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Catholicism. a nd the Apocrypha. Differing Views. Unlike what most people say, the Catholic Church has some distinctly different views from other Christian sects. These views have almost caused the Catholic Church a separate religion entirely.
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Catholicism and the Apocrypha
Differing Views • Unlike what most people say, the Catholic Church has some distinctly different views from other Christian sects. These views have almost caused the Catholic Church a separate religion entirely. • “The fundamental beliefs of the Christian religion are summarised in the Nicene Creed. For Catholics, they are detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.” • Drawn from the “Marthaler Creed” Preface and Pope John Paul II.
Differing Views • In the following weeks I will be presenting three Catholic views that are extra biblical and differ from the majority of Protestant and other Christian sects. These views are the existence of purgatory, the divinity of Mary and the Pope as a mediator. • Just to note: Many of the views of the Catholic Church are also held by various sects not connected with the Catholic Church. During this study I will try to use as many Catholic sources as possible. • Also, I am by no means trying to discredit the Catholic Church or any other churches; I am just trying to present the origins of their extra biblical beliefs.
The Apocrypha • A main source of the differing beliefs in Catholicism is the Apocrypha. • According to Web Dictionary the Apocrypha is: “Biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture.” The Catholic Church, among other churches, consider many of these writings to be part of the Bible.
The Canonical Apocrypha -These are Old Testament Apocrypha that are accepted into the Catholic Bible, and the Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox Bibles. -These are the only accepted works as scripture outside our Bible. -All were written in the intertestamental period (the time between the Old and New Testament). -The main reason they are not considered scripture (not including the many non-scriptural elements) is because the were not found in the Original Hebrew Bible, but somehow appeared when the Old Testament was translated into Greek (the Septuagint) in the 3rd century BC.
The Canonical Apocrypha Tobit – Judith – Additions to Esther – 1 and 2 Maccabees – Wisdom – Sirach – Baruch/Letter of Jeremiah – Additions to Daniel (Susanna, Song of the Three Children, Bel and the Dragon) Deuterocanon (Catholic and Orthodox) Deuterocanon and Apocrypha Orthodox Apocrypha 1 and 2 Esdras – Prayer of Manasseh – Psalm 151 – 3 and 4 Maccabees – Odes Ethiopian Orthodox Apocrypha Book of Enoch – Jubilees – 1, 2 and 3 Meqabyan – Paralipomena of Baruch Many scholars believe that the Apocrypha should be treated like any Christian book written today. A good source of knowledge, but not to build doctrine from.
Extra-Biblical Writings Apocrypha Psuedepigrapha Examples Examples -Deuterocanon of the Catholics -Old Testament Apocrypha of the Orthodox -Also includes New Testament Apocrypha and other writings such as Anti-Nicene Fathers -Apocrypha of the Ethiopian Orthodox (not including Deuterocanon or Orthodox Apocrypha) -Gnostic Texts (Not Biblical at all) -Other Extra-Biblical writings Book of Enoch, Jubilees Nag Hammadi Library Infancy Gospels, Psalms of Solomon, Book of Noah Tobit, Baruch 3 and 4 Esdras Clementine Epistles, 3 Corinthians Not inspired, can be useful (sometimes). Writers are notwho they say they are. Not inspired but are useful. Writers are who they say they are (Generally).
Differing Beliefs • This week I will be presenting the first of 3 of the differing beliefs of the Catholic Church – Purgatory. • Just to note: Many of the views of the Catholic Church are also held by various sects not connected with the Catholic Church. During this study I will try to use as many Catholic sources as possible. • Also, I am by no means trying to discredit the Catholic Church or any other churches; I am just trying to present the origins of their extra biblical beliefs.
What is ‘Purgatory’? • “Purgatory is a temporary condition for the purification of souls who, although saved, are not free enough from sin to enter directly into heaven. Souls in purgatory may be aided in reaching heaven by the prayers of the faithful on earth and by the intercession of saints.” • Drawn from “Saint’s Prayers for Souls in Purgatory”. • All in all, it is a third and temporary resting place for sinful Christians, that one day will reach heaven through the means of working off their sins in purgatory.
Purgatory’s origins • According to CatholicBible101.com, Purgatory finds its origin within the Apocrypha, in the book of 2 Maccabees, a book which Catholicism, among other sects, consider as scripture. • 2 Maccabees 12:43-46: Judas, the ruler of Israel, took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.
Purgatory’s origins • That passage possibly also fueled the tradition of penance (paying for the deceased to enter into heaven) which occurred in the Dark Ages. • “...the ruler of Israel, took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice.” – payment for an expiatory (atoning from sin) sacrifice. • The main belief of purgatory is inspired by ‘prayers for the dead’ (originating in the Apocrypha), which assume that many of the dead that are in Christ have not yet entered heaven or hell, but await judgment in some place in between (named as purgatory). To distinguish whether one goes to heaven or purgatory really depends on what kind of sins they committed.
What does the Bible say? • What does the Bible say? This is a question we must all be sure to ask when hearing seemingly strange doctrine. • John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” • this verse talks of two destinies for the deceased, to perish or to have eternal life • Matthew 25:46:“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” • this shows us that we either enter into eternal punishment or eternal life
What does the Bible say? • Revelation 2:11: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” • this shows us that we either conquer or enter into the second death • These 3 verses are among many that show us there are only two destinations for humankind. There is no mention in the Bible (excluding the Apocrypha) for a third, temporary place for humans to work off their sins. • The belief that we have to work off our own sins takes credit away from what Christ did for us! • The belief of Purgatory also puts the Catholic Church and other Churches that hold the same belief in a similar category as the other world religions, who believe it is by works you are saved, and that you must work off your sin to enter into paradise.
