“Holy Ground” & Mary’s Perpetual Virginity

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 3:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

Immaculate Conception (1628-1629), by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** A priest who was helping a Baptist woman to understand the perpetual virginity of Mary became a bit frustrated, finally blurting out: “God Himself was in Mary’s womb!” In a moment of illumination or grace or inspiration, the woman understood, thinking: “Take off your shoes, for this is holy ground.” The many relevant biblical analogies took hold. We observe in Holy Scripture, for instance, Uzziah, who... Read more

Bible on Mary’s Assumption

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 3:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary (1611), by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** From my book, Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical (2015) *** Our Protestant friends in Christ often challenge us to find “proofs” of our doctrines in the Bible. When it comes to the doctrine of the Assumption, almost all of them think or say: “there is nothing whatever in the Bible about that!” I’d like to examine this question from two perspectives:... Read more

Biblical Arguments for Mary’s Perpetual Virginity

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 3:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Annunciation (1490/1495), by Jean Hey (fl. c. 1475 – c. 1505) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** From my book, Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical (2015) *** In a previous article, I wrote about the “Hebraic” use of the Greek adelphos: as applying to cousins, fellow countrymen, and a wide array of uses beyond the meaning of “sibling.” Yet it is unanimously translated as “brother” in the King James Version (KJV): 246 times. The cognate adelphe is translated 24... Read more

Prayer Directed to Saints: “New” [?] Biblical Argument

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 11:25 am By Dave Armstrong

Transfiguration of Christ (c. 1487), by Giovanni Bellini (c. 1430-1516) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** I absolutely love discovering things like this. I learned of it from Mary Sorenson, who follows my posts on Facebook. She wrote on my page, in the context of discussing the rich man’s prayer to Abraham (Luke 16): At the Transfiguration, Jesus spoke with Moses & Elijah. And, as He hung on the cross, calling out “Eloi, eloi…”, the people thought he was calling... Read more

Catholic Views: Grace, Merit, & Synergy: Collection of Articles

Last updated on: October 10, 2018 at 2:17 pm By Dave Armstrong

Cooperating with God as “Co-Laborers” in Doing Grace-Caused Good Works Paul’s Conversion on the Way to Damascus (c. 1601), by Caravaggio (1571-1610) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** These old Blogspot papers have now all been transferred to Patheos (host of my blog), and can be found at my Salvation, Justification, & “Faith Alone” Index Page.: mostly in the section: “GRACE, CATHOLIC ANTI-PELAGIANISM, SYNERGISM, AND MERIT.” ***** Read more

Dialogue on the Rich Man Praying to Abraham (Luke 16)

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 11:27 am By Dave Armstrong

Print illustrating the story of the rich man and Lazarus, from the Gospel of Luke, by Gustave Doré (1832-1883) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** This is a follow-up discussion regarding my post, Asking Saints to Intercede: Teaching of Jesus. I have edited for the sake of concentration of specific subject matter and flow in the dialogue. The entire exchange is found on my Facebook page. Dave Scott and John Atkinson are Protestants (John is an “ordained Anglican minister”). Dave’s words will be... Read more

Praying to Angels and Angelic Intercession: It’s Biblical!

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 11:29 am By Dave Armstrong

The Angel of the Lord Appearing to Hagar in the Wilderness, by Nicolas Colombel (1644-1717) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** From my book, Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical (2015). ***** Non-Catholic Christians believe that we can pray to no one but God, and ask no one to fulfill an intercessory prayer request but God. But what does the Bible teach? In the Old Testament, Lot makes such a request of two angels, who were sent by God to... Read more

Asking Saints to Intercede: Clear Teaching of Jesus

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 11:30 am By Dave Armstrong

Lazarus and the Rich Man (1865), by Eduard von Gebhardt (1838-1925) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** From my book, Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical (2015). ***** Have you ever talked to anyone who exclaimed: “The Bible never shows anyone praying to anyone other than God! And we can never communicate to anyone who is dead, either; that’s occultic!” Yet it’s indisputable that Jesus indeed plainly teaches the very thing that they claim is nonexistent in Scripture. In His... Read more

Justification in James: Catholic-Protestant Dialogue

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 11:35 am By Dave Armstrong

[You Tube / Creative Commons license] *** [Uploaded from public list discussions by Dave Armstrong on 8 May 2002. My opponents’ words will be in green and red; other citations will be in purple, with biblical citations in blue] ***** What is not biblical at all is “faith alone.” We know this because James expressly denies it (and so does Paul, repeatedly, but not as succinctly and concisely as James does, in one statement): James 2:24 (RSV) You see that... Read more

2nd Conversion? Reactionary Catholic Absurdities

Last updated on: April 16, 2020 at 10:22 am By Dave Armstrong

Image by Piotr Siedlecki [Public DomainPictures.Net] ***** (7 October 2003. Terminology revision: 8-7-13 and 5-18-16) ***** This article has been re-uploaded under the title, 2nd Conversion? Reactionary Absurdities Satirized. ***** Read more