Origin of Relic worship of the Catholic Church

    In addition to what God’s holy Word the Bible says on the matter there are other very good reasons why true Christians should not venerate or worship religious relics. The practice and custom did not originate with Christ or his apostles or with God’s chosen nation of Israel. It is clearly a pagan invention and hence of the Devil, pure and simple, and the Catholic Encyclopedia admits as much. It says that the veneration of relics is “a primitive instinct” and is associated with many other religious systems besides that of Catholicism. It goes on to tell how the ancient Greeks superstitiously worshiped the bones and ashes of their heroes, how the Persians “treated with the deepest veneration” the remains of Zoroaster, and how “relic-worship amongst the Buddhists of every sect is a fact beyond dispute”.

    Other authorities have shown that the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians and Babylonians likewise venerated the relics of their lords and princes. “In the realms of Heathendom the same worship had flourished for ages before Christian saints or martyrs had appeared in the world. . . . From the earliest periods, the system of Buddhism has been propped up by relics, that have wrought miracles at least as well vouched as those wrought by the relics of St. Stephen, or by the ‘Twenty Martyrs’ [mentioned by Augustine].” (Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons, pages 177,178) In Kandy, Ceylon, a 400-year-old temple contains what is said to be Buddha’s tooth, “venerated by many millions of people.” (The Ceylon Daily News, April 1, 1950) Into the presence of this relic the British foreign secretary, Ernest Bevin, was brought on January 1, 1950, in the hope it would miraculously cure his ailments.—New York Times, Jan. 16, 1950.

    The heathen idea of attributing magical powers to bones, skulls, teeth and skins is so much older than Christianity, the above Catholic authority chooses to call it “a primitive instinct”. In reality it is nothing more than fetishism, concerning which the Encyclopedia Americana (1942 ed., vol. 11, p. 158) says: “It is the lowest of the unsystematic forms of worship found among uncivilized tribes, and exists especially among the Negroes of Africa, but also among the natives of both Americas, the Polynesians, Australians, and Siberians.” When Catholic Portuguese mariners sailed down the west coast of Africa they could see little difference between the worship of “sacred” bones, skulls and charms by the natives, and their own worship of religious relics and amulets which they called feitiços, and from which we get the name fetish.

    M’Clintock & Strong’s Cyclopœdia (vol. 8, p. 1028) well sums up the whole matter when it says: “There is no doubt that the worship of relics is an absurdity, without the guarantee of Scripture, directly contrary to the practice of the primitive Church, and irreconcilable with common-sense.”

The Catholic way of worship

Catholicism's FALSE Worship!

When Is Worship Not Worship?

Those who would defend Roman Catholicism persistently press the illogical and invalid assertion that the Roman cult neither teaches nor in fact practices worship of Mary. They argue that, as concerns Mary and the other ghosts in the RCC pantheon, worship does not mean worship and venerate does not mean worship and render homage does not mean worship and pray to does not mean worship and sacrifice to does not mean worship. Words can be used to convey many meanings, a fact the Magisterium has consistently used to its own purpose. 

Regardless of what those who speak in Rome's cause may claim or of how they redefine word meanings, the Roman Catholic hierarchy indeed do foster mariolatry, worship of things and the spirits of the dead. When the Ladies' Sodality meets every night in the chapel to toll their beads and pray the Rosary, they are rendering worship to Mary. When a little old man struggles up to a statue of Mary and, falling to his knees before it, places coins in a box, lights a candle and offers prayers to her, that is worship. When a Blackrobed Benedictine oblate prays to St. Maurus and calls upon him to heal a dying child, he is not only praying to a spirit for a miracle but actually is rendering a low-level of worship. When the Catholic faithful genuflect or cross themselves when passing in front of the tabernacle where a consecrated host is kept, they might claim they are rendering honors to Christ, but the fact is they are paying homage to a cracker. 

