Rise of Roman Catholicism

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Rise of Roman Catholicism
The formation of Catholicism was not
revolutionary, but evolutionary. History confirms
that doctrinally departures would occur at
different times. Changes in church organization,
innovations in worship, and restatements of
doctrine combined to bring about a general
departure from the original Christianity
described in the New Testament.
Organization
No Stopping the Slide
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Rise of Roman Catholicism
Phil 11 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus
Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are
in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons Acts
1423 And when they had ordained them elders in
every church . . . 1 Pet 51-2 The elders who
are among you I exhort, . . . Shepherd the flock
of God which is among you, serving as overseers,
. . .
Elders Pastors Bishops
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Rise of Roman Catholicism

• Early in the 2nd century a distinction was made
  among the elders.
• In local churches one elder was chosen as a
  leader of the elders. He was designated as
  Bishop, the rest were Presbyters.
• Later Bishops extended their authority and became
  Metropolitan Bishops (Combining churches in an
  area together under their government).
• The Metropolitan Bishops then chose a Diocesan
  Bishop.
• This led to leaders known as Patriarchs
  (Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople,
  Rome).
• This led to Universal Bishop (Pope). First was
  Boniface III in 606AD

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Roman Catholic Heirarchy
Pope (Latin papa Father) Vicar of Jesus
ChristSuccessor of St. PeterPontiff (Bridge
Builder) Prince of the ApostlesPrimate of
ItalyHoly See
The pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on
earth . . .the head of the entire church, the
father and teacher of all Christians. He is the
infallible ruler . . . The judge of all, being
judged by no one, God himself on earth. (The New
York Catechism)
Pope Benedict XVI
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Attitudes Leading to Catholicism
Often reasons behind departure from original
Christianity stemmed from good intentions.
These were not men who conspired to corrupt
Christianity with pernicious doctrines, but they
did just the same. Many of these men, however,
seemed to have the attitude that they only wanted
to preserve the purity and unity of the New
Testament church.
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Attitudes Leading to Catholicism
3 - Over Reaction
In some cases departures occurred as the result
of over-reacting to some error or perceived
problem. Often the pendulum was allowed to swing
from one position to an opposite extreme.
Montanism (Rebellion against formalism) Monastic
ism (Rebellion against worldliness) Arianism
(Rebellion against perversion of Trinity)
What is a modern equivalent to this good
intention?
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Attitudes Leading to Catholicism
4 - Compromise with Culture
With the mass conversions of pagans the church
began to embrace many of their holy days, and
practices. The increased use of images and the
veneration of angels, saints, relics, pictures
and statues were, in part, a result of a desire
to make the worship of an invisible God more
accessible to pagan converts. The church sought
to honor its martyrs in much the same way as the
pagans had been accustomed to venerate their
heroes.
What is a modern equivalent to this good
intention?
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Attitudes Leading to Catholicism
5 - Falling Dominos
Once a particular doctrine was accepted, others
often followed. The doctrines of original sin and
infant baptism are clear illustrations. The
doctrine of original sin arose from early efforts
to understand the universality of sin and the
general depravity of humanity.
What is a modern equivalent to this good
intention?
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Failure to Learn from past
What do the following verses have to say about
failing to learn from the mistakes of the past?
And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn
and rebellious generation, a generation that did
not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was
not faithful to God.
Psalm 788
Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers'
guilt.
Matt 2332
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and
ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit as your
fathers did, so do you.
Acts 751
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BIBLE EXERCISE (Falling Away)

• Read Acts 2028-30, then answer the following.

• What would happen after Pauls departure?

Savage wolves will come among you, not sparing
the flock.

• From what group would these men come?

From among yourselves men will rise up.

• What would happen to the disciples?

Draw away disciples after themselves.
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BIBLE EXERCISE (Falling Away)

• Read 2 Thess 21-12, then answer the following.

• Describe the man of sin?

Opposes exalts himself above God, claiming he
is God

• What did Paul say was already at work when he
  wrote?

