Catholic Biblical Apologetics

Apologetics without apology!

What does the Roman Catholic Church teach about ...? ... and why?

This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries.

This is a set of lecture notes used since 1985 to teach the basis for key doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. The objectives of the course were, and are:

To present the biblical basis for the origin and development of the Roman Catholic Church.
To present the development of the canon of Scripture and evolution of biblical teaching in the Church.
To understand the role of paradosis/tradition in the oral transmission of revelation.
To study the Council of Jerusalem, described in the 15^th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles and its role in the development of doctrine in the conciliar movement in the Church.
To understand the revelation, doctrinal development and practice of the sacramental life in the history of the Church.
To study the role of the Holy Spirit as teaching authority in the Church.
To study the revelation and development of hierarchical authority in the Church.
To understand the hierarchy of truths in the Church as well as the role of private devotion and personal growth in holiness.

The course grew out of the need for the authors to continually answer questions about their faith tradition and their work. (Both authors are active members of Catholic parish communities in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Robert Schihl was a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Paul Flanagan is a consultant specializing in preparing people for technology based changes.) At the time these notes were first prepared, the authors were spending time in their faith community answering questions about their Protestant Evangelical workplaces (Mr. Flanagan was then a senior executive at the Christian Broadcasting Network), and time in their workplaces answering similar questions about their Roman Catholic faith community. These notes are the result of more than a decade of facilitating dialogue among those who wish to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and why.

American Christian Branches Among European Founded Churches

The following American Christian branches to European founded churches take their beginning from the history chart of the preceding page. The date before each denomination indicates the beginning of that American branch church fellowship.

Lutheran Branch

1818 - Ohio Lutheran Synod 1930 - American Lutheran Church 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1820 - General Lutheran Synod 1863 - United Synod South 1867 - General Lutheran Council 1918 - United Lutheran Church in America 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1847 - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1976 - Association of Evangelical Lutherans 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1854 Iowa Lutheran Synod 1930 - American Lutheran Church 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1860 - Swedish Augustana Synod 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1872 - American Evangelical Lutheran Church 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1890 - Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church 1962 - Lutheran Church in America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1896 - United Evangelical Lutheran Church 1960 - American Lutheran Church 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1900 - Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
1918 - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

1929 - Apostolic Lutheran Church of America

Reformed Branch

1628 - Dutch Reformed Church 1857 - Christian Reformed Church 1926 - Protestant Reformed Churches of America 1867 - Reformed Church in America
1628 - Puritans/Congregationalists Evangelical Protestant Church of North America 1931 - Congregational Christian Churches 1957 - United Church of Christ
1790 - Universalists 1961 - Unitarian Universalist Association
1793 - German Reformed Church 1826 - Churches of God in North America 1869 - Reformed Church in the United States 1934 - Evangelical and Reformed Church 1957 - United Church of Christ
1801 - Christians/Churches of Christ 1832 - Christian Church/Disciples of Christ
1807 - Disciples of Christ 1832 - Christian Church/Disciples of Christ
1849 - Evangelical Synod of North America 1934 - Evangelical and Reformed Church 1957 - United Church of Christ

Anglican Branch

1787 - Protestant Episcopal Church 1861 - North Protestant Episcopal Church 1865 Protestant Episcopal Church 1873 - Reformed Episcopal Church 1861 - South Protestant Episcopal Church 1865 Protestant Episcopal Church 1873 - Reformed Episcopal Church

Presbyterian Branch

1706 - Presbyterian Church 1741 - New Side Presbyterian Church 1758 - Presbyterian Church 1741 - Old Side Presbyterian Church 1758 - Presbyterian Church 1810 - Cumberland Presbyterian Church 1837 - New School 1870 - Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. 1937 - Orthodox Presbyterian Church Bible Presbyterian Church 1956 - Bible Presbyterian Church 1965 - Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod 1982 - Presbyterian Church of America 1837 - Old School 1861 - Presbyterian Church, Confederate States Presbyterian Church in the United States 1973 - Presbyterian Church of America 1983 - Presbyterian Church, USA 1870 - Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. 1937 - Orthodox Presbyterian Church Bible Presbyterian Church 1956 - Bible Presbyterian Church 1965 - Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod 1982 - Presbyterian Church of America 1752 - Reformed Presbytery 1833 - Reformed Presbyterian Church of No. America (Covenanters) Associate Presbyterian Church 1858 - United Presbyterian Church of No. America 1958 - United Presbyterian Church, USA 1983 - Presbyterian Church, USA Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 1822 - Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanters) 1958 - United Presbyterian Church, USA 1983 - Presbyterian Church, USA 1774 - Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America 1965 - Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod 1982 - Presbyterian Church of America

Baptist Branch

1639 - British Separatists 1672 - Seventh-Day Baptists 1727 - Free Will Baptists 1770 - Old Lights 1787 - General Association of Separatists Baptists 1814 - Baptist Missionary Convention 1827 - Primitive Baptists 1845 - Northern Baptist Convention 1932 - General Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches 1947 - Conservative Baptist Assoc. of America 1950 - America Baptist Convention 1770 - New Lights 1780 - Free Will Baptists (North) 1827 - Primitive Baptists 1910 - Northern Baptist Convention 1814 - Baptist Missionary Convention 1845 - Southern Baptist Convention 1895 - National Baptist Convention of America 1915 - National Baptist Convention of the U.S.A., Inc. 1961 - Progressive Baptist Convention 1905 - American Baptist Association 1895 - Northern Baptist Convention of America 1932 - General Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches 1947 - Conservative Baptist Association of America 1950 - American Baptist Convention

