Jesse's Apologetic Q & A
English
Apologetics
1 ‘ ’ 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – –– – –– –– –– –– – – – – 3 ...
Web edition
Welcome to the web edition. Below is text extracted from the PDF for reading on any device. Use Download for the original file to print or share offline.
1 ‘ ’
2
– – – – – – – – – – – – –– – –– –– –– –– – – – –
3
... Don’t
“Where there is no vision, people perish.”
(that’s clearly demonstrated
“If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’
saved your life.” Don’t make the mistake of the Lord asked him “where is Abel your brother?” H
er’s keeper.That’s what Ezekiel the prophet is teaching us. “.”
that vote for politicians who promote a ‘culture of death’ ‘But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither nor the power of God.’This verse reminds me of those who deny the ‘real presence’ of Jesus in the Eucharist. These naysayers declare: “How can God change
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
“...there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his
ecies to prove Jesus’ credentials as ‘Messiah.’ “When
”
“ ” 10. “
4
...” People don’t care how much you know until they know
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so ” “A spoonful of s than a barrelful of vinegar.”
“ doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
“
.” There are some people who simply don’t want to be confused with the facts, move on, you can’t tug on green fruit. Speak the truth
“ ” study your faith. How? Watch less T.V. that’s pretty simple. T.V. for the most part is the to ‘rightly handle the word of truth’ which means the we don’t study, we will ‘handle the word of truth.’ “P
, fulfill your ministry.” ‘were called to be faithful not successfu’
“...rFaith.” ‘Charity’ must be our motive when we rebuke
“...let us hold fast to our confession.”
“My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and someone
will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
“...b ‘’reek ‘’
5 in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence. . .”
Jude 3 (RSV) “Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it
to the saints.”
“What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us”
“In the essentials; unity, in the non”
“
”
He also said, “Love men, slay errors.”
Blessed Christopher Buxton: “If I had a hundred lives, I would willingly lay ”
St. Jerome: “A dog may bark in his master’s defense, am I to stand by when God’s holy name is ”
“Trust the Church of God implicitly even when your
6
rations after you.”
–“There never was anything so perilous or s ”
answered, “What else is there.”
“So him.”
“And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall we do not lose heart.”
“Therefore encourage one another you are doing.”
“ ” Christ’s will
7
Blaise Pascal: “The Truth is not our possession, rather the truth possesses us...truth is so obscure in these times and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.”
Pope St. Felix III: “
them.”
St Maximillian Mary Kolbe: “No one in the world can alter truth. All we can do is seek it and live it.”
it’s about winning souls. We need to argue to explain. Argument for the
, one of our nation’s said, “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”
for the long haul. In God’s
8
) The word ‘Trinity’ is not found in the Bible Jehovah’s into the ‘word thing fallacy’ –
about her doctrines. Terms such as “Trinity” were developed as a way to precisely express what the Church meant by “God.” And though the Church’s understanding of and developed, she did not “invent” new doctrines. Rather, from other truths (namely ‘Sacred Tradition). Some of these truths, such as that there is only one
These days, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Oneness Pentecostals, lic Church “invented” the doctrine of the Trinity, but that is simply false. The truth about the Trinity could not be “invented” by the
— ) When was the word ‘Trinity’ first used in Christian history The term “Trinity” was used by St. Theophilus of Antioch in the year 180
Wisdom are a “Trinity” (Greek: – ‘’He wrote about the “Trin of the One Divinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (chapter 22).
9 “But the LORD is the true God; he is the livin
: ‘ h and from under the heavens.’”
“You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "and my servant whom I have
” “ hosts: ‘
’” “Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an
”
“Before the mountains were brought forth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who
Who was with me?” “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” “ that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.”
10 “Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘an idol has no real existence,’ and that ‘’
Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” “For when he received honor and glory from to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘ pleased...’ “one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
“And the
of the knowledge of good and evil.” “but no human being can tame the tongue
likeness of God.”
“
and without him was not anything made that was made...
” “He
him and for him.”
“awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our grea Savior Jesus Christ.”
