Yes, Catholicism is in the Bible......

Yes, Catholicism is in the Bible.... ever since the late 390's AD at the Councils of Hippo and Carthage when the Catholic Church (guided by the Spirit) compiled the Bible into the form we know today (73 books).   If your Bible only has 66 books, then you follow a tradition of men that negated The Word of God (7 books taken out in the Reformation).  This note started out as a daily posting of showing Catholic Doctines and beliefs in the Bible, as a personal Lenten challenge (2011).  I've decided to compile them into this format for easier access for quick/easy Apologetics on the go.  Of course, each item covered can be MUCH more deeply explained from Scripture, but this is meant to at least get our separated brethren thinking, and open to the fullness of Truth held in the Catholic Church. 

Yes--the papacy is in the Bible--Jesus made Simon/Peter the 1st pope in Matt 16, based on Isaiah 22 (read and see the parallels). Read the job description starting in vs. 20. "he shall be father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah." Now remember that "Pope" is Italian for "father--papa".

 Yes, Papal Infalibility is in the Bible: Matt 16-17: Simon Peter answered,“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven". It does not mean that the Pope is perfect, but when exercising his teaching authority, God will guide(prevent from teaching error) the Pope as shown in this verse. 

Yes, Jesus wanting ONE united Church (not 40K+ denominations) is in the Bible: Jesus prayed "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17:21).  Paul follows this with, "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1Cor 1:10)  Lets all pray that one day Jesus' prayer will be fullfilled. 

Yes, Jesus established His ONE Church to be the final authority for Christians: Matt 16 "upon this rock I build My Church", 1 Tim 3:15. That Church is the pillar and defender of Truth; Lk 10:16-Jesus tells His Bishops 'He who hears/rejects you, hears/rejects Me and the Father'; Matt 18:17-if someone will not listen to the Church have nothing to do with them. This verse makes no sense if 'churches' have differing doctrines.  Jesus did not want Sola Scriptura (the Bible as the Authority). 

 Yes, Catholics are Born Again--the Bible way. Nicodemus misunderstood when Jesus said to be 'born again'.  Jesus clarified to mean 'from above'-of water & The Spirit (Jn3:5). Water+Spirit=Baptism. This is shown at Jesus' baptism (Mt 3:16).  To prove it, the very first thing He did after correcting Nicodemus was go out and baptize people (Jn3:22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized). 

 Yes, the Catholic teaching that Baptism is a real Sacrament (not a symbol of faith) is in the Bible: Acts 22:16 "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins...". 1 Cor 12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..." What body was that? The Body of Christ. 1 Peter 3:21: "Baptism...now saves you" Scripture does not support the notion that Baptism is symbolic. Scripture does very directly and very clearly support the Catholic teaching that Baptism saves us; that Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ; that Baptism washes away sin; and that through Baptism we receive the Holy Spirit.

 Yes, infant baptism is Biblical: by Baptism we enter the New Covenant as circumcision was entry into the Old (Col 2:11-12). Babies entered Covenant at 8 days (Gen 17:12). Why would God extend this gift in the Old, but not the New? Proof? Acts 16:15 "the members of her household were baptized"; Acts 16:33 "he was baptized, he and all his household"; 1 Cor 1:16 "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas"-and households include babies. 

Yes, "faith alone", in terms of salvation, is in the Bible: James 2:24 "..we are saved by works and NOT by faith alone." The Church teaches that we are saved by God's Grace (Rm 3:24), and the response to that gift is faith, working thru love (1 Thes 1:3), since faith without the fruit of works is DEAD (James 2:26).  We are called to be the sheep (doing God's works) not self-rightous goats (Mt 25:31+). 

Yes, Sacred Tradition, the spoken Word of God is in the Bible: John wrote that the world could not hold all the books, if everything Jesus taught was written (Jn 21:25), yet they were told to share ALL He taught (Matt 28:20)."So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."(2Thes 2:15) Tradition & Scripture make for the Whole Word of God. 

Yes, Mary as the Mother of God is in the Bible: Lk 1:43 Elizabeth says "why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (to the Jews God is The Lord). But for a Christian, Jesus is God, Mary is the mother of Jesus, therefore Mary is the mother of God. It really IS that simple!!

