis 3:1; Rev 6:9; 8:3; 20:4 
Soul subject to temptation 	1Pet 2:11; 2 Pet 2:14 
Nothing compensates for loss of soul 	Mt 16:26; Mk 8:36
Saving our souls 	Jas 1:21; 5:20; 1Pet 1:9 
Children
Children are a blessing from God 	Ps 115:14; 127:3-5; 128:3-6; 144:17; Prov 17:6 
Childlessness considered a reproach 	Gen 16:4; 30:1; 1 Sam 1:6; 11; Is 4:1; Lk 1:25 
Children obliged to honor their parents 	Ex 20:12; Lev 19:3; Deut 5:16; Sirach 3:1-16; Mt 15:4; Mk 7:10; 10:19; Lk 18:20; Eph 6:2-3 
Jesus obeyed his parents 	Lk 2:51 
Children blessed by Jesus 	Mt 19:13; Mk 10:13; 16; Lk 18:15 
To welcome a child is to welcome Jesus 	Mt 18:5; 10:40; 25-40; Mk 9:37; Lk 9:48
Discipline good for children 	Deut 8:5; Prov 3:12; 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15; 17; Wis 11:9-10; Sirach 30:1-3; Eph 6:4 
Scandal must not be given to children 	Mt 18:6; Mk 9:42; Lk 17:2
Christians must be guiltless as children 	Ps 131:1-2; Mt 18:3; Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17; 1Jn 2:1; 12; 4:4; 5-21 
- but adult in thinking	1Cor 3:1-3; 13:11; Heb 5:11-14, 1Pet 2:2 

Angels 
Angels created by God 	Nehemiah 9:6; Jn 1:3; Rom 11:36; Col 1:16; 1Cor 8:6 
Angels are servants of God 	Job 4:18; Ps 103:20 
Angels are messengers sent by God 	Gen 24:7; Num 20:16; 1Chron 21:15; 2Chron 32:21; Dan 3:28; 6:22; Lk 1:19; 26; Acts 12:11 
Called sons of God 	Deut 32:8; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Ps 29:1; 82:1; 89:6 
Called holy ones of God, 	Job 5:1; 15:15; Ps 89:7; Dan 4:13; 8:13 
God manifests himself as Angel of the Lord 	Gen 16:7; 13; 18:1-33; 21:17-18; 22:11; 31:11-13, Ex 3:2,Judg 2:1; 6:11-24; 13:21-22 
Names of three angels 	Raphael: Tobit 3:16-17; 5:4; 12:11-15; Gabriel: Dan 8:16; 9:21; Lk 1:19; 26; Michael: Dan 10:13; 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev 12:7 
Angels are ministering spirits 	Ps 91:11; Dan 7:10; Mt 4:11; Mk 1:13; Lk 22:43; Heb 1:14 
Guardian angels 	Tobit 12:12; Mt 18:10; Acts 12:11; 15 
Angels gather elect at Christ's return 	Mt 24:31; Mk 13:27; 1Cor 15:52
Angels will accompany Christ at his Parousia 	Mt 16:27; 25:31; Mk 8:38; 1Thess 4:16
Man made a little lower than angels 	Gen 1:26; 28; 3:5; Ps 8:5-6; Wis 2:23; Sirach 17:1-14 

Satan & Devils
Devils are fallen angels 	Is 14:12; Lk 10:18; Jude 6; Rev 12:7-9 
Caused man to fall 	Gen 3; 1Kings 22:19-23; Job 1:6 ff; Wis 2:24; Zech 3:1-2 
Permitted to tempt man 	1Kings 22:22; Job 1:12; Mt 4:1; Mk 1:13; Lk 4:2; Jn 13:2; Acts 5:3; 1Cor 7:5; 2Cor 2:11 
Can appear as angel of light 	2Cor 11:14; Rev 2:2; 16:14 
Can take possession of our bodies 	Mt 8:28; 9:32; 12:43-45; 15:22; Mk 5:1-13; 9:14; Lk 4:33; 8:2; 11:24-26; Acts 8:7 
Can be exorcised by God's power	Mt 8:29; 9:33; 10:1; Mk 1:25-26; 6:7; 13; Lk 8:2; 9:1; Acts 5:16; Mk 9:38; 16:17; Lk 9:49; Acts 10:38; Jas 2:19 
Some exorcised only by prayer and fasting 	Mt 17:21; Mk 9:29
Can tempt us away from God 	Eph 4:27-6:11; 1Tim 5:15; Jas 4:7 
Called the god of this world 	Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 6:12; 1Jn 5:19 
Goes around like a roaring lion 	Ps 22:13; 1Pet 5:8
Power broken by Christ's sacrifice 	Mt 12:28; Lk 8:31; 10:17; Jn 3:35; 12:31; Eph 6:11; Col 1:13; 1Jn 3:8; Rev 12:11 
Devils afraid of Gospel 	Mt 8:29; Jas 2:19 
Is loosed during millennium 	Rev 20:7 
Will suffer eternal torment 	Mt 25:41; Rev 14:10-11; 19:20; 20:10 

