Lectionary Statistics - How much of the Bible is included in the Lectionary for Mass? (Popquiz!)

catholic-resources.org ^ | Updated on January 2, 2009 | Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

[GonzoII]

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

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Lectionary Statistics

How much of the Bible is included in the Lectionary for Mass?
Not as much as you might think, yet far more than was included in the Roman Missal before the Second Vatican Council!

The bishops assembled at Vatican II declared, "The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly so that a richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God's word. In this way the more significant part of the Sacred Scriptures will be read to the people over a fixed number of years" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, #51). As the following tables show, the current Lectionary for Mass does indeed offer a "richer fare" of biblical readings during the Eucharistic liturgy than was available before Vatican II. However, since many parts of the Bible (esp. the Old Testament) are still not included in the Lectionary, one must go beyond the readings used at Mass to cover the entire Bible.

The following tables compare the current edition of the Lectionary for Mass (1981 Latin, 1998/2002 USA editions)
with the pre-Vatican II Missale Romanum (substantially unchanged between 1570 and 1969, with a few modifications in 1951)
and the complete New American Bible (see the bottom of this page for a key to the column headings).

Readings from the Old Testament:

Before Vatican II, each Catholic Mass included only two biblical readings, which were normally referred to as "The Epistle" (since the first reading was almost always taken from one of the New Testament letters) and "The Gospel." Readings from the Old Testament were never used on Sundays, but only at the Easter Vigil, the Vigil of Pentecost, the feast of Epiphany and its octave, during Holy Week, and on some weekdays (esp. Ember days, weekdays of Lent, the feasts of some saints, and some votive Masses).

Since Vatican II, Masses on Sundays and major feast days include three biblical readings, the first of which is usually taken from the Old Testament (except during the Easter Season, when the first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles). The OT reading is normally very brief and thematically related to the Gospel reading of the day, so there is no detectable order or semi-continuous pattern from one Sunday to the next. Weekday Masses usually have only two readings, the first of which is taken from either the OT or the NT, according to a two-year weekday cycle.

OT	Name of Book	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Vigils & Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
		# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
1	Genesis	50	1533	100**	6.5 %	138	9.0 %	428	27.9 %
2	Exodus	40	1213	28	2.3 %	112	9.2 %	208	17.1 %
3	Leviticus	27	859	0	0 %	9	1.0 %	42	4.9 %
4	Numbers	36	1289	0	0 %	11	0.9 %	81	6.3 %
5	Deuteronomy	34	959	9	0.9 %	52	5.4 %	106	11.1 %
6	Joshua	24	658	0	0 %	9	1.4 %	42	6.4 %
7	Judges	21	618	0	0 %	0	0 %	51	8.3 %
8	Ruth	4	85	0	0 %	0	0 %	21	24.7 %
9	1 Samuel	31	810	0	0 %	31	3.8 %	148	18.3 %
10	2 Samuel	24	695	0	0 %	19	2.7 %	110	15.8 %
11	1 Kings	22	817	0	0 %	37	4.5 %	166	20.3 %
12	2 Kings	25	719	0	0 %	14	1.9 %	100	13.9 %
13	1 Chronicles	29	943	0	0 %	0	0 %	0	0 %
14	2 Chronicles	36	821	0	0 %	8	1.0 %	17	2.1 %
15	Ezra	10	280	0	0 %	0	0 %	21	7.5 %
16	Nehemiah	13	405	0	0 %	8	2.0 %	19	4.7 %
17	Tobit	14	245	0	0 %	0	0 %	71	29.0 %
18	Judith	16	340	0	0 %	0	0 %	0	0 %
19	Esther	16	272	0	0 %	0	0 %	7	2.6 %
20	1 Maccabees	16	922	0	0 %	0	0 %	54	5.9 %
21	2 Maccabees	15	556	0	0 %	8	1.4 %	35	6.3 %
22*	Job	42	1068	0	0 %	11	1.0 %	87	8.1 %
24*	Proverbs	31	915	0	0 %	24	2.6 %	47	5.1 %
25	Ecclesiastes	12	222	0	0 %	4	1.8 %	34	15.3 %
26	Song of Solomon	8	117	0	0 %	0	0 %	7	6.0 %
27	Wisdom of Solomon	19	436	0	0 %	42	9.6 %	102	23.4 %
28	Sirach/Ecclesiasticus	51	1372	0	0 %	48	3.5 %	208	15.2 %
29	Isaiah	66	1291	24**	1.9 %	166	12.9 %	322	24.9 %
30	Jeremiah	52	1364	0	0 %	38	2.8 %	162	11.9 %
31	Lamentations	5	154	0	0 %	0	0 %	8	5.2 %
32	Baruch	6	213	30**	14.1 %	27	12.7 %	44	20.7 %
33	Ezekiel	48	1273	14**	1.1 %	48	3.8 %	180	14.1 %
34	Daniel	14	530	24**	4.5 %	5	0.9 %	178	33.6 %
35	Hosea	14	197	16	8.1 %	11	5.6 %	38	19.3 %
36	Joel	4	73	0	0 %	5	6.8 %	27	37.0 %
37	Amos	9	146	0	0 %	13	8.9 %	51	34.9 %
38	Obadiah	1	21	0	0 %	0	0 %	0	0 %
39	Jonah	4	48	10**	20.8 %	6	12.5 %	39	81.3 %
40	Micah	7	105	0	0 %	4	3.8 %	24	22.9 %
41	Nahum	3	47	0	0 %	0	0 %	8	17.0 %
42	Habakkuk	3	56	0	0 %	5	8.9 %	12	21.4 %
43	Zephaniah	3	53	0	0 %	8	15.1 %	13	24.5 %
44	Haggai	2	38	0	0 %	0	0 %	18	47.4 %
45	Zechariah	14	211	0	0 %	5	2.4 %	24	11.4 %
46	Malachi	3	55	0	0 %	6	10.9 %	18	32.7 %

