My question was, “Where is what you assert taught clearly and unambiguously?”
You responded: “I wonder if you are just trying to pull my leg.”
No, you are pulling your own leg. Your contention is that the Church of Rome has a lock on the truth, and all Protestants are wrong. For the time being I will not argue the Protestants part, although I refuse to accept such a label. I refuse because it is just that, a label, and a pejorative one at that, coined by Rome.
Let’s make this simple:
You put forth a syllogism, to wit:
Major premise: Christ has given His church authority to teach His truth on earth.
Minor premise: The see of Peter is the only head of Christ’s church on earth.
Therefore: Only the see of Peter has Christ’s authority to teach His truth on earth.
You keep proving the major premise, which I and every serious Christian, accept without reservation. But you fail to prove the minor premise; and thus your conclusion is nothing more than your assertion. Prove the minor premise from Scripture and the vast conspiracy that is Protestantism (I still don’t like or accept the term) will believe you, and probably the Orthodox as well.
The minor premise has never been proven from Scripture. It has only been asserted with varying degrees of acceptance:
For the first quarter of Christendom’s 2000 year existence this was not believed or accepted by the church at large. The bishop of Rome was just that, the bishop of Rome.
For the next quarter of its existence there was a grudging acknowledgement by most of some degree of Roman authority, but that quarter ended with a disagreement between the church of the east (Constantinople) and the church of the west (Rome), a disagreement that ultimately went in favor of the east.
For the third quarter of Christendom’s existence the Roman Pontiffs basically ignored the east, pretending nothing had changed, and pushed very hard for total acceptance of their authority throughout the west, in so doing, emphasizing truly novel teachings not found in the Holy Scriptures as being necessary, such teachings before had only been whispered as pious opinion.
This set the stage for the fourth quarter of Christendom’s existence which began with the explosion that was the Reformation, which itself was only the effort to strip away the unscriptural novelties and get back to Apostolic and Creedal doctrine and practice.
As long as the Roman Pontiff (with the help of his acolytes) puts himself in the place of Christ as head of the church and supreme teaching authority, and then not only teaches novelties, but denies and anathematizes the central teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the warnings of Sts. Paul, Peter, and John regarding such a usurper (there is another more familiar title for him) will continue to hold the attention of many, many of Christ’s disciples. And they will heed Christ, not the bishop of Rome for one simple but powerful reason: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” (John 10:27-28)
So, ADSUM, in keeping with the title of this thread, “Where Is That Taught in the Bible?”, where is the minor premise proven in the Bible? You have only your dubious opinion regarding Matthew 16:18ff. And it just doesn’t agree with entire rest of the Bible.
From your recent post:
• Your contention is that the Church of Rome has a lock on the truth, and all Protestants are wrong.
• Major premise: Christ has given His church authority to teach His truth on earth
• Minor premise: The see of Peter is the only head of Christ’s church on earth.
• You keep proving the major premise, which I and every serious Christian, accept without reservation. But you fail to prove the minor premise; and thus your conclusion is nothing more than your assertion. Prove the minor premise from Scripture and the vast conspiracy that is Protestantism (I still don’t like or accept the term) will believe you, and probably the Orthodox as well.
Ah, the doubting Thomas that wants to assert your own authority to decide.
I am not aware that the Catholic Church has a lock on the truth (others may also understand and practice the truth, yet Jesus gave the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter and his successors), but even you concur that it was the Church established by Jesus Christ. I am not aware of any other persons other than Peter, the Apostles and their successors that Jesus gave His and His Father’s divine authority to establish His Church.
• Mt 28:18-20
Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
• Mt 16:19-20
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Can you show me where any other church was established by Jesus Christ or that the Catholic Church is not the true church established by Christ? All Protestant churches were established centuries later by men with no direct connection to Jesus and his Apostles.
Who else in your opinion should be the co-head of Christ’s Church?
It does make a difference what Christian church one belongs to. Ultimately the question of differences is a very serious question of truth. What is true and how is truth determined? For Biblical truth, it is important to realize that the Bible as a defined canon of just so many books and no others came from the Church of Rome and her authority.
The Bible itself says that all truth is not contained therein. As we say in the text, the Bible is the book of the Church; the Church is not a church of the Bible. The same authority who defined what books are included in the Bible also has the authority to interpret those books and it is an exclusive authority. It is not given to everyone as the Bible itself clearly states. Hence, we Catholic Christians hold two authorities for determining truth: the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
The nature of truth dictates that the same thing (e.g., a scripture verse) cannot be both true and not true at the same time. In other words, the same scripture verse cannot have two differing and contradictory interpretations. Only one can be true. The question must be asked, if scripture is directed to Christians and if it is the true Word of God, can God leave us to not know how to determine what interpretation is true among many differing interpretations?
We are a Church with a living teaching magisterium, teaching authority. In cases of determining truth from error, the Church alone, in those who share the teaching authority—the bishop of Rome and the bishops worldwide—have that authority to decide without any possibility of error. History records the tragedy of losing a teaching authority: the multiplication of Christian fellowship communities and translations of the Bible. But, there is a basis of common truth, the clear truths of the written Word of God: that God is one and three, that God reveals to humankind, that Jesus is the Son of God, that Jesus founded His Church, that the Word of God can be known among us, that the Holy Spirit is with us, that Jesus will come again.
In some instances, many of us did not receive proper teaching in our Faith because of the weaknesses of priests and religious of the past. In some cases, even they may have been ignorant of the teachings of our Faith. Before we cast stones, we need to remember that Christ said He comes to call sinners and that the healthy do not need a physician.
These shortcoming may be the liability of a worldwide community. God knew what He was doing when He left the deposit of faith in earthen vessels of men and women. There would be ignorance and abuse ... but He still deigned to leave His Word with men and women.
God gave man “Free Will” to love and accept him and to honor Him by following His will. His Love is overwhelming as well as His Mercy. Our leaders are to serve GOD and to help us get closer to HIM. Most are Holy men, but some are not. Only GOD knows the whole truth.
I want to LOVE GOD with all my heart, soul and mind; I believe that the Catholic Church Community will help me achieve that goal.
Mt 22:36-40
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
I sense a love of God within you, but I pray that the HOLY SPIRIT will enlighten you to the truth.
“You put forth a syllogism, to wit:
Major premise: Christ has given His church authority to teach His truth on earth.
Minor premise: The see of Peter is the only head of Christ’s church on earth.
Therefore: Only the see of Peter has Christ’s authority to teach His truth on earth.
You keep proving the major premise, which I and every serious Christian, accept without reservation. But you fail to prove the minor premise; and thus your conclusion is nothing more than your assertion. Prove the minor premise from Scripture and the vast conspiracy that is Protestantism (I still don’t like or accept the term) will believe you, and probably the Orthodox as well.
The minor premise has never been proven from Scripture. It has only been asserted with varying degrees of acceptance:
For the first quarter of Christendom’s 2000 year existence this was not believed or accepted by the church at large. The bishop of Rome was just that, the bishop of Rome.”
“As long as the Roman Pontiff (with the help of his acolytes) puts himself in the place of Christ as head of the church and supreme teaching authority, and then not only teaches novelties, but denies and anathematizes the central teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the warnings of Sts. Paul, Peter, and John regarding such a usurper (there is another more familiar title for him) will continue to hold the attention of many, many of Christ’s disciples. And they will heed Christ, not the bishop of Rome for one simple but powerful reason: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” (John 10:27-28)”
Exactly, Belteshazzar!! Excellent points all! Thanks for your post. It is right on the mark!