11
“For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated
deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
“The spirit of God has made me,and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” “But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of th is freedom.”
“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...” “The grace of the Lord fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” “Then God said, "Let
“Come, let one another’s speech”
“Who has
? Surely you know!”
12 John 3:16 (Douay Rheims) “For God so loved the world, as to give his only whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” Psalm 2:7 (RSV) “...You are my son, today I have begotten you.” “Begotten” is also the Greek word “monogenes” which means, unique, only, one of a kind.”
Jesus calls himself “the Son of God”
, and those who hear will live.” “do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ?” ‘But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the
“d the high priest said to him, ‘ .’Jesus said to him, ‘
oming on the clouds of heaven.’ and said, ‘
judgment?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’”
The Trinity at Jesus’ Baptism
“And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water,
, a voice from heaven, saying, ‘ well pleased.’” “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” And when he came up out of the water, voice came from heaven, ‘ n; with thee I am well pleased.’”
The Trinity at Jesus’ Resurrection
13
“
” “The times of ignorance God overlooked, b
raising him from the dead.” “Now may the , by the blood of the eternal covenant.”
“Jesus answered them, ‘ up.’ The Jews then said, ‘ it up in three days?’But he spoke of the temple of his body.”
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who
which dwells in you.”
“one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith.
the test!”
14 “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own...” “” Love is God’s essence, His whole being.
) If I can’t fully understand the Trinity than I can’t believe it. What difference does it make?
It’s a 4
century Catholic writing called the “.”
15
16
17
“
flock, one shepherd.” f Arc: “About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate this matter.”
“
just as we are.” “
”
“
”
“ , one baptism.”
“
that she might be holy and without blemish.”
18 “
”
‘’ or “throughout all.”
–
“ He said to them, ‘ ’”
grew in numbers.”
“
know the grace of God in truth.”
“
”
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you twelve”
“
”
“
”
19
“
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
given to the ‘chief official’ or ‘prime minister’ of the Kingdom of David. A dynastic succession was also an element of the office of ‘prime minister’ in the Old Testament. When the office was vacated, another person was selected to take his place. The Pope is Christ’s earthl and is the ‘prime minister’ of the Kingdom of heaven here on earth, i.e. the Catholic Church.
“and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind yo
ll shut, and none shall open.” This office of prime minister was permanent with ongoing succession as evidenced by Shebna being replaced by his successor Eliakim (Isaiah 22:20-21). The office of prime minister passed on through appointment by the King, and it continued as long as the kingdom of David continued. We as Christians believe that Jesus is the ultimate king (cf. Revelation 19:16) with the keys (cf. Revelation 3:7). Likewise, Jesus new Kingdom is based on Israel’s Kingdom. In the New Testament, Jesus gives his keys to Peter and thus we Catholics believe that Christ is the king, and Peter is the prime minister of Christ’s kingdom on earth, which is the Catholic Church! Likewise, when Peter died in 67 A.D., a successor named Linus took his place as the New Testament prime minister.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” ‘Gnosticism.’ “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel” (Matthew 5:15
20 The idea of an invisible Church is not biblical. It’s an excuse used by some Church went “underground” and hid itself from the world. The closest it came to going
“ church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”
“Peter” was not building His Church simply upon Peter’s recognition of who
“Christ ”
Marshall “explains the significance of why Christ appointed Peter in Syria at Caesarea
Christ appointed Peter in this location so as to associate Peter’
there. This geographically linked Peter’s ministry with the Roman mission to displace the Caesar urposes of the God’s kingdom.”
This is “ ...”
“
rth shall be loosed in heaven.”
[Peter’s
21
Peter’s name is mentioned 195 times
ew role as shepherd of the entire flock: “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, ‘my lambs.’ 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, ‘my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘my sheep’” (John 21:15
Despite, and probably to offset Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus during his passion, our
Although all of the apostles were given the collective duty to ‘tend’ the sheep only Peter was given the duty to ‘feed’ the sheep, that is, the followers of Jesus.