Mystery of Lawlessness.

• With what would the lawless one come (vs. 9)?

Working of Satan, all power, signs and lying
wonders, and unrighteous deception.

• What causes some to be so easily deceived?

Do not believe the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
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BIBLE EXERCISE (Falling Away)

• Read 1 Tim 41-3, then answer the following.

• What two doctrines are mentioned by Paul
  indicating a departure from the faith?

Forbidding to Marry Abstaining from certain foods
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ADVANCED STUDY (Acts 2017-28)
Read Acts 2017-28 and use a good Bible
dictionary and show why it is concluded that
Elders, Bishops and Pastors all refer to the same
office?
Verse 17 Paul sent for the ELDERS Verse 28
Paul tells the elders they have been made
OVERSEERS (episkopos Bishop, 1 Tim 31). He
also told them to SHEPHERD (poimaino pastors,
Eph 411).
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Roman Catholic Authority
Those therefore who after the manner of wicked
heretics dare to set aside Ecclesiastical
Traditions, and to invent any kind of novelty, or
to reject any of those things entrusted to the
Church, or who wrongfully and outrageously devise
the destruction of any of those Traditions
enshrined in the Catholic Church, are to be
punished thusIF THEY ARE BISHOPS, WE ORDER THEM
TO BE DEPOSED BUT IF THEY ARE MONKS OR LAY
PERSONS, WE COMMAND THEM TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
COMMUNITY.-----------Second Council of Nicaea
787 A.D.
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Roman Catholic Authority
Private reading of the scriptures has led
millions to the utter denial of Christ.
(Question Box, pg 131). The scripture indeed is
a divine book but it is a dead letter, which has
to be explained. (Our Priesthood, pg 155). The
Bible was placed on the Index of Forbidden
Books by the Council of Valencia (1229). This
was upheld by four popes during the 18th century.
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Roman Catholic Authority
Roman Catholic Bibles have several more books in
the Old Testament than other Bibles. These books
are referred to as the Apocrypha books. The word
apocrypha means hidden. The Apocrypha were
written primarily in the time between the Old and
New Testaments, as well as additions to the books
of Esther and Daniel. The books are named 1
Esdras, 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of
Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of
Jeremiah, Prayer of Manasseh, 1 Maccabees, 2
Maccabees.Israel never accepted the Apocrypha
books as true books of the Hebrew Bible. The
early church debated the status of the Apocrypha,
but few early Christians believed they belonged
in the canon of Scripture. The New Testament
quotes from the Old Testament hundreds of times,
but nowhere quotes or alludes to any of the
Apocryphal books. Further, there are many proven
errors and contradictions in the Apocrypha.
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Answering Catholicism's Claims
The Church (hierarchy) has authority (Jn 1613
Jn 1720 Acts 242 Acts 2032). Using these
verses show that neither the church nor elders
have any inherent authority?
Apostles were guided into all truth thru their
words men women are converted. It is thru the
apostles teaching men are saved, stay saved and
have any hope. No where is this authority
conferred upon any man or group of men!
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Answering Catholicism's Claims
Traditions have equal authority (Matt 151-6
Col 28 2 Thess 215 Col 317 Matt 2818-20).
Using these verses show that oral traditions
originating with men cannot be equal in authority
with the Bible?
Traditions nullify the word of God they deceive
and are empty. We are to adhere to Biblical
Traditions (i.e., follow only the teaching handed
down by the apostles).
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Answering Catholicism's Claims
The Bible is not to be read nor can it be
understood without help from clergy. (Jn
2030-31 2 Tim 316-17 2 Tim 215 Rom 116 2
Pet 13 Acts 1711 Eph 33-4). Using these
verses show that the Bible is written to produce
faith is to be read and that it can be clearly
understood by those who read it.
Written to produce faith/belief it is inspired
to give all one needs and is to be studied. And
when studied it can be understood so says the
Bible!
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