Anabaptists

1840 - North American Baptist General Conference
1852 - Baptist General Conference

Methodist

1784 - Methodist Episcopal Church 1816 - African Methodist Episcopal Church 1821 - African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 1830 - Methodist Protestant Church/Bible Protestant Church 1939 - Methodist Church 1946 - Evangelical Methodist Church 1968 - United Methodist Church 1843 - Wesleyan Methodist Church of America 1968 Wesleyan Church 1844 - Methodist Episcopal 1860 - Free Methodist Church 1908 - Church of the Nazarene 1939 - Methodist Church 1946 - Evangelical Methodist Church 1968 - United Methodist Church 1844 - Methodist Episcopal Church (South) 1870 - Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 1897 - Pilgrim Holiness Church 1968 - Wesleyan Church
1800 - Church of the United Brethren in Christ 1946 - Evangelical United Brethren Church
1807 - Evangelical Church 1946 - Evangelical United Brethren Church
1829 - Primitive Methodist Church
1886 - Church of God (Cleveland, TN) 1923 - Tomlinson Church of God 1943 - Church of God (Queens Village, NY) 1953 - Church of God of Prophecy 1957 - Church of God of All Nations
1886 - Church of God 1922 - Original Church of God, Inc.
1886 - United Holy Church of America, Inc. 1898 - Fire-Baptized Holiness Church 1953 - Emanuel Holiness Church 1911 - Pentecostal Holiness Church 1918 - Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church 1899 - Pentecostal Holiness Church 1911 - Pentecostal Holiness Church
1901 - Pentecostal Union 1917 - Pillar of Fire
1914 - Assemblies of God, General Council
1914 - Church of God by Faith, Inc.
1914 - Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. 1924 - Pentecostal Church, Inc. 1945 - United Pentecostal Church, Inc. Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc.
1917 - Pentecostal Church of Christ
1918 - International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
1919 - Pentecostal Church of God of America, Inc.
1919 - International Pentecostal Assemblies
1919 - Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. 1957 - Bible Way Church, World-Wide
1919 - Bible Standard, Inc. 1935 - Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc.
1932 - Open Bible Evangelistic Association 1935 - Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc.
1932 - Calvary Pentecostal Church, Inc.
1947 - Elim Missionary Assemblies

Good. The moderators need source information to enforce copyright restrictions. Also, posters and lurkers need source information for context, validation, etc.

21 posted on 02/22/2010 9:58:11 PM PST by Religion Moderator

Great Diagram — I just wish it would post a little larger — old eyes == new glasses. LOL!

22 posted on 02/22/2010 9:58:56 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

23 posted on 02/22/2010 10:14:04 PM PST by Cronos (Philipp2:12, 2Cor5:10, Rom2:6, Matt7:21, Matt22:14, Lu12:42-46,John15:1-10,Rev2:4-5,Rev22:19)

I find those dates vey interesting also. I thought the Lutherans were the first to leave the church.

24 posted on 02/23/2010 5:17:26 AM PST by mgist

catholic; catholic list

25 posted on 02/23/2010 7:52:59 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Anti-Utopian

So you are saying that you did not get the list from a single source, but rather did websites? Is that correct?

26 posted on 02/23/2010 7:53:59 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Thanks, I can read it now!

27 posted on 02/23/2010 7:54:44 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

So posting a huge list of Protestant denominations is proof that protestants are wrong, but posting a huge list of Catholic denominations is an "error," because having different rites and other religions using "Catholic" in the name somehow isn't the same as the Protestants having different rites and using "Baptist" or "Lutheran" in the name?

Right, right, I know, I know, it's error because the difference is that a Pope nobody but you recognizes didn't bless any of those things, except for the Orthodox and Anglicans, who teach different things and worship in different ways.

Did it ever occur to any of you that perhaps those various Protestant denominations were constructed without the blessings of their particular synods? That they are simply using "Baptist" or "Lutheran" in their names without blessing? You know, the same excuse you use to deny all these Catholic denominations that exist? Of course it didn't. Should I even bother trying to reason with people who obviously gave up logic and embraced the censer fumes decades ago? Obviously not.

28 posted on 02/23/2010 9:24:26 AM PST by Anti-Utopian ("Come, let's away to prison; We two alone will sing like birds I' th' cage." -King Lear [V,iii,6-8])

To: Anti-Utopian

The lead in paragraph states:

**The following American Christian branches to European founded churches take their beginning from the history chart of the preceding page. The date before each denomination indicates the beginning of that American branch church fellowship. **

There is absolutely nothing that says anything is right or wrong.

It is merely a list of factual names and dates.

29 posted on 02/23/2010 4:18:27 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

"There is absolutely nothing that says anything is right or wrong."

I see. So the word "Apologetics" was snuck in later by a shifty Protestant or a crafty Jew. LOL

30 posted on 02/23/2010 6:32:49 PM PST by Anti-Utopian ("Come, let's away to prison; We two alone will sing like birds I' th' cage." -King Lear [V,iii,6-8])

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