As one Christian theologian wrote:

"The same worship is rendered to Mary as to Christ. Churches are built to her honour; her shrines are crowded with devotees; enriched with their gifts; and adorned with their votive offerings. To her prayers are addressed as to a divine being, and blessing are asked as from one who has power to bestow them. Her votaries are taught to pray, 'Spare us, good Lady,' and 'From all evil, good Lady, deliver us.' Five annual festivals celebrate her greatness, and keep alive the devotion of her worshippers. In Roman Catholic countries the dawn is ushered in with hymns to her honour; her praises are again chanted at noon, and the day is closed with an Ave Maria sung to the Lady of Heaven." (James A. Wylie, The Papacy, London (1852) p. 370)

At this point, perhaps it would be well to define a few terms. The words veneration and worship are used often in catechisms and other RCC documents. Surely the meanings of these words are clearly understood by Catholics, religious and laity alike. One older Catholic dictionary provides these definitions:

"VENERATION. The word commonly used to express in English that worship given to saints either directly or through images and relics

"WORSHIP. Adoration and reverence paid to God…also for the honor paid to the saints….veneration." (William E. Addis & Thomas Arnold, Eds., A Catholic Dictionary containing some account of the doctrine, discipline, rites, ceremonies, councils and religious orders of the Catholic Church, Catholic Publication Society:New York (1884); w/Nihil Obstat and Imprimitur)

Interesting that this Catholic dictionary uses the word worship to define veneration and then goes on to define worship as adoration, reverence and veneration. Granted, the dictionary does draw distinctions between levels of worship rendered to God and to saints. However, this source does clearly give the lie to ill-informed Catholic apologists who would assert that Catholics do not worship their saints. Perhaps the problem lies with the age of this dictionary. A more recent Catholic dictionary provides no definition of worship but does address veneration:

"Veneration of the Saints: Devotion to the saints, who are invoked in recognition of their presence before God and thus capable of intercession on behalf of the living and those suffering in purgatory; they are particularly honored as patron saints because of their example in this life…The reverence shown the saints, called dulia, must be distinguished from latria, the worship and adoration given to God alone." (Peter M.J. Stravinskas, Ed., Catholic Dictionary, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc:Huntington (1993)

In this Catholic dictionary, the words devotion and reverence are used to help define veneration while worship and adoration are used to distinguish between the service rendered to saints and that given to God. Should one press the issue and seek to learn how this Catholic source defines the terms used, the issue becomes more clouded.

"Adoration: An outward act of giving worship to a person or object. Both the Old and New Testaments give clear indications that God requires exclusive adoration from His creatures…Adoration may also be internal (e.g., contemplative prayers." (Stravinskas, Op. cit.)

So, adoration is an outward act of worship that may be internal. It is giving worship to a person or thing but should be rendered to God alone. Yeah, that's clear. 

Some Catholic apologists might be quick to point to the differences between dulia and latria as evidence that Catholics do not worship Mary or any of the saints in the Roman Pantheon. However, this is playing with word meanings – semantics, if you will.

"WORSHIP. The unique adoration and reverence paid to God, called latria; the word is sometimes used for the honour paid to the saints (dulia), but this is better distinguished by some word such as "veneration." (Donald Attwater, Ed., A Catholic Dictionary, The MacMillan Company:New York (1942); w/Nihil Obstat and Imprimitur).

Given the above definitions, it would appear that one is not in error when claiming that Catholics worship Mary, as well as things and other ghosts. This may be simply innocence on the part of ill-prepared Catholic apologists who do not understand that latria, hyperdulia and dulia are but various levels of worship, as is clearly explained by a trusted Catholic source:

"The word worship (Saxon weorthscipe, "honour"; from worth, meaning "value", "dignity", "price", and the termination, ship; Lat. cultus) in its most general sense is homage paid to a person or a thing. In this sense we may speak of hero-worship, worship of the emperor, of demons, of the angels, even of relics, and especially of the Cross. This article will deal with Christian worship according to the following definition: homage paid to God, to Jesus Christ, to His saints, to the beings or even to the objects which have a special relation to God.

