Yes; a supernatural healing is what I’m claiming, and I can substantiate it with both my history of stomach problems and the systematic way in which I’ve experimented over a two-week period by trying out the various, numerous foods I haven’t been able to eat — most for many years — , since the suspected miracle. I went about it pretty much as the Church does when it investigates purported miraculous occurrences of various sorts, with an examination entailing empirical evidence and reason. That’s not skepticism; rather, it’s the blending of belief in the miraculous, with objective ways of determining when a specific purported miracle has actually occurred or not, so that it can more effectively be shared to the world as a testimony of God’s power and mercy and love.
I’ve never been skeptical of miracles since I dedicated my life to God in the spring of 1977. I have defended them in my writings and have always believed — both as a Protestant evangelical and as a Catholic — that all the charismatic gifts are operative in the Church today, and that even the most dramatic, extraordinary miracles still occur: such as the raising of the dead. In fact, I have been saying since 1978 that I was healed of serious, clinical depression, that I experienced for about six months in 1977. I’ve never had serious depression since that time.
Let me describe my background in this respect. Once it’s understood, the striking nature of the miraculous healing is all the more manifest. I used to eat absolutely anything I wanted (and — those were the days! — wouldn’t gain any weight, either) up till about roughly the time I got married (October 1984) at age 26. But in 1983 I started eating a lot less sugar, as I had hypoglycemia.
At that time, many doctors were very skeptical that the condition even existed (it was usually collapsed into a variant of diabetes if it was acknowledged at all): much as many doctors today are skeptical regarding fibromyalgia and Lyme Disease. But I read a few books, figured out that it was likely what I had (since I felt lousy at the ripe old age of 25 and otherwise healthy). So I started the new diet and in due course (after a withdrawal period) I felt great.
My wife Judy and I have tried to eat as healthy as finances allowed throughout our entire marriage, and we strongly believe in holistic health, alternative medicine, and herbalism (while not in the least discounting the many great treatments of conventional medicine: “both/and”), and have experienced the relief or disappearance of many symptoms and maladies through the years, that I have written about, so others could benefit from the same knowledge.
One of the first things I remember with regard to difficulties when eating certain foods would have been in the second half of the 80s, with extracts. This problem may have also been with alcohol, because they all have them. I discovered that after we made various puddings and cookies that included extracts. The next thing I recall having a big problem with is salad dressing, where the culprit is vinegar. Acidic foods are very numerous and go far beyond citric acid (as in orange juice) and acetic acid (vinegar).
Increasingly through the years it became clear that I had the classic ulcer symptoms, and had problems with acidy foods, herbs and spices, pepper, concentrated or dried foods, extracts, alcohol, and carbonated drinks. Scientists now know that ulcers do not derive from simply worrying too much and/or stress in general (‘m not a “worrier” type anyway). The most common cause is a bacteria, Helicobacter pylori. A second cause is the over-use or extended use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines): pain and fever medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen (none of which I take; I use acetaminophen [Tylenol]). I’ve taken various digestive aids for many years (particularly one called Super-Digestaway, which has become very expensive).
In addition to an ulcer, I seem to have developed IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or something like it. This caused me to have trouble digesting food just about every day. The problems (usually bloating) generally started in the mid-afternoon and extended into the evenings and sometimes overnight, too. Not infrequently I’d wake up in pain in the middle of the night, and pop Rolaids. I also increasingly had difficulties when I didn’t eat often enough. It’s thought that the onset of IBS may be triggered by a great amount of stress, and I did indeed experience extreme stress and even severe trauma in the year 2024.
So that’s where I was at on March 10th (eleven days ago as I write): chomping Rolaids like candy, using a heating pad almost every night to relieve the bloating, heartburn, sour stomach, cramping, and plain old stomach aches. At the worst times I would take a hot bath or drink chamomile tea. Blessedly, all four of these remedies worked pretty well. But they were strictly temporary, and I wanted more than a “Band-Aid”. I resolved to try to get rid of the root causes, because it gets old having to do these things every day. I was starting to not even enjoy eating, which had never happened before.
I tried the standard conventional “triple therapy” treatment for ulcers (having no objection to it: “if it works, it works” [pragmatism]). According to one study in the journal, Digestion, it brought about a cure rate of 84%. But for some reason I was in the 16%. Then I tried various and sundry natural (usually herbal) remedies, including one herb known in Brazil, recommended by a doctor there who knew me on Facebook. That didn’t work, either. So I restricted my diet more and more, eventually trying to eat less at a time, too (which is said to help), but nothing worked. I’ve also sought to avoid excessive seed oils (I earned that oils are high-acid, too), after doing some research on that, and bioengineered foods and harmful additives to food, in the last six months, and to eat as many non-GMO / organic foods as I can find — and afford, as they can be quite pricey.
Apart from my family, people who have been following my work, especially on Facebook, are familiar with my stomach problems, because I have written about them several times and put up low-acid / low-spice recipes. They know what I’ve gone through, and that it has been a long-term and relatively serious problem. Of course “in-person” friends are also aware of this, since it comes up every time I am at some gathering and food is provided, or at restaurants. This also verifies the miraculous nature of what has happened to me.
I attended this event at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish in Brighton, Michigan, on Monday evening, March 10th, 2025. After a time of worship and a few testimonies of past healings, several teams of prayer-warriors (usually consisting of four people) were formed in order to pray for specific healing requests. When my turn came, I explained to one of the teams what my problems were (basically a very brief capsule summary of the above). They started praying, together at first and then one-by-one. While the fourth person was praying, I experienced a “flushed” feeling, or warmth in my head which then went down with a sort of tingling to my stomach: what I described to them as “like goose-bumps.”
Apparently, in healings, there is often some sort of feeling like this. They then prayed a second time, individually, but the experience didn’t happen again. I thanked them all and wondered if I had been healed or not. I didn’t rule it out, especially since my daughter had told me that according to what she had learned in her studies attending Encounter, that sometimes it took a day or two before people experienced healings after prayer. Time would tell.
On either Monday or Tuesday night (this is the only detail I don’t remember for certain), as I was laying in bed about to go to sleep, I experienced an intense sort of little “explosion” in the pit of my stomach and very intense pain for maybe 10-20 seconds. I thought that this might possibly be another manifestation or sign of a healing, because of its unique nature. I had the usual problems and symptoms on Tuesday, the day after the prayers for healing. But starting on Wednesday (March 12th), the symptoms of ulcer and IBS disappeared, and have not returned since (thirteen days ago as I write).
Being systematic and methodical as I am, I decided after four days of this, to start testing out foods, to verify whether a miraculous healing had occurred. On Sunday (March 16th) on the way to church I announced to my wife and daughter that I may have been healed, because of the lack of all adverse symptoms for four days, and after church the first thing I ate was a large order of crinkle fries at Arby’s, with a significant amount of ketchup (i.e., vinegar).I could still eat fries prior to the healing, but it had to be without ketchup (boring!). Even so I noticed that when I ate them at home, I would react to the (acidy) olive oil on the potatoes (even from an organic brand that we bought). I couldn’t win for losing! But this time, I had no adverse reaction at all.
On Tuesday, March 18th, I had a granola cereal for breakfast that gave me trouble the time before (from oil, cinnamon, and cardamom). Then for lunch I had a tuna sandwich with mayo and pickles. For dinner I had homemade pizza on whole wheat pita bread (we’ve done that for 40 years) with (acidy) pineapples, and at night, Triscuit crackers. The oil in those had caused me problems a week or so earlier. But after all of that “forbidden” food in one day, my stomach and intestines were perfectly fine.
On Wednesday, March 19th, “Day Nine” after the healing, I had another tuna sandwich and hot rice cereal with raisins (the latter had been a digestive problem, as a dried food). Again, success!
On Thursday, March 20th, Day Ten, I had more fries and ketchup for a snack in the evening, with no problems again.
On Friday, March 21st, Day 11, I had more Triscuits and cheese for lunch. For dinner we had what used to be one of my favorite foods: tuna salad, with whole wheat elbow noodles, sweet relish, and mayo. The mayonnaise (from the brand Simple Truth, sold at Kroger’s and with a taste very similar to Miracle Whip) itself contained vinegar, soybean oil, egg yolk, mustard, and lemon juice: all of which I couldn’t previously eat for some time.
It was fabulous! I remarked over dinner how I was really starting to enjoy food again, as it should be. I had almost lost that pleasure, even with my favorite foods: perhaps largely because of the boredom and repetition of a severely restricted diet. I guess the anxiety about adverse reactions might psychologically work against the pleasure of taste buds, too. At night, I snacked on toast with butter, honey and cinnamon. But now everything was again fine. God is so good and loving!
On Saturday, March 22nd, Day 12, at dinnertime I “dared” to attempt the “nuclear option”: pizza (Jet’s, Detroit deep dish style) with pepperoni and green peppers. For years, I have continued to eat pizza made with pineapple chunks, which were removed before I ate (one still tastes the juice). At least I could still eat that. My drink at dinner was A&W root beer. All of this was successful too.
On Sunday, March 23rd, Day 13, I continued testing by having a ham sandwich with mayo, mustard, ketchup, and “hot” pickles. For dinner, the “new” foods were sweet and sour sauce (Kraft brand) on breaded chicken (I used to also love that combination as a kid). No problems!
On Monday, March 24th, Day 14, I had root beer for my drink at lunch. No symptoms at all. If anyone has a “natural” explanation for this, feel free! I’d love to see it.
I think I can safely say that the healing of my ulcer and IBS is by now more than abundantly confirmed. Praise God! All glory and honor to Him! It gives me great pleasure to be able to proclaim this testimony and report (with evidence from my own experience) that God is still in the healing business today, just as He always has been. I’ve experienced it now twice. As you can see, this miracle has been thoroughly and exhaustively documented. Others in my family have had healings, too. My son Paul had a serious knee problem that was healed on the same night. And he had been healed before some years ago of a muscular and bone issue.
The two mistakes people all too frequently make with regard to healing miracles involve going to one of two extremes: believing either that God never heals in this day and age or that He always does, by our command, as it were (a serious and dangerous error that I refuted at length in a treatise way back in 1982, as a Protestant charismatic: one of my first major apologetics efforts). Don’t let the devil mislead you with either of these lies. What we do know — from the Bible and from scientific and eyewitness verification — is that God still heals today: in His own time and place and for His own purposes: usually unknown or not fully known by us mere mortals. It usually is connected with a strong faith in the person who is healed, but not always, per the Bible and the experience of observation. That said, no one has anything to lose and has a lot to possibly gain by asking and praying for healing. It’s very real. I urge all to believe it, and pray for it. Don’t ignore this part of the Bible. Unfortunately, however, most Catholic parishes do ignore or disbelieve it, and that’s a great shame.
To top it off, I looked up what feast day fell on March 10th: the day I was healed. It’s St. John Ogilvie (1579-1615), a Scotsman who was raised in a noble family as a Calvinist, converted, and became a Jesuit priest and martyr. He’s the only post-“Reformation” Scottish saint. Being part Scottish myself (Armstrong being a border clan), and a convert, I think it’s very appropriate. I love how God is involved in every detail. He’s wonderful in that way
ADDENDUM 1 (3-26-25): Garlic and Onion Factors
I did experience on 3-25-25 my first adverse digestive issue in two weeks (semi-diarrhea). So what I did is do what I’ve always done: trace what I ate and determine what food correlates with the problem. And what I had eaten was, in the space of a few days, two 8 oz, bags of Lays’ Barbecue Chips, mostly accompanied by French Onion dip. I had a lot of that last might at about 11 PM by itself, so there was a clear correlation. Now, what do they both have in common? It’s dried onion and garlic. I did a little quick research on that (and the related onion and garlic powder) and discovered, apart from the obvious matter of greater concentration, that dried onion and garlic often have unlisted preservatives added to them, too. I think it’s this distinction, plus the great quantities I have eaten in testing the miracle, and my usual not-enough-water, that are the culprits. The dip is sour cream-based, too (see Addendum 2 below).
What this reveals to me is that I’m still sensitive (if not allergic) to at least the dried / dehydrated type of onion and garlic. I have, in fact, been eating some amount of “straight” garlic and onion for years with no problem, in our old standby, Little Caesar’s pizza. And I have had it in spaghetti sauce (Prego or Ragu) that we use for homemade pizza, our entire marriage; and we would put onion slices on top of homemade baked beans in the crock pot, etc. This shows me that it’s the dried, concentrated element and/or “hidden” preservatives added to it that is likely the specific problem, and that it’s probably still possible to eat both in much smaller quantities.
With the above qualifications in mind, I have removed the foods that I reported as having eaten with no problem that had onion and/or garlic in them, so I’m not misrepresenting anything. It’s true that for two weeks I had no symptoms of digestive problems at all (I didn’t exaggerate or misreport anything), so there is some mystery to this, and God wants us to use our minds to analyze things, and to be sensible and balanced and prudent. The many and various foods that remain listed above in all my days of testing, have been eaten without any adverse reactions.
ADDENDUM 2 (4-9-25): Regarding Food Allergies or Sensitivities
I originally claimed that I was healed of my ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBC) and “food allergies.” At the time, after massive testing of various foods, that seemed to be the case, by all indications. But now, thirty days after my healing took place, it appears fairly certain that I was not healed of all of my “food difficulties” or allergies or “oversensitivity” to certain foods. I have sought to be scientific and reasoned about this all along and to be as candid and honest as I can be. It’s still evident — I want to emphasize this — that I have been healed of my ulcer and IBS, because the symptoms of those are very clear: particularly the negative response to acids and spices and other classic symptoms (ulcer) and the distinctive daily bloating, usually in the evening (IBS). Those are gone, and there hasn’t been any variability in (the absence of) my reactions.
It’s simply a matter of accurately identifying exactly what was healed and what is not healed as I go through my daily eating routine. Digestive difficulties are complex and multi-faceted. It seems that I still have, for example, my lactose intolerance. And yesterday I had mushroom soup for the first time in many 30 (?) years, and had an adverse reaction that could only have been that. I’m still not totally sure about peanut butter and eggs (two foods that many people have trouble digesting), and have to test those some more. So some of these non-ulcer / non-IBS problems were not healed. I can still say that I have a “sensitive stomach.” As with the garlic and onion, I will remove references to these foods, and modify my title too, so as not to leave an erroneous impression.
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Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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Photo credit: Healing of the Blind Man, by Carl Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
Summary: I explain in great detail and specificity, the miraculous healing of my serious digestive problems on 3-10-25, including a rundown of numerous “tests” I did to verify the change.
Particularly With Regard to Being Led by the Holy Spirit
Photo credit: Image of the title page of The Faith of Our Forefathers (New York: Thomas Whittaker, 6th edition, 1879), by Edward Josiah Stearns [public domain / Bookmarxbooks page for this title]
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 million copies by the time of its 83rd edition in 1917 and was the most popular book in the United States until Gone With the Wind was published in 1939. This volume highly influenced my own development as a soon-to-be Catholic apologist in the early 1990s: especially with regard to my usual modus operandi of focusing on “biblical evidence” for Catholicism.
The words of Rev. Stearns will be in blue, and those of Cardinal Gibbons in green. I use RSV for biblical citations.
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Another “shining mark” of the Church, though not contained in the creed, is, according to the Archbishop, her ” Infallible Authority.”
“That the Church was infallible in the Apostolic age, is denied by no Christian. We never question the truth of the Apostles’ declarations; they were, in fact, the only authority in the Church for the first century. The New Testament was not completed till the close of the first century. There is no just ground for denying to the Apostolic teachers of the nineteenth century in which we live, a prerogative clearly possessed by those of the first, especially as the divine Word nowhere intimates that this unerring guidance was to die with the Apostles”(p. 83).
There is an unmistakable “intimation” in St. John, 14:25, 26, that this guidance was “to die with” them: “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The part I have italicized, confines the promise to the Apostles; it is physically impossible that it should be fulfilled to their successors. (pp. 47-48)
This is very odd exegesis. Rev. Stearns seems blissfully unaware that the disciples and apostles represented Christian authority in perpetuity. The Holy Spirit was to be the Guide and Helper of Church leaders. It makes no sense that this was to be the case only for the apostles, and then cease to exist. But such is the bankruptcy in many Protestant circles with regard to the continuance of charismatic gifts. The Protestant Benson Commentary states: “Here is a clear promise to the apostles, and their successors in the faith, that the Holy Ghost should teach them all that truth which was needful for their salvation.”