* Note 1: The above table does not include the Psalms, since they are used so often in various ways during the Mass.
** Note 2: The 1951 revision of the Roman Missal reduced the number of OT readings at the Easter Vigil from twelve to four,
and omitted all six OT readings from the Pentecost Vigil, thereby further reducing the total amount of the OT read before Vatican II;
remaining were only 33 verses of Genesis, 28 of Exodus, 9 of Deuteronomy, 12 of Isaiah and 16 of Hosea. For details, see the Roman Missal page.

OT Summary:

OT Section	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Vigils & Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
	# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
Torah/Law	187	5853	137	2.3 %	322	5.5 %	865	14.8 %
Historical Books	316	9186	0	0 %	134	1.5 %	862	9.4 %
Wisdom Books (w/o Psalms)	163	4130	0	0 %	129	3.1 %	485	11.7 %
Four Major Prophets	191	4825	92	1.9 %	284	5.9 %	894	18.5 %
Twelve Minor Prophets	67	1050	26	2.5 %	63	6.0 %	272	25.9 %
OT Total (w/o Psalms)	924	25044	255	1.0 %	932	3.7 %	3378	13.5 %

Note 3: The 1951 revision of the pre-Vatican II Roman Missal (see note 2 above) reduced the total to only
98 verses or 0.39% of the Old Testament (aside from the Psalms) read at Vigils and major feast days.

Readings from the New Testament:

Before Vatican II, the same readings were used each year for the various Masses in the Roman Missal. The first reading was usually from one of Paul's Letters or the Catholic Epistles. The Gospel readings were most often taken from Matthew or John, less frequently from Luke, and only rarely from Mark.

Since Vatican II, much more of the New Testament is included in the Lectionary for Mass. The Acts of the Apostles is used as the first reading on the Sundays and weekdays during the Easter season. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are read semi-continuously on the Sundays of Ordinary Time on a three-year cycle, while passages from the Gospel of John are used mostly during the seasons of Lent and Easter and on several major feast days. Excerpts from all other NT books and letters are used as the second reading at Masses on Sundays and major feasts according to a three-year cycle, and/or weekday Masses on a two-year cycle. (Click on any of the previous underlined links for more details.)

