Biblical Evidence for Catholicism - Page 162 of 221

Dialogue: Luke 1:28 and the Immaculate Conception

December 8, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

Sistine Madonna (1513-1514), by Raphael (1483-1520) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (7-11-06) *** Ken Temple is a Baptist pastor. His words will be in blue, and mine from an earlier related paper in purple. * * * * * Protestants are hostile to the notions of Mary’s freedom from actual sin . . . purpose of being the Mother of Jesus Christ, and don’t see that this is “fitting” or “appropriate” (as Catholics do). Mary was chosen as the woman who… Read more

How Legal Same-Sex Unions Came About: A History of Ideas

December 8, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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[Pixabay / CC0 Public Domain] (7-9-15) PREAMBLE I love the history of ideas. When something this momentous occurs it is useful, I think, to step back and take a look at what has transpired in recent history to bring about such a tragic breakdown of societal morals and traditions. These are my own speculations along those lines. 1. THE CRUCIAL, FUNDAMENTAL CONTRACEPTION CONNECTION The initial “intellectual opening” to the notion of a so-called “gay marriage” came about, I believe, in a two-step… Read more

Yet Another Reply to Bum Raps Against Apologetics

December 8, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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Apologetics is disliked usually because of personal inability, or observing others doing it badly. A Catholic wrote on the Coming Home Network [“CHNI”] discussion board where I moderate [a job I had from 2007-2010], that apologetics was “useless” and that it consisted of “people arguing their little points always taken out of context.” She proclaimed loudly that she had “no use for apologetics” and that “arguing little points settles nothing and only further polarizes.” Well, as you can imagine, that didn’t… Read more

Exchange on Miracles and Hyper-Rationalism (vs. Atheist)

December 7, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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A miracle is not a mere magical trick. Zan Zig performing with rabbit and roses, including hat trick and levitation. Advertising poster for the magician (1899) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license] * * * cest_moi appears to be an atheist or agnostic. This occurred in the combox of my post, Bible on the Perpetual Virginity of Mary. His words will be in blue. I’ll leave his ungrammatical writing as is. * * * * * if a person is making… Read more

The Ridiculous “Anti-Francis” Mentality: My Theory in Brief

December 7, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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Drawing, 18th century (?), after Charles Le Brun [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license] * * * * * We apologists have to keep defending the pope because people are unable to figure out and grasp distinctions of style and different forms of language: precisely what fundamentalists get wrong in interpreting the Bible, and what the Pharisees got wrong in approaching our Lord Jesus. Legalism, taking things out of context, the inability to comprehend different approaches to things, as if… Read more

Carol of the Angels (Dave Armstrong’s 13th Christmas Poem)

December 7, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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The Annunciation (1898), by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * [written in the wee hours of 7 December 2015] * * * I am the archangel Gabriel, privileged to stand in the presence of the Lord. [1] When Zechariah fathered John the Baptist; I explained to him John’s role. [2] To holy Daniel of old I prophesied about 70 weeks and empires of the sword. [3] The entire landscape of history from beginning to end; all… Read more

St. Nicholas Speaks (Dave Armstrong’s 11th Christmas Poem)

December 7, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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St. Nicholas Byzantine icon from the Chapel of the Holy Trinity at Theological School of Chalki, Heybeliada Turkey. Photo by “Lapost”: 11 July 2005 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] (12-8-12) My name is St. Nicholas; and from the 4th century I do hail; I was Bishop of Myra, on the southwestern coast of Turkey. I spent time in the Holy Land, and also in Diocletian’s jails; Fought the Arian heretics at Nicaea, but my history is murky. * *… Read more

“Pope is God”? Similar Rhetoric from Luther & Bullinger

December 6, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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Anti-Catholics repeatedly fail to understand how language is used. *** 2 Peter 1:3-4 (RSV) His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. Romans 5:2 Through him… Read more

Kneeling for Communion and Worship (Reverent Posture)

December 6, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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Original Title: Variant Postures for Worship & Reception of Holy Communion: the Biblical Data, & Cultural Factors Communion rails from St. Martin’s Church (Thompson, Norfolk), built in the 15th century. The rails were installed by Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud in 1630. Photo by Bill Sibley: 1 March 2008 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license] (1-23-13) The following comments were taken from a Facebook thread; further below, I collect a large number of related Bible verses. * * * * * That,… Read more

Biblical Evidences for the Perpetual Virginity of Mary

December 5, 2015 By Dave Armstrong

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The Annunciation, by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * This is from my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (1996), pp. 194-199. * * * * * Scriptural Evidence: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary The Greek word for brother in the New Testament is adelphos. The well-known Protestant linguistic reference An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words [by W. E. Vine], defines it as follows: Adelphos: denotes a brother, or near kinsman; in the plural, a community based on identity… Read more