For a Catholic, the three go together. That's simply how it is. There is no obligation on our part to explain to anyone.
>Good thing Paul didn't have that kind of an arrogant attitude in explaining Christianity. I believe the NT tells us we are to be ready in season and out of season to give a defense of the Gospel.<
The Gospel has Jesus speaking metaphorically to Peter. The "keys" were not to a gate; they represent the gradual revelation of the Deposit of Faith through the Church Jesus founded. I am ready to defend not only the Gospel, but the teaching of the Church founded in the Gospel teachings. What about the rest of Scripture? I mostly see Paul quoted. I often wonder why. The Bible is still a pretty thick book, even with the Apocrypha removed.
Well, that's a pretty quick change of attitude....going from we don't have to explain anything to being ready to defend the Gospel.
Glad to see you've come around on that one.
"The Gospel has Jesus speaking metaphorically to Peter. The "keys" were not to a gate; they represent the gradual revelation of the Deposit of Faith through the Church Jesus founded. I am ready to defend not only the Gospel, but the teaching of the Church founded in the Gospel teachings."
What we know today as the Catholic Church is the Church spoken of in that passage BY JESUS TO PETER. The Catholic Church stems from the Gospel, and is not detached from it.
Well, that's a pretty quick change of attitude....going from we don't have to explain anything to being ready to defend the Gospel.
Taken out of context, as my reply was, it would appear to be. Ask me to defend the Immaculate Conception, The Perpetual Virginity of Mary; Purgatory, and most especially the Eucharist, you will get the same answer as before: I don't have to explain; it's what God teaches through the Catholic Church; I am a Catholic, and that is what *I BELIEVE!*
Glad to see you've come around on that one.
Not at all! I wasn't facing the wrong way in the first place.