But if a Protestant wishes to claim that this promise of profound assistance from the Holy Spirit applied only to the disciples — despite the fact that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer — , then he would have to explain why St. Paul casually assumes that He would also be operative as a spiritual Guide for each non-apostle Gentile Christian (thus, by extension, every Christian at all times):
Romans 8:14, 16 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. . . . it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.
Ephesians 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [prophets were not apostles, and the office of prophet and gift of prophecy is present in the new covenant and continues on, as is assumed in the New Testament]
Hebrews 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; . . .
2 Peter 1:21 because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
This charism was to be passed on in a special way to the leaders of the Church:
2 Timothy 1:14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. (cf. Acts 15:28 below)
The Archbishop’s argument is, An infallible God cannot create a fallible Church. He might as well argue that an infallible God cannot create a fallible man. We know that an infallible God did create a fallible Church, to wit, the Jewish; the fact, therefore, that the Catholic Church was created by an infallible God, is no proof that she is herself infallible. (p. 51)
That’s true as far as it goes, but is a non sequitur, since the Bible teaches — apart from all of these observations — that the Church is infallible:
Acts 15:28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: . . . [this is a council of the Church in Jerusalem at that time, led by “apostles and elders” (16:4) — elders not being apostles — and prevented from error by the Holy Spirit Himself; hence, infallible]
Acts 16:4 As they [Paul and Silas] went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. [the decrees from the council were binding on Christians far and wide; this is assuredly not a local church ecclesiology. Silas was also a prophet (15:32)]
Now, one might argue about where this infallible Church is to be found, or whether it is the Catholic Church led by popes, but the Bible undoubtedly teaches that the Church was to be infallible: in the general assertion of 1 Timothy 3:15 and the concrete application and exercise of this authority at the Jerusalem Council: to which even St. Paul is bound.
In the same chapter, Rev. Stearns trots out the obligatory polemical arguments regarding Popes Vigilius and Honorius, who supposedly disproved the decree on papal infallibility in 1870 at Vatican I in their beliefs and actions (they did not). What he doesn’t do (also almost obligatory) is present the Catholic counter-argument in each case. I have several links which will provide that service to my readers:
Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my YouTube channel, Catholic Bible Highlights, where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Photo credit: Image of the title page of The Faith of Our Forefathers (New York: Thomas Whittaker, 6th edition, 1879), by Edward Josiah Stearns [public domain / Bookmarxbooks page for this title]
Summary: Reply to Anglican Edward Josiah Stearns regarding the Church’s infallibility, including passages about the Holy Spirit’s leading, 1 Timothy 3:15, & the Jerusalem council.
François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-ItalianReformed scholastictheologian and renowned defender of theCalvinistic(Reformed) orthodoxyrepresented by theSynod 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. HisInstitutes of Elenctic Theology(three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholasticmethod. “Elenctic”means“refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism andArminianism. It was a popular textbook; notably atPrinceton Theological Seminary, until it was replaced by Charles Hodge’sSystematic Theology in the late 19th century. Turretin also greatly influenced thePuritans.
This is a reply to portions of a section of Institutes of Elenctic Theology (Vol. 3, 19th Topic: The Sacraments / 28th Question: The Corporeal Presence of Christ in the Supper and the Oral Manducation of It). I utilizethe edition translated by George Musgrave Giger and edited by James T. Dennison, Jr. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Phillipsburg, New Jersey: 1992 / 1994 / 1997; 2320 pages). It uses the KJV for Bible verses. I will use RSV unless otherwise indicated. All installments of this series of replies can be found on myCalvinism & General Protestantism web page, under the category, “Replies to Francois Turretin (1632-1687).” Turretin’s words will be inblue.
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Is Christ corporeally present in the Eucharist, and is he eaten with the mouth by believers? We deny against the Romanists and Lutherans.
And they “deny” against the Church fathers, medieval theologians, and the Bible. Not a good place to be . . .
The fiction of transubstantiation having been overthrown, . . .
I must have missed it. But it’s not overthrown if I am around to shoot down the weak and insufficient and radically unbiblical arguments against it. One day all saved believers will know what the truth of the matter is and will all agree. What a marvelous and blessed concept!: total unity. How sad that it was supposed to be like that in the Church all along.
The Scriptures so often propose to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ as the foundation and source of all his blessings . . .
Isn’t it odd and sad that Turretin can so casually and frequently make reference to “the body and blood of Christ” while at the same time denying that it really is that? But that’s the first thing that theological falsehood and heresy do: change the plain meanings of words.
Hence they invented a local and corporeal presence in order that it might be eaten with the mouth.
We didn’t invent anything. Jesus introduced these ideas, that had never crossed anyone’s mind:
John 6:50-51, 53-58 “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. . . . if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. . . . unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, . . . For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. . . . he who eats me will live because of me. . . . This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
How many repetitions of an obvious truth does one need? It’s almost as if God was anticipating the eucharistic nonsense that we have been burdened with since the 1520s, and made the truth of the matter so clear in Scripture that no one without a prior bias or constant brainwashing could possibly deny it. Yet they do . . . so our apologetic and exegetical task still remains.
It is not inquired whether our union with Christ is necessary for salvation (which we acknowledge and urge) . . .
Note how he rightfully holds that partaking of Holy Communion is “necessary for salvation.”
Christ’s body is proposed in the Supper to us and represented by the sacramental signs as dead and his blood as poured out of his veins (in which manner it is impossible for Christ’s body to be made present to us at this day corporeally and indistantly [adiastatōs], since he can die no more); . . .
This is simply not impossible at all for God to do. Nothing logically forbids it, for those who grant miracles, the supernatural, and God’s omnipotence. Turretin assumes it but doesn’t prove it. Again, he thinks like the Pauline “unspiritual man.” His God is “too small.” As a thought experiment, imagine that instead of becoming one man, Jesus, in the incarnation, God the Father decided to become 10,000 men? Who could tell Him that it was “impossible” to do that? It’s no more impossible than one incarnation was. It’s no more impossible than God subsisting in three Persons, yet being one God and not three. Yet Turretin wants us to believe that it’s “impossible for Christ’s body to be made present to us at this day corporeally.” Nonsense!
Christ commands us “to do this in remembrance of him” (Lk. 22:19). Now memory is only of things absent and past, not of those present; nor, if all things are said to be present to faith, is this understood of a local presence . . .
Actually, the words used suggest a timeless present. The one crucifixion of Jesus in history is supernaturally made present to us in the Mass. See:
From the passages in which the departure of Christ from the world is spoken of. (a) Where he predicts that he will go out of the world and will no longer be present here in his body: “Ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always” (Mt. 26:11); “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (Jn. 16:28); . . .
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Being sacramentally present is a different category of presence, so that there is no conflict in His saying that He would be gone in the sense of what He was during His earthly life. “Apples and oranges” in other words . . .
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“They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds” (Mt. 24:30).
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Exactly! That’s obviously visible presence; whereas eucharistic Real Presence is discerned only by faith and revelation. This isn’t complicated. I contend that Protestants who deny the Real Presence don’t have enough faith. It’s a “miracle too far” for them. This is primarily a spiritual lack, as opposed to an intellectual one. Many of these same Protestants who deny the Real Presence, by the way, disbelieve in all miracles since the apostolic age (what’s known as cessationism). The Wikipedia article on the topic states,
The cessationist doctrine arose in the Reformed theology: initially in response to claims of Roman Catholic miracles. . . .
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It was when these miracles in the Catholic Church were used as a polemic against the post-Reformation Protestant churches that John Calvin began to develop a doctrine of cessationism, and it was primarily in the Calvinist tradition that this doctrine was developed. . . .
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The Roman Catholic Church and most other wings of Protestantism were never cessationist by doctrine.
In other words, disbelief in continuing miracles wasn’t based on the Bible (where, of course, it is never taught), but rather, upon anti-Catholic prejudice and polemics; not exactly an indisputable criterion of belief in anything. Sure enough, in the same volume 3 of the work I am critiquing, Turretin adopts cessationism: “miracles are accidents and extraordinary gifts which were given to the church only for a time, not always; for the establishment of Christianity, not for its continuance” (18.13.43; from an article on Turretin’s ecclesiology).
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Obviously, if one is already hostile to miracles under false and unbiblical pretenses, then one will be disinclined to accept miracles at every Church gathering, which is what occurs in the Catholic Mass. So there is an inveterate false premise before we even begin this discussion. This is why one must always examine the underlying premises and presuppositions of one’s dialogical opponents. They determine everything else. It reminds me of Jesus’ remarks about “a foolish man who built his house upon the sand” (Mt 7:26), as opposed to building it on a “rock” (7:24).
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From all these, an invincible argument is derived.
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In fact, it isn’t “invincible” at all because it’s built upon false premises, or “sand” — as Jesus would say.
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He who departed in body from the earth and left the world that he might betake himself to heaven where he is to remain until the restitution of all things; who is sought in vain on earth where he no longer is; and must be sought in heaven, where he sits at the right hand of God, cannot be said to be carnally present in the sacrament. . . . It is repugnant to the words of Christ, which speak of his departure and leaving the world, not only concerning the disappearance and hiddenness of his body. But how can he be said to leave the world and to be raised up into heaven, if he as yet remains perpetually on earth?
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This doesn’t follow because he is again comparing apples and oranges. There are at least twenty major types of divine presence, that I can think of: ten involving physicality and ten in an immaterial sense:
3) God was “with” the victorious armies of the Israelites (Jud 6:16) and with holy men like Moses and Joshua.
4) God was present in sublime visual scenes, such as described by Isaiah, Daniel, and St. John (Is 6:1-7; Dan 7:1-10; Rev 1:12-16).
5) God was specially present in — even to the point of being equated with — the Angel of the Lord.
6) God indwells believers. The Bible says this interchangeably about all three Persons of the Holy Trinity. Once again, God is “in” physical matter (us).
7) We are continually working towards being united to God in the sense of theosis / divinization (2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:15; 2 Pet 1:4).
12) God was present in theophanies in the Old Testament.
13) God became a man, Jesus, in the incarnation (Jesus’ 33 years or so of earthly life).
14) Jesus was present for forty days as the incarnate God the Son risen from the dead, with a resurrected body capable of walking through walls (Jn 20:19, 26).
15) Jesus will be physically present in His glorified post-Ascension state when He returns in the Second Coming.
16) Jesus is present sacramentally (a different sort of miraculous physicality) in the Holy Eucharist.
17) We’re mysteriously united to Jesus in His death and resurrection in baptism (Rom 6:3-8).
18) We’re united in a profound sense to Jesus’ death and resurrection on an ongoing basis (2 Cor 4:10; Phil 3:10; Gal 2:20).
19) St. Paul said that “in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24) and “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (Gal 6:17).
20) Jesus is somehow connected to His Church, the Body of Christ; so much so that He told Paul that he was persecuting Him when he was persecuting the Church (Acts 9:4-5; 22:7-8; 26:14-15).
Yet a little later, Turretin wrote:
The union which exists between us and Christ is nowhere said to be corporeal, but spiritual and mystical, which can be brought about in no other way than by the Spirit and faith (1 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 3:17).
This is untrue, since #17-20 above (especially #19) refer to mysterious but literal corporeal aspects of our union with Jesus.
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Much of theology involves rather fine distinctions. Turretin knew all of this (or should have, as a theologian). But he appears to either be unaware of or to ignore many of these necessary distinctions in direct proportion to how much he is hostile in an anti-Catholic sense, and hence he descends to being a prisoner of his own bias, leading to false premises and equally false conclusions drawn from them. This particular one isn’t rocket science. But Turretin only regards as relevant to this discussion, #13 and #15 of the types of presence and ignores the others, which — considered as a whole — highly suggest by analogy and variety that eucharistic Real Presence is altogether possible, if not plausible and likely and actual.
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Christ in consoling the minds of his sad disciples ought to have used this distinction—that he would indeed visibly depart, but still would be invisibly with them by the presence of his body, to such a degree that he could be both received into their hands and taken into their mouths. But he employed far different means (to wit, the substitution of the Holy Spirit in place of his bodily presence, whom he promised to send that he might remain with them forever as his vicar).
John 6:56 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. [56] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
So we see that in fact Jesus did say what Turretin said He ought to say if indeed the Real Presence and transubstantiation are true. Thus, according to Turretin, in this saying Jesus proved what Catholics have been saying all along. But sadly, Turretin and those who think like he does in effect act like those who heard this from Jesus:
John 6:60-61, 64, 66 Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? . . . [64] But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. . . . [66] After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.
Based on how Turretin argues, he likely would have taken that approach if he were alive when Jesus was (i.e., not having enough faith or submissive obedience when Jesus taught about the Eucharist and transubstantiation). But one hopes not.
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Now what need was there of the invisible presence of the Holy Spirit if the flesh of Christ always remains invisibly?
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He’s our Helper, of course, and we have plenty of moments (indeed, the vast majority of the time) when we are not partaking in Holy Communion. But Jesus and the Father indwell us, too, according to Scripture. If we are to become one with God (deification) and begin that process in this life, then Holy Communion is one profound way that we do that on an ongoing basis in this life.
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Summary: Calvinist theologian François Turretin says transubstantiation is impossible and offers various and sundry weak arguments: all of which I shoot down from the Bible and logic.
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; notably at Princeton Theological Seminary, until it was replaced by Charles Hodge‘s Systematic Theology in the late 19th century. Turretin also greatly influenced the Puritans.
This is a reply to portions of a section of Institutes of Elenctic Theology (Vol. 3, 19th Topic: The Sacraments / 27th Question: Transubstantiation). I utilize the edition translated by George Musgrave Giger and edited by James T. Dennison, Jr. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Phillipsburg, New Jersey: 1992 / 1994 / 1997; 2320 pages). It uses the KJV for Bible verses. I will use RSV unless otherwise indicated. All installments of this series of replies can be found on my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page, under the category, “Replies to Francois Turretin (1632-1687).” Turretin’s words will be in blue.
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In the Eucharist, is there an entire conversion of the substance of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ; or are the bread and wine, in virtue of the words of consecration, truly transubstantiated into the very body and blood of Christ, the external species only of the bread and wine remaining? We deny against the Romanists[.]
Although from the discussion of the preceding question, the decision of this can easily be made (for if it is once certain and indubitable that the sacramental words are figurative and tropical, as has been proved, the dogma of transubstantiation falls by that very thing, being founded solely upon the literalness of the words . . .
It’s anything but“certain and indubitable that the sacramental words are figurative” as I submit that I demonstrated in my previous reply. Turretin is now proceeding by assuming a false and undemonstrated premise.
yet because our opponents are desperately in love with this figment (as their Helen) and fiercely contend for it (as if for their altars and firesides), the treatment of this controversy must not be omitted.
We’re “desperately in love with” whatever Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition teach us. As the Bible itself states: “The sum of thy word is truth” (Ps 119:160).
the question does not simply concern the presence of Christ in the Supper; for this belongs to another controversy which will be taken up after this. Rather the question concerns the presence of Christ effected by way of conversion. . . . the question concerns a change as to substance—whether a real conversion is made of the substance of the bread and wine into the substance of the body and blood of Christ. . . . We deny it and maintain that the bread and wine, although they are changed as to use according to the institution of God, yet they always retain their own substance, and that no real change or conversion takes place in reference to them.
This is a good description of the competing positions.
First, as to the senses. What many senses properly disposed and furnished with all the requisites for action, uniformly always and everywhere testify—that is necessarily true. Now the senses with one accord (homothymadon) testify that after the consecration, the symbols are properly bread and wine, not body and blood. Therefore, this is necessarily true.
I already refuted this thinking last time, citing an article of mine from 2000:
The virgin birth, . . . cannot be observed or proven, and is the utter opposite of a demonstrable miracle, yet it is indeed a miracle of the most extraordinary sort. Likewise, in the atonement of Jesus the world sees a wretch of a beaten and tortured man being put to death on a cross. The Christian, on the other hand, sees there the great miracle of redemption and the means of the salvation of mankind – an unspeakably sublime miracle, yet who but those with the eyes of faith can see or believe it?