Sin
"Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved. Some… in their almost to fastidious spirituality, admit divine sinlessness, which they cannot see even in their dreams. But they essentially deny human sin, which they can see in the street." G. K. Chesterton 
Sin is rebellion against God 	Num 15:30; Deut 32:5; 2Sam 12:9; Job 35:6; Is 1:2; 48:8; Bar 4:8 
Sin is failure to attain God's glory 	Rom 3:23; (Cf ) Rom 5:2
Sin alienates us from God 	Rom 1:18-32; Eph 4:18; Col 1:21; 1Pet 1:18 
Sin makes us slave of sin 	Jn 8:34; Rom 6:16-19; 2Pet 2:19 
Sin is cause of death 	Gen 3:17-19; Wis 1:12; 2:24; Sirach 25:24; Rom 5:12; 6:11; 1Cor 15:21 
Sin is from devil 	Jn 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1Jn 3:8-10 
Degrees of sin Mortal sin vs. Venial Sin) 	1Jn 5:16-17
The unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the spirit. (Attributing God's work to Satan.) 	Mt 12:31-32; Lk 12:10
Sins that exclude us from God's kingdom 	1Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:3-5; Col 3:5-10; Heb 13:4-5; Rev 21:8-9; 27 
God desires sinner's return 	Is 49:14-16; Jer 3:12; 31:20; Ezek 18:23; 33:11; Lk 15:20-24; 32; 18:13; 19:10; Jn 8:11; Rom 11:32; 2Pet 3:9 
Only God can forgive sin 	Mk 2:7; Lk 5:21 
Christ forgives sins 	Mt 9:2-6; Mk 2:10; Lk 5:24; 7:48; Jn 5:14 
Delegated power to forgive to apostles 	Jn 20:23; 2Cor 5:18
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Thomas Aquinas on Mary's state of grace 
"I answer that, God so prepares and endows those, whom He chooses for some particular office, that they are rendered capable of fulfilling it, according to 2 Cor. 3:6: '(Who) has made us fit ministers of the New Testament.' Now the Blessed Virgin was chosen by God to be His Mother. Therefore there can be no doubt that God, by His grace, made her worthy of that office, according to the words spoken to her by the angel (Lk. 1:30,31): 'Thou has found grace with God: behold thou shall conceive,' etc. But she would not have been worthy to be the Mother of God, if she had ever sinned. First, because the honor of the parents reflects on the child, according to Prov. 17:6: 'The glory of children are their fathers': and consequently, on the other hand, the Mother's shame would have reflected on her Son. Secondly, because of the singular affinity between her and Christ, who took flesh from her: and it is written (2 Cor. 6:15): 'What concord has Christ with Belial?' Thirdly, because of the singular manner in which the Son of God, who is the 'Divine Wisdom' (1 Cor. 1:24) dwelt in her, not only in her soul but in her womb. And it is written (Wis. 1:4): 'Wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins.' 
"We must therefore confess simply that the Blessed Virgin committed no actual sin, neither mortal nor venial; so that what is written (Cant 4:7) is fulfilled: 'Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee,' etc. " (Summa Theologiae III:27:4) 





"The effect of grace is to make us freely do [God's] will." Thomas Merton 
GOD'S REMEDIES
Grace
Grace is a free gift of God 	Ps 84:11; Zech 12:10; Jn 1:16; 3:27; Rom 3:24; 4:2-5; 16; 5:15-17; 9:14-18; 11:6; 1Cor 4:7; 1Pet 5:10 
Grace is given through Jesus 	Jn 1:17; Rom 1:5; Gal 1:6; Eph 2:7; 1Tim 1:14; 2Tim 1:9 
Jesus is grace of God 	Mt 21:37; Jn 3:16-17; Rom 3:24; 2Cor 8:9; Gal 4:4; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:11 
God's grace is inexhaustible 	Rom 5:17; 2Cor 4:15; 9:8; Eph 1:7; 2:7; 1Tim 1:14 
Riches come from throne of grace 	Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16
Grace makes us strong in faith 	Acts 4:33; 6:8; 14:3; 20:32; Rom 1:11; 16:25; 1Cor 1:7-8; 2Thess 2:16-17; 3:3 
Grace needed to spread the faith 	Acts 18:27; Rom 1:5
Grace prepares us for eternal life 	Rom 5:2; 6:23; Tit 1:2; 1Pet 1:13
God gives grace to the humble 	Prov 3:34; Jas 4:6; 1Pet 5:5 
Grace demands a response 	1Cor 15:10; 2Cor 11:23; Eph 2:10; Phil 2:12-13 
By grace we grow in knowledge of Christ 	2Pet 3:18
Mary is full of grace 	Lk 1:28; 42 
Grace more plentiful than sin 	Rom 5:15; 20; 6:1; 2Cor 12:9 
Grace can be lost 	Heb 12:15; Jude 4 
Grace and peace wished in greetings 	Rom 1:7; 1Cor 1:3; 2Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1Thess 1:1; 2Thess 1:2; Philemon 3; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2; Tit 1:4; Heb 13:25 