Yes, Mary as Queen of Heaven is in the Bible: First remember that in Jewish Law, the King's Mother is Queen, not his wife, then read Rev 12:1.

Mother is Queen: see 1 Kings 2:19, King Solomon had a throne for his mother, Bathsheba, placed at the right hand of his throne--he bowed down before her, and the people brought petitions to her to present to her son (hmmm). 

Yes, Mary as the New Eve is in the Bible. Paul called Jesus the new Adam (1 Cor 15), so,of course, it is logical that there is a new Eve, and Jesus selected Mary. Just as Adam called Eve "Woman" (Gen 2), so did Jesus give His mother this title--see John 2 at the wedding, and John 19 at the cross.

 Yes, Mary, honored as the mother of ALL Christians, is in the Bible: in 1st John 19, from the cross, Jesus gives the care of His mother to the beloved Disciple ("behold your mother"-we are ALL beloved disciples). In Rev 12, the dragon cannot get Mary and Jesus, so he (vs 17)"went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."

 Yes, Mary as Arc of the New Covenant is Biblical: Rev 11:19+"Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant...a woman clothed with the sun". The woman is Mary. Heb 9:4 says the old ark held God's Word in stone, manna, and Aaron's rod. Mary held Jesus, our high priest (Hebrews), the Word in flesh (Jn 1), the new manna (Jn 6).  Also look at the parallels between 2 Sam 6:5-11 (David with the Ark) and Luke 1:43,44 & 56 (Elizabeth with Mary).

1.David dances for joy in 2 Sam 6:5 and John leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb in Luke 1:44.

2.David calls out, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” in 2 Sam 6:9 and Elizabeth calls out, “why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” in Luke 1:43.

3.The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite a few miles outside Jerusalem for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his whole house in 2 Sam 6:11, and Mary remained about three months with Elizabeth in Luke 1:56 a few miles outside Jerusalem. 

Yes, Mary as perpetual virgin is in the Bible: In Lk1, engaged Mary asks HOW she will have a child, when angel Gabriel tells this to her. Did she not know where babies come from, or had she taken a lifetime vow of chastity (like modern nuns). Mk6 lists James & Joses as brothers of Jesus, yet Mt27 says they have a different mother (brother to Jews means kinsmen--seen in Gen 14:14 where Lot (Abrahms nephew) is called his brother). In Jn 19 Jesus gives care of his mother to John. if Jesus had other brothers, this would have been illegal and an insult.   Luke 2:7 calls Jesus the firstborn-  so does this mean Mary must have had other children? No, to the Jews, the firstborn is a title denoting that son as the priest of the family. See Luke 2:23, as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”;  Ex 13:2 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me..."; also Ez44:2, "The Lord said to me: This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it shall remain shut." Mary is the gate through which Christ entered the world, no other can enter that way. 

Yes, Mary's Assumption into Heaven is Biblical: Premise-Enoch & Elijah are assumed bodily into Heaven (Heb 11:5 & 2 Kings 2). Would Jesus do any less for His Mom?  Psalm 132:8-"Arise, O Lord, and go to thy resting place, thou (Jesus) and the Ark (Mary) of thy might." Both Jesus and Mary were taken up to their eternal resting place in heaven. 2 Thes 2:15-Paul instructs us to hold fast to oral (not just written) tradition. Apostolic tradition says Mary was assumed into heaven.

 Yes, the Virgin Mary interceeding for people is in the Bible: John 2 1-11. Without her petition to her Son at the wedding feast, there would have been many sad wedding guests.

 Yes, the 'Hail Mary' is from the Bible: Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you" Lk 1:28

"Blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb" Lk 1:42

Hail Mary, "Mother of God" Lk1:43 (Elizabeth calls Mary this)

Pray for us, now and at the hour of our death (as she did for Jesus at the foot of the cross) Jn 19:25

And why would The Church honor Mary this way? To fulfill God's promise to her in Lk 1:48 "All generations shall call me blessed" 

Yes, the rosary is biblical: Foremost, it is a meditation on the Gospels, a form of Scripture study. The prayers come from the Bible: "Our Father"; Matt 6:9-13. "Hail Mary"; Lk 1, Jn 19. As our weapon against Satan, it is like David's sling with which he defeated Goliath. 1 Sam 17:40--the 5 decades are like the 5 stones David took from the stream

 Yes, Confessing sins to a priest is in the Bible: John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (how can they decide which sins to forgive unless the people confess them?) 