Many miracles in Christianity are of such a nature that they cannot be perceived by the senses alone. In other words, not all knowledge is empirical (of the senses). The incarnation itself — as another example — can in no way be established through the senses (by simply looking at Jesus if one had been alive during His time). How can one determine whether God is eternal through the senses? We can’t even comprehend eternity into the future, let alone infinitely extended back in time and before (or outside of) time itself. Yet all Christians including Turretin believe in that doctrine. Or we could talk about the Holy Trinity or many other doctrines.
Otherwise we would have to say that there is nothing certain in the nature of things and the testimony of all the senses would have to be condemned with the academicians (which the thing itself proclaims to be most absurd).
We need to do no such thing. There is nothing “anti-scientific” entailed in believing in transubstantiation. All we need to do is what I just did: note the obvious fact that not all knowledge is obtained through the senses. The Bible clearly teaches this: “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Even after appearing to Doubting Thomas and mercifully providing Him with empirical proof of His resurrection, Jesus went on to proclaim that “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (Jn 20:29).
In vain is it objected: (1) “The senses cannot give a judgment concerning mysteries, which are the object of faith, far surpassing the senses.”
Yes, I essentially did just assert that. Let’s see how Turretin deals with it.
For although it is certain that the senses cannot judge of spiritual things as such (which occur in the mysteries of faith and transcend the senses), it does not follow that they cannot be consulted about sensible, visible things (which can occur in the mysteries). Undoubtedly two classes of mysteries are especially to be distinguished here. The one, wholly removed from corporeal things and as to all their parts mysteries, concealing themselves from us and far transcending the sphere both of reason and of the senses. These we hold are the object of faith alone, not of reason or of the senses. They are to be judged by the revelation of the word alone, not by the decision of reason or the testimony of the senses. However, the other involved and connected with corporeal and sensible things (as the mystery of the incarnation, of the resurrection of Christ, and the various miracles brought by him), which have sensible things annexed to spiritual. Concerning the truth and certainty of these, the senses and reason can give their testimony. We maintain that the sacraments are such mysteries in which, accordingly, the senses of which they are the proper object are not to be excluded, but listened to.
I’m glad he brought up the incarnation. What sense can prove that Jesus was the incarnate God merely by looking at Him or touching Him? The incarnation has everything to do with matter, since God became man. But it’s not verified by eyesight or touch. Jesus looked, felt, and sounded like a man; no one but those possessing faith would know (from simply observing Him) that He was also God, an uncreated Person who had made everything upon which He stood. No blood test or any sort of scientific test could reveal that. The virgin birth is in the same category as well. It was a thing involving matter but it can’t be verified in an empirical sense. Even today, if we could hypothetically use science to observe how Jesus the man came into the world (through microscopic observation), we couldn’t determine by that method alone that this male child was God.
In my previous installment I noted how God appeared in the pillars of cloud and fire in the Old Testament. Clouds consist primarily of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen. Yet God was somehow “in” them. How? How could one tell the difference between a regular old cloud or a fire and the ones that God was “in”? They couldn’t (by scientific/empirical criteria). And no one could today, either, if God did that again. The only difference is that God said he was in both, in particular circumstances when both formed a “pillar.” But that’s not physical proof. It’s revelation. And it is exactly the same, analogously, as what we have in the Eucharist (substance changing without the accidents or appearances changing).
God made a donkey talk to Balaam (Numbers 22:21-31: “the LORD opened the mouth of the ass”: 22:28). Now, how would one go about demonstrating a physical change in the donkey, which now enabled it to speak (whereas we normally assume that animals do not speak, and not in the language we understand)? Would a neurologist be able to examine the brain of the animal and figure out how it could speak; what change was in the brain compared to those of non-speaking donkeys? I doubt it. But Bible-believing Christians think this actually happened and that we can’t hyper-analyze and explain it through the usual scientific means of verification.
Here again there was no outward change (the “accidents” perceived by our senses remained the same), but a miracle occurred in which a donkey talked. In other words, it is analogous to the Eucharist.
It is no more rightly said, “The senses cannot judge in this matter because the reference is to an internal change in the substance of the bread, which does not strike the senses, because they stop with the external accidents.” This rests upon a false hypothesis—that the accidents are really distinguished from the substance and can be separated from it and subsist separately.
The latter state of affairs is true of the incarnation. Senses tell us that Jesus was an ordinary man. How can senses prove that He was God and man? They can’t, because that is determined and believed in spiritually and philosophically. No microscope can identify anything in Jesus’ body that would prove that He was also God come down to earth. Therefore, the accidents of Jesus’ body have characteristics distinct and separate from the reality that He was God in the flesh. The accidents show nothing whatsoever of His divinity.
Just as we couldn’t tell that Jesus was vastly, essentially different from an ordinary human being by senses alone, likewise, we can’t tell that what was bread and wine before the consecration have become the body and blood of Jesus after it. It’s not discerned by the senses but received by faith and revelation. Jesus’ body didn’t “look like God” just as the consecrated elements don’t look like God, but we believe that they are by an informed faith that isn’t opposed to science, but rather transcends its sphere of knowledge. Science can’t speak to it.
On the contrary, while it is certain that they are inseparable from the substance (nay, are really identified with it), whoever sees the accidents of a substance, by that very thing sees the substance itself, which can be seen in no other way than by its accidents.
Again, this is clearly not true concerning the incarnation, as just explained. By the same token, the consecrated elements that don’t look like God, either, judging by the evidence of our senses. Turretin argues like a pagan rationalist. He’s simply not thinking and analyzing deeply enough. His reasoning fails since it would “prove” that the incarnation is a falsehood. Therefore, by reductio ad absurdum, it also fails by analogy in the case of the Eucharist.
Second, reason must be heard here, with which transubstantiation conflicts in many ways. Sound reason teaches that only one body occupies one place and cannot be at the same time in more places than one because it would be one and not one, standing apart from itself and exposed to various and contrary motions, which everyone sees to be absurd (asystaton).
Reason doesn’t disprove the supernatural and the miraculous. Again, he reasons like a pagan hyper-rationalist, as opposed to a Christian who believes any number of amazing things that go beyond the natural and the laws of science. Both reason and experience tell us that a physical body can’t go through walls, either. But Jesus did that, in His resurrected body (Jn 20:19, 26). In the same context, Jesus showed that He had a physical body: “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side” (Jn 20:27). He did the same thing in another post-resurrection appearance, to the two disciples walking to Emmaus:
Luke 24:36-43 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. [37] But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. [38] And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? [39] See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” [41] And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate before them.
The point I’m making is that the risen Jesus had a body, but it had characteristics that normal bodies didn’t have: the ability to somehow “dematerialize” and go through walls (sort of like being “beamed up” in the TV show Star Trek). No one could have perceived that this was possible by putting their hand in the risen Jesus’ side or the wounds in His hands and feet. In other words, it’s another miracle regarding physical matter that can’t be discerned by our senses, just as transubstantiation is. Turretin contends that bodies can’t be in two places at one time. But we retort that — speaking of a strictly physical plane — neither can bodies go through walls; nor can a person raise Himself from the dead, as Jesus did (Jn 2:19-21; 10:17-18), or raise others from the dead, as He and His disciples both did.
Both things are supernatural. If one thing is possible, the other is entirely possible as well. It can’t be ruled out by either reason or the senses. It’s both possible and actual because God is God, and is omnipotent. But Turretin — not understanding all of this or consistently incorporating it into his thinking — problematically acts like the rebellious disciples and the unbelieving Jews in John 6, after Jesus said that bread and wine could become His body and blood:
John 6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
John 6:60-61, 64, 66 Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? . . . [64] . . . there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. . . . [66] After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.
A body cannot be granted which does not have quantity and extension, since quantity and extension do not differ really from the material substance, but are identified with it.
In the purely natural world, this is true. But in the supernatural world, where bodies and other material things have extraordinary capabilities, Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist have characteristics that normal bodies don’t have. Miracles always entail going beyond the natural. It’s almost as if Turretin can’t or won’t make exceptions to the laws of nature, for miracles. All of a sudden he has no belief in miracles, when it comes to the Eucharist. But why should it be different from any other miracle? Donkeys can’t and don’t talk; yet one talked to Balaam; human beings have no power over whether it rains or not; yet Elijah did; etc., etc.
All these and many other monstrosities of the same kind (which we desist from enumerating) are not so much prodigies of nature, as most absurd and inconsistent (asystata) creations of the human imagination, bringing the Christian religion into disgrace with infidels. They are the monstrous consectaries of the dogma of transubstantiation, which right reason not only does not receive, but is constantly opposed to.
To the contrary, all of the aspects of the Holy Eucharist that Turretin enumerated are every bit as possible as all the other miracles that we see described in the Bible. Once the miraculous (anything outside of the laws of nature) is possible in the first place, then any and all “strange” scenarios are possible. Turretin arbitrarily sets apart the one miracle involved in transubstantiation and declares it “monstrous” and a “disgrace” but he does so only by thinking in a radically unbiblical, hyper-rationalistic, cynical and skeptical way.
The factuality or possibility of miracles or supernatural events aren’t determined on the basis of whether we personally like them or not. If we take that approach, we’re like the unbelieving Pharisees who opposed Jesus: “It is only by Be-el’zebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons” (Mt 12:24). Jesus’ response to their unbelief was to say, “He who is not with me is against me, . . . every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Mt 12:30-31). This was not merely a lack of ability to believe; but sinful unbelief, worthy of, ultimately, a sentence of hell. Turretin and those who think like him in this respect are treading very spiritually dangerous ground.
Although we do not deny that the mysteries of faith are above reason, still we do not think that they are contrary to it; so that if their truth cannot be proved from reason, still their credibility may be sufficiently established by faith.
We deny that transubstantiation is contrary to reason, and I have made arguments establishing that, and these need to be grappled with. But Protestants are exceedingly unwilling to do that, which is why I’m sitting here “debating” with a dead guy. That’s fine with me. Turretin is one of the best historic Protestant theologians. Yet we see that his arguments regarding transubstantiation are very weak, and scarcely even biblical or Christian in nature. They do, however, fit right in with the approach of the village atheist, who denies every miracle in the Bible or in life in general. But at least the atheist is consistent. He doesn’t arbitrarily choose which miracle he will reject, while accepting others, on no rational or consistent basis, other than (it seems to come down to) rejecting them simply because Catholics accept them; sort of a “guilt by association.”
Reason may be blind and corrupted, repugnant to revelation and rising up against it; or it may be sound and well constituted, consenting to it and subordinated to it. . . . grace does not destroy nature, but makes it perfect; nor does faith exclude, but supposes reason.
Very true!
Finally, some mysteries of faith are true and genuine, clearly revealed in the Scriptures; others are false and spurious, not the streams and rays of divine revelation, but the offspring of human ignorance and blindness. Although reason is not sufficient to demonstrate the latter, still she is sufficient to strip off their deceitfulness and falsity. We maintain that the figment of transubstantiation is such.
And I have provided many biblical arguments by analogy, and arguments from reason and logic, for why we believe it is a true and biblical doctrine. Let the reader choose who has the more plausible and cogent case!
What is said of natural being and of sacramental being could be admitted, if by sacramental being is meant the symbolic and significative being of the bread (inasmuch as it is the sacrament of the body of Christ), but not with regard to his natural body (concerning which we speak).
Turretin irrationally limits himself in his thinking, by assuming hyper-rationalism and disallowing (as if he has the prerogative to do so) the supernatural to extend to this subject. In “epistemological despair” he adopts symbolism and metaphor, rather than accept the truth of eucharistic realism. Again, he neglects to realize that Jesus’ “natural body” after He resurrected, was capable of going through walls, in opposition to the laws of nature. And even before that, Jesus raised Himself. How many dead bodies do we see rising up again, through their own power? He ascended to heaven by His own power as well.
I submit that those three things are just as strange and unexpected as Jesus entering into bread and wine and changing them into His body and blood. If one can accept the first three (as Turretin and Protestants do), I see no reason why they can’t accept the fourth thing: transubstantiation. So the question becomes: what determines if a miracle is “monstrous” or a “disgrace”? Turretin has not resolved that dilemma. He’s simply playing games with words and philosophical concepts and placing skeptical philosophy above faith.
For if the form (superficies) alone remains, how could Christ and Paul so often call it bread and the fruit of the vine?
In part, they speak phenomenologically, as Bible writers often do, and/or refer to the accidents or outward characteristics in those instances. But they simultaneously call what was bread and wine Jesus’ body and blood, after they are consecrated (Jesus does so repeatedly in John 6). They do both things, which is perfectly consistent with the Catholic position. I will treat this issue in more depth in my next installment.
We do not treat here of what God can do, but of what he wishes to do. The power of God is not the rule of our faith, but his will. For although all things are possible to God, he does not at once do whatever he is able, but only what he wishes.
Fair enough. The Catholic argues that God did indeed wish to do this, based on the relevant texts (the Last Supper, John 6, and Paul’s eucharistic passages). All taken together strongly support our view; so we argue. It’s a straightforward biblical perspective; whereas I contend that Turretin’s argument is hyper-rationalistic and skeptical and insufficiently biblical.
Omnipotence extends itself to all things possible, but not to those which are impossible; such as are those which imply a contradiction, which God can no more be said to be able to do than it be said that he is able to lie and sin. Nor are these marks of power, but of a defect and imperfection, which God not only cannot do, but which he cannot even will to do, because they are contrary to his wisdom, holiness and truth and repugnant to the laws established by him in nature.
There is no inherent contradiction in God changing bread and wine into His body and blood. It’s odd, strange, and not predictable, but not contradictory. God can certainly do this. He’s not limited by all of these laws of matter, that Turretin tries so hard to enlist as alleged disproofs of this miracle, simply because he doesn’t like eucharistic realism. Turretin almost seems to say that God is constrained by the very laws of nature that He created. He’s not at all, of course. Every miracle proves this. I agree with St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, a truly towering intellect, whom few would accuse of being unreasonable, gullible, or philosophically naive, who commented on this issue as follows:
People say that the doctrine of Transubstantiation is difficult to believe . . . It is difficult, impossible to imagine, I grant – but how is it difficult to believe? . . . For myself, I cannot, indeed prove it, I cannot tell how it is; but I say, ‘ Why should it not be? What’s to hinder it? What do I know of substance or matter? Just as much as the greatest philosophers, and that is nothing at all.’ (Apologia pro vita Sua, Garden City, New York: Doubleday Image, 1956; originally 1864; 318: part 7: “General Answer to Mr. Kingsley”)
Although we confess that God can work above the order of nature, still we deny that his omnipotence extends to those things which are contrary to nature and the order established in it, because he cannot change the natures of things and overturn the order settled by himself.
This is sheer nonsense. It is as I suspected: Turretin turns God into a caricature of Himself; a sort of deist “god” rather than the sovereign Master of the universe. Again, every miracle makes mincemeat of this self-contradictory gibberish.
Although God can make accidents with their subjects, it does not follow in like manner that he can also produce the former without the latter; not from a lack of power, but from the incompossiblity (incompossibilitate) of the thing.
It’s not impossible at all! Turretin deludes himself. Here are some things that are actually impossible, even for God: He can’t make Himself exist and not exist at the same time or to be simultaneously eternal and not eternal. He can’t make a circle a square. He can’t simultaneously subsist in Four Divine Persons and Three, or create a world in which 2+2=4 and also equals 5. And (here’s the famous one), He can’t make a rock so big that He can’t lift it, because that’s a logical self-contradiction.
All of those things are impossible for even an omnipotent being to do. But transubstantiation is not of the same nature as all of these things, and is entirely possible and not self-contradictory. Turretin builds his entire case upon the laws of nature, but he himself admits that “God can work above the order of nature.” Yes! And He does so in transubstantiation. He states a true principle, but then proceeds to ignore it and make an “exception” based on nothing solid or incontrovertible at all. It’s equally extraordinary and distressing to behold a brilliant Christian mind engage in such tortuous thinking and skeptical illogic.
But the mind cannot conceive an accident which is without its subject.