“ ”
first apostles were far from perfect and history hasn’t changed human nature inclination to sin. It’s only by the grace of God that the Church remains intact. The
of God’s grace
ic Church is like Noah’s ark. At the time of the great flood (
22 ’ ’on Peter’s barque you will be saved, if you jump off
Noah’s Noah’s would have perished in the flood waters with all the rest of the wicked men. “Likewise, there is Church” (
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” These verses are known as “the Great Commission.” Here Jesus teaches the apostles to baptize ach what He taught them. He didn’t instruct them to go
“
”
were given the authority to teach in Christ’s name. Again, Jesus didn’t commission the
“
”
23
“
”
“ ” Here’s an example of an apostle (bishop) being replaced or stands up before a large crowd and tells them that Judas’s office (bishopric) must be filled. After
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to ”
24
“ very town, as I directed you.” The word“priest” is simply an abbreviation of “presbyter.” official Vatican II document to the Clergy is called ‘Ordinis’ You can see from the title of this Church document ‘Priest’ and ‘Presbyter’ are used interchangeably.candidate’s declares the following: “I am resolved, with the help of t
bishops in caring for the Lord’s flock”
“
cessity of apostolic succession.”
“, Peter rose and said to them, ‘
’”
25 “
”
“ about with every wind of doctrine”
“
”
Christ didn’t come to establish a Church only to
“
—— ”
but this doesn’t change the Church’s teachings
“... ”
26
It’s
rotestant Reformer) said: “We are obliged to yield many things to those
we should have known nothing at all about it.”
‘’ “... ”
truths in God’s revelation.
One day I asked a Protestant minister friend. “If I wanted to know the truth,
, they will tell me another. Where is the truth?” He told me just look at your bible.
“the pillar and foundation of Truth.”
) The Bible is a very easy book to understand, especially the passages on ‘salvation.’ Peter disagrees, he says Paul’s letters on the topic of salvation are difficult to understand. “
27
their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.”
) I can interpret the bible for myself, I don’t “
”
. Do you think it’s possible that the Holy Spirit would say one thing to a
devil’s
“faith has been delivered once and for all to the saints”
28 St Jerome translates bible: ‘Latin Vulgate’
29
30
31
32
–
33
“Rapture” invented in 1830 by John Nelson Darby
34
‘authority’
“Question Authority,” this mantra does not come from the 1960’s Woodstock generation, the 1
one to question GOD’S “Non Serviam” (question God’s authority in s 3:1 “Now the serpent was to the woman, ‘Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?”Question God’s
“authority”?
‘authority.’ “When he had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the m as he was teaching and said, ‘ ?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘
of heavenly or of human origin?’ es and said, ‘
John as a prophet.’they said to Jesus in reply, ‘We do not know.’ ‘t authority I do these things.’”
“ scribes.”
35 ) Did Jesus respect ‘authority?’ ) Jesus respected ‘authority.’ In “And Jesus went with them, but
‘’ ‘’
‘–– ’ are [Heaven] sent?...”).
“Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The
not practice.”
‘Cahal’ (Hebrew for ‘’).
36 ‘Then Moses said to the LORD, “May the LORD, the God of the
who will lead them out and bring them in, that the LORD’s community may not be like sheep without a shepherd.” And the LORD replied to Moses: “Take Joshua, son of Nun,
and lay your hand upon him.” ) “
”
and that true “salvation" was "from
“Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you
eed the Father seeks such people to worship him.” “
God’s chosen people the Israelites
37
“Similarly, these dreamers nevertheless also defile the flesh, scorn lordship, and revile glorious beings...But these people revile what they do not understand and
”
usurping the position of the Church’s hierarchy. Jude compares these heretics to Korah and his
–“Remember and imitate their faith...
would be of no advantage to you.”
