Dialogue on Objections to the “Apocrypha”

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 2:55 pm By Dave Armstrong

(largely vs. Dr. Norman Geisler) Judas Maccabeus, who led the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167-160 B.C.), by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1996) *** An educated and committed evangelical Protestant friend (since received into the Catholic Church) wrote to me in October 1996, inquiring about arguments against the deuterocanonical books (“Apocrypha”) raised in Norman Geisler and Ralph MacKenzie’s book Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1995).... Read more

“Apocrypha”: Historical Case for Canonicity

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 2:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

Judith with the Head of Holophernes, by Simon Vouet (1590-1649) or follower [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (5-19-04) This is Appendix Three from my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (1996): * * * The Old Testament in Catholic Bibles contains seven more books than are found in Protestant Bibles (46 and 39, respectively). Protestants call these seven books the Apocrypha and Catholics know them as the deuterocanonical books. These seven books are: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom... Read more

Mary’s Assumption & “Reformer” Heinrich Bullinger

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 3:02 pm By Dave Armstrong

Heinrich Bullinger (1550), by Hans Asper (1499-1571) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (April 2007; revised on 6 April 2008) ***** Christian writer David Waltz cited in a discussion thread a book that cited a quotation of (Protestant “reformer”) Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) , from my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism. Here it is: Elijah was transported body and soul in a chariot of fire; he was not buried in any Church bearing his name, but mounted up to heaven,... Read more

Debate w Protestant on John 6 & the Eucharist

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 2:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

(vs. C. Michael Patton) Sermon on the Mount (c. 1912), by Rudolf Yelin der Ältere (1864-1940) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (12-4-08) *** This is a response to Calvinist evangelical C. Michael Patton’s article, Why I Don’t Buy the Roman Catholic Interpretation of John 6 in Defense of Transubstantiation (6 June 2008). His words (cited in their entirety) will be in blue. * * * * * Catholic apologetics is more robust today than it has been in the recent... Read more

Biblical Evidence for Veneration of Saints

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 3:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Sts. Mary, St. Augustine, St. Anne, St. Elizabeth, and St. Peter Damian (1481), by Ecole de’ Roberti (c. 1451-1496) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** From my book: Revelation!: 1001 Bible Answers to Theological Questions. Passages in KJV unless otherwise indicated. ***** 119. Veneration of Saints and Imitation of Holy Persons 119-1. Does St. Paul teach us to imitate him? Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever... Read more

Tragic Results of the Sexual Revolution

Last updated on: September 6, 2019 at 10:53 am By Dave Armstrong

This has been re-posted under the title: Sexual Revolution: Not “Liberation” But Societal Tragedy Photo credit: Home destroyed by one of the 22 tornadoes that swept across eastern Oklahoma on May 10, 2010. FEMA photo by Win Henderson [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Read more

Luther’s Views of Augustine & the Church Fathers

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 3:08 pm By Dave Armstrong

Martin Luther, 31 December 1525 (age 42), by Lucas Cranach the Elder [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (8-2-09) ***** Numbered excerpts are from Ewald M. Plass’s book of Luther citations, What Luther Says (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959; one-volume edition; tenth printing, 1994). * * * * * I ask the papists to note that I am doing them no injustice. They must certainly confess that their cause is not grounded in Scripture and that their faith and... Read more

Early Protestants & St. Augustine: Ambiguity

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 3:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon (1537), by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1-28-04) *** The words in blue are from Dr. Edwin Tait: an Anglican Church historian. ***** I asked Dave about this, and he gave me a reference to a letter of Melanchthon’s in which Melanchthon said that he knew Augustine didn’t fully support the Protestant view but cited him as a supporter because of Augustine’s accepted authority. I have not looked at the... Read more

Did Luther Suffer from Recurring Depression?

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 3:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

Portrait of Martin Luther (1528), by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (7-4-07) *** Some folks seem to think that it is “anti-Protestant” or “anti-Luther” or otherwise thoroughly unsavory and impolite, or even unecumenical to even ask this question, yet it is undeniably a valid issue, with many historians coming down on the affirmative regarding the matter. Nor is it improper and outrageous to opine that the existence of such things, if documented, might have some... Read more

Calvinist Irresistible Grace: Biblical?

Last updated on: February 27, 2017 at 3:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

From my book: Revelation!: 1001 Bible Answers to Theological Questions (2013). Verses KJV unless specified as RSV. The book is Jeopardy-like apologetics catechism, where all the answers to questions are from Holy Scripture. ***** 52. Falsity of the Calvinist Doctrine of Irresistible Grace 52-1. Can people refuse to listen to God’s call? Proverbs 1:23-25 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.[24] Because I have called,... Read more

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