Sure it can. On what basis does he make this claim? We can conceive of it just as we do in the case of a cloud or fire having the usual properties that they do, while containing God within them, which the Old Testament states was the case. How could we know that God was there, except that He revealed that He was by revelation or divine utterance? To us it’s just a cloud and fire, if we only employ our senses. It’s the same with transubstantiation. God said that He is now present after the consecration, whereas to us it looks and tastes and feels like bread and wine. But we believe it isn’t based on God’s revelation, the Bible. But Turretin, oddly enough, thinks like the biblical “carnal” or “unspiritual” man, that Paul describes:
1 Corinthians 2:7, 10-14, 16 . . . we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. . . . [10] God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. [11] For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. [14] The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. . . . [16] “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
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Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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Summary: Calvinist theologian François Turretin contended that transubstantiation is “monstrous” & impossible to believe. I offer numerous opposing biblical analogical & logical arguments.
Does a traditional literal reading of “this is my body” entail “a thousand absurdities and contradictions”? The book of Job is instructive
Photo credit: The Last Supper, by Carl Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
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 the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It was a popular textbook; notably at Princeton Theological Seminary, until it was replaced by Charles Hodge‘s Systematic Theology in the late 19th century. Turretin also greatly influenced the Puritans.
This is a reply to portions of a section of Institutes of Elenctic Theology (Vol. 3, 19th Topic: The Sacraments / 26th Question: The Meaning of the Sacramental Words). I utilize the edition translated by George Musgrave Giger and edited by James T. Dennison, Jr. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Phillipsburg, New Jersey: 1992 / 1994 / 1997; 2320 pages). It uses the KJV for Bible verses. I will use RSV unless otherwise indicated. All installments of this series of replies can be found on my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page, under the category, “Replies to Francois Turretin (1632-1687).” Turretin’s words will be in blue.
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Are the words of the Supper to be understood properly and literally . . . or figuratively and sacramentally? The former we deny; the latter we affirm against the Romanists and Lutherans. [italicized in the original]
This is the debate in a nutshell. Does one take the words at face value (literally) or hold that they are metaphorical and symbolic only? The Church fathers, the medieval theologians, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, and at least some “high” Anglicans take them literally, making this by far the majority position in historical and current Christianity.
The body of Christ reclined at the table in the first Supper, so therefore it could not have been handed to the disciples; rather the bread which was set before them on the table was handed to them. . . .
The disciples . . . could not have given to these words any other sense than the tropical. (1) They saw at the same time the body of the Lord reclining at the table and the bread which he took, as things separated from each other, both as to nature and as to place, so that they must have conceived the most diverse ideas concerning them. . . .
The sixth class is drawn from the rules of discourse, which in this argument do not allow a proper sense, but necessarily demand a figurative. The first is: “When a literal interpretation involves an absurdity and a contradiction, we must necessarily have recourse to the figurative sense.” Since the human intellect cannot comprehend how a thing can be and not be at the same time, it is forced to recur to a figure. Now it is evident that the sacramental words, taken properly and literally . . . involve a thousand absurdities and contradictions . . .
None of this is successful argumentation, because 1) it limits God in His omniscience and omnipotence, and 2) it’s unbiblical. Broadly speaking, God is everywhere and simultaneously can be said to be “in” certain things. God becoming a man in the incarnation is the most amazing manifestation of His taking on physical properties (God the Father and God the Holy Spirit being immaterial spirits). For example, the Bible asserts the equation of God (in some very real sense) with the pillars of cloud and of fire:
Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire . . .
Exodus 14:24 And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down upon the host of the Egyptians . . .
Exodus 33:9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
Numbers 12:5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam . . .
Numbers 14:14 . . . thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.
Deuteronomy 31:15 And the LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud . . .
Psalm 99:7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud . . .
Lest Turretin counter that this is merely symbolic, too, I submit this passage:
Exodus 33:10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his tent door.
Only God can be worshiped; hence God truly was in the cloud. If He wasn’t, this act would have been rank idolatry (worship of mere matter). But the inspired text gives no indication whatsoever that it was improper. Likewise, God was in the burning bush in a very special way:
Exodus 3:4-6, 16 . . . God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.” [5] Then he said, “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” [6] And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. . . . [16] “Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me’ . . . “
God was also specially present in the tabernacle and temple, in the Holy of Holies, and specifically between the cherubim on top of the ark of the covenant. Yet we are to believe that Jesus (Who is God) can’t will to enter — and actually enter — into what was formerly bread and wine and become substantially, bodily present in a miraculous way? To deny this is mere rationalistic special pleading, that lacks faith in God and belief in His omnipotent power.
If God could enter into a cloud or a fire, or in the holiest spaces in the ark, tabernacle, and temple, then He can do this by the same token, and the literal reading of the text is the fulfillment of it. Turretin put rationalistic philosophy in a higher place in this instance of his reasoning, than the Christian faith, and specifically faith in the supernatural.
Jesus was sovereign over the laws of nature and nature (matter) itself. He calmed a violent storm at sea (Mt 8:24-27). After His resurrection (when He had a body), Jesus passed through walls (Jn 20:19, 26). He raised the dead and in fact raised Himself (Jn 2:19-21; 10:17-18) because He had “the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Phil 3:21) and because “in him all things hold together” (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3). He was omnipotent. Even some of Jesus’ followers had rather extraordinary and unusual miraculous gifts. Philip bilocated:
Acts 8:39-30 . . . the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. [40] But Philip was found at Azo’tus, . . .
Philip was in Gaza with the Ethiopian eunuch when he was “caught up”. Then he appeared in Azotus, which is modern-day Ashdod: some 27 kilometers or about 17 miles from the northernmost point of Gaza. So a created human being could do that, by God’s power (and the prophet Elijah could stop rain for 3 1/2 years: Jas 5:16-18), but Jesus, Who is the omnipotent God, supposedly cannot do whatever amazing thing He desires to do? Such a notion is ludicrous and thoroughly anti-biblical. Turretin might deny that the ascended Jesus was omnipresent, but this is untrue as well:
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 28:20 “. . . lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Ephesians 1:22-23 . . . the church, [23] which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.
Colossians 3:11 . . . Christ is all, and in all.
Note that the Matthew 18 passage records Jesus’ words before He was resurrected or ascended, and He was already speaking in the present tense of an extraordinary trait akin to or consistent with omnipresence. Therefore, He certainly could have been sacramentally present in the former bread and wine even at the Last Supper, and this interpretation is at least as plausible as the merely symbolic one. If the objection is that He can be present spiritually or immaterially, but not physically, we reply that Paul equated the Church (an actual thing) with Jesus’ “body” in Ephesians 1:22-23 above.
Moreover, the risen, ascended, and glorified Jesus told the just-about-to-be-converted Paul, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5; cf. 22:7-8; 26:14-15). But the New Testament elsewhere — including his own words — states that Paul persecuted “the church” (Acts 8:1-3; 22:4; 26:9-11), which Paul later agreed was Jesus Himself (1 Tim 1:13). If Jesus, then, can equate Himself — including physically — with the “body of Christ”: the Church (and Paul follows suit), then by the same token, He can equate Himself with what was bread and wine; and He does so not only at the Last Supper, but repeatedly in John 6. St. Paul is every bit as literal as Jesus, since he wrote, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor 11:27).
He took bread from the table, blessed, broke and gave it to his disciples. He did and said nothing of this about his own body.
Really?:
Matthew 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” (cf. Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24)
They had often heard the Lord speaking figuratively (who had accustomed them by the frequency of his parables to this mode of speaking), which could be understood only tropically and by analogy (as in Mt. 13 and elsewhere).
Again, this no more has to be interpreted non-literally, than the pillars of cloud and fire and the burning bush do. They were literally outward physical manifestations of the presence of God (clouds are material and are composed of water); therefore, by analogy, the accidents or appearance of bread and wine can do the same thing. Granted, this takes things even further into the supernatural realm, but this is the omnipotent God, Who can do anything that is possible to do.
The time in which they lived, the business about which they were engaged, was mystical and full of various figures. For in the sacrament of the Passover, which Christ was celebrating, this tropical locution was constantly occurring.
That’s a very poor and unfortunate example for Turretin to use in his argument, since Jesus was literally the Passover lamb (Jn 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Cor 5:7: “Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed”; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 5:6, 12; 12:11; many other NT usages of “lamb” referring to Jesus). Passover lambs were real lambs with real blood, and Jesus’ crucifixion and shedding of blood on our behalf (Rom 3:25; 5:9; Eph 1:7; 2:13; Heb 9:14; 10:19; 1 Pet 1:19; 1 Jn 1:7; Rev 1:5) were quite real and sacrificial and sufficient to save the entire human race.
Nay, unless this had come into their minds that the bread was figuratively called a body, how could they have helped being disturbed by a thing so monstrous? They, who in the least difficulties were perplexed, who dispute among themselves how Christ was about to go to the Father; and moved the question how he would go out of the world; who understood nothing of what he had said concerning his heavenly Father, how could they have been so ready to believe what all reason repudiates—that Christ was reclining at the table in their sight and that he was invisibly included under the bread?
They didn’t have to fully understand; at this point they were not yet indwelt with the Holy Spirit, as all Christian believers are. But they were called to accept His mysterious word because He was God and had proven that He was to them over and over with signs and various teachings. What they needed to do, therefore, was to believe in faith. This is precisely what they did do as described in John 6, after other “disciples” objected to Jesus’ “hard saying” that they claimed no one could “listen” to (Jn 6:60) and “did not believe” (6:64), with the result being that they “drew back and no longer went about with him” (6:66) because He taught the Real Presence. But St. Peter, still faithful, said:
John 6:68-69 . . . “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; [69] and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
They did what Job did in the face of utter mystery and confusion: they believed God — though confused and perplexed — because He was God. God drives home this point over and over in that book:
Job 9:3, 8-12 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. . . . [8] who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea; [9] who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei’ades and the chambers of the south; [10] who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number. [11] Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. [12] Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, ‘What doest thou’?
Job 38:1-2, 4-5 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: [2] “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? . . . [4] “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. [5] Who determined its measurements — surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:31-33 “Can you bind the chains of the Plei’ades, or loose the cords of Orion? [32] Can you lead forth the Maz’zaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children? [33] Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?
Job 40:1-2 And the LORD said to Job: [2] “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Job 42:1-3, 6 Then Job answered the LORD: [2] “I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted. [3] ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. . . . [6] therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
I wrote in my cover story in Patrick Madrid’s Envoy Magazine, Jan/Feb 2000 issue, entitled, “Is This God?”:
The Eucharist was intended by God as a different kind of miracle from the outset, requiring more profound faith, as opposed to the “proof” of tangible, empirical miracles. But in this it was certainly not unique among Christian doctrines and traditional beliefs – many fully shared by our Protestant brethren. The Virgin Birth, for example, cannot be observed or proven, and is the utter opposite of a demonstrable miracle, yet it is indeed a miracle of the most extraordinary sort.
Likewise, in the Atonement of Jesus the world sees a wretch of a beaten and tortured man being put to death on a cross. The Christian, on the other hand, sees there the great miracle of Redemption and the means of the salvation of mankind – an unspeakably sublime miracle, yet who but those with the eyes of faith can see or believe it? In fact, the disciples (with the possible exception of St. John, the only one present) didn’t even know what was happening at the time. . . .
Many Christian beliefs require a great deal of faith, even relatively “blind” faith. Protestants manage to believe in a number of such doctrines (such as the Trinity, God’s eternal existence, omnipotence, angels, the power of prayer, instantaneous justification, the Second Coming, etc.). Why should the Real Presence be singled out for excessive skepticism and unchecked rationalism? . . .
This pervasive anti-eucharistic bias smacks of an analogy to the Jewish and Muslim belief that the Incarnation as an unthinkable (impossible?) task for God to undertake. They view the Incarnation in the same way as the majority of Protestants regard the Eucharist. For them God wouldn’t or couldn’t or shouldn’t become a man. For evangelicals God wouldn’t or couldn’t or shouldn’t become substantially, sacramentally present under the outward forms of bread and wine. I think the dynamic is the same. “Coulda woulda shoulda” theology is not biblical theology. Every Christian exercises faith in things which are very difficult to grasp with the natural mind, because they are revealed to be true by God in the Bible. I have attempted to show why I think Protestants inconsistently require a higher criterion of “proof” where the Holy Eucharist is concerned.
Turretin, following Calvin and Zwingli, wants to play the role of the unbelieving and rebellious disciples and of Job’s miserable “comforters.” He finds it too difficult to believe that God could or would become bodily present in what was bread and wine. That unbelief and denial of the supernatural and God’s omnipotence and the plain words of Jesus (however incomprehensible they may have been at first hearing) are, I respectfully submit, the things that are truly “monstrous” and what bring about “a thousand absurdities and contradictions.”
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Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my YouTube channel, Catholic Bible Highlights, where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Photo credit:The Last Supper, by Carl Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
Summary: Renowned Calvinist theologian François Turretin contended that Jesus’ words “This is my body” must necessarily be figuratively interpreted. But I show why this miserably fails.
Photo credit: self-designed cover of my self-published book (2012)
Henry R. Percival, D.D. (1854-1903) was a prominent American Episcopal priest and author of many books. This is a reply to a few portions of his book, The Invocation of Saints Treated Theologically and Historically (London and New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1896). As a High Church Anglican, he substantially agrees with us on this general topic. So I am only quibbling with him over a few things. His words will be in blue. I use RSV for Scripture citations.
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In the year 1549 it was evidently the mind of those who were responsible for the compiling and translating of the Prayer-book, that the only way to be sure of avoiding corruption, and the superstition consequent thereupon, was by omitting all invocations whatever. (pp. 18-19)
This is far too often the “solution” of Protestantism: if anything is at all corrupted, get rid of the whole thing; in other words, “throw the baby out with the bathwater.” That’s no solution at all; it’s not even the vaunted “reform.” It has led to the truncated, bare minimum, hollowed-out Christianity Lite that is many Protestant denominations today: which is the flip side difficulty at the other extreme on the spectrum of corruption in practice of good things.
First, let me clearly state that the Roman Church has shown herself most anxious to remove this ” Romish doctrine,” and to restore the practice to its first purity. In the Twenty-fifth Session of the Council of Trent, holden in 1563 — that is, eleven years after the setting forth of this Article in its first form, and one year after its adoption in its present form (a fact which shows that the article cannot possibly be looked upon as drawn up to condemn the decree of Trent, since at that time it as yet had no existence), the Fathers decreed as follows : —
Moreover, let every superstition in connection with invoking the saints be done away. Let all base questionings be cut off. Finally, let all lasciviousness be avoided (Dec De Purgatorio).
It is, then, not denied by the Church of Rome that, at the time of the Reformation, there were abuses with regard to the invocation of saints which needed reformation, and we have the contemporaneous record of some of these. (pp. 36-37)
There are always abuses and lack of understanding among the more ignorant portions of any religious group whatever. All groups — including Catholicism — reform themselves constantly — in terms of practice ‘on the ground” — or should, if they don’t. The problem we usually encounter in Protestant polemics against Catholicism, however, is that corruptions in Catholic practice are compared to the most sophisticated teachings of Protestants, such as Calvin or Chemnitz: which is a glaring double standard. If we’re going to talk about corruptions, then it should be applied across the board; not only to Catholics.
But by and large, to have a substantive discussion, we can only objectively analyze official proclamations of doctrine. The proper comparison is between Catholic and Protestant official doctrines and confessions. Percival himself cites Trent and other magisterial sources, as well as Doctors of the Church like Aquinas and Bellarmine. So he doesn’t fall into this silly practice.