"There are several degrees of this worship:

? if it is addressed directly to God, it is superior, absolute, supreme worship, or worship of adoration, or, according to the consecrated theological term, a worship of latria. This sovereign worship is due to God alone; addressed to a creature it would become idolatry.

? When worship is addressed only indirectly to God, that is, when its object is the veneration of martyrs, of angels, or of saints, it is a subordinate worship dependent on the first, and relative, in so far as it honours the creatures of God for their peculiar relations with Him; it is designated by theologians as the worship of dulia, a term denoting servitude, and implying, when used to signify our worship of distinguished servants of God, that their service to Him is their title to our veneration (cf. Chollet, loc. cit., col. 2407, and Bouquillon, Tractatus de virtute religionis, I, Bruges, 1880, 22 sq.).

? As the Blessed Virgin has a separate and absolutely supereminent rank among the saints, the worship paid to her is called hyperdulia (for the meaning and history of these terms see Suicer, Thesaurus ecclesiasticus, 1728)." (F. Cabrol,Worship, The Catholic Encyclopedia

Once again, it bears noting that words such as devotion, veneration and honours are used in defining the term worship. Perhaps this is not convincing for, trustworthy Catholic source that it may be, the Catholic Encyclopedia is not an official source of Catholic teaching. Let us turn now to the Catechism:

"971. "'All generations will call me blessed': 'The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.'[Lk 1:48 ; Paul VI, MC 56.]The Church rightly honors 'the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.... This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.'[LG 66.] The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an 'epitome of the whole Gospel,' express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.[Cf. Paul VI, MC 42; SC 103.]" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Doubleday:New York, (1994); United States Catholic Conference, Inc – Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

Notice that in this official source, we are taught that devotion to Mary is a vital part of Catholic worship. In the citation from the Catholic Encyclopedia, devotion was used to define the special worship rendered to God alone.

"2132. "The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, 'the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype,' and 'whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.'[St. Basil, De Spiritu Sancto 18, 45: PG 32, 149C; Council of Nicaea II: DS 601; cf. Council of Trent: DS 1821-1825; Vatican Council II: SC 126; LG 67.] The honor paid to sacred images is a 'respectful veneration,' not the adoration due to God alone:

"Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. The movement toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is.[St. Thomas Aquinas, STh II-II, 81, 3 ad 3.]" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Op. cit.)

Sonuvagun! Here, the Catechism talks of the veneration rendered images and such. The Catholic Encyclopedia used the same word to describe the worship tendered saints. 

The thinking Catholic might acknowledge that, in the face of the foregoing evidence, Catholics indeed do worship Mary, saints and things. However, he likely then will seek to dismiss this clear infraction of the First Commandment by pointing out that the Catholic sources that use the word worship in reference to things and saints and such clearly define that it is not the adoration they give only to God. 

Let me draw a parallel from the real world to demonstrate the flaws in the above argument. Notice my use of the word in these statements: 1) I love my wife; 2) I love cheesecake; 3) I love sleeping late. Each of these is a true statement; however, each expresses a different degree of love. All are accurate uses of the word, which has many applications. 

One wonders why Roman Catholics have such a difficult time admitting that the word worship similarly has multiple levels of application. Rome has an arsenal of definitions for worship and draws from it according to the needs of the moment. The Catholic apologist is quick to point out that, should the RCC declare that the worship or veneration given to the saints is not the adoration that belongs to God, it shows that a clear line has been drawn as to what the church wants. 

At this point it is worth noting that most Christians who post to this board have demonstrated a consistent literal/historical/grammatical hermeneutic, whether looking at a passage in the Word of God or a logia from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I do not recall any Christian post here that adamantly argued that Catholic teaching required worship be offered to Mary and other spirits and things in the same manner or at the same level as that rendered to God. Like the cult of Mithra, from which so much of RCC doctrine and practice is derived, Catholicism is explicit in declaring three levels of worship for her gods and sacred objects. Rome has declared, in her Catechism, in her Code of Canon Law, in her councils and papal pronouncements, in her breviaries, liturgies and church calendars, that worship is tendered, at different levels, to God Almighty, Mary and all the pantheon of saints and to their leavings. 