The Church
"How can we say that the Church wishes to bring us back into the dark ages? The church was the only thing that ever brought us out of them." G. K. Chesterton 
Foretold in OT 	Tobit 13:11-18; Is 2:2-3; Bar 5:3; Hos 2:14-24; Mic 4:1-3 
Called Church of God 	1Tim 3:15 
Founded by Christ 	Mt 16:18; 28:19; Mk 16:15; 1Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pet 2:4-6 
Is Body of Christ 	Rom 12:4; 1Cor 12:12; Eph 1:22-23; 5:22; Col 1:18 
Christ is head of Church 	Eph 1:22; 5:23; Col 1:18 
Purchased by Christ's blood 	Acts 20:28; Eph 5:25; Heb 9:12 
Is everlasting 	Mt 16:18; 28:20 
Is visible 	Mt 5:14; Mk 4:30-32; Eph 2:19-22 
Is infallible 	Mt 16:18; 28:20; Mk 16:16; Lk 10:16; 1Tim 3:15 
Authority of Church 	Mt 16:18-19; 18:18; Jn 20:23 
Members to be holy 	1Cor 1:2; Col 3:12 
Growth of Church 	Acts 2:41; 2:47; 5:14; 6:7; 11:24 
Christ is cornerstone 	Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pet 2:4; 7 
Built on apostles 	1Cor 3:10; Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14 
Good and bad members 	Mt 13:41-48; 22:10 
Doctrine, community, sacred rite (bread) 	Acts 2:42
Christ loved the Church	Eph 5:25-26 
Church is pillar/foundation of truth 	1 Tim 3:15
Unbroken succession	Acts 1:15-26; 2 Tim 2:2; Tit 1:5 
Christ protects Church	Mt 16:18; 20:20 
Presbyters/elders (priests) were ordained, preached and taught the flock, administered sacraments 	Acts 15:6;23; 1 Tim 4:14; 5:22; 1 Tim 5:17; Jas 5:13-15; Rom 15:16 


Communion of Saints
Unity of all Christians 	Jn 15:5; Rom 12:4; 1Cor 6:12-20; 10:17; 12:4-27; Eph 2:19; 5:30; Col 1:18; 24; 2:19; 3:15 
Praying for each other	Jer 15:1; Acts 12:5; Rom 15:30; 2Cor 13:7; Eph 6:18; Col 4:3 1Thess 5:25; 2Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18; Jas 5:16 
Intercession of saints	Tobit 12:12; 2Mac 15:14; Rev 5:8; 8:4 
We are surrounded by saints 	Heb 12:1 
Saints now in heaven	1Thess 3:13; Heb 11:40; 12:23; 1Pet 3:19; Rev 6:9 
Miracles through relics 	Acts 5:15; 19:11-12 
All called to be saints	Eph 1:4-6; 12; 14 
Baptism
"Then the catechumens are brought by us to where there is water, and they are reborn into the same manner in which we ourselves were reborn." -- Justin Martyr (before 165 AD)
Foreshadowed in OT 	Ezek 36:25; 1Pet 3:20-21
John's baptism preparatory 	Mk 1:4; 8; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:4 
Administered by disciples	Jn 4:2 
In Christ's name	Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; Rev 14:1; 22:4 
In name of Trinity	Mt 28:19 
For all mankind	Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15-16; Lk 24:47; Acts 2:38 
Baptized into Christ	1Cor 12:13; Gal 3:27 
Baptized into Christ's death	Rom 6:3 
Baptized to new life	Rom 6:4; Tit 3:5 
With water and Holy Spirit	Jn 3:5; Eph 5:26; Tit 3:5 
Only one baptism	Eph 4:5 
Necessity of baptism	Mk 16:16; Jn 3:5 
For our redemption	1Jn 5:6 
For sanctified	1Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26 
For justification	1Cor 6:11 
Our assurance of resurrection	Rom 6:3-5; 1Cor 15:29 
A free gift of God	Tit 3:5 
Forgives sin	1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38; 22:16 
Confirmation
Anointing. The symbolism of anointing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit, to the point of becoming a synonym for the Holy Spirit. In Christian initiation, anointing is the sacramental sign of Confirmation, called "chrismation" in the Churches of the East. Its full force can be grasped only in relation to the primary anointing accomplished by the Holy Spirit, that of Jesus. Christ (in Hebrew "messiah") means the one "anointed" by God's Spirit. -- The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Is indwelling of Holy Spirit 	Jn 14:17; Acts 2:4; 10:44
Promised by Christ	Jn 14:16; 26; 15:26 
Conferred by imposition of hands	Acts 8:17; 19:6
Distinct from baptism	Acts 8:15 
Received before baptism	Acts 10:44 
Received after baptism	Acts 2:38; 8:14-17; 19:5-6 
Reconciliation (Confession & Penance) 
God forgives sin 	Mk 2:7; Lk 5:21
Christ has power to forgive sin	Mt 9:6; Mk 2:10; Lk 5:24; Col 3:13
Confession instituted by Christ 	Jn 20:22-23
Forgiveness is through Christ 	2Cor 2:10 
Is for reconciliation with Christ 	2Cor 5:18
Reconciliation is from Christ	Rom 5:11; Col 1:20; Heb 1:3 
Power is delegated by Christ 	Jn 20:23; 2Cor 5:18 
Degrees of sin (mortal or venial?)	1Jn 5:16
Penance reconciles the sinner to the community of believers 	2 Cor 2:5-8 
"If you forgive sins ... they are forgiven." 	Jn 20:22-23
Binding on earth and heaven. 	Mt 18:18 
Ministry of reconciliation. 	2 Cor 5:18 
Forgiveness of sins, anointing of the sick, confession. 	Jas 5:14-16




