What the Bible Says About Catholicism

Overview

Protestant naysayers of Catholicism typically have many negative comments about the Catholic Church but I have noticed that the Bible supports the teachings of the Catholic Church very well. The following passages are some examples.

Jesus instituted the ceremony of foot washing (John 13:5) and commands that we do it (John 13:15). Yet how many Protestant denominations practice this? The Catholic Church practices this rite during Easter.

After His resurrection Jesus gave the apostles the power to forgive sins (John 20:22-23). Protestant denominations have nothing that matches this passage.

Not everything is in the Bible (John 20:30). There is no indication in these verses that we should limit our understanding to only those passages which were written down (John 21:25). In addition to scripture the Catholic Church values the tradition which has been passed down from Jesus to the Apostles through the Church.

This passage supports the idea that Paul considered himself to be a priest (Rom 15:16).

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Eucharist

Besides the last supper narratives in the gospels there is one other extended passage regarding the Eucharist: (1 Cor 10:16-18) (1 Cor 10:21) (1 Cor 11:23-25) (1 Cor 11:26-27)

It seems clear that Paul believes the Eucharist is more than just a symbol (1 Cor 11:28-29). If it were merely a symbol why would people get sick and die for partaking? (1 Cor 11:30)

The Eucharist is when we eat at the table of Jesus, and the church is His kingdom (Luke 22:30). In this passage Jesus is speaking to the 12 apostles during the last supper.

Those who come to Jesus are those who do not make excuses to stay away when He calls (Luke 14:15). The kingdom is the church and the bread is Christ in the Eucharist who nourishes us.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the bread and wine to His apostles (Luke 22:16-18). The Kingdom of God is the church and Christ eats with us in the Eucharist.

Those who partake of the Eucharist are blessed (Rev 19:9).

There are many references in the very Early Church Fathers which support the idea that the church practiced the Eucharist from the very beginning. And the passage above from 1 Corinthians is very compelling. But I would expect to find additional references to the Eucharist in the letters of the New Testament.

I believe Paul is referring to the Eucharist in this passage (Col 2:9-10). Immediately following he talks about baptism as a sacrament.

The Levitical priesthood has no right to eat at the altar (Heb 13:10) of the Christians. This altar sounds very much like the Eucharist and the mass of the Catholic church. The sin offering (Lev 4:27-29) of the Old Testament provides a way for the people to be forgiven for their sins. In the sin offering the priests eat portions of the animal (Lev 5:13) that is offered. In the passage in Hebrews, Jesus is both the high priest (Heb 2:17) and the sin offering. Therefore, it is fitting that in the Eucharist we should eat Christ's body (John 6:54).

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Baptism

We are born again during Baptism (Col 2:11-14).

Just as the males of the Old Testament were circumcised in infancy, so New Testament believers are to be baptized in infancy (Col 2:11). A few points to note:

• Sins are removed via baptism (Col 2:12).
• Baptism performs the same function that Old Testament circumcision did, it unites us (Col 2:10) to the people of God and makes us children of God.

More on baptism

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Liturgical Calendar

The apostolic church practiced worship on various days including Sabbaths and New Moons (Col 2:16). Many Protestant naysayers of Catholicism consider such practices by Catholics as idolatry, but these are Biblical practices. They are the shadows of things to come (Col 2:17).

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Liturgy

As a community of Spirit-filled Christians we are to relate to one another in peace and love (Col 3:16). Note that we are to teach and admonish one another through singing. This sounds like a reference to the liturgy of the Catholic Church.

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Papacy

Jesus singles out Peter for a special role to "feed His sheep" (John 21:15-17).

Protestant naysayers of Catholicism often claim that Peter was never at Rome (called Babylon). But Peter's own letter says otherwise (1 Pet 5:13) (Rev 18:10).

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Teaching Magisterium

In speaking about heresies and false teaching, Peter provides guidance for interpreting scripture (2 Pet 1:20). We must interpret it the way God intended. This implies that only those who are authoritative representatives of the gospel can properly interpret scripture. But since the time of the Protestant Reformation any Bible teacher who considers himself qualified teaches whatever he wants as he sees fit (Sola Scriptura).

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Protestant Reformation

Christians are to have unity (John 17:23). The schism of the Protestant Reformation destroyed this unity. Even today Protestants are only imperfectly joined to the church (the Catholic Church).

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Mary

Protestants who object to the Catholic doctrine of the Assumption of Mary often object that such a thing could never happen (Heb 11:5). But it happened to Enoch because he pleased God. Certainly Mary also pleased God since Jesus Christ chose to take up residence in her womb.

Article originally written August 23, 2005.

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