Papacy / Hierarchy in the Bible

The following outline shows that Jesus intended to create a holy, visible Church; complete with a prime minister, a hierarchy, binding authority, and perpetuity—the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

It is important for Protestants to understand some basic facts. Contrary to the modern belief that the Bible is a “blueprint” or “textbook” which explains how a church should be structured, it is a product of the Catholic Church—a compilation of writings that reflect a structure that was already present. As such, the “Bible alone” has no reason to provide fine details of proper ecclesiology; however, proper ecclesiology is detectable. Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, the Catholic Church wrote lots of letters. The Catholic Church discerned which of those letters were inspired. By the end of the fourth century (Councils of Hippo A.D. 393 and Carthage A.D. 397) the Catholic Church finalized the “table of contents” of the Scriptures and called the entire body of writing “the Bible”. In other words, the Bible would not even exist if the popes and the hierarchy did not exist.

Amen to that (Jesus is the only name in which we can be saved,) but some popes declare that Mary can save.
I doubt they did that

Well then you are not very familiar with the past history of your belief system because they CERTAINLY did.

I have provided links in the past to several popes that have said what I told you and if need be I can find them and show them to you.

I think it would be better if you searched for them yourself so you can be more familiar with the history of your denomination.

I have read every word of the history of the church of which I am a member, I suggest you do the same.

Your popes say that Mary can save souls, but Catholics only seem to think that there is a virgin in Israel who will ALWAYS "point you to the Holy One of Israel who can save you" but Mary the mother of Jesus does NOT always do that.

Look it up, check out what some of the past popes have said and you will find it from Catholic history.

You need to read post #25

it is very reasonable to assume that the Apostle Paul had witnessed some aspect of Jesus' ministry.

There is warrant for that, but conjecture, while the gospel message of grace that he preached was by revelation, (Gal. 1:12) not via man, which is important., though certainly the testimony of eyewitness to what Christ did was also received by him.

In Romans he reveals that he had relatives, Adronicus and Junia

Quite probable, as "kinsmen" usually indicates that a relative, (Lk. 1:36,58; 2:44; 21:16; Mk. 6:4; Jn. 18:36) yet it is used in the general sense as referring to Jews, (Rm. 9:3) which may be how it is used elsewhere in Romans, unless Herodion, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater are also relatives, which is possible: "Salute Herodion my kinsman. "Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you." (Romans 16:11,21)

Paul was the instigator at the stoning of Stephen, some 5 years after Pentecost. This means that he already had a rage toward Christ and Christianity.

In-deed! As is easily established elsewhere. May we be praying for more conversions as such men as this, and be fit to receive such.

You need to read post #25

it is very reasonable to assume that the Apostle Paul had witnessed some aspect of Jesus' ministry.

[Just came across this older post.] There is warrant for that, but conjecture, while the gospel message of grace that he preached was by revelation, (Gal. 1:12) not via man, which is important., though certainly the testimony of eyewitness to what Christ did was also received by him.

In Romans he reveals that he had relatives, Adronicus and Junia

Paul was the instigator at the stoning of Stephen, some 5 years after Pentecost. This means that he already had a rage toward Christ and Christianity.

In-deed! As is easily established elsewhere. May we be praying for more conversions as such men as this, and be fit to receive such.

I have read every word of the history of the church of which I am a member, I suggest you do the same.

Which church did you choose ? Your popes say that Mary can save souls, but Catholics only seem to think that there is a virgin in Israel who will ALWAYS "point you to the Holy One of Israel who can save you" but Mary the mother of Jesus does NOT always do that.

I don't think that; I know that. Any attack on Miriam, the mother of Yeshua, is from the adversary. No one will separate her from her son, who is the Son of the Most High, and everything about her points to Him. Anyone who knows Jesus as LORD will love Mary and bless her. She is the Virgin of Israel, the seed of Abraham, and mother of the Holy One of Israel. She was brave, very brave; faithful and true. God will bless those who bless her and curse those who curse her and through her all nations of the earth are blessed.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

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