. It’s called
“Therefore let the
–
–“build” –“my Church”
38 "feed” “shepherd”“Simon Peter
Jesus speaks of ‘the keys of the kingdom’ he is spea ing’s palace is being appointed.
business of the kingdom in the king’s absence. The Prime Minister was an office of great
Old Testament = New Testament
17 “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘ do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’time, ‘ you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’He said to him the third time, ‘n, son of John, do you love me?’ ime, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘ hing; you know that I love you.’ (Jesus) said to him, ‘’”
39
ere the apostles ‘heaven sent’ as well? “and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on
” “He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all
” “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects yo
“During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the ns in the one place). He said, ‘
nd Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘
’”
40 ‘laying on of hands’,’authoritative appointments’ ‘passing the baton of Authority’ “They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and them.” “So Ananias went and entered
“Then, completing their fast sent them off.” “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you of the presbyterate.” “instruction about baptisms and And we shall do this, if only God permits.”
that now supersedes the ‘authority of the Scribes and ’
–
41
“every human being is a liar?” Aren’t they men ’re
did not mean that God changed his plans. God’s
serves to highlight God’s fidelity
God’s revelation despite their sins, though this depends on the fidelity of God.
The phrase “every human being is a liar” is (so I shouldn’t take your question
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
.”
“...but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” “And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as
for building up the body of Christ.” ...Now you are the body of Christ, a
“I charge you in the presence of God and
42
work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.” “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”
I don’t need a teacher, I just need to read my Bible?
). That’s the way God foreordained itthat’s why the Lord
43
“
”
Remember the oldest tactic of the devil is ‘divide and conquer.’ His strategy against the Church has not changed since he divided and conque
“
”
structured, and teach a Christian all they must know, why doesn’t one find the method or
generation’s
“ asked, ‘nderstand what you are reading?’d, ‘ ’” unuch, who was most likely wealthy and well educated, couldn’t
’s ‘docens’, that is, a ‘teaching Church.
44
there’s no visible head or teaching authority – sion and chaos. A lot of Protestant pastors are starting to see this. They’re seeing why a religion based on a book alone isn’t enough. They’re realizing that Christianity needs a visible –
“ weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Here’s an example of or , “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The only way that St
) The Bible is the only authoritative source for God’s word. “ ”
“rhema,” this is
is not the only source of God’s revelation. ‘Rhema’ is a G
“ ”
didn’t accuse
Paul’s teachings are included in letters which he wrote?
45
are in alphabetical order... Antioch: the capital of ancient Syria, the eastern capital of the Roman Empire, the modern Antakya in southern Turkey Lystra: a city of the ancient province of Lycaonia in Asia Minor Antioch in Pisidia: near the border of ancient Pisidia, a few miles south-west from modern Aksehir, Turkey Miletus: a coastal city of ancient Ionia, c 30 miles south of Ephesus, and c 70 miles south of modern Izmir, Turkey Athens: the greatest city of classical Greece, capital of modern Greece Paphos: a town in south-western Cyprus on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea Berea: a city of ancient Macedonia, modern Véria in Greece Perga: or Perge, the capital of ancient Pamphylia in Asia Minor during the Roman period, a few miles north of modern Antalya, Turkey Caesarea: a seaport of ancient Palestine, capital of the Roman province, modern Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel Philippi: a city of ancient Macedonia, near modern Kavála, Greece (Letter from Paul) Corinth: a city of ancient Greece, near modern Corinth, southern Greece (Letter from Paul) Rome: the capital of the Roman Empire and Italy, located on the Tiber River. He was executed in Rome (Letter from Paul) Damascus: a city of ancient Syria, capital of modern Syria Salamis: a town located on the east end of Cyprus, 3 miles north-west of modern Famagusta Derbe: an ancient city in south-eastern Asia Minor, modern Turkey Tarsus: a city of ancient Cilicia on the river Cnydus near the Mediterranean Sea, southern Turkey Ephesus: a town on the western coast of Asia Minor, c 40 miles south of modern Izmir, Turkey (Letter from Paul) Thessalonica: a coastal city of ancient Macedonia, modern Szaloniki in northeastern Greece (Letter from Paul) Iconium: capital of the ancient province of Lycaonia in Asia Minor, modern Konya in Turkey Troas: on the coast of northern Asia Minor, modern Turkey Jerusalem: it was the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah and the place of the temple Tyre: a city on the central coast of ancient Phoenicia, modern Sur in southern Lebanon
46 of God, the capital of modern Israel
The ‘Word of God “We know that – to the two that we now have...”