NT	Name of Book	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
		# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
1	Matthew	28	1071	373	34.8 %	594	55.5 %	916	85.5 %
2	Mark	16	678	30	3.4 %	414	61.1 %	653	96.3 %
3	Luke	24	1151	188	16.3 %	650	56.5 %	1011	87.8 %
4	John	21	879	256	30.0 %	526	59.8 %	813	92.5 %
5	Acts	28	1007	35	3.5 %	165	16.4 %	492	48.9 %
6	Romans	16	433	69	15.9 %	117	27.0 %	228	52.7 %
7	1 Corinthians	16	437	75	17.2 %	162	37.1 %	244	55.8 %
8	2 Corinthians	13	256	40	15.6 %	48	18.8 %	123	48.0 %
9	Galatians	6	149	45	30.2 %	47	31.5 %	90	60.4 %
10	Ephesians	6	155	57	36.8 %	96	61.9 %	141	91.0 %
11	Philippians	4	104	25	24.0 %	47	45.2 %	73	70.2 %
12	Colossians	4	95	16	16.8 %	35	36.8 %	62	65.3 %
13	1 Thessalonians	5	89	16	18.0 %	39	43.8 %	69	77.5 %
14	2 Thessalonians	3	47	0	0.0 %	17	36.2 %	28	59.6 %
15	1 Timothy	6	113	0	0.0 %	20	17.7 %	51	45.1 %
16	2 Timothy	4	83	0	0.0 %	25	30.1 %	39	47.0 %
17	Titus	3	46	9	19.6 %	8	17.4 %	28	60.9 %
18	Philemon	1	25	0	0.0 %	8	32.0 %	19	76.0 %
19	Hebrews	13	303	17	5.6 %	84	27.7 %	188	62.0 %
20	James	5	108	11	10.2 %	31	28.7 %	99	91.7 %
21	1 Peter	5	105	33	31.4 %	36	34.3 %	57	54.3 %
22	2 Peter	3	61	0	0.0 %	7	11.5 %	15	24.6 %
23	1 John	5	105	13	12.4 %	33	31.4 %	95	100.0 %
24	2 John	1	13	0	0.0 %	0	0.0 %	6	46.2 %
25	3 John	1	15	0	0.0 %	0	0.0 %	4	26.7 %
26	Jude	1	25	0	0.0 %	0	0.0 %	6	24.0 %
27	Revelation	22	404	0	0.0 %	38	9.4 %	129	31.9 %

NT Summary:

NT Section	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
	# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
Gospels (4)	89	3779	848	22.4 %	2184	57.8 %	3393	89.8 %
Acts	28	1007	35	3.5 %	165	16.4 %	492	48.9 %
Pauline Letters (7)	61	1493	270	18.1 %	468	31.3 %	846	56.7 %
Deutero-Paulines (6)	26	539	82	15.2 %	201	37.3 %	349	64.7 %
Hebrews	13	303	17	5.6 %	84	27.6 %	188	62.0 %
Catholic Epistles (7)	21	432	57	13.2 %	107	24.7 %	292	67.6 %
Book of Revelation	22	404	0	0 %	38	9.4 %	129	31.9 %
NT w/o Gospels	171	4178	461	11.0 %	1063	25.4 %	2296	54.9 %
NT Grand Total	260	7957	1309	16.5 %	3247	40.8 %	5689	71.5 %

Key to the Column Headings:

• NAB = New American Bible, used as the basis for chapter and verse numbers in the USA editions of the current Lectionary for Mass
  • # Chap. = total number of chapters in each biblical book (or section of the Bible), in the New American Bible translation
  • # Vv. Total = total number of verses in each biblical book (or section of the Bible), in the New American Bible translation
• Pre-Vatican II Missal = the Missale Romanum of Pope Pius V, nearly identical from 1570 to 1969, with a few changes introduced in 1951.
  • Vigils & Major Feasts = In the pre-Vatican II Missal, OT readings were only used at the Easter Vigil, Pentecost Vigil, Epiphany & its octave, and during Holy Week, but never on any Sundays.
• Current Lectionary = the Ordo Lectionum Missae (2nd Latin edition, 1981), equivalent to the Lectionary for Mass (2nd USA edition, 1998/2002)
  • Sundays & Major Feasts = readings contained in the first half of the Missale Romanum, or Vol. 1 of the current Lectionary for Mass, including all Sundays and Solemnities of the Lord, and a few other major Feasts (those which can replace an ordinary Sunday Mass).
  • Sundays & Weekdays = readings prescribed for all Sundays and weekdays during the various liturgical seasons (but not including the Propers or Commons of the Saints, Votive Masses, Ritual Masses, or Masses for Various Needs and Occasions).
• Vv. Used = number of verses from each biblical book or section used in the Roman Missal or the Lectionary for Mass, respectively.
• % Used = percentage of verses from each biblical book or section used in the Roman Missal or the Lectionary for Mass, respectively.