In an interesting sidebar, the Second Council of Nicea elected to use the word proskunei in addressing the veneration to be rendered to images rather than dulia, the preferred word for such veneration. Proskunei is found in Acts 10:25-26, where it is recorded for all time as the word used to describe the worship the Centurion Cornelius sought to render Peter. (Definition of the Sacred Images and Tradition, Council of Nicea II, (787), Denzinger 302)

Acts 10:25-26, "And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [proskunei] him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man."

Golly gee! A council of the Catholic Church used the word to describe the worship due objects that the Holy Spirit used to describe the inappropriate worship Cornelius attempted to give Peter. Guess there are times when the RCC indeed does teach that things are to be worshipped. 

This passage is made more interesting when one considers the RCC fantasy of apostolic succession. In Acts 10, Peter refused to permit people to bow down to him or to worship him in any way, yet those who claim to be his successors offer their hands or rings or feet to be kissed and seem to enjoy being carried about on the shoulders of men, just like those idols the churches parade through the streets every now and then. 

Has the Roman Catholic Church in fact, if not in their written word, elevated Mary to the level of deity? I believeit has.

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. 

Isaiah 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 

Isaiah 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 

Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Praying to Catholic Images in the Bible

Christians should not imitate the way of life of the pagans.

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Exodus 23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

Do after their works like making a graven image and praying on it.

Jeremiah 10:2 This is what the Lord says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations

or be terrified by signs in the heavens,

though the nations are terrified by them.

Jeremiah 10:3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless;

they cut a tree out of the forest,

and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

Jeremiah 10:4 They adorn it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so it will not totter.

Jeremiah 10:5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,

their idols cannot speak;

they must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them; (NIV)

they can do no harm

nor can they do any good.”

Relics in the Bible

The Catholic Church has a worship pertains to the relics of the saints in the relics that in which the Catholics give honor and tribute to these things.

What is a relic?

According to a Catholic Book "Liwanag at buhay "mga aral katoliko sa Banal na kasulatan" (LIGHT AND LIFE "Cathlic teachings in the Holy Scriptures") written by Bishop Cirilo Almario ,jr.,D.D. at with Nihil Obstat of RDO .P.Honesto Agustin, SSL at may Impremator ni Deogracias S.Iniguez Jr.Bishop Of Malolos.

"Ano ang mga Relikia? (IN FILIPINO TAGALOG)

Ito ay ang mga katawan ng mga Santo (mga butong kanilang katawan),o mga damit o mga kagamitan na kanilang ginamit noong silay nabubuhay .

a).Iginagalang natin ang mga ito ,sapagkat naging bahagi sila ng tunay na katawan ng mga santo noong silay nabubuhay ,o ng katawan ng Panginoong Hesus mismo.

b).Ang paggalang sa mga relikia ay kasing tanda ng kristianismo .Ito ay hindi Idolatria ,kundi isang paggalang at pagpaparangal sa mga santo.(p.92)

IN ENGLISH:

What are relics?

A) These are the body of the saints (the bones) or their clothes or their things that they used when they were alive.

B) The honor of these relics was as old of Christianity. This is not idolatry but an honor and tribute given to the saints.

This is another one from a Catholic book ito...

"The veneration of relics ,pictures and images is indirect way of honoring the saint."

Reference: The Commandments p.97 St. Paul Publication.

In the Bible Is there an honor or tribute given of the saints to their relics?

2 Chronicles 34:5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

King Josiah burned the bones of the priests and he did not parade them and give them VENERATION.

Joshua rent his clothes (Joshua 7:6)

Also Job did (Job 2:12)

Apostles Paul and Barnabas also rent their clothes (Acts 14:14)

Matthew 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

1. Matthew 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
   
   If these clothing of the saints are relics and holy to be consider that they should give honor and veneration, Why do these holy men mentioned in the Bible rented their clothes or destroyed it. These men themselves do not give honor and veneration their so called relics. No Joshua, Job, Paul or Barnabas paraded their clothing and say to the people to give tribute/veneration to their "clothing"
   
   What does the Lord say about the real saints?
   
