Posts Tagged ‘Catholicism’
Mamertine Prison
When we were in Rome a few years ago we visited the Forum. It is the central area around which the ancient Roman civilization developed. It is located between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill. Situated on the northeastern slope of the Capitloine Hill is the Mamertine Prison (also known as Tullianum).
According to legend dating back to the 5th century, the apostle Peter was imprisoned there. Supposedly Peter caused a spring to miraculously well up in the prison so that he could baptize his fellow prisoners (some traditions say his jailers). Although the Catholic Encyclopedia admits there is no reliable evidence that Peter was ever imprisoned at Tullianum, the Catholic Church believes Peter was martyred at Rome. The Catholic Church also claims that Peter was the first bishop of Rome and the famous basilica bearing his name within Vatican City was built over his tomb.
There is no scriptural evidence that Peter ever set foot in Rome, in fact the scriptures would indicate otherwise. He certainly was not the first bishop of Rome (or pope). Since the King James Bible is our final authority let’s conduct a brief survey from its pages on these claims of the Catholic Church.
Paul wrote to the Romans, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation” (Rom. 15:20). If Peter had organized the church at Rome and had worked there, why would Paul want to preach there? No foundation (1 Cor. 3:11) had been laid in Rome. Nobody had preached there yet. Therefore, Peter had not been to Rome before Paul. The date of Romans is about A.D. 60, so about 27 years after Christ had been crucified, Peter had not made it to Rome.
In Paul’s concluding remarks to the Romans he wrote, “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” (Rom. 16:7). Here are two apostles in Rome, and neither one was Simon Peter. You won’t ever hear any Catholic talk about Andronicus or Junia being apostles in Rome. Yet they were there, and they were mentioned by Paul when Peter wasn’t. Going back to our comment on Romans 15:20, how could there be apostles in Rome if Paul didn’t want to “build upon another man’s foundation.” The answer is found in Paul’s own experience. In Acts 16:6, Paul is in Asia Minor and he is forbidden by God to preach there. Obviously these two men were in a similar situation. They were in Rome but were not allowed by God to preach in Rome since that was the job that the Lord had chosen for Paul (Acts 23:11). If Peter was the first bishop of Rome then Paul forgot to greet or even acknowledge him in his epistle to that congregation. This is quite an oversight since Peter mentions Paul and recommends his writings as scripture in 2 Peter 3:15-16.
Peter wrote in his first epistle, “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you” (1 Pet. 5:13). Kenneth Taylor’s perversion, The Living Bible, has changed every Greek manuscript extant by substituting the private Roman Catholic interpretation “Rome” for “Babylon.” This is done on the basis that Babylon was “a Christian nickname” for Rome. If “Babylon” is a code name or a nickname for Rome then what is Babylon in Revelation 17-18? If Babylon is Rome in 1 Peter 5:13 then it has to be Rome in Revelation. But if it is Rome in Revelation 17-18, then the Roman Catholic Church is a Harlot Church. Seeing the obvious implications of this reasoning, the Catholic answers, “No, it is not the Church, it is the city. It is pagan Rome under Nero.” If that were true, why would the Roman Catholic Church retain all the trappings of a harlot? The drink of papal Rome is the drink of pagan Rome (Rev. 17:2 – wine). The “Church” has retained the same colors as its pagan predecessor (Rev. 17:4 – “purple and scarlet”). Roman Catholicism decorates its churches just like the pagan temples (Rev. 17:4) and it has the same cup for its “chalice” (Rev. 17:4). The Roman Catholic Church has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Bible believing Christians, many more than Rome under the emperors (Rev. 17:6) and if all that were not enough, the Roman Catholic Church has publicly claimed authority over all earthly governments (Rev. 17:18). If the Protestant Reformation had not broken Rome’s political stranglehold on Europe the Church would still be using armies to enforce its will today. The truth is that the only place in Scripture where Rome is “Babylon” is in the Book of Revelation where it is in its mystery form (Rev. 17:5,9,18). Outside of Revelation, Babylon is always a reference to the city or the country of Mesopotamia. Either of those could be the case here. Peter is writing to Gentile believers in regions of the Roman Empire, not specific cities. If he meant the region of Babylon, there were Jews from that area who were saved at Pentecost (“the dwellers in Mesopotamia” – Acts 2:9). Of course, he could have meant the city of Babylon itself. It still existed in the first century, and it had a large Jewish population.