Main Lectionary Page	1998/2002 USA Edition	1992 Canadian Edition
Links to Other Websites	1970 USA Edition	Roman Missal (Pre-Vatican II)

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[Melian]

Sorry, Dutchboy88, but from a Catholic perspective all those denominations arguing over the interpretations of Scripture, correcting each other “based on the best persuasive arguments for authorial intent” and holding themselves up as authorities on Scripture while criticizing all those who don’t enjoy “grappling with the text” sound a bit more like Pharisees than Christians.

Catholics believe Christ promised to guide His Church and prevent it from teaching error in matters of faith. We see no problem in accepting authority: God’s, Christ’s, and the Apostles and their successors (the Pope’s). Why would Christ set up a tower of Babel when it came to setting up His Church? He would be clear, authoritative, and sensible. He is God and anything He established would be WELL established. What Protestants do with the Bible sounds like enslavement to me: constant bickering and refuting and negotiating about what each little line means without examining it in context and from the historical perspective. Sounds like Protestants are guided by persuasive arguments when interpreting the Bible. Gosh, what happens when there are TWO persuasive Bible interpreters in the same room?

The devil makes very persuasive arguments too. Persuasiveness is no litmus test for understanding God’s will for us. Abraham was not noted for being “persuasive”. Moses wasn’t very persuasive at all. The Jews often stopped doing what he told them God wanted. Hmmm, the Apostles: not one was known for being persuasive. None of them were even known for being well educated in Scripture. They often got it wrong in trying to understand what Christ was telling them. Only after the visit from the Holy Spirit did the Apostles become persuasive. Only then did they have the authority burning in their hearts and minds that was the gift of the Holy Spirit. Christ gave them the authority and promised He would continue to guide them as His Church.

The Holy Spirit is guiding every Pope to teach Truth on matters of faith. When the Pope speaks to us on matters of faith, we believe he is just as guided by the Holy Spirit as the authors of the Bible were, and as the Apostles were.

Rome was on the shore with Christ. Rome was told it would be fishing for men. Rome was told it would not be left an orphan by God’s Son. We put our faith in what the Apostles told us about Christ and the Church. They told us the authority passes to the successors of Peter.

We don’t need a “persuasive” fellow to tell us what to think about the Bible.

[Dutchboy88]

"The Holy Spirit is guiding every Pope to teach Truth on matters of faith.

Sorry, Melian, that is precisely the point. If you are relying on the Scriptures to promise that, your guyes running the cult don't agree with you. They will decide what it is that your faith is. The pope is to be followed even when "new" revelation is given through his pointy hat. You folks are destiny-bound to accept whatever kook-ball direction that takes you. Read that...this is just how the Catholics strayed so far from the message of grace that is already in the Book that started this. We at least have a returning point...you guys are cut adrift to float ever further from the shore. Repent, Rome, if you can.

[Melian]

I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Dutchboy88. Whenever the Pope speaks “from the chair” he provides huge documents supporting his pronouncement that provide Scriptural and historical evidence for his teaching.

Catholicism’s basic teaching, the Creed, is virtually unchanged from the time of the Apostles. It is Protestants who have drifted away. We see that in the thousands of interpretations/denominations/persuasive leaders of the Protestant movement. If you’re looking for orthodoxy these days, Catholicism is where it’s at. Many Protestants are discovering that after their persuasive leaders ask them to accept gay marriage, women priests, and gay clergy.

