Please post the Greek for review. Thanks!
A lot of this echo chamber amongst some anti-Catholic folks, as opposed to people of good will who just disagree, has no authority to validate their beliefs.
While many make bold statements (not on this thread) that the Holy Bible or the Holy Spirit is the only authority for them, those statements, while generally true, don’t seem to hold up in execution. Rather, it is the opinion of many different men and women, as to what the Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible are telling them. Thus there is confusion among the myriad of denominations of Protestants.
The Holy Catholic Church teaches with the authority of Jesus Christ, handed down in direct lineage from the Apostles (Matthew 16:18). Until the Reformation, the Church battled any number of heretics, from Arians, Monatists, etc. When the Reformation rolled around, a more organized opposition appeared. However, Protestantism quickly fell into division, as they argued amongst themselves (Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, etc.).
Throughout this time, the Holy Catholic Church continued to preach the Gospel, feed the poor, care for the sick, clothe the naked and visit the imprisoned. It continued to teach what the Apostles had taught. When questions arose, they were answered, in many cases, with the final human authority, Pope, publicly declaring a decision.
As we have witnessed since the 16th century, there has been no end of mud slung against the Catholic Church, and amongst fellow Protestants. It is a sad state of affairs when people who all claim to follow Jesus Christ attack each other.
Are the humans who populate the Catholic Church sinless? HAH! Hardly! There are at least as many liars, adulterers, hypocrites, etc as any other Christian denomination. However, the fullness of God’s truth continues to be preached and lived, despite the imperfection of its adherents.
This will be my final comment on this thread. Sadly, like others before, ultimately devolve into petty argument.
May God bless you all, enliven your hearts and souls, encourage love for one another, and prepare you for Christmas.
See post #1104 >>Thus there is confusion among the myriad of denominations of Protestants.<<
There is no assurance of correctness for any "church" who doesn't prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit but uses their own intellect or wishes. Those who put their trust in those organizations or leaders will fall with them. There is no difference whether it's the Catholic Church or some Protestant denomination.
>>Throughout this time, the Holy Catholic Church continued to preach the Gospel,<<
Not as it's found in the original Greek they didn't. Jerome's Latin Vulgate from the 4th century has multiple proven errors which the Catholic Church includes to this day.
>>As we have witnessed since the 16th century, there has been no end of mud slung against the Catholic Church, and amongst fellow Protestants.<<
Only those in error call it "mud". We are told in scripture to point out error. To not do so would be to disobey the mandate to "correct" is God's word.
I don't think that most of these are Protestants, but rather Catholics that separated from their Catholic roots. They have joined a variety of modern sects, groups and cults. The shared common component is antiCatholicism. In attacking Catholicism they can validate their choices, reassure themselves they (think) have eternal life no matter what they do. They keep trying, as it were, to scratch off that indelible mark and remove any mark of who they really are, Catholics who have separated from the church.
Instead of just making the accusation, why don't you provide examples of said *confusing doctrines*?
Can you say *Inquisition*?
Are the humans who populate the Catholic Church sinless? HAH! Hardly! There are at least as many liars, adulterers, hypocrites, etc as any other Christian denomination. However, the fullness of God’s truth continues to be preached and lived, despite the imperfection of its adherents.
The fullness of God's truth is found in Scripture and if those in the church are leading such sinful lives, they are not living that fullness.
And we're not talking mere *imperfection*. The sins manifest in Catholicism amongst it's hierarchy are abominable, NOT *imperfection*.