The Blessed Eucharist
"The most ferocious opponent of the Christian ceremonials must admit that if Catholicism had not instituted the bread and wine, somebody else would most probably have done so." G. K. Chesterton
Called the Lord's Supper 	1Cor 11:20
Called the Agape (Love-Feast)	Jude 12 
Called the Breaking of Bread	Acts 2:42 
Promised by Christ	Jn 6:27-59 
Instituted by Christ	Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:15-20; 1Cor 11:23-25 
Christ actually present in	Mt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19; Jn 6:35; 41; 51-58; 1Cor 11:27-29 
Commemoration of Calvary	Mt 26:28; Lk 22:19-20; 1Cor 10:16; 11:25-26 
Uniting us to Christ	Acts 2:42; Rom 12:5; 1Cor 10:17 
May receive the consecrated species of bread or wine only 	Lk 24:30; Jn 6:51; 57-58; Acts 20:7; 1Cor 10:17; 11:27 
Source of divine life	Jn 6:27; 33; 50; 51; 58; 1Cor 11:30 
Jesus is Bread of Life	Jn 6:35; 41; 48; 51 
This is my body this is my blood 	Mt 26:26-27; Mk 14:22;24; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 10:24-25 
Serious consequences of sinning against the body and blood 	1 Cor 11:26-30
Long discourse on Eucharist	Jn 6:32-58 
Sacrament of the Sick
Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. - James 5:14 
Oil used in anointing of sick 	Mk 6:13; Jas 5:14
Received with prayer of faith	Jas 5:15 
In the name of the Lord	Jas 5:14 
Also forgives sins	Jas 5:15 
Restores person to health	Mk 6:13; Jas 5:15 


Holy Orders
Duties and functions of OT priests 	Deut 33:7-11
Melchizedek priesthood superior to Aaronic priesthood 	Heb 7:1-17; 8:1-13
Melchizedek a type of Christ	Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; 10; 6:20 
Perfect priesthood of Christ	Heb 3:1-4; 7:27; 8:4-6; 9:12-14; 25; 10:5 
Calling of apostles	Mt 10:1; 16:16-19; Lk 6:13; 22:32; Jn 21:15-17 
Consecration of apostles	Jn 20:22 
Sending of apostles	Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15; Lk 24:47; Jn 20:21 
Transmission of priesthood	1Tim 4:14; 5:22; 2Tim 1:6; Tit 1:5 
Functions of priests	Mal 1:11; Mt 28:19; Jn 20:23; 1Cor 11:24; Jas 5:14 
Degrees of authority	1Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11; 1Thess 5:12; Jas 3:1 
Priesthood of believers	Eph 2:19-20; 1Pet 2:5; 9 
Pray for priestly vocations	Mt 9:37-38; Lk 10:2 
Priesthood in New Testament times	Rom 15:16
Marriage
Ordained by God	Gen 1:28; 2:18; Tobit 8:5-7; Mt 19:6
Marriage likened to Christ and his Church 	Eph 5:21-23
Two in one flesh	Gen 2:23-24; Mt 19:3-6; Eph 5:31 
Couples to respect each other	1Cor 7:4; Eph 5:21-25; 33; Col 3:18-19 
Union is holy	1Cor 7:13-14; Eph 5:25-26 
For procreation of children	Gen 1:28 
Continence good for short periods	1Cor 7:1-5
Children a blessing from God	Gen 24:60; 30:1-3; Ps 127:3; 1Sam 1:6; Lk 1:25 
Divorce not permitted	Mt 5:32; 19:9; Mk 10:2-12; Lk 16:18; 1Cor 7:10 
Death dissolves marriage	Rom 7:2; 1Cor 7:39 
Celibacy a higher calling	Mt 19:12; 1Cor 7:8, 25, 38 