Peter’s ministry stretched from Corinth in the west (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:22; 9:5) to Babylon in the east. There is no indication, historically or scripturally, that Peter ever made it to Rome, much less became a bishop of the church there. The Roman Catholic apologist, Karl Keating, has propagated the idea that Peter’s bones (or his grave) were discovered under the Vatican in 1962. But what he has not disclosed is that two Roman Catholic priests, P.B. Bagatti and J.T. Milik, discovered the bones of Simon Peter in an ossuary (a bone box) at the Mount of Olives, twelve feet away from the bones of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. All the ossuaries were clearly labeled in Aramaic, and Peter’s bore the name Shimon Bar Yonah: “Simon Barjona” (Matt. 16:17). That discovery was made in 1953 and published as Gli Scavi del Dominus Flevit in 1958. A man from Fort Wayne, Indiana named F. Paul Peterson, confirmed the discovery by visiting Jerusalem and interviewing the priests and viewing and photographing the ossuary. He published his account in 1960 as “Peter’s Tomb Recently Discovered in Jerusalem.” The pamphlet is no longer in print and for sale but it can be found on the internet here. Why did the Catholic Church ignore this archaeological find? Because it was historical evidence available to anyone that the Bible was right and that Peter did not die in Rome or pastor in Rome or even visit Rome.
Peter was not the first pope. The Catholic view is that Peter is the chief of the apostles or “Prince of the Apostles.” In 1 Peter, the apostle does not elevate himself over any other apostle as he writes, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1). Notice that he does not write “the apostle;” he counts himself as one of several apostles whom Jesus Christ chose (“an apostle”). Peter is merely “an elder” among “elders” (1 Pet. 5:1). When the leadership of the church meets to define a doctrine in Acts 15, Peter is not the “presiding elder;” he is merely one of the witnesses who gave his testimony. Peter is a Jewish bible teacher, not a “vicar of Christ” who sits on a golden throne wearing a papal crown while demanding respect, reverence, and obedience from the entire Body of Christ (1 Pet. 5:2-3). In the epistles of Simon Peter, it is “the word of God” that is the final authority, not tradition or any church (1 Pet. 1:23-25; 2:2; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 3:16). In 1 Peter, Jesus Christ is the “Rock” on which the church is built, not Simon Peter (2:4-8). In 1 Peter, every saved person is a priest (2:9). In 1 Peter, the Pastor over all pastors is Jesus Christ (5:4) not the pope. Moreover, Peter acknowledges no office higher that that held by Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is called “the chief Shepherd” (the word “pastor” means shepherd) and “Bishop of your souls” (2:25). There are no archbishops (one rank higher than Jesus Christ).
There are some basic differences between Peter and any Pope:
1. Simon Peter was married (Matt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5). Popes don’t marry.
2. Simon Peter doesn’t “lord himself” over the flock (1 Pet. 5:3). He doesn’t sit on a throne in a mansion wearing a crown. Can you imagine Peter the commercial fisherman dressed up like the Pope?
3. Simon Peter doesn’t fool with literal sacrifices (the mass). The only sacrifices he recognizes are “spiritual” ones (1 Pet. 2:5).
4. Simon Peter doesn’t allow people to bow down to him (Acts 10:25,26). People bow to the Pope and kiss his ring as a symbol of submission.
5. Simon Peter was occasionally caught in heresy. Paul had to straighten out Peter’s doctrine in Galatians 2:11. A Pope thinks he is immune to doctrinal correction.
In summary, Peter wasn’t called to Rome. Peter didn’t write to the Romans. The scriptures never state that Peter was in Rome. Paul was the one called specifically by the resurrected Christ to go to Rome (Acts 23:11). To believe otherwise is to allow the traditions of men to usurp the authority of the Bible. God forbid.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” – Colossians 2:8
(The Bible Believers Commentaries on Romans and 1 Peter were referenced for this entry.)