Yes, the Communion of Saints is in the Bible: First, the prayers of the rightous avail much (James 5:16)--there are none more rightous than those in Heaven. And Jesus prayed with Moses and Elijah (2 dead Saints) on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17). As Christians, we are called to imitate Jesus. The Saints are our prayer partners, they take our request to Jesus, just as if I asked you to pray for me. 

Yes, the Saints in Heaven taking our prayers to Jesus is in the Bible: Rev 5:8 "...the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people." 

Yes, Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist is in the Bible: Jesus taught it personally in John 6:35+; Paul enforces it in 1 Cor 11 17+; and Jesus performed it when He said Mass on the road to Emmuas (Luke 24)--"they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread". 

Yes, Purgatory is in the Bible: 1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

 Yes, the Catholic distinction between mortal and venial sin is in the Bible: 1 John 5:16 "If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 

Yes, crucifixes in church is in the bible--Galatians 3:1 "....right before your very eyes--Jesus Christ was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified".  Sounds like they were looking at a crucifix. 

Yes, the Mass is in the Bible, and it is said by Christ Himself- See Luke 24--the road to Emmaus; The Liturgy of the Word (vs 27-29); The Liturgy of the Eucharist (vs 30-32). They recognized Him in the breaking of the bread (vs 35)--His real presence in the Eucharist--that is how He stayed with them (vs 29) and He is still with us to this day. 

Yes, an all male priesthood is in the bible: First, Jesus chose only men to be His priests, and the Church does not have the authority to overrule The King. Also, see 1 Cor 14:34 (Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says) and 1 Tim 2:12 (I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man, she must be quiet.) 

Yes, Priestly celibacy is in the bible: Matt 19:12 (“For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.”, Mt 19:29 (And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.), 1 Cor 7:1 (It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.), 1 Cor 7:8 (It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.) 1 Cor 7:32-34 (“I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord, but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.”  Rev 14:3 (No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.  These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.)--remember, to the Jews, the firstborn (1st fruit) are the designated priests for the family. 

Yes, calling priests father is in the Bible: Many attack the Church on this using Matt 23:9 "call no man father", but take it out of context--this is really saying call no man 'God' as the Romans call Caesar a god (..for you have one father in Heaven).In Acts 7:2 Stephen calls the clergy around him "brothers and fathers" as does Paul in Acts 22. Jesus often calls Abraham father in Lk 16, as does Paul in Romans 4. It is OK to call men father in the spiritual fatherhood. as long as it does not usurp the fatherhood of God.  

Yes, Apostolic Succession (the Apostles passing on their authority/office thru the generations) is in the Bible: Acts 1:17+. Judas shared "in our ministry" so another must be selected to "fill his Office of Bishop". This also shows that there were 'bad' priests from the beginning, but the office passed on. Jesus even addressed this in Matt 23:1--they get their authority from God, so do what they say, not as they do. 

Yes, using incense in worship is in the Bible:  God tells of future worship in Mal 1:11 "In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations". Ex 30:8 incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. Rev 8:3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 

Yes, having statues in Church is in the Bible: look at Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6:19-37) It made the Vatican look like a poor house-- statues of cherubim & gold everywhere, and it was pleasing to God (1 Kings 9:3 "My eyes and my heart will always be there"). Also on the Ark, God commanded it have gold cherubim on it (Ex 25:19). God did not forbid having statues, just the worship of them. (Lev 19:4). 

Yes, The Church's teaching on homosexuality is in the Bible: Rom 1:26-27 condemns all homosexual acts, whether committed by men or women. 1 Cor 6:9- Paul teaches that practicing homosexuals will not enter into the kingdom of God. 1 Tim. 1:10 -Homosexuals who act on those urges are called ungodly and sinners, lawless and disobedient. They are called by God to chastity--thats ALL New Testiment folks!