Annulment or Divorce? 
One of the most common misunderstandings about Catholic teaching is the difference between an annulment and a divorce. Often people say an annulment is just a Catholic divorce -- nothing could be further from the truth. To Catholics there is no divorce (ref Mt 5:32; 19:9, Mk 10:2-12, Lk 16:18, 1Cor 7:10). An annulment is a statement by the Church that a sacramental marriage has never taken place. 
Take for example someone who is forced into a marriage. The Church would say that is not a Christian marriage. Civil law is exactly the same. A shotgun wedding is not a Christian marriage. 
For Christians there are other reasons for granting an annulment. The Church has always taught that a marriage should be open to children. If a couple gets married but has no plans for children, then the Church might rule that marriage is not sacramental and is in fact null. (Be careful not to read this to mean you must have children to have a valid marriage -- you must only be open to children.) 
An annulment is a statement by the Church that a sacramental marriage did not occur. A divorce is a statement by a civil authority that a marriage is dissolved. 
________________________________________
Holy Scriptures
Scriptures inspired by God 	Acts 1:16; Rom 1:2; 2Tim 3:16; 1Pet 1:10; 2 Pet 1:21 
Called the Word of God	1Thess 2:13; Heb 4 12 
Called a two-edged sword	Ps 149:6; Heb 4:12; Rev 1:16 
Some things hard to understand	2Pet 3:16 
Have need of an interpreter	Acts 8:30-31; 2Pet 3:16 
Purpose and uses of Holy Scriptures	Rom 15-4; 16:26; 1Cor 10:11; 2Tim 3:15-17
No Scripture subject to private interpretation 	2 Pet 1:20-21
Learned from childhood	Deut 6:7; 11:19; 31:12-13; 2Tim 3:15 
Blessed for believing the Word of God 	Lk 11:28; Rev 22:7





Apostles
Apostles are those who are sent 	Mt 28:19; Mk 6:7; 16:15; Lk 24:47; Jn 4:38; 17:18; 20:21 
Called by Christ	Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:13-19; Lk 6:12-16; Acts 1:13 
Holy Spirit poured out on apostles	Acts 1:8; 2:3-4
Apostles are witnesses to Christ	Lk 24:48; Jn 15:27; Acts 1:8; 21-22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:32; 10:39; 13:31; 22:15 
Apostles shall judge the world	Mt 19:28; Lk 22:30; 1Cor 6:2; Rev 20:4 
Church built on apostles	Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14 
Primacy given to Peter	Mt 16:18; Lk 22:31-32; Jn 1:42; 21:15-17 
Paul called to be an apostle	Acts 9:15; Rom 1:1; 1Cor 9:1; 15:8-10; 2Cor 5:20; Gal 1:15; 17 
Paul apostle of Gentiles	Acts 9:15; 22:15; Rom 11:13; Gal 2:8; 1Tim 2:7 
Functions of apostles	Acts 2:42; 4:35; 6:2; 15:6; 1Cor 3:9; 4:1; 11:23; 15:1; 
2Cor 5:20; 6:1 