A prevalent ” Romish doctrine ” seems to have been that the saints were given by God particular departments to have under their special care. To this we find allusion in the “Articles about Religion, set out by the Convocation” in the year 1 536, where we read that —
it is very laudable to pray to saints in heaven everlastingly-living, whose charity is ever permanent, to be intercessors and to pray for us and with us unto Almighty God. … So that it be done without any vain superstition as to think that any saint is more merciful or will hear us sooner than Christ, or that any saint doth serve for one thing more than other, or is patron of the same. (pp. 37-38)
First of all, the Catholic Church never taught that “any saint is more merciful or will hear us sooner than Christ”. That’s simply an insulting, groundless, gratuitous caricature. But as for patron saints, I fail to see the slightest objection to it, let alone harm. It’s simply common sense and “division of labor”: so to speak. St. Paul discusses these sorts of differential tasks when describing the function of the Body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 17-18 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. . . . [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? [18] But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (cf. 12: 12-16, 19-30)
But is it true that supposedly no one can “specialize” in heaven, with regard to intercession? I don’t see any biblical case against it, but I can think of biblical analogies to it. I wrote in an article about the intercession of saints:
The Bible clearly teaches that different people have different levels of grace (Acts 4:33; 2 Cor 8:7; Eph 4:7; 1 Pet 1:2; 2 Pet 3:18). From this it follows, it seems to me, that some might specialize in certain areas more so than others, according to different parts of the Body of Christ (there is much Pauline teaching on that). . . . an ironclad argument against it from Scripture is rarely made.
The fact remains that “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (James 5:16). In the larger context of that passage, James states:
James 5:17-18 Eli’jah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.
Would it not follow, then, that Elijah seemed to have a particular influence over weather? Therefore, why couldn’t someone ask him to pray to God about the weather, rather than someone else, since he had this record of asking for rain to cease, and it did for three and-a-half years? So he became, in effect, the “patron saint of meteorological petitions.”
We do roughly the same in this life with friends, on the level of empathy. So, for example, if a woman has difficulty with miscarriage or difficult pregnancies or deliveries, she might go to a woman who has experienced the same thing and ask her to pray to God for her.
I don’t see any intrinsic difficulty here.
Percival cites “Benedictine editors” who sum up a homily of St. John Chrysostom as, “We reap more profit from our own prayers than from those which are offered by others for us.” Percival then opines, “This is a fair summing up of the whole discussion of the saint upon the subject . . .” (p. 46)
The Catholic Church never forbade anyone to pray directly to God. That’s a non-issue. But is there a sense in which asking others to pray for us to God (to intercede) is a better, more efficient way of praying to God? According to the Bible, this is absolutely possible and in many cases preferred. The Catholic position is that it’s best, and always possible, to “go straight to God” in prayer, unless there happens to be a person more righteous than we are in the immediate vicinity, who is willing to make the same prayer request. Then the Bible — not merely the Catholic Church — recommends that we ask them to intercede, rather than asking God directly. If someone wants to be biblical and to follow the biblical model of prayer and intercession, it would include this practice.
The Bible states that “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer” (1 Pet 3:12), and “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears” (Ps 34:17), and “the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Prov 15:8), and “he hears the prayer of the righteous” (Prov 15:29), and “we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 Jn 3:22), and “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Ps 66:18; cf. 66:19-20).
Having established this principle of scriptural prayer, we see how it is carried out in the case of very holy people. God told Abimelech that Abraham would pray for him, so he could live, “for” Abraham was “a prophet” (Gen 20:6-7). “All Israel” (1 Sam 12:1) “said to Samuel [the prophet], ‘Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die’. . .” (1 Sam 12:19). God told Job’s “friends”: “my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly” (Job 42:8).
Why did God listen to Job’s prayers? It’s because God Himself stated that “there is none like” Job “on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8). King Zedekiah asked the holy prophet Jeremiah to pray for him and the country (Jer 37:3; cf. 42:2: “[they] said to Jeremiah the prophet, ‘Let our supplication come before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us’ “).
If we go to a more righteous or holy person and ask them to pray for x, then x is far more likely to happen than if we go to God directly (because we are less righteous). Therefore, it’s more “efficient” and “better” to do this in these instances rather than go directly to God. Righteous people know God’s will better than those who are not following God with a whole heart, with all their might. Therefore, their prayers are more effective. And it’s all based on explicit biblical teaching and examples. The Bible refers to preeminent, effective prayer warriors and valiant intercessors like Moses (Ex 32:30; Num 11:1-2; 14:11-13, 19-20; 21:6-8; Dt 9:18-19; 10:10), Samuel (1 Sam 7:8; 12:18-19), Elisha (2 Ki 6:18), Elijah (James 5:17-18), and King Hezekiah ( 2 Chr 30:18-20).
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Summary: I reply to a few points of a book by Anglican Henry R. Percival (1854-1903) regarding the notion of patron saints and asking saints’ intercession rather than praying directly to God.
Featuring an Emphasis on the Scriptural Data Regarding the Strong Influence of Jewish Tradition in Early Christianity
Photo credit: self-designed cover of my discontinued, self-published book (2009).
The material below was partially derived from a withdrawn book of mine, entitled 501 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura: Is the Bible the Only Infallible Authority? (2009). I wrote it as a direct result of a Protestant claiming that there were no arguments against sola Scriptura in the Bible (!). It was condensed and modified into my book, 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (Catholic Answers: May 2012).
The present goal is to utilize biblical passages only as arguments against sola Scriptura. I’ve added a great number of new additional passages. The only non-Bible portions of this article below will be the topical categories, explanatory “footnotes” (in blue font) and the following introduction for the purpose of carefully defining sola Scriptura (drawing from solid Protestant sources). All passages are from RSV.
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Table of Contents
1) Introduction / Definition
2) Oral Apostolic Proclamation and Tradition / Jesus’ Oral Preaching
3) Prophetic Oral Proclamation
4) Direct Supernatural Guidance from the Holy Spirit
5) Direct Supernatural Guidance from Dreams or Visions
6) Mosaic Law / Jewish Pharisaical & Apocalyptic Tradition
7) Jesus and Christians Attended Temple Worship and Sacrificial Rites
8) Jesus and Christians Attended Synagogues on the Sabbath
9) Jesus & Christians Observed Jewish Feasts
10) Oral Torah
11) Binding Authority in the One Church / Impermissibility of Competing Denominations
12) Definitive Interpretation of Scripture from Ecclesiastical Leaders
13) Apostolic Succession
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1) Introduction / Definition
The late Dr. Norman L. Geisler was a very prominent evangelical Protestant apologist, who published many books. His definition is as follows:
By sola Scriptura orthodox Protestants mean that Scripture alone is the primary and absolute source of authority, the final court of appeal, for all doctrine and practice (faith and morals). . . . What Protestants mean by sola Scriptura is that the Bible alone is the infallible written authority for faith and morals. . . . Scripture is the sufficient and final written authority of God. As to sufficiency, the Bible — nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else — is all that is necessary for faith and practice . . . This is not to say that Protestants obtain no help from the Fathers and early councils . . . this is not to say that there is no usefulness to Christian tradition, but only that it is of secondary importance. (Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences, co-author Ralph E. Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1995, 178)
Reformed Protestant writer Keith A. Mathison concurs, while emphasizing the role of the Church a little more strongly:
Scripture alone is inspired and inherently infallible. Scripture alone is the supreme normative standard. But Scripture does not exist in a vacuum. It was and is given to the Church within the doctrinal context of the apostolic gospel. Scripture alone is the only final standard, but it is a final standard that must be utilized, interpreted, and preached by the Church within its Christian context. . . .
It is important to notice that sola scriptura, properly understood, is not a claim that Scripture is the only authority altogether. . . . There are other real authorities which are subordinate and derivative in nature. Scripture, however, is the only inspired and inherently infallible norm, and therefore Scripture is the only final authoritative norm. (The Shape of Sola Scriptura, Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2001, 259-260)
It must be emphasized that the fallibility of the Church does not render her authority invalid. (Ibid., 269)
But does the Bible itself teach that it’s the only infallible authority? Does it ever present the Church or tradition or oral apostolic or prophetic teaching or a “pope” as “infallible” or as a binding authority? I shall argue that the following biblical passages provide proof of all of those things, and more, and that therefore, sola Scriptura is a falsehood and not the biblical rule of faith. Catholics need to establish, based on unassailable biblical evidence, examples of tradition or Church proclamations that were binding and obligatory upon all who heard and received them. Whether these were infallible is another more complex question, but a binding decree is already either expressly contrary to sola Scriptura, or, at the very least, a thing that casts considerable doubt on the formal principle.
2) Oral Apostolic Proclamation and Tradition / Jesus’ Oral Preaching
Matthew 2:23 And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” [“He shall be called a Nazarene ” cannot be found in the Old Testament, yet it was passed down “by the prophets” orally, rather than through Scripture]
Matthew 13:3 And he told them many things in parables, . . . (cf. Mk 4:2, 33) [i.e., not all were recorded]
Matthew 13:20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hearsthe wordand immediately receives it with joy; (other instances of “the word”: Matt 13:21-23; Mk 2:2; 4:14-20,33; Lk 1:2; 8:12-13,15; Jn 1:1,14 [of Jesus]; Jn 14:24; Acts 6:4; 8:4; 11:19; 14:25; 16:6; Gal 6:6; Eph 5:26; Col 4:3; 1 Pet 3:1)
Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. [all of this was oral teaching, and almost certainly far more than we know about in the Gospels]
Mark 6:34 . . . he began to teach them many things. (cf. Lk 11:53) [not all were recorded]
Luke 3:2-3 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca’iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari’ah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 5:1 While the people pressed upon him to hear theword of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes’aret. (other instances of “word of God”: Lk 8:11, 21; Acts 6:2; 13:5, 7, 44, 48; 17:13; 18:11; Rom 9:6; 1 Cor 14:36; Eph 6:17; Phil 1:14; Col 1:25; 1 Tim 4:5; 2 Tim 2:9; Titus 2:5; Heb 6:5; 13:7; 1 Jn 2:14; Rev 1:9; 20:4)
Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
John 16:12 I have yetmany things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
John 20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
John 21:25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Acts 1:2-3 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. [3] To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
Acts 4:4 But many of those who heardthe wordbelieved; . . .
Acts 8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken theword of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. (other instances of “word of the Lord”: Acts 15:36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8; 4:15)
Acts 10:36-37 You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), [37] the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received theword of God.
Acts 12:24 But theword of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 13:46, 49 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that theword of God should be spoken first to you. . . . [49] And theword of the Lord spread throughout all the region.
Acts 14:3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to theword of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (cf. 20:32)
Acts 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear theword of the gospel and believe.”
Acts 15:27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things byword of mouth.
Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching theword of the Lord, with many others also.
Romans 10:8 But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, theword of faith which we preach);
Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to therevelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages
1 Corinthians 2:1, 4, 13 When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. . . . [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, . . . [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. [The OT says nothing about such miraculous movement, in the related passages about Moses striking the rock to produce water (Ex 17:1-7; Num 20:2-13). But rabbinic tradition does]
1 Corinthians 11:2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.
2 Corinthians 10:11 Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.
Ephesians 1:13 . . . you also, who have heard theword of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, . . . (cf. 2 Tim 2:15)
Ephesians 3:2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
Ephesians 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him [Christ] and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.
Philippians 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. [The Philippians and the other churches Paul wrote to were bound to “do” not only what they learned from Paul’s letters, but also what they heard him orally teach]
Colossians 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in theword of the truth, the gospel
Colossians 1:23 . . . not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, . . .
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. [there are false “human” traditions which oppose the true tradition “according to Christ”]
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit;
1 Thessalonians 2:13 . . . when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. [in 1 Thessalonians “Scripture” or “Scriptures” never appear. “Word,” “word of the Lord,” or “word of God” appear five times (1:6, 8, 2:13 [twice], 4:15), but in each instance it is clearly in the sense of oral proclamation, not Scripture]
1 Thessalonians 3:2-4 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the gospel of Christ, to establish you in your faith and to exhort you, [3] that no one be moved by these afflictions. You yourselves know that this is to be our lot. [4] For when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, 5 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, [2] not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. . . . [5] Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you this?
2 Thessalonians 2:15 . . . stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth, or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
2 Timothy 1:13-14 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me . . . [14] guard the truth which has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
2 Timothy 3:8: “As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses . . . ” [These two men cannot be found in the related Old Testament passage (Exodus 7:8 ff.), or anywhere else in the Old Testament.]
2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
Hebrews 1:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you theword of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. [2] For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, [3] how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him,
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1 Peter 1:25 “but theword of the Lord abides for ever.” That word is the good news which was preached to you.
1 John 2:7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment isthe wordwhich you have heard.
1 John 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you haveheard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you haveheard from the beginning, that you follow love.
3) Prophetic Oral Proclamation
Deuteronomy 8:20-22 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ [21] And if you say in your heart, `How may we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ — [22] when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him.
1 Samuel 9:27 . . . “that I [Samuel] may make known to you the word of God.”
1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came to Shemai’ah the man of God:
1 Chronicles 29:29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer,
2 Chronicles 9:29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahi’jah the Shi’lonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jerobo’am the son of Nebat?
2 Chronicles 12:15 Now the acts of Rehobo’am, from first to last, are they not written in the chronicles of Shemai’ah the prophet and of Iddo the seer? . . .
2 Chronicles 13:22 The rest of the acts of Abi’jah, his ways and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo. [Wikipedia presents many more similar fascinating examples in its article,“Non-canonical books referenced in the Bible.”]
[“The Word of the LORD”appears 243 timesin the Protestant Old Testament (RSV); mostly coming through men. For example]:
Genesis 15:1 . . . the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision . . .
Numbers 3:16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
1 Samuel 3:21 . . . the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
2 Samuel 7:4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
2 Samuel 24:11 . . . the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer . . .
1 Kings 6:11 Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon,
1 Kings 14:18 . . . the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.
1 Kings 18:1 . . . the word of the LORD came to Elijah, . . .
2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” . . .
2 Chronicles 36:21 to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah . . .
[The prophet Ezekiel wrote down the phrase, “the word of the LORD came to me”49 times.]
Luke 1:67 And his [John the Baptist’s] father Zechari’ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, . . .
Luke 2:36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, . . .
Acts 2:17-18 ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; [18] yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”
Acts 8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken theword of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 11:27-28 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius
Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyre’ne, Man’a-en a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Acts 15:32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Acts 21:9 And he [Philip] had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
Acts 21:10-11 While we were staying for some days, a prophet named Ag’abus came down from Judea. [11] And coming to us he took Paul’s girdle and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, [5] but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head — it is the same as if her head were shaven.
Ephesians 3:2-5 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, [3] how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 Do not quench the Spirit, [20] do not despise prophesying,
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: [11] whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; . . .
2 Peter 3:2 . . . you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets . . .
[Jesus called John the Baptist “more than a prophet” (Lk 7:26) and stated, “among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Lk 7:28). St. Paul includes “prophets” — whom “God has appointed in the church” — as one of the Church offices (1 Cor 12:28-29; 14:29, 32, 37-38; Eph 4:11), and refers to “prophesy[ing]” (1 Cor 14:1, 3-5, 24, 31, 39) and “prophecy” (1 Cor 14:6, 22) and prophetic “revelation” (1 Cor 14:30) and noted the “prophetic utterances” that accompanied the ordination of Timothy (1 Tim 1:18; 4:14).]
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4) Direct Supernatural Guidance from the Holy Spirit
Numbers 11:29 But Moses said to him, “. . . Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”
2 Chronicles 24:20 Then the Spirit of God took possession of Zechari’ah the son of Jehoi’ada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, . . .”
Nehemiah 9:30 Many years thou didst bear with them, and didst warn them by thy Spirit through thy prophets . . .
Ezekiel 3:24 But the Spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet; and he spoke with me . . .
Ezekiel 11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, . . .
Zechariah 7:12 . . . the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. . . .
Mark 12:36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, . . .
Mark 13:11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (cf. Mt 10:19-20; Lk 12:11-12)
Luke 2:25-27 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [27] And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple . . .
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, [17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 15:26 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Acts 1:16 Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, . . .
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke theword of God with boldness.
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
Acts 10:19-20 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”
Acts 11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them . . .
Acts 13:2, 4 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” . . . [4] . . . sent out by the Holy Spirit . . .
Acts 16:6-7 And they went through the region of Phry’gia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7] And when they had come opposite My’sia, they attempted to go into Bithyn’ia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;
Acts 28:25 Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: (see 28:26-27)
Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10, 12-13 God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. . . . [12] Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. (cf. 2:14)
1 Corinthians 12:3-11 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
2 Timothy 1:14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
1 Peter 1:12 . . . those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit . . .
2 Peter 1:21 . . . no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (cf. 1:19: ” the prophetic word”)
5) Direct Supernatural Guidance from Dreams or Visions
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abim’elech in a dream by night, and said to him, . . . (cf. 20:6)
Genesis 28:12-16 And he [Jacob] dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! [13] And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants; [14] and your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and by you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth bless themselves. [15] Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you.” [16] Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I did not know it.”