The mocking tone of Protestant posts is un-Christian. And, though it makes the poster feel better, I doubt it persuades many readers.

[Mr Rogers]

Catholicism HAS changed, to include Purgatory, Priests offering sacrifice (a changed Eucharist), Indulgences, Mariology, Papal Supremacy...

The role of the Magisterium in ‘interpreting’ the Bible has become critical because so much Catholic doctrine is NOT found in scripture, and the plain meaning of the text shows the new doctrine to be contradictory.

[Dutchboy88]

Thank you, Mr. Rogers, I was away and unable to respond to Melian. But, those are precisely the kind doctrines/positions to which I was referring. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has ignored the plain teaching of the Scriptures with respect to the message of grace the Bible originally set out. The church that claims to be founded on Peter has left Peter’s message far behind.

Melian, we repudiate those utterly ridiculous “Protestant” groups holding to unbiblical doctrines as we repudiate Rome. Birds of a feather.

We aim to make it patently clear that the Catholic Church has departed the Scriptural teachings of grace, substituting instead a modern day self-righteousness. Romes’s perspective is buried in nearly every position the organization takes, whether sacerdotalsim, purgatory, indulgences, mariolatry, the seven sacraments to salvation, the separate country it maintains, the swiss army that it hires, the money that it coined, or canonizing ordinary human beings. Shame on Rome.

This is not mockery...it is exposing the Mother Cult of the Vatican for what it is.

We will leave the persuasion up to God.

[Melian]

Actually, everything Catholics do is based on Scripture; those original passages you all cut out of the Bible. Our understanding of those passages continues to develop over time as the Holy Spirit continues to lead us toward all Truth.

Each of your successive posts is increasingly less “persuasive” and more incoherent. What IS being expressed very well is animosity. Rome is not ashamed; has not been ashamed for 2,000 years; and will not be ashamed 2,000 years from now. God the Father and Christ fashioned the Catholic Church and they don’t make mistakes.

Long after your roomfulls of “persuasive arguers” are gone and your words and personal interpretations of Scripture have faded from anyone’s memory, the Catholic Church will still be preaching the same Good News it has preached and will preach forever.

My personal opinion is that many Protestants who froth at the mouth with such hatred for the Pope are actually envious of his authority when it comes to his connection with Christ. Protestant “persuaders” seem to want to set themselves up as little, individual Popes who tell people what their interpretation of scripture is. This is, at the least, vanity; and, at the worst, the sin of pride. Christ has already made his selection for the leadership of His Church.

[Dutchboy88]

"My personal opinion...

That is all the Catholic Church is comprised of...personal opinions of some guys in bathrobes and sequined slippers. Tragic. Repent Rome, if you can.

[Melian]

Rome has nothing to repent of. It is doing what Christ directs it to do.

I could resort to ridicule too. There’s plenty to ridicule about other Christian denominations. But I strive to have charity for others, especially those who are misguided. For them, I reserve pity.

One of the many things I love about Catholicism is that Art is part of our worship. We celebrate that man was imbued by God with the gift of artistry. We use it to worship Him.

Dutchboy88, have you ever attended a Catholic Mass? I think you would be surprised if you did. We read 4 passages from the Bible: something from the Old Testament, a psalm, a reading from the Acts or Epistles, and a passage of the Gospels. Before the Gospel, we make a sign of the cross on our foreheads, our mouths and our hearts. We are asking God’s word to penetrate our minds, be on our lips, and fill our hearts. After the Gospel, the priest says, “The Word of the Lord!” as he holds the book aloft. We all respond, “Thanks be to God!” because we are so grateful to have His Word. The priest then gives a talk about the theme that unites the readings of the day.

Then there’s the Eucharist. It is glorious and a whole other world. I won’t even start on that here, with you. But someone who is full of hate and sarcasm and misinformation should go to a Catholic Mass and experience it. Just once. Otherwise all he is spouting is lies he learned from a “persuader” with a personal agenda.

[Dutchboy88]

"Dutchboy88, have you ever attended a Catholic Mass? I think you would be surprised if you did. We read 4 passages from the Bible: something from the Old Testament, a psalm, a reading from the Acts or Epistles, and a passage of the Gospels. Before the Gospel, we make a sign of the cross on our foreheads, our mouths and our hearts.