THE LAST THINGS 
Death 
Physical death a consequence of sin 	Gen 3; Wis 1:13; 2:24; Sirach 25-24; Rom 5:12; 1Cor 15:22 
Death ends our mortal existence	Job 7:8-9; 21; 14:10; Ps 39:13; 88:5; 102:23-24; Eccles 3:19-22; 6:1-12; Lk 12:20 
Death is man's common destiny	2Sam 12:23; 14:14; 1 Kings 2:2; Ps 49:8-9; Eccles 3 
Death brings sorrow	Gen 23:2; 50:1; 2Sam 19:1; 2Kings 13:14; Lk 7:12-13; Jn 11:19; 35 
Death is to be feared	2Kings 20:2; Is 38:2; Mk 14:33; Lk 22:44; Jn 11:33; 38; 12:27; 13:21; Heb 5:7 
Christ has conquered death	Acts 13:34; Rom 6:9; 1Cor 15:25-27; 2Tim 1:10; Heb 2:14; Rev 1:18 
All who die in Christ shall live with him 	Rom 6:5; 8; 8:17; 2Tim 2:11
Purgatory 
Purification necessary for heaven 	Heb 12:14; Rev 21:27
An intermediate state of purification 	Mt 5:26; Lk 12:58-59
Degrees of expiation of sins	Lk 12:47-48 
Can be aided by prayer	2Mac 12:45 
Salvation; but only as through fire 	1Cor 3:15
Temporary agony 	1 Cor 3:15; Mt 5:25-26 
Christ preached to spiritual beings	1 Pet 3:19
Nothing unclean shall enter heaven	Rev 21:27
Sacrifice for the dead	2 Mac 12:43-46 
A reality beyond the two realms of Heaven and Earth a place between or near 	2 Cor 5:10; Rev; 5: 2;3 Rev; 5:23; Phil 2:10; Matt 18: 23-25 Luke 23:42 
No forgiveness in this age nor in the age to come. 	Mt 12:32
"Extra" suffering. 	Col 1:24; 2 Sam 12:14 
Hell - (Gehenna) 
Prepared for devil and his angels 	Mt 25:41; Rev 14:9-11
Place of darkness and silence	Ps 88:6; 115:17; Mt 8:12; 22-13; 25:30; 2Pet 2:17; Jude 13 
Called a pit	Job 26:5-6; Ps 88:6; 2 Pet 2:4 
Called a prison	Job 38:17; Is 24:22 
Place of misery and torment	Dan 12:2; Mt 8:11-12; 13:42; 22:13; Lk 13:24-118; Rom 2:8; Rev 14:9-11; 19:20 
Exclusion from God's presence	Mt 5 20; 7:21-23; Lk 13:24-23; 1Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:21; 2Thess 1:9 
Fires of hell	Mt 5:22; 18:9; 25:41; Mk 9:43; Lk 3:17; Jas 3:6; Jude 7; Rev 19:20; 20:10; 21:8 
Hell is wages of sin	Is 3:11; Rom 2:6; 6:21-23; 1Cor 6:9-10; Gal 6:7; Jas 1:15; Rev 21:8; 
Punishment for willful rejection of God's grace 	Jn 12:48; Rom 2:5; 2Thess 1:8; Heb 2:2-3; 6:4-6; 10:26-29 
No further chance of repentance	Heb 12:17

Heaven 
Heaven is dwelling place of God 	Gen 19:24; Deut 10:14; 1Kings 22:19; Ps 11:4; Mt 5:16; 45; 6:1 
Jesus came down from heaven	Jn 3:13; 31; 6:38; 1Cor 15:47 
Jesus ascended into heaven	Mk 16:19; Lk 24:50; Jn 20:17; Acts 1:3-9; Eph 4:10; 1Pet 3:22 
Will return from heaven	Mt 10:23; 16:27; 19:28; 25:31; Acts 1:11; 1Thess 4:13-18; 2Thess 1:7; 2 Pet 1:16; Rev 1:7; 20:11; 22:20 
Heaven our home	Mt 5:12; 2Cor 5:1-5; Phil 3:20; Col 1:5; 1Pet 1:4 
Christ will take us to heaven	Mt 24:31; Jn 14:2-3; 1Thess 4:16-17; 2Thess 2:1 
Heaven intended for all mankind	1Tim 2:4
Not easy to attain	Prov 11:28; Mk 10:23-25; 1Cor 6:9; 1Pet 4:18 
We should strive to attain heaven	Col 3:1; Heb 13:14
Our bodies must first be changed	1Cor 15:50-51; 1Thess 4:13-17
Degrees of happiness in heaven	Mt 20:21; Jn 14:1-3 
St. Paul taken to third heaven	2Cor 12:2 

Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
Not everything is in the Bible 	Jn 21:25
Paul speaks of oral tradition as authoritative 	2 Thess 2:15; 2 Tim 2:2; 1 Cor 11:2; 1 Thess 2:13 
Early Christians followed apostolic tradition 	Acts 2:42
Specific references where Jesus speaks or is quoted as revealing truth which is not in Scripture 	Matt 2:23; Acts 20:35; James 4:5
The great commission by Christ was to preach not to write 	Matt 28:19; 20

Sola Fide (Faith Alone) 
Martin Luther, wanting to avoid the responsibility of doing good works, promoted the idea of faith alone as a means of salvation. The Church has always taught that faith, hope, and love (charity) are required for salvation. The only time the expression "faith alone" is mentioned in the bible is in James 2:24, where the author says Abraham was NOT saved by faith alone. 
What good is faith without works? 	Jas 2:14-26
Must avoid sin	Heb 10:26 
"Earning" forgiveness	Jas 5:20
Must do will of God	Lk 6:46; Mt 7:21; Mt 19:16-21; 1Tim 5:8 
Paul disciplines himself to avoid losing salvation 	1Cor 9:27
Works have merit	Phil 2:12; 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 2:6; Mt 25:32-46; Gal 6:6-10 
Keep commandments	1Jn 2:3-4; 1Jn 3:24; 1Jn 5:3 
Deuterocanonicals (The Protestant "Apocrypha") 
Deuterocanonicals were used in New Testament: 
2 Mac 6:18-7:42	Heb 11:35 
Wisdom 3:5-6	1 Pet 1:6-7
Wisdom 13:1-9	Rom 1:18-32 
Septuagint (Greek, w/ Deuterocanonicals) version of Old Testament quoted in New Testament, noticeably different from Hebrew version: 
Is 7:14	Mt 1:23
Is 40:3	Mt 3:3
Joel 2:30-31	Acts 2:19-29 
Ps 95:7-9	Heb 3:7-9

