A Study of Denominations Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholicism –TIME The Lord’s Church was established in 1 st century (Acts 2:47). Catholic Church Established 325 AD – Roman Catholic Church is a union of church and state – before 325 there was no such union – Nicene Council 325 – “In settling the dispute over Arianism, the First Council also adopted a creed--a confession of orthodox faith--that all Christians would be required to assent to. This Nicene Creed was enforced by the state as well by the church” (

DOCTRINE What Catholics teach regarding the Pope – Peter was the first pope – Had successors – Pope is infallible – Pope is head of the church

Where is the Position of Pope? POSITIONNAMEDQUALIFICA- TION WORK Apostles Eph. 4:11; Acts 1:2, 11 Acts 1:22, 24; 9:15; 1 Cor. 9:1 Eph. 3:3-5 Evangelist Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8 2 Tim. 2:21 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Elders (Bishops, Pastors) Eph. 4:11; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23 1 Tim. 3:1-7 Titus 1:5-9 Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4 Deacons Phil. 1:11 Tim. 3:8-131 Tim. 3:9, 13

Peter the First Pope? "The Pope... is the bishop of Rome and the Vicar 1 of Christ on earth. He is the visible head of the whole Catholic Church... Who was the first Pope? St. Peter, who was made Pope by Jesus Christ Himself... Did Peter's authority die with him? No, it was handed down to a man named Linus, and after he died, it was handed down 2 to another, and so on, during the past 2000 years... Does Jesus require us to follow the Pope in matters of religion? Yes, because obedience and loyalty to the Pope are among the chief requirements of the Lord's plan for unity in His church" (A Catechism for Adults, by William Cogan, 1975 ed., pp. 55,56). 1 Vicar – someone acting in the person of; representative of 2 What were the conditions for replacing Judas as apostle?

Peter the First Pope? Matthew 16:18. "Thou art Peter (Kepha)", said Christ, "and upon this rock (kepha) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). “Various attempts have been made by opponents of the papal claims to get rid of the only obvious and natural meaning of these words, according to which Peter is to be the rock-foundation of the Church, and the source of its indefectibility against the gates of hell.” (from

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18, 19, NKJV) Peter the First Pope? where does Jesus say Peter is “POPE”? where does Jesus say anything about such an office? where does Jesus say that Peter would have a successor? where does Jesus say that He is building the church on Peter?

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18, 19, NKJV) Peter the First Pope? giving Peter the keys is certainly not equivalent to building the church on him “keys” grant access and Peter with the other apostles would open the doors of the kingdom by preaching to the world (Acts 15:7; given to all apostles, Jn. 20:22, 23; Matt. 18:18)

“And I also say to you that you are Peter [Gk. petros], and on this rock [Gk. petra] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18, 19, NKJV) Who is the Rock? meaning is connected to verse 16 Peter identified Christ correctly Upon that bed rock (identification of Jesus as the Christ) Jesus will build his church “Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matt. 16:16)

Jesus alone is the Rock and Gatekeeper! “Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matt. 16:16) HADES 1Corinthians 10:4, “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock [Gk. petra] that followed them, and that Rock [Gk. petra] was Christ” (cf. 3:11; Rom. 9:33) "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31, cf. Rev. 1:18)

Peter confessed Jesus as the “Rock” (1 Pet. 2:4-8, NKJV) 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

“the head” 1Co 11:3, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (NKJV) Christ mankind ChristPope mankind

“the head” “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Eph. 4:15, NKJV) Christ church Pope church

Pope Infallible? “The Vatican Council has defined as ‘a divinely revealed dogma’ that ‘the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra 1 -- that is, when in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church -- is, by reason of the Divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility...’” (newadvent.org)newadvent.org 1 Ex cathedra – “from the chair”

“infallibility is not attributed to every doctrinal act of the pope, but only to his ex cathedra teaching; and the conditions required for ex cathedra teaching are mentioned in the Vatican decree: The pontiff must teach in his public and official capacity as pastor and doctor of all Christians, not merely in his private capacity as a theologian, preacher......Further it must be sufficiently evident that he intends to teach with all the fullness and finality of his supreme Apostolic authority, in other words that he wishes to determine some point of doctrine in an absolutely final and irrevocable way......Finally, for an ex cathedra decision it must be clear that the pope intends to bind the whole Church. To demand internal assent from all the faithful to his teaching under pain of incurring spiritual shipwreck...” (newadvent.org)newadvent.org

Peter Was Not A Pope He was married (Matt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5) He refused worship (Acts 10:25, 26) He was an “apostle” (1 Pet. 1:1) He was also an “elder” (1 Pet. 5:1) – an “elder” is a “bishop” (Titus 1:5, 7) He was fallible and could be rebuked openly (Gal. 2:10ff)

What Happens When: an angel brings something as “gospel” which contradicts that which is revealed in the word? a person brings something as “gospel” which contradicts that which is revealed in the word? a church holds to something as “gospel” which contradicts that which is revealed in the word?

ANSWER: Galatians 1:8, 9 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

In The Next Lesson We will examine more Catholic doctrine and compare it to what is written in the Scriptures – Discussion of the priesthood – Mary, with reference to immaculate conception, assumption, perpetual virginity – Transubstantiation – Sola Scriptura Please read the workbook section on Catholicism.