Genesis 31:11-13 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘ere I am!’ [12] And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that leap upon the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. [13] I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go forth from this land, and return to the land of your birth.'”
Genesis 31:24 . . . God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, . . .
Genesis 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.”
Genesis 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.”
Numbers 12:6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream.
1 Samuel 3:1, 4 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. . . . [4] Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!”
1 Samuel 28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
2 Samuel 7:17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. (see 7:4; 1 Chr 17:15)
1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
2 Chronicles 9:29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahi’jah the Shi’lonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jerobo’am the son of Nebat?
2 Chronicles 32:32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezeki’ah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
Psalm 89:19 Of old thou didst speak in a vision to thy faithful one, and say: “I have set the crown upon one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.”
Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzzi’ah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezeki’ah, kings of Judah.
Isaiah 29:10-11 For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets, and covered your heads, the seers.
[11] And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. . . .
Jeremiah 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. . . .
Jeremiah 24:1 . . . the LORD showed me this vision . . .
Jeremiah 38:21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is the vision which the LORD has shown to me:
Ezekiel 1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel 8:3-4 . . . the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, . . . [4] And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.
Ezekiel 11:24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chalde’a, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.
Ezekiel 12:23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, ‘The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision.’ [the prophets also often describe false visions from false prophets — e.g., Ezek 13:7, 9, 16, 23 –, but the counterfeit is no disproof of the genuine . . .]
Ezekiel 40:1-2 . . . the hand of the LORD was upon me, [2] and brought me in the visions of God into the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city opposite me.
Ezekiel 43:3 And the vision I saw was like the vision which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like the vision which I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
Daniel 1:17 . . . Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Daniel 2:19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel 2:28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnez’zar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
Daniel 2:45 [Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar] “just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel 7:1 In the first year of Belshaz’zar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter. [what follows is one of the most well-known messianic prophecies]
Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshaz’zar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, . . . [many more mentions of visions occur in Daniel, chapters 4, 7-10]
Hosea 12:10 I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables.
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. [cited in Acts 2:17; Peter applied it to the events on the Day of Pentecost, including miraculous speaking in other languages]
Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, . . .”
Matthew 1:20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit;
Matthew 2:12-13 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. [13] Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:19-20 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, [20] “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
Matthew 27:19 Besides, while he [Pontius Pilate] was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.”
Luke 1:21-22 And the people were waiting for Zechari’ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb.
Acts 9:10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani’as. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Anani’as.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
Acts 10:17, 19 . . . Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, . . . [19] . . . while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.”
Acts 11:5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.” (cf. 12:9)
Acts 16:9-10 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedo’nia was standing beseeching him and saying, “Come over to Macedo’nia and help us.” [10] And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedo’nia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 18:9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in avision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent;”
Acts 26:19 “Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,”
2 Corinthians 12:1-4 . . . I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. [2] I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. [3] And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — [4] and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Revelation 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, . . . [the phrase “I saw” occurs 39 times in the book of Revelation, and “I heard” 25 times; also 14 timesin Ezekiel]
Revelation 9:17 And this was how I saw the horses in my vision: . . .
Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, . . .
Revelation 12:1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
Revelation 13:1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, . . .
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
[also, the many biblically sanctioned communications from angels or from God Himself to man (such as the burning bush or various theophanies and encounters with the Angel of the Lord, and in, particularly, Isaiah, Daniel, Revelation, and the appearance of Jesus to the unconverted Paul) fall under this general category, too. I won’t even bother listing them. They could well be an additional hundred or more passages. They all convey absolute, undoubted, inspired truth, and so they constitute yet more contra-sola Scriptura scriptural data]
6) Mosaic Law / Jewish Pharisaical & Apocalyptic Tradition
Matthew 5:17-20 “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. [18] For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. [19] Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” [Jesus’ condemnations, many believe, were broadly directed towards the Pharisees of the school ofShammai, whereas Jesus was closer to the school ofHillel. This seems to reflect Leviticus Rabbah 19:2: Should all the nations of the world unite to uproot one word of the Torah, they would be unable to do it.”]
Matthew 15:3-9 He answered them, “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? [4] For God commanded, `Honor your father and your mother,’ and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.’ [5] But you say, ‘If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.’ [6] So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. [7] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: [8] ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; [9] in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'” (cf. Mk 7:8-9, 13) [Jesus was rebuking this particular Pharisaical tradition as a corruption of the ten commandments. His point isn’t “anti-tradition” per se; rather, it’s “pro-God’s tradition” over against false “precepts of men”]
Matthew 19:17-19 . . . “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” [18] He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, [19] Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (cf. Mk 10:17-19; Lk 18:18-20)
Matthew 23:2-3 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; [3] so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” [here is legitimate, binding authority, but the phrase (and idea) of Moses’ seat cannot be found anywhere in the OT. It is found in the (originally oral) Mishna, where a sort of “teaching succession” from Moses on down is taught. Jesus referenced the Pharisees’ oral traditions and interpretations of the written Torah]
Mark 6:56 . . . the fringe of his garment . . . [cf. Mt 14:36 and Num 15:38: “tassels on the corners of their garments”]
Luke 1:5-6 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechari’ah, of the division of Abi’jah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. [Protestants claim that no one can perfectly keep the Law, but they did; so did Paul: Phil 3:6 below]
John 11:49-52 But one of them, Ca’iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all; [50] you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” [51] He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, [52] and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Acts 15:5 . . . some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees . . . [Christians, following Paul’s self-description, are described as Pharisees]
Acts 23:1-5 And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience up to this day.” [2] And the high priest Anani’as commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. [3] Then Paul said to him, “God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” [4] Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” [5] And Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, `You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'” [Paul believes he is still under the authority of the Jewish high priest: who was even a Sadducee. According to The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Ananias was “lawless and violent . . . haughty, unscrupulous, filling his sacred office for purely selfish and political ends” (vol. 1, p. 129). But Paul nonetheless showed him respect; even regarding him as his own “ruler”.]
Acts 23:6 . . . “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees . . .” [Paul twice describes himself as a Pharisee at his trial. The Pharisees accepted oral tradition, given to Moses on Mt. Sinai]
Acts 26:4-5 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. [5] They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.” [St. Paul didn’t think that Christianity and Judaism were two separate religions]
Philippians 3:5-6 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, [6] as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless. [note that St. Paul kept the law in a “blameless” fashion]
1 Peter 3:19 in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, [at least two ancient Jewish texts refer to fallen angels in a similar way; e.g.,1 Enoch18:13-16: “. . . the spot was desolate. And there I beheld seven stars, like great blazing mountains, and like spirits entreating me. Then the angel said, This place, until the consummation of heaven and earth, will be the prison of the stars, and the host of heaven. The stars which roll over fire are those which transgressed the commandment of God before their time arrived; for they came not in their proper season. Therefore was He offended with them, and bound them, until the period of the consummation of their crimes . . .”; or2 Enoch7:1-2: “And those men took me and led me up on to the second heaven, and showed me darkness, greater than earthly darkness, and there I saw prisoners hanging, watched, awaiting the great and boundless judgment, and these angels were dark-looking, more than earthly darkness, and incessantly making weeping through all hours. And I said to the men who were with me: Wherefore are these incessantly tortured? They answered me: These are God’s apostates, who obeyed not God’s commands, but took counsel with their own will, and turned away with their prince, who also is fastened on the fifth heaven.” 1 Enoch dates from c. 300-100 BC;2 Enoch probably from the first century]
Jude 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” [not found in the OT, but Origen (De Principiis, Bk III, ch. 2, sec, 1) traced it to the presently incomplete 1st century work, The Assumption of Moses]
Jude 14-15 It was of these also that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads, [15] to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. [direct citation of1 Enoch2:1: “Behold, he comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon them, and destroy the wicked, and reprove all the carnal for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done, and committed against him.” Note how Jude — writing inspired, God-breathed Scripture (2 Tim 3:16) — assumes that this is legitimate prophecy]
7) Jesus and Christians Attended Temple Worship and Sacrificial Rites
Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. [Mishnah: Yoma 8:9: “If a man said, “I will sin and repent, and sin again and repent”, he will be given no chance to repent. [If he said,] “I will sin and the Day of Atonement will effect atonement”, then the Day of Atonement effects no atonement. For transgressions that are between man and God the Day of Atonement effects atonement, but for transgressions that are between a man and his fellow the Day of Atonement effects atonement only if he has appeased his fellow.”]
Mark 14:12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?”
Luke 2:22-24 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
[23] (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) [24] and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:41-43 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. [42] And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; [43] and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Luke 5:14 And he charged him to tell no one; but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” (cf. Mt 8:4; Mk 1:44)
Luke 22:7-8 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. [8] So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it.” [the Last Supper included a lamb sacrificed at the temple]
Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together . . . [this would have certainly included St. Paul, too, when he was in Jerusalem, and he himself alludes to his presence in the Temple (Acts 24:12) ]
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. [The notes in my RSV explain that the ninth hour was 3 PM “when sacrifice was offered with prayer (Ex 29.39; Lev 6.20; Josephus, Ant. xiv.4.3).”]
Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them and went into the temple, to give notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for every one of them.
Acts 24:11-12 As you may ascertain, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem; [12] and they did not find me disputing with any one or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues, . . . (cf. 22:17)
Acts 24:17-18 Now after some years I came to bring to my nation alms and offerings. [18] As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, . . .
8) Jesus and Christians Attended Synagogues on the Sabbath
Mark 1:21 And they went into Caper’na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. (cf. 1:39; Mt 4:23; 9:35; 13:54)
Mark 6:2 And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue . . .
Luke 4:15-16 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. [16] And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; (cf. 4:44)
Luke 6:6 On another sabbath, when he entered the synagogue and taught . . .
Luke 13:10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. (cf. Jn 6:59; 18:20)
Acts 9:20 And in the synagogues immediately he [Paul] proclaimed Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Acts 13:5 When they arrived at Sal’amis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. . . .
Acts 13:13-16 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphyl’ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; [14] but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid’ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. [15] After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” [16] So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: (cf. 14:1)
Acts 17:1-2 Now when they had passed through Amphip’olis and Apollo’nia, they came to Thessaloni’ca, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. [2] And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he argued with them from the scriptures, (cf. 17:10, 17; 18:7-8)
Acts 18:4 And he argued in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks. (cf. 18:19, 26; 19:8)
9) Jesus & Christians Observed Jewish Feasts
John 2:13, 23 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. . . . [23] Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did;
John 4:45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast.
John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [either the feast of unleavened bread or the feast of tabernacles or booths: Lev 23:34]
John 10:22-23 It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; [23] it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. [this is another name for the feast of Hanukkah, which falls in December, near Christmas]
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. [feast of Pentecost or weeks: Lev 23:15-22]
Acts 20:6 but we sailed away from Philip’pi after the days of Unleavened Bread, . . .
1 Corinthians 5:8 Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [feast of unleavened bread: Lev 23:6]
1 Corinthians 16:8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
10) Oral Torah
Exodus 23:19 . . . “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” (cf. 34:26; Dt 14:21) [this is all we have in the OT regarding the common traditional Jewish prohibition of mixing meat and dairy products (which I first heard of when I visited Israel in 2014). MishnahChullinis the written version of the oral Torah that expands this far more broadly than the original very specific application]
Jeremiah 17:21-22, 27 Thus says the LORD: Take heed for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. [22] And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the sabbath or do any work, but keep the sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. . . . [27] But if you do not listen to me, to keep the sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched. [nothing in the Pentateuch prohibits carrying things out of one’s house on the Sabbath, yet Jeremiah informs us that Jerusalem was destroyed in part due to this violation. If it’s not part of written Mosaic Law, then it must be attributed to the oral Torah that the mainstream pharisaical tradition believed was also given to Moses on Mt. Sinai]
Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ [22] But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, `You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. [Talmud: Bava Mezia 58b: “He who publicly shames his neighbour is as though he shed blood”]
Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [28] But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” [Jesus drew from the oral Torah, specifically fromLeviticus Rabba: “Adultery can be committed with the eyes.” The Sermon on the Mount was primarily a condemnation of the heretical doctrines of the Saduccees, and an endorsement of the doctrines of the Pharisees]
Matthew 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. [Jesus drew from the oral Torah later written inNiddah 13b: “R. Eleazar stated: Who are referred to in the Scriptural text, Your hands are full of blood? Those that commit masturbation with their hands. It was taught at the school of R. Ishmael, Thou shalt not commit adultery implies, Thou shalt not practise masturbation either with hand or with foot.”]
Matthew 5:39 . . . I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also [in the Talmud, a person struck in this way is urged to forgive even if the offender doesn’t ask forgiveness (Tosefta Baba Kanima 9:29). People are commanded to cheerfully submit to suffering (Yoma 23a)]
Matthew 5:44 . . . I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [this idea is found in the Talmud: Yoma 23a, Gitin 36b, and Shabat 88b]
Matthew 6:7 And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. [Talmud: Berachot 55a: “If one draws out his prayer and expects therefore its fulfilment, he will in the end suffer vexation of heart, . . .”]
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [Talmud: Sotah 48b: “Rabbi Eliezer the Great declares: Whoever has a piece of bread in his basket and says, ‘What shall I eat tomorrow?’ belongs only to them who are little in faith.“]
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;” [Talmud: Bava Batra 12b: “Rabbi Johanan said: Since the Temple was destroyed, prophecy has been taken from prophets and given to fools and children.”]
Matthew 12:10-12 And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. [11] He said to them, “What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? [12] Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” [The rabbis in the Talmud (oral Torah) cited Hosea 6:6, that helping people was of greater importance than observing the rituals and customs (Sukkah 49b, Deuteronomy Rabbah on 16:18, etc.), just as Jesus did]
Matthew 25:45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ [Tosefta Sh’vuot, ch. 3: “One who betrays his fellow, it is as if he has betrayed God”]
Mark 2:27 And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath;” [this phrase appears in the Talmud (Mekilta 103b, and Yoma 85b: “Rabbi Jonathan ben Joseph said: For it is holy unto you; I.e., it [the Sabbath] is committed to your hands, not you to its hands”), and was believed by many rabbis in Jesus’s day: particularly in the School of Hillel]
Acts 7:38 This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living oracles to give to us.
Romans 3:2 . . . the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. [possibly refers to the oral Torah along with the written]
11) Binding Authority in the One Church / Impermissibility of Competing Denominations
Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon [Peter], behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, [32] but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”
John 17:19-23 [Jesus praying for His disciples] And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. [20] “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. [22] The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.
John 21:15-17 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” [16] A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” [17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Acts 4:32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, . . .
Acts 14:22-23 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
Acts 15:28-29 “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: [29] that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”[This infallible and arguably inspired binding declaration (see Acts 16:4) — confirmed by the Holy Spirit — in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:7-11) was essentially based on a “vision” (10:17) that God gave St. Peter (10:11-16), and helped him understand by sending to him the Gentile centurion, Cornelius (10:25 ff.), to whom He had communicated by an angel (10:22, 30-32). Virtually none of this process was directly related to Scripture or the written Mosaic Law at all. Three of the four had to do with food. (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25). Two of these derived from the oral Torah: abstaining from food sacrificed to idols (Mishnah Avodah Zarah 23a) and foods that were strangled (Mishnah Chullin, which addresses matters of “non-sacred consumption of meat, such as ritual slaughter of non-consecrated animals”).]
Acts 16:4 . . . they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.[Paul was proclaiming the conciliar decision in Jerusalem as binding upon Christians hundreds of miles away in Asia Minor (Turkey)]
Acts 20:28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
1 Corinthians 1:10, 13 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. . . . [13] Is Christ divided? . . .
1 Corinthians 10:17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 20 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body does not consist of one member but of many.. . . [20] As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Ephesians 4:4-5, 13-16 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, . . . [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.
Colossians 2:6-7 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, [7] rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, . . .