Baptism of Infants 
Suggests baptism of all, entire household including children 	Acts 2:38-39; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Cor 1:16 
Necessity of baptism	Jn 3:5 
Infant circumcision replaced by baptism  	Col 2:11-12
Papacy/Infallibility
"It is easier to believe that God made one person infallible than to believe that he made fifty-one out of every one hundred infallible." -- G. K. Chesterton
Peter always mentioned first, as foremost apostle 	Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13; Lk 9:32 
Peter speaks for the apostles	Mt 18:21; Mk 8:29; Lk 12:41; Jn 6:69 
Pentecost: Peter who first preached	Acts 2:14-40
Peter worked first healing	Acts 3:6-7 
Gentiles to be baptized revealed to Peter 	Acts 10:46-48
Simon is Cephas (Aramaic: Kepha for rock) 	Jn 1:42
"on this Rock I will build my Church; Peter given keys to Kingdom; Given power to bind and loose" 	Mt 16:18-19
Keys as symbol of authority	Is 22:22; Rev 1:18 
"feed my sheep" 	Jn 21:17 
"Simon strengthen your brethren" 	Lk 22:31-32
"Vicars" of Christ 	Lk 10:1-2; 16; Jn 13:20; 2 Cor 5:20; Gal 4:14; Acts 5:1-5 
The Seat of Moses as teaching authority 	Matt 23-2
Built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets 	Eph. 2:20



Brothers of Jesus? 
Traditional Christianity held that Jesus is Mary's only son. The references to Jesus' brothers refers to other family members, and in some cases to his disciples.
•	Mary wife of Cleophas and sister of the Virgin Mary (Jn 19:25) is the mother of James and Joseph (Mk 15:47; Mt 27:56) who are called the "brothers of Jesus" (Mk 6:3). 
•	Acts 1:12-15 Apostles, Mary, some women and Jesus' brothers number about 120. That is a lot of brothers. 
•	Gen 14:14 Lot, Abraham's nephew (Gen 11:26-28), described as Abraham's brother (KJV). 
•	Gen 29:15 Laban, Jacob's uncle, calls Jacob his brother (KJV). 
•	John 19:26-27 Jesus gives care of Mary to John, not one of his brothers. 
•	Zechariah 12:10 Predicts the Messiah will be an only child. 
Saints
"The saint is one so attuned to the spirit and heart of Christ that he is compelled to answer the demands of love by a love that matches that of Christ." Thomas Merton
Not God of the dead, but of the living 	Mk 12:26-27
Body of Christ 	1 Cor 12:25-27; Rom 12:4-5 
Intercessory prayer	Eph 6:18; Rom 15:30; Col 4:3; 1 Thess 1:11 
Veneration of angels united with God 	Mt 18:10; Jos 5:14; Dan 8:17; Tobit 12:16
Saints also united with God	1 Cor 13:12; 1 John 3:2 
Deceased Onias and Jeremiah interceded for Jews 	2 Mac 15:11-16
Moses and Samuel's intercession 	Jer 15:1
The Saints rose at the Resurrection and wandered around Jerusalem 	Eph 2:19; Matt 27:52
The warning is not to communicate with the Dead, Saints are not dead they are alive as all are alive to God 	Deut. 18:10
The Tranfiguration, were Moses and Elijah dead? 	Matt 17, & Mark 9 
Statues/Images 
God commands images to be made 	Ex 25:18-22; Num 21:8-9
Solomon builds his temple with statues and images 	1 Kings 6:23-29; 35; 7:29
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The Early Church on the Papacy 
Often people argue that there is no historical precedent for the primacy of Peter and the papacy. Here are some short quotes showing what the early Christians believed about the papacy. 
Clement of Alexandria 
"[T]he blessed Peter, the chosen, the pre-eminent, the first among the disciples, for whom alone with himself the Savior paid the tribute [Matt. 17:27], quickly grasped and understood their meaning. And what does he say? `Behold, we have left all and have followed you'" [Matt. 19:27; Mark 10:28] (Who Is the Rich Man That is Saved? 21:3-5 [A.D. 200]). 