The Bible is the only authoritative source for God’s word. “ ”
However, Paul’s encourag
’modalities’ explains that “we believe that God’s will
‘Torah She B’al P (‘Sefer Torah’), was transmitted from generation to generation (p.24
tradition of Judaism) that the oral Torah “bore the status of divine revelation alongside the Pentatauch.”
Jeff Cavens (Catholic Bible Scholar) writes: “The Jewish community, from which
B’ al P ‘transmitted to Joshua, and Joshua to the Elders, and the E
. It is fair to say that the new concept of God’s Word coming only in written form (Sola Scriptura) was a foreign idea to the Jews both in Moses’ and Jesus’ day. The Catholic
and oral flows from our Jewish roots.”
47
“
”
Paul says to shun those that don’t follow the Holy Traditions which have been passed
“There is no real formation of Christian ition of our Fathers in the faith” (St. John Paul G.K. Chesterton wrote “Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ”
“
.”
ritative source for God’s word. “... ” Paul instructs Timothy to teach others as he taught...by what he
‘catechesis’mes from the Greek verb ‘katekhesis’ which means‘ ’ and ‘.’
“
” Catholics agree with what this verse is saying...but don’t take it to the extreme like some non ‘profitable’ it’s all you need
48
is it a manual on ‘how to start’ Ponder this thought, ‘D
’ NO! ‘’
“... ”
practice mutual love. Early Christians didn’t have the
rally transmitted teaching “SacredTradition” and is typically written with a capital “T” to distinguish it from human tradition (small “t). Doesn’t Catholic dogma conflict with the Holy Bible?
–“Dogma is the Church’s interpretation of scripture.” Drstates, “’ the Church’s dog’not just conflicting with the Church’s dogma because the Church’s h’s interpretation of scripture”
‘dogma’ is found in scripture i
Bible, I don’t need a
“ is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ”
all can’t be
49
“...
”
The four C’s of classical Biblical
– ruined God’s handiwork, bringing disease, disaster, and death. –
–
now and forever in the “new heavens and earth.”
“The Bible is a drama in four acts: Creation, Fall
50 and Abraham to Jacob, who becomes ‘Israel,’ the father of the twelve sons who become the twelve tribes. Israel’s sacred covenantal line culminates in Jesus, the ideal Israelite,
”
century) said: “Unquestionably! No one
”
because the Bible is a “weapon of mass instruction.” The Holy B
51
tells his parishioners: “No bible, no breakfast, no bible, no bed.”
“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ”–
the opposite is also true; ‘Knowledge of Scripture is knowledge of Christ.’
–
will...
nor the smoke we make. We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...
rt of each other. We will...
So be it, until victory is America’sand there is no enemy, but Peace...
52
seless. I must read God’s letter
firm in the Word of God. I will...
...
the pure in heart will see God. Christ, the Word made flesh has indwelled me. He has...
’s
–
–
53
God doesn’t exist. The Bible
themselves as ‘enlightenment thinkers.’
54 –‘LOGOS, RHEMA & GRAPHE’
The Bible is the ‘Word of God’, period, that’s it, end of
) So, what does the phrase ‘Word of God’ m
living and effective...two edged sword?
edged sword..."
55
‘’
‘’
example of ‘Oral Tradition’ or “We give thanks to God unceasingly,
”
’s
the ‘ ’of the Gospel, “We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you ”
Doesn’t St
‘oral ’
56
‘’‘W God’, the‘’‘’
) What about the word “homily”, is that word in the Bible or did Catholic word ὁμιλία (from ὁμιλεῖν
...It is the oldest form of Christian
57
“all have sinned.” “ seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Let’sbreak this verse down: “
” (Jesus body
of “the seed of the woman” (the “seed” is normally of the man), but notice “the woman” is included as “the seed” of the devil. She—along with “her seed,” which is Christ—
the devil and the devil’s seed,i.e., all who have original sin and are “by nature children of wrath” as St. Paul describes this fallen state in Ephesians 2:3. Moreover, “the woman” seems to have a prominence in the text that is quite unsettling. “The seed” of the woman,
“the seed” of the woman is Jesus the emphasis of the text seems to be on “the woman.” Hence, it certainly seems fitting that both “the woman” and “her seed” would be free from ever “by naturechildren of wrath.” Ergo, b so the “ ” does not mean every single person.