   
   "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat." (Matthew 10:9-10)
   
   Here we can see that the relics of the so called saints have no sense for the Lord. It is because life is greater than food and clothing in Matthew 6:25.
   
   What is the Lord's order to the people giving tribute to the relics?
   
   Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is HOLY, and after vows to make inquiry.
   
   "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15)
   
   
   Deuteronomy 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
   
   Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the CUP and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
   
   Jereamiah 8:1 At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
   
   Jeremiah 8:2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
   
   Ezekiel 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
   Giving tribute or veneration to the relics is a form of Idolatry in the eyes of the Lord
   
   Giving veneration/tribute to the relics is a form of IDOLATRY in the eyes of the Lord (read Jeremiah 2:37) that serves to the creature w/o breathe rather than the Creator (read Romans 1:25) because the things that are seen are temporal (read 2 Corinthians 4:18)
    
   

Rosary in the Bible

Catholic Apologists use this verse to prove that praying of Rosary is Godly and Biblical.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Why it is written to pray without ceasing? What is the frequency to say that the prayer can cease. Let's ask St. Paul who said to pray without ceasing. What did he write about on the moment of praying?

The WITHOUT CEASING that Paul mentioned when asking to God is praying day and night. THAT IS WITHOUT CEASING.

It does not mention here that in ONE MOMENT is pray WITHOUT CEASING and repeatedly.

Do not forget what was mentioned in Matthew 6:7.

Besides praying the rosary also violates this commandment below:

James 1:19 Slow to speak

Christ mentioned about people who pray very long in this verse below:

Luke 20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
Those who make long prayers will receiver greater damnation according to our Lord Jesus.

Abraham was called FATHER

Acts 7:2 Who said: Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.

Another Catholic alibi that the Catholic Church is not violating Christ's commandment that in religion Christians should not call any man FATHER.

REFUTATIONS:

A) Abraham was the father of Jews so It is natural for Stephen to call Abraham his father

B) Abraham is not a co Christian of Christians

In the Bible, All Christians are brethen in Matthew 23:8.

And besides Abraham is not a spiritual father of the Christians.

Christ said that they should call no man (among Christians) even preachers the word FATHER.

Because before the Christian era, A PRIEST WAS ALSO A FATHER.

Judges 18:19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

As a Christian, Our only spiritual father is God as mentioned in Ephesians 4:6 and we should not call them FATHER but instead BROTHER.

C) The Christians call their fellow Christians BROTHER/S even a Christian is a preacher like Paul.

1 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our "brother" Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all

those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our "Father" and the Lord Jesus Christ.

10 I appeal to you," brothers", in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasa”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many

were influential; not many were of noble birth.

(Can we read here "I follow father Paul, father Apollos")

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 15

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

1 Thessalonians 4

4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.

4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

4:10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

4:3 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

2 Peter 3

3:15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Colossians 1

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

1:2 To the holy and faithfula brothers in Christ at Colosse:Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Acts 21:20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law

NOW WHY APOSTLE PAUL WAS CALLED BROTHER AND NOT FATHER? HE HAS A HIGH POSITION IN THE CHURCH UNLIKE OTHER CHRISTIANS DURING HIS TIME?

Calling the priests FATHER in the Bible part 2

Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. - 1 Corinthians 4:15 (NIV)

REFUTATIONS:

A) Did you read here that Paul was called Father here? No

B) Is the word BECOME synonymous of the word CALL? NO

C) Why use the Protestant Bible by the Catholic Apologetics if the Catholic Church believes that Protestant Bibles have translation errors? It will imply that she does not have principle. let's use the Catholic Bible instead.

1 Corinthians 4:15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you. (Douay Rheims Version)

It will imply that Paul is not a father but mother. He begotten the Christians by means of the gospel it is because the Covenant from Heaven is the mothers of Christians in Galatians 4:22-26.