Tertullian 
"For though you think that heaven is still shut up, remember that the Lord left the keys of it to Peter here, and through him to the Church, which keys everyone will carry with him if he has been questioned and made a confession [of faith]" (Antidote Against the Scorpion 10 [A.D. 211]).
Tertullian 
"[T]he Lord said to Peter, 'On this rock I will build my Church, I have given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [and] whatever you shall have bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven' [Matt. 16:18-19] . . . Upon you, he says, I will build my Church; and I will give to you the keys, not to the Church; and whatever you shall have bound or you shall have loosed, not what they shall have bound or they shall have loosed" (Modesty 21:9-10 [A.D. 220]).
Cyprian of Carthage 
"The Lord says to Peter: 'I say to you,' he says, 'that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church' . . . On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?" (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4; 1st edition [A.D. 251]). 
Ephraim the Syrian 
"[Jesus said:] Simon, my follower, I have made you the foundation of the holy Church. I betimes called you Peter, because you will support all its buildings. You are the inspector of those who will build on Earth a Church for me. If they should wish to build what is false, you, the foundation, will condemn them. You are the head of the fountain from which my teaching flows; you are the chief of my disciples. Through you I will give drink to all peoples. Yours is that life-giving sweetness which I dispense. I have chosen you to be, as it were, the first-born in my institution so that, as the heir, you may be executor of my treasures. I have given you the keys of my kingdom. Behold, I have given you authority over all my treasures" (Homilies 4:1 [A.D. 351]). 
Ambrose of Milan 
"[Christ] made answer: 'You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church . . .' Could he not, then, strengthen the faith of the man to whom, acting on his own authority, he gave the kingdom, whom he called the rock, thereby declaring him to be the foundation of the Church [Matt. 16:18]?" (The Faith 4:5 [A.D. 379]).
Pope Damasus I 
"Likewise it is decreed . . . that it ought to be announced that . . . the holy Roman Church has been placed at the forefront not by the conciliar decisions of other churches, but has received the primacy by the evangelic voice of our Lord and Savior, who says: 'You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . . ' [Matt. 16:18-19]. The first see, therefore, is that of Peter the apostle, that of the Roman Church, which has neither stain nor blemish nor anything like it" (Decree of Damasus 3 [A.D. 382]).
St. Jerome 
"'But,' you [Jovinian] will say, 'it was on Peter that the Church was founded' [Matt. 16:18]. Well . . . one among the twelve is chosen to be their head in order to remove any occasion for division" (Against Jovinian 1:26 [A.D. 393]).
St. Jerome 
"Simon Peter, the son of John, from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, brother of Andrew the apostle, and himself chief of the apostles, after having been bishop of the church of Antioch and having preached to the Dispersion . . . pushed on to Rome in the second year of Claudius to over-throw Simon Magus, and held the sacerdotal chair there for twenty-five years until the last, that is the fourteenth, year of Nero. At his hands he received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord" (Lives of Illustrious Men 1 [A.D. 396]).
Pope Innocent I 
"In seeking the things of God . . . you have acknowledged that judgment is to be referred to us [the pope], and have shown that you know that is owed to the Apostolic See [Rome], if all of us placed in this position are to desire to follow the Apostle himself [Peter] from whom the episcopate itself and the total authority of this name have emerged" (Letters 29:1 [A.D. 408]).
Augustine 
"Among these [apostles] Peter alone almost everywhere deserved to represent the whole Church. Because of that representation of the Church, which only he bore, he deserved to hear 'I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Sermons 295:2 [A.D. 411]).

Augustine 
"Some things are said which seem to relate especially to the apostle Peter, and yet are not clear in their meaning unless referred to the Church, which he is acknowledged to have represented in a figure on account of the primacy which he bore among the disciples. Such is 'I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,' and other similar passages. In the same way, Judas represents those Jews who were Christ's enemies" (Commentary on Psalm 108 1 [A.D. 415])
Augustine 
"Who is ignorant that the first of the apostles is the most blessed Peter?" (Commentary on John 56:1 [A.D. 416]).
Council of Ephesus 
"Philip, presbyter and legate of [Pope Celestine I] said: 'We offer our thanks to the holy and venerable synod, that when the writings of our holy and blessed pope had been read to you . . . you joined yourselves to the holy head also by your holy acclamations. For your blessednesses is not ignorant that the head of the whole faith, the head of the Apostles, is blessed Peter the Apostle'" (Acts of the Council, session 2 [A.D. 431]). 




Are you saved?
Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. 1Cor 10:12
•	Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matt 19:16-17) 

•	"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." Luke 10:25-28 
•	"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life." John 5:24 
•	"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." John 6:54 
•	"You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved." Matt 10:22 
•	"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16 
•	Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. John 3:5


Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Godwin A. Delali (GADEL)
St. Peter and Paul Catechism
Ministry, Ghana
Email: godwindelali@yahoo.com
Website: www.amen.co.nr

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