“
Dan.” to Lot as Abram’s “brother” but we know he is no Hebrew words for “cousin” or “nephew” term “brother” was commonly used. Some translation “kinsman” to indicate a family relationship.
statement that Jesus was her “born son” and that Joseph “knew her not ” Christ was born
58
If Jesus was the “firstborn,” wouldn’t this imply something very important about the “firstborn” in Israel: ‘The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and beast, is mine.”’ lled “firstborn” because there is a “secondborn.” The
mother’s
Moreover, “firstborn” is a title that does
“firstborn” “He is the image of the invisible God, the first
— things, and in him all things hold together.” —
s, yet he is still referred to as “firstborn” before time and creation. “Begotten” is reek word “monogenes” which means, unique, o
at “he [Joseph] knew her not ”
The word “until” in Matthew 1:25 the word “until” means that some action The word “until” is the reek conjunction “heos” which does not imply a reversal of the prior situation. Uses of the word “until” in similar id
For example, I may say to a friend, “we meet again, God bless you.” Would that necessarily mean, “we meet again, God curse you?” Or, “ want that blessing to stop!” Of course not! The word “until”
Here is another example, “My Dad was faithful until he died!” It doesn’t imply he was unfaithful after he died, that’s impossible. The word “until” means ‘up to this point,’ that’s all it means.
59
“Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child day of her death.” that’s
: “ teaching.”
: “For he (Christ) must reign his feet.” Does this mean Christ’s reign will says, “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Matthew 28:20 (NAB): “And behold] the end of the age.”
These are examples of how the word “until”
understanding of the word “until” can lead to other misinterpretations. This is evident in the
It’s interesting to note that the Bible never uses the phrase “the children of Mary” or “the children of Joseph & Mary.” Why? Because she
to argue that Mary had other children. It reads, “Is
and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A
house.” –says “the children of Mary” or “the children of ” In biblical languages, the word ‘brother’ has a wide semantic range, it was used for
my ‘sister’ in Song of Solomon 4: 9
16 the disciples are called the ‘brothers’ of the apostles and Jesus. –) is the ‘brother’ of the
60
hey are not the blood brothers of Jesus. These two are the only ‘’
‘brothers.’
father’s
experience where we have ‘Juniors’ or the 1
h) could not be Joseph’s son, therefore not Mary’s son either. Jose is
a ‘righteous man’ (Matthew 1: 19 NAB
’
s Jennings Dake affirms in his ‘Annotated Study B’
Anne Joachim Jacob Mary Joseph Clopas another Mary
61 Jesus James Joses Simon Jude
“ ”
Note the word “taken;” needs to be made between “ascension” and “assumption.” Jesus ascended; Mary from what is now the ‘’in Jerusalem, “where the
Heaven”
body and soul at the end of her earthly life. We call this the Assumption of Mary. “In the basement of this Church there is a statue of the sleeping Holy Mother.”
Objection: “Why do Catholic” “Behold a virgin called ‘Emmanuel’” (which means, ‘God with us’).
the child’s name means “God with us.” The mother of this
62
“ read what was said to you by God, ‘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.”
That’s their We do “pray to her” (cf. CCC 2679).
“ ”
people who attack the rosary don’t understand
Mother because scripture tells us to meditate upon “whatever is true, whatever is
...if there is anything worthy of p” ‘’‘’ Catholics, it’s not biblical? “Hail (Mary), full of grace, theLord is with you” (Luke 1:28). “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb (Jesus)” (v.42). Holy Mary –“you have found favor with God” (v.30), Mother of God –“mother of my Lord” (v.43) –“pray for us sinners” “pray for us (sinners), ”
63
—
– and the Bible says, “
” –
“... night.”