Yes, I have, Melian. And, then watched as the friend who invited me to the superstitious cult-like rite got progressively more discouraged by the weekly revelations of these committed "priests" fiddling with little boys. He finally left the Catholic Church and now rejects all discussions about the matter. You guys really did a number on this fellow.

But, that is still just anectdotal. The real proof of the failure of this Roman monstrosity is it's own rejection of the Gospel of grace, set out by all the Apostles in their letters of the NT. It is this for which they ought to repent, if they can. Instead, they cling to their heretical self-aggrandizing man-made religion. Darkness awaits.

[Melian]

I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I am thinking that if he rejects all discussions about the matter, there is something else going on there. If he had left in disgust, wouldn’t he be happy to discuss everything that’s wrong with the Church with someone like you?

I rather think that he’d just prefer not to discuss the Church with you anymore. I can certainly understand that. He was surely embarrassed by those priestly pretenders, as all Catholics are, and I would venture to guess his nose was rubbed in it. Are you still friends?

I’m sorry that nothing I say here can alter the way you present your opinions. The Catholic Church lives the Gospel. Every word of it. No omissions. It is the light in the darkness and does not fear the darkness. There is quite a bit of Darkness in these posts, however.

[Dutchboy88]

"I’m sorry that nothing I say here can alter the way you present your opinions."

The presentation I am making is not an opinion. The thing you ought to be sorry about, is that the RCC will not compare her cultish view with the Scriptures. That is what this thread was all about to begin with, but reread your posts and notice how they diverge from this topic. The Gospel of grace was presented by the Apostles and writers of the NT, but Rome has mangled this message to become its own self-serving, self-aggrandizing, story of Darkness. It has little time to repent, if it can.

[Melian]

I said I see I can’t alter the way you present your opinions. Check my post again. Once again, your response is jumbled, negative, and chaotic.

Hate, confusion, pridefulness, chaos, and lies are the signs of the devil’s work— and your responses.

Physician, heal thyself.

[Petronski]

Hate, confusion, pridefulness, chaos, and lies are the signs of the devil’s work— and your responses.

You are very perceptive.

[Melian]

Oh, and I forgot; you didn’t respond to this part of my post:

“I rather think that he’d just prefer not to discuss the Church with you anymore. I can certainly understand that. He was surely embarrassed by those priestly pretenders, as all Catholics are, and I would venture to guess his nose was rubbed in it. Are you still friends?”

I guess I can assume that poor man is no longer a friend. When he needed Christian love and support, he probably got something much less from his “friend.”

I repeat: Hate, confusion, pridefulness, chaos, and lies are the signs of the devil’s work— and your responses.

Physician, heal thyself.

[Melian]

Why, thank you, Petronski. I always read your posts with great interest.

[Petronski]

And, though it makes the poster feel better, I doubt it persuades many readers.

I find his posts very persuasive...just not in the way that he intends.

[Dutchboy88]

Must be difficult to read plain English when Rome indoctrinates one to be a sheeple.

[Melian]

When I see some plain English, I’ll read it.

Incoherent invective is not plain English; nor is it “persuasive.” It has, however, been revealing. Four year olds who can’t formulate a winning argument resort to name calling. I guess all those persuasive Protestant persuaders locked in a multitude of little rooms arguing with each other for their private and personal interpretations of Scripture do too. What a mess.

Christ started a Church. He set up a methodical system to guide it and keep it faithful. The system Christ set up works beautifully. Nowhere in the early Church system Christ set up was there room for any personal interpretation. It was the Apostles’ way, Peter’s way, Rome’s way— or the highway. Paul’s letters to the early Christians implore them NOT to form their own interpretations of Christ’s message but to adhere to the teaching of the Apostles and Christ. He begged them to do it Rome’s way.

I am proud and happy to do it Rome’s way.

[Dutchboy88]

We are hoping that some of the wiser folks are permitted to leave the chains of that Roman cult. The rest will be left to the darkness. And, it will be the God of Heaven, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, managing those destinies, not the folks themselves.