The Bible and the Catholic Church Apostolic Authority AND The Pope Presented by: The Bible Christian Society P.O. Box 424 Pleasant Grove, AL 35127 Email: john@biblechristiansociety.com (205) 744-1856 Copyright 2000, John Martignoni I. Authority of the Pope depends on authority of the Church A. Principles pertaining to the Church 1. Jesus founded one, and only one, Church; Mt.16:18 - Church not churches 2. Jesus established an authoritative Church; a. People need to know truth: Jn 8:32, Jn 14:6,Jn 18:37 b. Where to go for truth? The Church; 1 Tim 3:15 c. The Church has authority; Mt 18:15-18 3. The Church is visible and has unity in faith and morals. a. Visible; Mt 18:15-18-Tell it to the Church b. Eph 1:22-23; Church is the Body of Christ, the fullness of Christ (Eph 5:23), Jesus, the Head, has physical and spiritual aspects, so the Body, the Church, has the same. c. Jn 17:22-23; world has to see the unity NOTES__________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ d. Unity of doctrine; Acts 4:32, Eph 4:4-6, 1 Cor 1:10; Jn 17:11,20-22 - one as Father and Son are one... do the Father and Son disagree on doctrine? Any doc-trine? B. Authority of the Bible is dependent upon the Church 1. Bible is inerrant; no errors of any kind 2. How do we know which books should be in the Bible? Sola Scriptura is inadequate because the Bible does not contain a list of books that should be in the Bible. 3. The Church has the authority to decide; the Church gave us the canon of Scripture-Council of Rome (382 A.D.), Council of Hippo (393 A.D.), Council of Carthage (397 A.D.) 4. Authority of the Bible depends on the authority of the Church. NOTES__________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ II. Apostolic Authority A. The Church's authority is apostolic authority [Principle #4] B. Mt 28:18-19 and Jn 20:21; Jesus sent with all authority in Heaven and Earth, Jesus sends the apostles in the same manner. C. Lk 10:16; “He who hears you hears Me” D. Characterized by charism of Infallibility; Mt 28:18-19 (always with you), Jn 14:16-17, 26 (Holy Spirit with you forever and will teach you all things), Jn 16:13 (Holy Spirit guides them into all truth) [Principle #5] E. Infallibility prevents teaching error in faith & morals F. Acts 8:30-31 (need a guide); 2 Ptr 1:20 (private interpretation is not scriptural); 1 Jn 4:6 (there is a group of men we need to listen to); 1 Ptr 1:12 (men who preached the good news through the HS) NOTES:__________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ G.Apostolic Succession-the Apostles passed on their authority, the authority given to them by Jesus, to others and instructed them to do the same [Principle #6] 1. Mt 28:19-20 a. Make disciples of all nations; 1 Cor 12:28 (in the Church, first apostles) b. Jesus with them to the end of the age; but they died...yet, their successors live on c. Mission of the Church is a teaching mission; Jesus said “teach”, not “go and write” 2. Acts 1:15-26; apostolic succession; apostles occupied “offices”; when office holder died, he was replaced-succession 3. Office of bishop; 1 Tim 3:1 4. Passing on an “inheritance”; 1 Tim 1:2, 2 Tim 1:2, 2:1; 1 Tim 1:18, Titus 1:4, 1 Cor 4:17 5. Apostolic authority is passed on; 2 Tim 1:13-14, 2 Tim 2:2, Titus 1:5-7, 1 Tim 1:3, 4:11-13 6. Authority passed on by “laying on of hands”; 2 Tim 1:6, 1 Tim 1:18, 4:14, 5:22 NOTES:___________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ III. The Pope A. Pope is the Bishop of Rome; Successor of Peter B. Mt 16:15-19; revelation from the Father, the Rock, keys of kingdom, binding and loosing C. Is 22:20-22; keys-authority, “father” to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, opening and shutting - binding and loosing, house of David D. Primacy of Peter among the Apostles 1. Mt 16:15-19-only Peter is given the keys 2. Jn 21:15-19-Peter appointed shepherd 3. Peter's name is mentioned almost twice as many times as all other Apostles together; Peter listed first among Apostles; Peter is first to act (1st half of Acts of Apostles) 4. Acts 4:18-20 and Mt 23:2-3, O.T. seat of authority was the “chair of Moses”; chair of Peter is N.T. seat of authority 5. Lk 22:31-32; Jesus prays specifically for Peter to “strengthen his brethren” NOTES:__________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ E. 2 Peter 1:12-15 and John 21:15-19 1. Peter is talking to mature Christians; 2 Ptr 1:1 2. God's Word never goes unfulfilled; Is 55:11 3. Peter is going to do something which will enable Christians to “always” and “at any time” be reminded of certain things; What did he do? 4. Jn 21:15-19; Jesus about to return to Heaven, Jesus appoints Peter as shepherd of the flock and Jesus “shows” Peter how Peter is to die 5. 2 Ptr 1:14, Peter soon to go to Heaven as Jesus “showed” him; Peter is going to do something which will allow Christians to “always” and “at any time” be reminded 6. How did Peter fulfill his promise? Nothing in Scripture, so as a Protestant I would have no answer; as a Catholic, I would suggest that Peter imitated Christ and appointed a shepherd for the flock NOTES:__________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Presented by: The Bible Christian Society P.O. Box 424 Pleasant Grove, AL 35127 Email: john@biblechristiansociety.com (205) 744-1856 Copyright 2000, John Martignoni