Catholic Biblical Apologetics

1 Catholic Biblical ApologeticsDr. Robert J. SchihlPaul D. FlanaganPlease visit our website at: otherwise noted, all Scripture texts are taken from theNew American Bible with Revised New Testament andRevised Psalms 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, and are used bypermission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of theNew American Biblemay be reproduced inany form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. 1985 2013, Robert Schihl and Paul FlanaganCatholic Biblical ApologeticsiTable of 1 Apologetics Without 1An Incomplete Picture.

2 1 Dearly Beloved Catholic Brothers and Sisters .. Catholic and Christian: Faith and 5 The Transmission of Authoritative Doctrine .. 5 Apostolic Confessions of 7 Post Apostolic Confessions of 8 Salvation: A Biblical Portrait .. 10 Salvation: Being Saved .. 10 The Catholic Response to Are You Saved? .. 11 The Knowledge of Salvation .. 12 Faith and Works .. 12 The Process of Christian Initiation .. 14 The Church: A Biblical Portrait - A New Testament Apologetic .. 16 The Marks of the 22 Labels Among Christians.

3 23 Genealogy of Christian Faith 24 Modes of Transmitting Authoritative Doctrine .. Revelation By Letter (2 Thess 2:15): The Bible .. 33 Divine Revelation .. 33 The Bible: Written 34 The Hebrew Scriptures: Books of the Old Testament .. 35 Historical and Geographical Background for the Development of the Two Old Testament Canons .. 36 Background Chart: Development of the Old Testament Canons .. 39 Chronology of the Apostolic Age and the Development of the New Testament Canon .. 41 The Canon of the Bible.

4 43 Comparison of Terms for Disputed Books .. 45 Inspiration of the 45 Hermeneutics: Understanding Revelation .. 46 Major Church Pronouncements on the Revelation By Word of Mouth (2 Thess 2:15): Handing On .. 53 Paradosis:Handing On Divine Revelation .. 53 The Biblical Model for Handing On Truth and Refuting Error: Acts 15, The Council of 55 Acts 15 Model: General or Ecumenical Councils of the Church 56 Acts 15 Model: General Councils of the 58 Apostolic Fathers of the Church .. 62 Post Apostolic Fathers of the Church.

5 63 Doctors of the Church .. 66 Handing On Divine Revelation: Vatican Council II .. Handling and Teaching Authority .. 73 Peter: A Biblical Portrait .. 73 Matthew Chapter 16, Verse 18: The Primacy of Peter .. 76 The Charism of Truth Handling: Infallibility .. 79 Bishop of 80 Bishops of Rome: 82 The Charism of Infallibility: The 84iiCatholic Biblical Sacraments: The Life of The Christian .. 87 The Sacraments: The Life of the Christian .. 87 Baptism: Initiation and Regeneration .. 95 Confirmation.

6 104 The Eucharist: The Lord s 107 Healing/Anointing of the Sick .. 112 Matrimony .. 113 Orders .. Communion of 119A Biblical Portrait of Saint .. 119 The Canon of Holiness .. 120 The Role of the Saints .. 121 The Intercession of the 121 The Canonization of 123 Images and Relics of the Saints .. 124 Praying to the Saints / Praying for the the Mother of Jesus: 127 Mary: An 127A Biblical Portrait of 128 Mary: Virgin and Ever Virgin .. 130 The Immaculate Conception of Mary .. 133 The Assumption of 135 Private Devotions to Mary: The Rosary.

7 136 Apparitions of Mary .. : The Last Things .. 139 Death .. 143 Hell: Reprobation .. 145 Purgatory .. 148 The Parousia: Christ s Second Coming .. 150 Resurrection of the Dead .. 152 Appendix: A Personal Relationship With Christ .. 161 Catholic Biblical Without ApologyApologetics (from the Greekapologeisthai, meaning to defend) is an orderly defense and justification. The intent ofthis work is to present what the Roman Catholic Church teaches, and why. We present the Biblical and rationalcredibility and credentials of Catholic Christian faith.

8 Our apologetic approach bases the teachings of the RomanCatholic Church in Divine Revelation: The Biblical (logos): origin, foundation, and non contradictory nature of the truths of the Bible; The Constant Tradition of the Church (paradosis): the enduring and progressive growth of the truthsunder the guidance of the Holy text grew out of a series of presentations which explained Roman Catholic Church teachings in a manner whichwas easy to understand, yet soundly rooted in the two streams of the one source of Divine Revelation.

9 The authorseach participate in two faith communities, one Roman Catholic , and the other Evangelical Protestant. We realizedthat much of the friction between these communities results from miscommunication and , we set out to explain the basis of foundational Roman Catholic desire to explain rather than convince. Our audiences always come from various faith communities with varyingbeliefs. Our intent is to explain Roman Catholic teachings in a language that makes sense to all the faithcommunities.

10 So often, misunderstandings and friction result from mere differences in Tim 2:14 Remind people of these things and charge them beforeGod to stop disputing about words. Thisserves no useful purpose since it harms those who Tim 2:23 Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed use the Bible as the foundation for our presentation because we found that Bible based information is the singlemost important mode of initial understanding and sharing between our communities.