Catholicism vs. the Bible
“I earned my engineering degrees from a Roman Catholic university. I have met many fine people in my personal life and professional career that were Roman Catholics that have had a high degree of integrity and have been very gracious and kind. However, looking past the person and examining the Roman Catholic Church reveals a satanic religious system that blinds the minds of men and keeps them in spiritual darkness. There are certainly Roman Catholics that are saved – but they are saved in spite of their religion, not because of it and they are certainly the exception and not the rule. There are many ‘good’ people that will die and burn eternally in the lake of fire because they trusted a religious system rather than a personal relationship with the Saviour.
Catholic tradition and mindset permeate nearly every aspect of national and personal life in Italy. 90% of Italians would identify themselves as Roman Catholic; although only about 1/3 of these would describe themselves as active members. I am called to be a witness to lost Italian souls, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
Many today falsely believe that Roman Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity – it is not Christian. Let’s briefly compare its beliefs with our final authority, the Bible.” – Stetson
For the Roman Catholic Church, the Scriptures are not sufficient of themselves to provide all that is necessary for an individual without the Roman Church’s interpretations.
“As a result the [Roman Catholic] Church… does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
The Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16,17).
The Bible says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4)
The Bible says, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (Jn. 5:39)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is through the Roman Catholic Church alone that salvation in its fullest sense can be attained.
“For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” – Vatican Council II
The Bible records the words of Jesus as He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6)
The Bible says, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that for salvation, grace becomes merely a help and is given through the sacraments of the Church and it is the sacraments that are necessary for salvation:
“The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
The Bible says, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:4,5)
The Roman Catholic Church insists that Christ’s sacrifice was not sufficient in itself to take away the penalty for our sin but that the application of the mass is required as an ongoing sacrifice:
“Hence the Mass, the Lord’s Supper, is at the same time and inseparably: a sacrifice in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated.” – Vatican Council II
The Bible says, “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God… For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:11-14)
The Bible says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb. 9:12)
The Bible says, “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” (Rom. 6:10)
The Bible says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Pet. 3:18)
The Catholic Church teaches that water baptism is necessary for salvation.
“Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Works, including that of water baptism, do not save. The Bible says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
The Apostle Paul said, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17)
If water baptism was a requirement for salvation then Christ would have sent Paul to baptize. However, Paul was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel. Water baptism is not part of the gospel.
Paul defines the gospel as, “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3,4)
Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:5,6)
To be “born of water” refers to that “which is born of the flesh”, i.e. the natural physical birth. To be born “of the Spirit” refers to spiritual rebirth or to be born again. Water baptism is not in the context of this passage.
Also to note is that not every “baptism” in the Bible refers to water baptism. Matthew 3:11 mentions water baptism, spiritual baptism, and fire baptism.
Paul said, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). This spirit baptism takes place at the moment of salvation when the Holy Spirit immerses the believer into Christ. Water baptism has nothing to do with salvation.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary was free from the stain of sin from the moment of her conception or the creation of her soul and its infusion into her body, i.e. she was sinless.
“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Mary brought a sin offering to God in accordance with Leviticus 12:2-8: “And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” (Lk. 2:22-24)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches the perpetual virginity of Mary, i.e. that Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ.
“Mary remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin: with her whole being she is “the handmaid of the Lord.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Jesus was the firstborn among at least seven children. The Bible says, “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS” (Matt. 1:25)
Jesus had four half-brothers and at least two half-sisters. The Bible says, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (Mark 6:3)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary brings salvation and is a co-mediator invoked under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.
“Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation… Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
The Bible says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that saints in heaven intercede on the behalf of people on earth.
“Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness… They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus… So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
The Bible says, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom. 8:34)
The Bible says, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament… because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:22-25)
One does not have to be dead to be a saint. The Bible says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Eph. 1:1)
Men, including saints, are not to be worshipped. The Bible says, “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that purgatory is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who die in God’s grace but are not entirely free from venial faults or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.
“Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Jesus Christ purged our sins. The Bible says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. The Bible says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Apostle Peter was the rock and foundation upon which Christ built His church and his authority over the flock is continued by apostolic succession of the papacy.
“The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.” This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Jesus Christ is the Rock and foundation of the church. The Bible says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11)
The Bible says, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:4)
Peter’s name (Cephas) means stone. The Bible says, “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (Jn. 1:42).
In Matthew 16, when Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” He was referring to Peter’s statement that Jesus was the “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus Christ is the Rock and the church is built upon His deity and person.