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15 . . . the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. [seemy analysis of this passage, showing how it proves the infallibility of the Church]
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
1 Timothy 4:3 . . . those who believe and know the truth.
2 Timothy 2:25 God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know thetruth,
2 Timothy 3:7-8 who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of thetruth. [8] As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith;
Titus 1:5 . . . appoint elders in every town as I directed you,
1 Peter 5:1-5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. [2] Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, [3] not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. [4] And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. [5] Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
1 John 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.
12) Definitive Interpretation of Scripture from Ecclesiastical Leaders
Exodus 18:19-20 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You [Moses] shall represent the people before God, and bring their cases to God; [20] and you shall teach them the statutes and the decisions, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.
Exodus 32:26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
Leviticus 10:8, 11 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, “. . . [11] and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.”
Deuteronomy 24:8 “Take heed, in an attack of leprosy, to be very careful to do according to all that the Levitical priests shall direct you; as I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.”
Deuteronomy 27:14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel with a loud voice: [followed by twelve curses for various sins. [the Levites were teaching priests (2 Chr 15:3) in the old covenant and also in charge of the tabernacle and the temple and sacred items like the ark of the covenant]
Deuteronomy 33:8, 10 And of Levi he said, . . . [10] They shall teach Jacob thy ordinances, and Israel thy law; . . .
2 Chronicles 17:8-9 and with them the Levites, Shemai’ah, Nethani’ah, Zebadi’ah, As’ahel, Shemi’ramoth, Jehon’athan, Adoni’jah, Tobi’jah, and Tobadoni’jah; and with these Levites, the priests Eli’shama and Jeho’ram. [9] And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; they went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
2 Chronicles 35:3 . . . the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the LORD, . . .
Ezra 7:6, 10, 25-26 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses which the LORD the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. . . . [10] For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel. . . . [25] “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and those who do not know them, you shall teach. [26] Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed upon him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-9, 12 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. [2] And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, . . . [3] And he read from it . . . [7] Also Jesh’ua, Bani, Sherebi’ah, Jamin, Akkub, Shab’bethai, Hodi’ah, Ma-asei’ah, Keli’ta, Azari’ah, Jo’zabad, Hanan, Pelai’ah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, . . . [8] And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. [9] . . . and the Levites who taught the people . . . [12] . . . they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Malachi 2:4-7 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts. [5] My covenant with him was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him, that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my name. [6] True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. [7] For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Mark 4:33-34 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; [34] he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
Luke 24:25-27, 32 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. . . . [32] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”
Luke 24:44-45 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” [45] Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
Acts 8:26-27, 30-35 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. [27] And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can’dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship . . . [30] So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” [31] And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. [33] In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” [34] And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.
2 Peter 1:20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
2 Peter 3:15-17 . . . So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, [16] speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. [17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability.
13) Apostolic Succession
Acts 1:20-26 For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and `His office let another take.’
[21] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” [23] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab’bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi’as. [24] And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen [25] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” [26] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi’as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, . . .
Ephesians 2:19-21 . . . you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith . . .
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you.
2 Timothy 1:14 guard thetruth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
2 Timothy 2:2 And what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Titus 1:4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith . . .
Jude 3 . . . contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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Summary: Collection of 601+ Bible passages proving that sola Scriptura (Scripture as the only infallible rule of faith) is a false, relentlessly self-defeating, and utterly unbiblical novelty.
Nehemiah 9:20 Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, . . . [teaches us]
Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. [gives us understanding]
Job 33:4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. [is the Creator]
Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [omnipresent like God the Father]
Isaiah 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has instructed him? [possesses extraordinary knowledge]
Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit . . . [grieves]
Isaiah 48:16 . . . And now the Lord GOD has sent me and his Spirit. [sends]
Isaiah 63:14 . . . the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. . . . [provides rest]
Ezekiel 37:14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, . . . [gives life]
Joel 2:28 . . . I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. [gives the ability to prophesy and to have visions]
Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. [provides power, might, and zeal for publicly condemning sin]
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. [brings about a spirit of compassion, prayer, and mourning]
Matthew 1:18 . . . she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; (cf. Lk 1:35) [helped make Jesus’ incarnation possible]
Matthew 3:11 . . . he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [empowers for discipleship]
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [leads]
Matthew 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [casts out demons]
Matthew 12:31-32 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32] And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (cf. Mk 3:28-29; Lk 12:10) [can be blasphemed]
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [we baptize in His name, along with the Father and the Son]
Mark 1:12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. [impels actions]
Mark 12:36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, . . . [inspires the writers of Holy Scripture]
Mark 13:11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (cf. Mt 10:19-20; Lk 12:11-12) [gives us words to speak under persecution]
Luke 2:26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [reveals the future]
Luke 2:27 And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple . . . [inspires or influences]
Luke 24:49 . . . stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high. (cf. Acts 2:2-4, 33) [provides spiritual power]
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [causes one to be born again and regenerated and fit for the kingdom of God]
John 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life, . . . [gives life]
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, [helps or counsels]
John 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. [“him” and “he” applied to Him; can be known]
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. [counsels, teaches us all things, helps us to remember Jesus’ teachings]
John 15:26 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; [counsels, bears witness to Jesus]
John 16:7 . . . if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. [counsels, “him” applied to Him, comforts]
John 16:8-11 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:[9] concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; [10] concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; [11] concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. [called “he”, convicts of sin, involved with judgment]
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [guides, proclaims truth, speaks, “he” and “his” applied to Him, has authority, hears, declares, knows and declares the future, has impulses]
John 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [glorifies Jesus, called “he”, declares]
Acts 1:5, 8 for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. . . . [8] . . . you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . . (cf. 11:16) [empowers believers]
Acts 1:16 Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, . . . [inspires the writers of Scripture]
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [gives ability to speak in tongues]
Acts 4:31 . . . they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. [causes believers to proclaim God’s word with boldness]
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, “Anani’as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? [4] While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” [is God, can be lied to]
Acts 5:9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? . . .” [men futilely try to tempt Him]
Acts 5:32 . . . we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit . . . [bears witness to Jesus]
Acts 7:51 . . . you always resist the Holy Spirit. . . . [His will can be resisted]
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” [speaks, commands]
Acts 8:39 . . . the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more . . . [can ‘”catch up” human beings and take them away]
Acts 9:31 . . . in the comfort of the Holy Spirit . . . [comforts]
Acts 10:19-20 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for I have sent them.” [speaks, sends, commands]
Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [45] And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. [46] For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. . . . [enables one to speak in other tongues]
Acts 11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them . . . [speaks, commands]
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [speaks, commands, calls men to ministry]
Acts 13:4 . . . sent out by the Holy Spirit . . . [sends or dispatches]
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. [gives joy]
Acts 15:28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: [judges whether things are good, thinks, yearns]
Acts 16:6-7 And they went through the region of Phry’gia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7] And when they had come opposite My’sia, they attempted to go into Bithyn’ia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; [forbids]
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. [causes believers to speak in tongues and prophesy]
Acts 20:28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers . . . [appoints priests and bishops]
Acts 21:11 And coming to us he took Paul’s girdle and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'” [prophesies]
Acts 28:25 Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: (see 28:26-27) [prophesies; inspires the words of Scripture]
***
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***
Romans 5:5 . . . God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. [expresses God’s love for us]
Romans 8:2, 4-6 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. . . . [4] in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [sets us free from sin and death, sanctifies us, gives us life and peace]
Romans 8:11 . . . the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead . . . [resurrected Jesus]
Romans 8:13 for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. [enables us to overcome sinful impulses, sanctifies us]
Romans 8:14-15 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] . . . you have received the spirit of sonship. . . . [leads us, enables us to be sons of God]
Romans 8:16 it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [confirms and bears witness that we are God’s children, “himself” applied to Him]
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. [helps, intercedes, sighs, “himself” applied to Him]
Romans 8:27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [has the omniscient mind of God, intercedes]
Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, [forms a conscience in us]
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; [gives us joy]
Romans 15:13 . . . by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. [gives us hope]
Romans 15:16 . . . sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [sanctifies]
Romans 15:19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, . . . [gives us power to do signs and wonders]
Romans 15:30 . . . by the love of the Spirit . . . [loves or enables us to love]
1 Corinthians 2:4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [inspires spiritual words of divine power and Scripture]
1 Corinthians 2:10-11 God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. [11] . . . no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (cf. Rom 11:33-34) [reveals truths as God, searches “everything” and has the mind of God]
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. [helps us to understand spiritual gifts]
1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. [teaches us spiritual truths and how to interpret them for others]
1 Corinthians 2:14 The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. [gives us the spiritual gifts and the discernment and understanding of them]
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. [regenerates, sanctifies, and justifies us]
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. [gives us the ability to speak spiritual truths]
1 Corinthians 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [manifests Himself to and gives gifts to every believer]
1 Corinthians 12:8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [gives us the spiritual gifts of wisdom and knowledge]
1 Corinthians 12:9-10 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [gives us the gifts of faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of good and evil spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues]
1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. [inspires spiritual gifts, apportions spiritual gifts variously to individuals, wills, called “he”]
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. [causes baptism to take place, incorporating us into the Body of Christ]
2 Corinthians 3:3 and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. [sanctifies us]
2 Corinthians 3:6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. [guides Christians and gives life]
2 Corinthians 3:8 will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? [ushers in the new covenant and Church age]
2 Corinthians 13:14 . . . the fellowship of the Holy Spirit . . . [creates fellowship and bond among Christians]
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. [sanctifies, gives freedom, is God, helps us be unified with God]
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [causes us to act as God’s children, and to cry, “Abba! Father!”]
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. [gives us the faith to wait in hope]
Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. [sanctifies us; enables us to be holy]
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; . . . (cf. 5:25) [sanctifies us and gives us all of these wonderful traits]
Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. [helps us achieve eternal life]
Ephesians 1:13-14 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. [seals our salvation]
Ephesians 2:18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [gives us, with Jesus, access to the Father]
Ephesians 2:22 in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. [enables us to be indwelt by God]
Ephesians 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [inspires sacred Scripture and sacred apostolic tradition]
Ephesians 3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, [strengthens and sanctifies us]
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [grieves, seals us for redemption]
Ephesians 6:17 . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [inspires God’s written and oral word]
Ephesians 6:18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, [enables powerful, effective prayer]
1 Thessalonians 1:5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit . . . [inspires sacred Scripture and sacred apostolic tradition and enables it to be powerfully proclaimed]
1 Thessalonians 1:6 . . . with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; [gives us joy]
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit, [can be quenched or resisted]
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. [sanctifies and helps save us]
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, [speaks, prophesies]
2 Timothy 1:14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. [entrusts us to keep the truth]
Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, [regenerates and renews and sanctifies us, thus helps save us]
Hebrews 2:4 . . . gifts of the Holy Spirit . . . [gives us gifts]
Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, . . . (3:7-11 cite the Old Testament) [inspires the words of Scripture]
Hebrews 9:14 . . . Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, . . . [helped Jesus to offer Himself as our redeemer]
Hebrews 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; . . . [bears witness of the gospel]
Hebrews 10:29 . . . outraged the Spirit of grace . . . [can be outraged, gives grace]
1 Peter 1:2 . . . sanctified by the Spirit . . . [sanctifies us]
1 Peter 1:12 . . . those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit . . . [enables powerful preaching of the gospel]
2 Peter 1:21 because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. [inspires prophecy and Scripture]
1 John 3:24 . . . by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. [proves that God dwells in us]
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God . . . [can be known]
1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit. [proves that God abides in us, and we in Him]
1 John 5:7-8 And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. [8] There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. [bears witness to Jesus]
Jude 1:19 It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. [sanctifies us]
Jude 1:20 . . . pray in the Holy Spirit; [enables prayer]
Revelation 2:7 . . . what the Spirit says to the churches . . . (cf. 2:11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) [speaks to churches]
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” [speaks]
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price. [speaks, offers or beckons men unto salvation]
***
* Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.
*
Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I’m always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.
Summary: Compilation of 125 biblical passages from the Old and New Testaments, indicating in many ways that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person: the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
Photo credit: Christ, by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
[all biblical citations from RSV]
[initial research from 1982 (using KJV); slightly revised in 1997; revised and reformatted for RSV edition in 2012; separated from the larger article, Jesus is God: Hundreds of Biblical Proofs (RSV edition) on 26 November 2024]
*****
Every time the New Testament refers to Jesus as Christ, it is declaring that He is the Messiah, since Christ is the Greek for the Hebrew Messiah. The latter word appears twice in the New Testament in the RSV, and in both cases, it is shown that Christ is the equivalent term:
John 1:41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
John 4:25-26The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Other verses provide further evidence:
Matthew 16:16-17, 20 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”… [20] Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (cf. Mk 8:27-30; 9:41; Lk 4:41; 9:18-21)
Mark 14:61-62 But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” [62] And Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (cf. Mt 26:63-65; Lk 22:67-71; 24:25-27)
Son of Man When Jesus calls Himself “the Son of Man” (e.g., Mt 10:23, 32-33; 19:28; 23:37 ff.; 24:47; Mk 2:19-20; 3:28-29; 8:31, 38; 9:9, 31; 10:33, 38; 14:21, 41; Lk 11:30; 12:8, 49-50; 17:24; 18:6, 8; 21:36; 22:27, 48), He is claiming to be the Messiah, since He is referring (especially in Mk 13:26; 14:62; Jn 5:27; cf. Rev 1:13; 14:14) to a well-known messianic passage:
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
In Mark 14:61-62, Jesus assumes that the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of Man are one and the same (Himself). Matthew 16:16-17 establishes the fact that the Messiah and “the Son of God” are identical as well. The latter term is used of Jesus 43 times in the New Testament, in RSV.
***
“Please Hit ‘Subscribe’”! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 5,000+ articles, please follow my blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, “Sign Me Up!”: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. My blog was rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT: endorsed by influential Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Actually, I partner with Kenny Burchard on the YouTube channel, Catholic Bible Highlights. Please subscribe there, too! Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading!
***
The apostles often appeal to messianic promises and fulfilled prophecies as evidence of the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus Christ (e.g., Mt 2:4-6; Rom 1:2-4; Acts 3:18; 10:43; 13:29; 17:2-3; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 2:5-6). Here is a summary of such messianic prophecies:
1) Born of a Virgin: Is 7:14 and Mt 1:18, 24-25; Lk 1:26-35.
2) From the Tribe of Judah: Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2 and Mt 1:2; Lk 3:23, 33.
3) From the Family Line of Jesse: Is 11:1, 10 and Mt 1:6; Lk 3:23, 32.
4) From the House of David: Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5 and Mt 1:1; Lk 3:23, 31.
5) Born in Bethlehem: Mic 5:2 and Mt 2:1, 4-8; Lk 2:4-7.
6) Called Son of God: Ps 2:7 and Mt 3:17.
7) Called Lord: Ps 110:1; Jer 23:6 and Mt 22:43-45; Lk 2:11.
8) Called Immanuel (God With Us): Is 7:14 and Mt 1:23.
9) A Prophet: Deut 18:18 and Mt 21:11; Lk 7:16; Jn 7:40.
10) Judge: Is 33:22 and Jn 5:30.
11) King: Ps 2:6 and Mt 21:5; Jn 18:36-37.
12) Special Anointing of the Spirit: Is 11:2 and Mt 3:16-17.
13) Preceded by a Messenger: Is 40:3; Mal 3:1 and Mt 3:1-3; 11:10; Lk 1:17; Jn 1:23.
14) Galilee Ministry: Is 9:1 and Mt 4:12-13, 17.
15) Ministry of Miracles: Is 32:3-4; 35:5-6 and Mt 9:32-35.
16) Teacher of Parables: Ps 78:2 and Mt 13:34.
17) Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem: Zech 9:9 and Mt 21:5-10, 15-16.
18) Messiah to Come Before Jerusalem’s Destruction (70 A.D.): Gen 49:10 and Mt 24:1-2.
19) Messiah Will Come to the Temple (Had to be Before 70): Ps 118:26; Dan 9:26; Hag 2:7-9; Zech 11:13; Mal 3:1 and Mt 21:12; Jn 2:13-17.
20) Entered Jerusalem on a Donkey: Zech 9:9 and Lk 19:35-37.
21) “Stone of Stumbling”: Ps 118:22; Is 8:13-14; 28:16 and Acts 4:10-11; Rom 9:32-33; 1 Pet 2:7-8.