“among whom were Mary Mag′dalene James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb′edee.”
Abraham’s people in the congregation as “brother” or “sister.”
s, yet they don’t come from the same uterine Mother. Those in heaven can’t hear our prayers, they’re “ to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the ’ wrong.”
64 The saints in heaven are more alive and aware of what’s going on than we are. They’re not
they desire God’
because ‘we are in Christ ’ t “we share in Christ ”
Dwight L. Moody: “One day you’ll hear that Dwight L. Moody is dead. Don’t believe it for a moment. I’ll be more alive than ever.” “Today, Dad is more alive than he ever was on this earth. And this is just the ”
“If Mary and the other saints supposedly can’t handle all our prayers from us on earth
James White: “No it is through his demons.” Patrick Madrid: “This is a clear example of dodging a bullet because that question was right on l is a creature, and St. Peter tells us in his 2 Epistle “Satan is like a roaring lion prowling around” he doesn’t say satan and his crew, but satan himself, the devil. So,
effecting billions of people, and Dr. White just dodged the bullet by saying it’s the demons doing
performing an incredible action that we can’t understand how it can be done but the fact is this
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...”
’
65
rejoice at our repentance. They’re’s happening on earth, remember, the saints make up that ‘great cloud of ’. We don’t know the mechanics of how this happens, but we know from scripture that it
‘ in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the ’”
“s,”therefore the saints are ‘righteous men’ and we know that the “prayers of ” –
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” However, the word “one” in v.5 is “heis” in Greek which means “first or primary.” It doesn’t use the Greek word “monos” which means “sole, only, exclusive one.”
Another reason there’s
Protestants. Ask if he has any objections to one Christian praying for another. He’ll say ‘no’.
66 asking Christians in heaven to pray for us conflicts with Christ’s mediatorship, than asking
excluding Christians from a share in Christ’s mediatorship,
“And he came to her and said, ‘ ’” “” anslations use “highly favored”, however, “full of grace” was the translation written by the greatest Scripture Scholar St
“Full of grace” means there’s no room for sin. This v “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” While Romans 3:23states “all have sinned.” This does not include Mary
the fall. “All” in this case (Romans 3:23
Monday, “came to my party.” Obviously, this is hyperbole, I am speaking in a
name ‘Mary’ means “”, “” name ‘Mary’ in the ”. ‘Mary’–“”or “.”
“And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?”
67
Catholic Church’s men & woman who choose to live a celibate life for God are
the ‘eastern gate of the ’
Our Lady’s womb, sin
‘apocryphal’ “Joseph thereupon, according to the command of the angel, married the virgin, and did not know her, but kept her in chastity.” 10:20 states “ and glorified the God of Israel, who had shown him such favor, and preserved the Virgin.”
incarnation ‘’ the fall of Adam & Eve? “ry said to the angel, ‘ man?’, ‘
be called holy, the Son of God’...Mary said, ‘ e to me according to your word.’”
Gabriel’s annunciation in
o
o — —(let it be done...) brings life to the entire human
n both scenarios, the role of the “woman” i
is condemned for “listening to the voice of [his] wife” in Gen. 3:17
the “yes” of his Mother, Mary’s perpetual virginity be argued from the Hebrew language?
68 Brother Anthony Opisso states: “By stating it in those terms the
to conceive His Son in her womb, for ‘to lay one’s power ’was a euphemism for ‘to have a marital relationship with her.’” Moreover, ‘ overshadow’ to spread one’s cloak (tallith) see also Mekhilta on Exodus 21:8).” This is the language of Yahweh for his bride Israel, “I am ” (Jeremiah 3:14and “your maker is your hus ”isten to the language of intimacy from the Lord to his bride Israel: “You developed, you grew, you came to full womanhood; your breasts became firm and your hair grew...you were naked...and I saw that you were now old enough for love so ...I
”
ry’s pregnancy because an angel told him. “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife; for that which is conceived in