What does the Bible say? • However, we know that it is by faith in Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension that we are saved! • Ephesians 2:8-9 states: • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Differing Views • This week I will be presenting to you the belief of a divine Virgin Mary, particularly the ‘immaculate birth’. • Just to note: Many of the views of the Catholic Church are also held by various sects not connected with the Catholic Church. During this study I will try to use as many Catholic sources as possible. • Also, I am by no means trying to discredit the Catholic Church or any other churches; I am just trying to present the origins of their extra biblical beliefs.
What is a ‘divine Mary’ view? • The Blessed Virgin Mary is highly regarded in the Catholic Church, proclaiming her as Mother of God, Sinless and free from any blemish of the Original Sin of Adam and Eve and great intercessor for many faithful. • The festival, called ‘the Assumption of Mary’, which is connected with her high status: According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, and other churches, was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life.
The Immaculate Birth • “The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without any stainof original sin.” Encyclical Ineffabilis Deus of Pope Pius IX and Encyclical Ad diem illum of Pope Pius X • This view does not assume that Mary was of virgin birth but assumes that she had a human father and mother, but the difference was she was born without sin.
The Immaculate Birth • The origin of this view is known to be within apocryphal works, most notably called the ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’ and ‘The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary’. These are not to be confused with Gnostic gospels, although they are just as far away from the traditional 4 gospels as Gnostic gospels are. • Also, for anyone that is interested, it is worth noting that this view was founded by the Council of Trent.
The Immaculate Birth • This is an excerpt from ‘The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary’, from chapter 4. This is a dialogue where an angel of the Lord is giving a revelation of Mary’s immaculate birth to Anna, the mother of Mary, before the birth of Mary. • “...she shall never know man, but alone, without example, immaculate, uncorrupted” • This passage may seem very interesting, but we must remember that Mary had to be saved through her son, Jesus, just as everyone else did. She was not born immaculate! • Also, we do know that she does have children with Joseph after Jesus, thus she shall never know man is a false statement.
The Immaculate Birth • Matthew 13:54-56: • 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
The Divinity of Mary Part 2
Previous Weeks • The Apocrypha – It’s origin and authority • Purgatory • The Virgin Mary’s so called ‘Immaculate Conception’
The Assumption of Mary • “the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life.” • Of course, the assumption of Mary is not in the Scriptures, but the Catholics believe it is referred to in the book of Revelation.
The Assumption of Mary • Americancatholic.com on the Assumption in the book of Revelation, states: • “Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and evil. Many see this woman as God’s people. Since Mary best embodies the people of both Old and New Testament, her Assumption can be seen as an exemplification of the woman’s victory.”
The Assumption of Mary • The belief of Mary’s assumption, however, has seemed to originate from a different source. “The belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary is founded on: -Apocryphal treatise“De ObituS. Dominae,” (supposedly written) by St. John, which belongs however to the fourth or fifth century (AD). -Also in the book “De TransituVirginis,” falsely ascribed to St. Melito of Sardis, and in a spurious letter attributed to St. Denis the Areopagite” (Catholic Encyclopaedia).
Mary the Mediator • Because of these strange beliefs about Mary, it has become popular to treat her as a mediator between God and man, taking the place that rightfully belongs to Jesus. • Mary receives millions of prayers each day from Catholics and other groups, arguably more prayers than Jesus himself. • Just to add a fact as well, according to Dave Hunt, there are more Shrines to Mary set up around the world than shrines to Jesus, and the few shrines to Jesus are tiny in comparison to the average Mary shrine. This just shows how deceived people have become from these false teachings.
What does the Bible say? • The Lord says in Exodus 20:3:"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” • Worshiping Mary and praying to her, which are common Catholic practices, are totally unscriptural. When you pray to Mary you are assuming she has the same qualities of God (that she can hear everyone’s prayers at once and has the ability to answer them) thus making her equal with God. We should remember no matter how honored a human being may be, they are not God and nor should they be treated like they are.
History and Identity of the Pope • The Pope is actually the Bishop of Rome. Pope is a colloquial (slang) term used which means ‘father’. • In the Catholic Church, the Pope is considered to be the successor of the Apostle Simon Peter (who is considered the first Pope). • The Pope is the head of 2 sovereign entities, the Vatican City, a city-state within Rome, and the Holy See (anything within the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church). He also has a large influence in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (AKA The Knights of Saint John).
The Pope as a Mediator • The Pope as a mediator began from the teaching that the Apostle Peter was the first Pope. • “Catholics recognize the pope as a successor to Saint Peter, whom, according to Roman Catholic teaching, Jesus named as the "shepherd" and "rock" of the Catholic Church, which according to Catholic dogma is the one true Church founded by Christ.Peter never bore the title of "pope", which came into use three centuries later, but Catholics traditionally recognize him as the first pope” – taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Encyclopaedia and Wilken. • This ‘succession from Peter’ gave rise to the Pope being a mediator.
What does the Bible say? • The Catholics claim the Pope as the only mediator however 1 Timothy 2:5 states: • “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,” • Catholics also claim the Pope is the head of the Church on earth, but the Bible says in Colossians 1:18: • “And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
What does the Bible say? • And again in Ephesians 1:22: • “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,” • And in Jesus’ very own words he stated in John 14:6: • “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “ • We should not give to any man the honour that belongs to Jesus alone!
Where to go from here • One really well researched and really fascinating video in relation to Catholicism and how the Catholic Church fits into Biblical prophesy check out: • A Woman Rides the Beast – Dave Hunt (film)