22) Rejected by His Own People: Is 53:3 and Jn 1:11; 7:5, 48.
23) Hated Without a Cause: Ps 69:4; Is 49:7 and Jn 15:25.
24) Resurrection: Ps 16:10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17; Hos 6:2 and Acts 2:31; 13:33; Mt 28:6; Mk 16:6; Lk 24:46.
25) Ascension: Ps 68:18 and Acts 1:9.
26) Right Hand of God: Ps 110:1 and Heb 1:3; Acts 2:34-35.
The following 24 prophecies were literally fulfilled by Jesus in one 24-hour period of time:
27) Betrayed by a Friend: Ps 41:9; 55:12-14 and Mt 10:4.
28) Betrayed For 30 Pieces of Silver: Zec 11:12 and Mt 26:15.
29) Silver Thrown in God’s House: Zech 11:13 and Mt 27:5.
30) The Potter’s Field: Zech 11:13 and Mt 27:7.
31) Forsaken by Disciples: Zech 13:7 and Mt 26:31; Mk 14:50.
32) Silent Before Accusers: Is 53:7 and Mt 27:12.
33) Wounded and Bruised: Is 53:5; Zech 13:6 and Mt 27:26.
34) Beaten: Is 50:6; Mic 5:1 and Mt 26:67; Lk 22:63.
35) Spit Upon: Is 50:6 and Mt 26:67.
36) Mocked: Ps 22:7-8 and Mt 27:31.
37) Hands and Feet Pierced: Ps 22:16; Zec 12:10 and Lk 23:33.
38) Messiah Was to Die: Is 53:8; Dan 9:26 and Lk 23:46; 24:7; Jn 19:30.
39) Executed With Criminals: Is 53:12 and Mt 27:38.
40) Prayed For His Persecutors: Is 53:12 and Lk 23:34.
41) People Wagging Their Heads: Ps 22:7 and Mt 27:39.
42) Stared Upon: Ps 22:17 and Lk 23:35.
43) Garments Parted: Ps 22:18 and Jn 19:23.
44) Garments Gambled For: Ps 22:18 and Jn 19:24.
45) Offered Vinegar and Gall: Ps 69:21 and Mt 27:34; Jn 19:29.
46) Forsaken Cry: Ps 22:1 and Mt 27:46.
47) Bones Not Broken: Ps 34:20 and Jn 19:33.
48) Side Pierced: Zech 12:10 and Jn 19:34.
49) Darkness at Noon: Amos 8:9 and Mt 27:45.
50) Buried in Rich Man’s Tomb: Is 53:9 and Mt 27:57-60.
*
***
* Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.
*
Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I’m always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.
Photo credit: Christ, by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
Summary: I collect 50 of the most well-known Old Testament messianic prophecies, all fulfilled by Jesus, Who was both the Messiah, and God incarnate: the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity.
+ Catalogue of Sixty Traits That Apostates Formerly Possessed When They Were in God’s Good Graces
Photo credit: cover of my book. published by Logos / Faithlife / Verbum in March 2012.
[all passages from RSV. Many “thanks” to the good old reference work, Nave’s Topical Bible (1897). Nave (1841-1917) was a Methodist, so he agreed — as an Arminian / Wesleyan — that one could fall away from faith; hence, he didn’t overlook that teaching in his Bible references]
*****
Leviticus 26:15 . . . you spurn my statutes, . . . you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant,
Numbers 14:22-23 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the proof these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice, [23] shall see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; and none of those who despised me shall see it.
Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart . . .”
Deuteronomy 8:11 “Take heed lest you forget the LORD your God, by not keeping his commandments and his ordinances and his statutes, . . .”
Deuteronomy 8:19 And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you this day that you shall surely perish.
Deuteronomy 29:18 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations; lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit,
Deuteronomy 29:25-26 . . . they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, [26] and went and served other gods and worshiped them . . .
Deuteronomy 31:16 . . . this people will rise and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them.
Deuteronomy 31:29 For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.
Deuteronomy 32:15 . . . he forsook God who made him, and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.
1 Samuel 15:11 . . . Saul . . . has turned back from following me . . .
1 Samuel 15:23 “. . . Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”
1 Samuel 15:26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” (cf. 16:1)
1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
1 Samuel 18:12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.
1 Kings 11:4-6, 9-10 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. [5] For Solomon went after Ash’toreth the goddess of the Sido’nians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. [6] So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. . . . [9] And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, [10] and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD commanded.
1 Kings 11:33 . . . he has forsaken me, and worshiped Ash’toreth the goddess of the Sido’nians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and has not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, as David his father did.
2 Kings 18:12 . . . they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded; they neither listened nor obeyed.
2 Kings 21:22 he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 28:9 . . . if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.
2 Chronicles 12:1-2 When the rule of Rehobo’am was established and was strong, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.[2] In the fifth year of King Rehobo’am, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem
2 Chronicles 13:11 . . . we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him.
2 Chronicles 15:1-2 The Spirit of God came upon Azari’ah the son of Oded, [2] and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
2 Chronicles 24:24 . . . they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. . . . (cf. 24:20)
2 Chronicles 25:1-2, 14, 27 Amazi’ah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, . . . [2] And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a blameless heart. [14] After Amazi’ah came from the slaughter of the E’domites, he brought the gods of the men of Se’ir, and set them up as his gods, and worshiped them, making offerings to them. . . . [27] . . . he turned away from the LORD . . .
2 Chronicles 26:4-5, 16, 20-21 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amazi’ah had done. [5] He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechari’ah, who instructed him in the fear of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper. . . . [16] But when he was strong he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was false to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. . . . [20] And Azari’ah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they thrust him out quickly, and he himself hastened to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. [21] And King Uzzi’ah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper dwelt in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s household, governing the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 29:6, 8 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God; they have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. . . . [8] Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.
Ezra 8:22 . . . “The hand of our God is for good upon all that seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all that forsake him.”
Nehemiah 9:26-27 “Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against thee and cast thy law behind their back and killed thy prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to thee, and they committed great blasphemies. [27] Therefore thou didst give them into the hand of their enemies, . . .
Job 34:26-27 He strikes them for their wickedness in the sight of men, [27] because they turned aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways,
Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 78:10-11 They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. [11] They forgot what he had done, and the miracles that he had shown them.
Psalm 78:40-42 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! [41] They tested him again and again, and provoked the Holy One of Israel. [42] They did not keep in mind his power, or the day when he redeemed them from the foe;
Psalm 78:56-57 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God, and did not observe his testimonies, [57] but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow.
Proverbs 2:17, 19 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; . . . [19] none who go to her come back nor do they regain the paths of life.
Isaiah 1:4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.
Isaiah 1:28 But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
Isaiah 5:24-25 they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. [25] Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, . . .
Isaiah 17:10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; . . .
Isaiah 24:5 . . . they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.
Isaiah 31:6 Turn to him from whom you have deeply revolted, O people of Israel.
Isaiah 65:11 . . . you who forsake the LORD, . . .
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Jeremiah 2:11, 13 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. [13] . . . they have forsaken me, . . . (cf. 2:17, 19)
Jeremiah 2:27 . . . they have turned their back to me, . . . (cf. 2:32)
Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said to me in the days of King Josi’ah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the harlot?” (cf. 3:20, 22)
Jeremiah 3:13 . . . you rebelled against the LORD your God . . .
Jeremiah 3:21 . . . they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the LORD their God.
Jeremiah 5:19 . . . you have forsaken me and served foreign gods . . .
Jeremiah 5:23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.
Jeremiah 8:5-6 Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. [6] I have given heed and listened, but they have not spoken aright; no man repents of his wickedness, . . .
Jeremiah 11:9-11 Again the LORD said to me, “There is revolt among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [10] They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. [11] Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing evil upon them which they cannot escape; though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.
Jeremiah 11:16-17 The LORD once called you, ‘A green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit’; but with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed. [17] The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil which the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by burning incense to Ba’al.”
Jeremiah 13:25 . . . you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man . . . whose heart turns away from the LORD.”
Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake thee shall be put to shame; those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.
Jeremiah 18:15 . . . my people have forgotten me, they burn incense to false gods . . .
Jeremiah 19:4 . . . the people have forsaken me, and have profaned this place by burning incense in it to other gods . . .
Jeremiah 50:6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their fold.”
Ezekiel 2:3-4 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. [4] The people also are impudent and stubborn: . . . (cf. 2:5-8)
Ezekiel 3:20 Again, if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered . . .
Ezekiel 18:24 But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, he shall die.
Ezekiel 23:35 . . . thus says the Lord GOD: . . . you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back . . .
Ezekiel 33:12 And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness; and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins.
Ezekiel 33:18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall die for it.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Hosea 6:7 . . . they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.
Hosea 8:14 . . . Israel has forgotten his Maker . . .
Hosea 9:1 . . . you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. . . .
Hosea 11:7 My people are bent on turning away from me; . . .
Hosea 13:16 Sama’ria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God . . .
Hosea 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Amos 2:4 . . . they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, . . .
Zephaniah 1:4, 6 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Ba’al . . . [6] those who have turned back from following the LORD, . . .
Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
***
Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
Matthew 24:10-13 And then many will fall away, . . . [11] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12] And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. [13] But he who endures to the end will be saved. (cf. 10:22)
Luke 8:13-14 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. [14] And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, [32] but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”
John 6:66 After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.
John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 16:1 I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away.
Acts 7:39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, . . .
Acts 11:23 . . . he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;
Romans 11:20-22 . . . They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. [21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. [22] Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.
Romans 14:4 . . . It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.
1 Corinthians 9:27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 10:5-6 Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. [6] Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.
2 Corinthians 1:24 . . . you stand firm in your faith.
2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish . . .
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel
Galatians 3:1-4 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? [2] Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? [4] Did you experience so many things in vain? — if it really is in vain.
Galatians 4:9 but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Galatians 5:1 . . . stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery . . .
Galatians 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Galatians 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, [21] envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:5-6 Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Philippians 3:11-13 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. [13] Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; . . .
Colossians 1:22-23 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, [23] provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, . . .
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion [KJV: “a falling away”] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,
1 Timothy 1:19 . . . By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith,
1 Timothy 2:15 Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.
1 Timothy 5:8 If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:15 For some have already strayed after Satan.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.
2 Timothy 1:14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
2 Timothy 1:15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phy’gelus and Hermog’enes.
2 Timothy 2:12 . . . if we deny him, he also will deny us;
2 Timothy 2:16-18 Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, [17] and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are Hymenae’us and Phile’tus, [18] who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Hebrews 3:6 And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope.
Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:14 For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end,
Hebrews 3:15 . . . it is said, “Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Hebrews 3:18-19 And to whom did he swear that they should never enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? [19] So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it.
Hebrews 4:5-6 And again in this place he said, “They shall never enter my rest.” [6] Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,
Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.
Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:15 And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.
Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, [27] but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. [28] A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. [29] How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.
Hebrews 10:38-39 “but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” [39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.
Hebrews 12:15-16 See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled; [16] that no one be immoral or irreligious like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
Hebrews 13:9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, . . .
James 1:14-15 but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
1 Peter 1:17 And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, . . .
2 Peter 2:15 Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Be’or, who loved gain from wrongdoing,
2 Peter 2:17-22 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved. [18] For, uttering loud boasts of folly, they entice with licentious passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live in error. [19] They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. [20] For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. [21] For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. [22] It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.
1 John 5:16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
2 John 7-9 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. [8] Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward. [9] Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son.
Revelation 2:4-5 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. [5] Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 3:3 Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.
Revelation 3:5 He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Revelation 3:11-12 I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. [12] He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God . . .
Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
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Calvinists and folks who believe in eternal security will argue that the people described above were never Christians. But the language used rules that out. Now that we have compiled 150 passages that reference actual apostasy or warn against it, we can see the strong cumulative force of this sub-argument. Here is a complete catalogue of sixty descriptions of the former state of apostates, that they rejected; what they possessed when they were in the good graces of God and fit for ultimate salvation and eternal life in heaven if they were to die:
keeping his commandments and his ordinances and his statutes (Dt 8:11; 1 Sam 11:33)
heart turned [to] the LORD (Dt 29:18; 1 Kgs 11:9; Jer 17:5)
[kept/ followed] the covenant of the LORD (Dt 29:25; 31:16; Ps 78:10; Prov 2:17; Is 24:5; Hos 6:7)
[kept] the way which [God] commanded (Dt 31:29, 1 Kgs 11:10)
following [God] (1 Sam 15:11; Job 34:27)
[possessing the] Spirit of the LORD / Holy Spirit (1 Sam 16:14; Ps 51:11; Gal 3:2-3; Heb 6:4)
[accepted / listened to] the word of the LORD (1 Sam 15:23, 26; Is 5:24)
with the LORD (1 Sam 18:12)
heart wholly true to the LORD (1 Kgs 11:4)
wholly follow[ed] the LORD (1 Kgs 11:6)
walked in [God’s] ways (1 Kgs 11:33; 2 Kgs 21:22)
[did] what is right in [God’s] sight (1 Kgs 11:33)
obey[ed] the voice of the LORD their God [and kept] his covenant (2 Kgs 18:12)
listened [and] obeyed [God] (2 Kgs 18:12)
[followed] the law[s] of the LORD (2 Chr 12:1; Neh 9:26; Is 5:24; 24:5; Hos 4:6; Amos 2:4)
faithful to the LORD (2 Chr 12:2; 29:6; Jer 3:6; Hos 6:7; 2 Cor 13:5; Gal 3:2; Heb 10:39; Rev 2:10)
[kept] the charge of the LORD (2 Chr 13:11)
he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD (2 Chr 25:2; 26:4)
set himself to seek God (2 Chr 26:5)
sought the LORD (2 Chr 26:5; Ezra 8:22)
turned their faces [to] the habitation of the LORD (2 Chr 29:6)
obeyed / obedient (Neh 9:26; Acts 7:39; Heb 3:18; 4:6, 11; 1 Pet 1:14)
had regard for [God’s] ways (Job 34:27)
[in God’s] presence (Ps 51:11)
walk[ed] according to his law (Ps 78:10)
[remembered] what [God] had done (Ps 78:11)
observe[d] [God’s] testimonies (Ps 78:56)
[remembered] the God of [their] salvation (Is 17:10)
remembered the Rock of [their] refuge (Is 17:10)
[obeyed / kept] the statutes (Is 24:5; Amos 2:4; Mal 3:7)
a righteous man turns away from his righteousness (Ezek 18:24; 33:12, 18)
[performed] righteous deeds (Ezek 18:24)
turn[ed] [to God] (Hos 11:7)
the salt of the earth (Mt 5:13)
when they hear the word, receive it with joy (Lk 8:13)
disciples . . . went about with [Jesus] (Jn 6:66)
belief [and] faith (Rom 11:20; Heb 3:12, 19)
continue in his kindness (Rom 11:22)
[accepted / followed the] gospel (Gal 1:6)
c[a]me to know God (Gal 4:9)
known by God (Gal 4:9)
[in] Christ (Gal 5:4)
[in a state of] grace (Gal 5:4; Heb 12:15; 13:9)
running well (Gal 5:7)
obeying the truth (Gal 5:7; 2 Tim 4:4)
[following] conscience (1 Tim 1:19)
enlightened (Heb 6:4)
who have tasted the heavenly gift (Heb 6:4)
tasted the goodness of the word of God (Heb 6:5)
tasted the powers of the age to come (Heb 6:5)
keep their souls (Heb 10:39)
[following] the right way (2 Pet 2:15)
hav[ing] escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 2:20)
known the way of righteousness (2 Pet 2:21)
[following] the holy commandment (2 Pet 2:21)
love [of God] (Rev 2:4)
do[ing] [of good] works (Rev 2:5)
Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent (Rev 3:3)
hold fast what you have (Rev 3:11)
hot [rather than] lukewarm (Rev 3:16)
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* Practical Matters: I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 4,900+ free online articles or fifty-five books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.
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Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I’m always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.
Photo credit: cover of my book. published by Logos / Faithlife / Verbum in March 2012 [see book and purchase information].
Summary: Compilation of 150 Bible passages (Protestant Old Testament: 74 / New Testament: 76) that warn about the possibility of falling away from salvation and God’s grace (apostasy).
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