Infallible Church Authority (vs. Anglican Stearns #1)

Last updated on: March 11, 2025 at 2:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

Particularly With Regard to Being Led by the Holy Spirit Edward Josiah Stearns (1810-1890) was an Episcopal clergyman from Maryland and author of several books. His volume, The Faith of Our Forefathers (New York: Thomas Whittaker, 1879), was a reply to The Faith of Our Fathers (1876), by James Cardinal Gibbons (1834-1921), one of the best and most well-known Catholic apologetics works, with an emphasis on scriptural arguments and replies to Protestant critiques of Catholicism. It had sold over 1.4... Read more

The James White St. Ignatius of Antioch Controversy

Last updated on: March 7, 2025 at 3:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

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“Yes, Virginia, There Was a St. Ignatius of Antioch” This came about after his recent debate with Joe Heschmeyer regarding whether the Catholic Mass is propitiatory. During one of the cross-examination periods, Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White (see my large web page devoted to him and also my long 2013 book, Debating James White: Shocking Failures of the “Undefeatable” Anti-Catholic Champion) mentioned in passing that in contemporary scholarship, there is a movement that denies the historical existence of St. Ignatius... Read more

The Sacrifice of the Mass in Hebrews & Revelation

Last updated on: March 6, 2025 at 8:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

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I’m inspired by the fabulous performance of Catholic Answers apologist Joe Heschmeyer vs. Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White in the recent debate, “Is the Mass A Propitiatory Sacrifice?” Joe pointed out how Protestants look the death of the Jesus on the cross as a one-time event (as indeed it was), but in a way that precludes a revisiting of it in the Mass. But then he noted how there was a difference in the Old Testament sacrificial system between the... Read more

Reply to François Turretin #14: Eucharist, Pt. 2

Last updated on: March 1, 2025 at 3:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

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False premises; unfounded, unbiblical divine “impossibilities”; cessationism; ten types of physical divine presence François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It was a... Read more

Reply to François Turretin #13: Transubstantiation, Pt. 2

Last updated on: February 27, 2025 at 11:32 am By Dave Armstrong

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Language of “bread” & “wine” after consecration; transubstantiation and transformation: compendium from the Church fathers François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It... Read more

Reply to François Turretin #12: Transubstantiation, Pt. 1

Last updated on: February 27, 2025 at 11:29 am By Dave Armstrong

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Does Turretin think biblically in this regard or hyper-rationally and skeptically? François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It was a popular textbook;... Read more

François Turretin and the Debate Over the Lord’s Supper

Last updated on: February 26, 2025 at 1:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Does a traditional literal reading of “this is my body” entail “a thousand absurdities and contradictions”? The book of Job is instructive Vs. Turretin #11: Eucharist, Pt. 1 François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving... Read more

Newman, Sinless Mary, & Development (vs. Javier Perdomo)

Last updated on: February 13, 2025 at 11:46 am By Dave Armstrong

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. . . Concentrating on the New Eve Analogy in the Church Fathers and its Full Implication Regarding Mary’s Freedom from Actual and Original Sin This is a follow-up to my previous articles, Mary’s Sinlessness & the Fathers (vs. Javier Perdomo) [2-5-25] and Patristic Development of a Sinless Mary (Cdl. Newman) [2-6-25], and responds to a further counter-reply from the Lutheran apologist and YouTuber, Javier Perdomo, on his own thread, Church Fathers & Medievals on the Immaculate Conception [2-4-25]. His words will... Read more

John Calvin’s Ten Striking “Catholic” Views

Last updated on: February 14, 2025 at 12:47 am By Dave Armstrong

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John Calvin (1509-1564) was the second most important leader in the earliest days of Protestantism, and arguably, even more historically influential, in terms of theology, than its founder, Martin Luther. Citations from Institutes of the Christian Religion (abbreviated as “Inst.) were translated by Henry Beveridge for the Calvin Translation Society in 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; reprinted by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1995, and available for free online. ***** 1) The One True Church... Read more

Biblical “Hope” & Catholic Moral Assurance of Salvation

Last updated on: February 13, 2025 at 11:07 am By Dave Armstrong

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All passages RSV. Hebrews 3:6-8, 12-14 but Christ was faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence [parrésia: Strong’s word # 3954] and pride in our hope. [elpis: #1680] [7] Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, when you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, . . .” [12] Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you... Read more