The one who gives birth is not A MAN but A WOMAN

1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, peace and security; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape.

So we can see here that the MOTHERHOOD is the parenthood of the apostles to their flock.


D) It is clear that in religion we should call the priests FATHER as Christ mentioned in Matthew 23:9. Why the Catholic Church is hard headed about it?

E) The preachers of God are called BROTHERS. They are not called FATHERS.

Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 Peter 3:15 Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

F) In the Christian religion, All Christians from members to leaders are brethen to each other.

Matthew 23:8 All ye are brethren.

G) Catholic Apologists will cite that Timothy was called son by Apostle Paul and they will conclude that he is another father in the Christian Church.

The question is DID TIMOTHY CALL PAUL FATHER? WHAT VERSE? No verse they will cite!

If Apostle Paul is also our brother, why he called Timothy his son? It is because Paul acted as like Father

1 Thessalonians 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

H) Paul is not another father of the Christians, Christians have only ONE FATHER and that is God

Matthew 23:9 For one is your Father, which is in heaven. also read Ephesians 4:6.

Heavenly saints in the Bible

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

REFUTATIONS:

Catholic Apologetics use this verses to prove that saints are now in heaven with God.
 
If the interpretation is true, It will contradict the following verses:

A) You need to be resurrected like what happened to Christ in order to be with Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

B)  St. John said that even today no one hath seen God. tantamount to saying that there is no man with God in heaven today

1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time.

C) If a man dies, he will go to heaven by means of resurrection by Christ IN THE LAST DAY. he will not immediately go to heaven if he is a righteous man.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Now what is the right explanation of Hebrews 12:22-23?

We must notice that It was the spirits and not men written on the verses.The spirit of righteous men are really in the hands of God.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

On the resurrection, this spirit will join with the body.

Ezekiel 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.  

Ezekiel 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:  

Ezekiel 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

Ezekiel 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

 If the dead saints are now in heaven, who the people will Christ come again for?

Christ will come again to resurrect the dead Christians and be with Him forever in paradise.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
 
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  

Miraculous Catholic images in the Bible

In my country the Philippines, There are images which are believed to be miraculous.

These images are:

1) Our Lady of Manaog, Pangasinan

2) Black Nazarene of Quiapo, Manila

3) Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de San Sebastian in Manila

4) Our Lady of Antipolo, Rizal

5) The Sto Nino or the Holy Child Jesus

REFUTATIONS:

We must remember that God said that graven images will not do good to you:

Jeremiah 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

God will not even give his glory to these images:

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

 The Catholic Book named Pasyon whose contents were quoted from the Bible says this:

“Ang mga pagmimilagro tutulungan ng Demonyo Anopa’t magkakabayo At dito sa buong
mundo Maghahari itong lilo”

Pasyong Mahal p.208, par.7

It says there in English "The miracles will be aided by the devil" from the words "Ang mga pagmimilagro tutulungan ng Demonyo"

In the Bible also, Satan gave his power to the beast for a graven image to have power.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

WHAT REALLY MADE THE DEVOTEES' PRAYERS TO BE GRANTED IF NOT BY THESE IMAGES?

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 

See! it is by their faith why their prayers were granted. NOT BY THESE GRAVEN IMAGES.

Jesus grants your wishes if you have faith. if not, there will be no wonders in your life!

Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Catholic sacred images and pious Catholics can be found in the Bible

Devoted Roman Catholics who believe also in God made graven images can be found in the Bible too.

Romans 1:21 Because that, WHEN THEY KNEW GOD, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Some Catholic images have animals with it like the famous Immaculate Conception with a snake on the feet, San Roque with a dog, St. Martha with a croc and St. Peter with a cock.

GOD SAID THAT IF THEY DONT REPENT, DEATH IS THEIR PUNISHMENT

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

And this death is the second death or lake of fire in Revelation 20:14.

Where idolaters will go in Revelation 21:8.