IAmOnetruth Catholic Church Apologetics

ST. EPHRAIM "[Jesus said:] Simon, my follower, I
have made you the foundation of the holy Church. I
betimes called you Peter, because you will support
all its buildings. You are the inspector of those who
will build on earth a Church for me. If they should
wish to build what is false, you, the foundation, will
condemn them. You are the head of the fountain
from which my teaching flows; you are the chief of
my disciples. Through you I will give drink to all
peoples. Yours is that life-giving sweetness which I
dispense. I have chosen you to be, as it were, the
first-born in my institution so that, as the heir, you
may be executor of my treasures. I have given you
the keys of my kingdom. Behold, I have given you
authority over all my treasures" (Homilies 4:1 [a.d. 3
51]).

Mt. 16:18-19, v. 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:19 I will give you
the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
("Gates" Genesis 22:18 fulfillment to Abraham)
The Catholic Church always has taught that the MAGISTERIUM (the pope and the bishops
teaching in harmony with him) is Jesus Christ's provision for determining and preserving
Catholic truth. (Ray Ryland, This Rock, 11/97)
Magisterium:
Properly speaking, this Magisterium is a teaching authority; it not only presents the truth, but it
has the right to impose it, since its power is the very power given by God to Christ and by
Christ to His Church. This authority is called the teaching Church. The teaching Church is
essentially composed of the episcopal body, which continues here below the work and mission
of the Apostolic College. It was indeed in the form of a college or social body that Christ
grouped His Apostles and it is likewise as a social body that the episcopate exercises its
mission to teach. Doctrinal infallibility has been guaranteed to the episcopal body and to the
head of that body as it was guaranteed to the Apostles, with this difference, however, between
the Apostles and the bishops that each Apostle was personally infallible (in virtue of his
extraordinary mission as founder and the plenitude of the Holy Ghost received on Pentecost
by the Twelve and later communicated to St. Paul as to the Twelve), whereas only the body of
bishops is infallible and each bishop is not so, save in proportion as he teaches in communion
and concert with the entire episcopal body.
At the head of this episcopal body is the supreme authority of the Roman pontiff, the
successor of St. Peter in his primacy as he is his successor in his see (Latin sedes, a seat).
As supreme authority in the teaching body, which is infallible, he himself is infallible. The
episcopal body is infallible also, but only in union with its head, from whom moreover it may
not separate, since to do so would be to separate from the foundation on which the Church is
built. The authority of the pope may be exercised without the cooperation of the bishops, and
this even in infallible decisions which both bishops and faithful are bound to receive with the
same submission. The authority of the bishops may be exercised in two ways; now each
bishop teaches the flock confided to him, again the bishops assemble in council to draw up
together and pass doctrinal or disciplinary decrees. When all the bishops of the Catholic world
(this totality is to be understood as morally speaking; it suffices for the whole Church to be
represented) are thus assembled in council the council is called ecumenical. The doctrinal
decrees of an ecumenical council, once they are approved by the pope, are infallible as are
the ex cathedra definitions of the sovereign pontiff. Although the bishops, taken individually,
are not infallible their teaching participates in the infallibility of the Church according as they
teach in concert and in union with the episcopal body, that is according as they express not
their personal ideas, but the very thought of the Church. (Catholic Encyclopedia)
Canon 753

Although they do not enjoy infallible teaching authority, the bishops in communion with the
head and members of the college, whether as individuals or gathered in conferences of
bishops or in particular councils, are authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the
faithful entrusted to their care; the faithful must adhere to the authentic teaching of their own
bishops with a religious assent of soul.

At the beginning of the information on "Magisterium"
in the Catholic Encyclopedia the article brings up the word "Tradition" with a capital T. It goes
on to say; "Tradition and Living Magisterium"
"The word tradition (Greek paradosis in the ecclesiastical sense; which is the only
one in which it is used here; refers sometimes to the thing (doctrine, account, or
custom) transmitted from one generation to another"

It gives instances in Sacred Scripture of "Tradition". Some examples are to be avoided but
there are others which the early Church encourages us to keep.
1 Peter 1:18-19
"realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on (patroparadotos) by
your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of
Christ as of a spotless and unblemished lamb"
The New Testament authors referred frequently to the process of "handing on" the Word of
God to His People.
Lk 1:1-2
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled
among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word
have handed them down (paredosan) to us.
1 Cor 11:23
"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on (paredoka) to you, that the Lord Jesus,
on the night he was handed over, took bread"
1 Cor 15:3-4
"For I handed on (paredoka) to you as of first importance what I also received"
2 Tim 2:2
"And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust (parathou) to faithful people
who will have the ability to teach others as well."
It is Paul who makes the distinction of modes in which the Revelation of God to His People can
be handed on.
Paul also called the process of handing on the Word of God "tradition." He then terms two
ways in which "traditions" are transmitted, by word, orally, and by letter, written.
3862 - Greek

paradosis = tradition

I mentioned earlier those traditions to be avoided:
Mat 15:1 "Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do
your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash (their) hands when they eat
a meal." 3 He said to them in reply, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the
sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'Whoever
curses father or mother shall die.'
5 But you say, 'Whoever says to father or mother, "Any support you might have had from me
is dedicated to God,"
6 need not honor his father.' You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
Those traditions to be kept:
1Cor 11:2 "I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the
traditions, just as I handed them on to you."
Col 2:8 "See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to
human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ."
2Thess. 2:15 "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were
taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."
2Thess. 3:6 "We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any
brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they
received from us."

So, we can readily see that there are both "good, meaning Godly or Apostolic"
and "bad, meaning human" "traditions"!

1Cor 11:2 "I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the
traditions, just as I handed them on to you."
Saint Paul is talking about the early church celebration of the Mass. When he tells the
Corinthians to, "hold fast to the traditions" how is this to come about? There has to be some
kind of group who will teach these 'traditions' to each succeeding generation without error.
Does the Bible give us some clue as to how this is to come about?
St. Paul tells us further on in this chapter, 1Cor 11:23 "For I received from the Lord what I also
handed on to you,".
This could be a clue. Jesus taught Paul who in turn taught the Corinthians, who in turn taught
others.
Now the original teachings were both "Oral and Written". We know this from Scripture.
Act 15:23 "This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your
brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from
us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,
25 we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you
along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of
mouth:"
St. Paul tells the Thessalonians:
2Thess. 2:15 "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were
taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."
We see both "Oral" and "Written" 'tradition' from the very beginning of the Church.
On Divine Revelation, 9, 10, Vatican II
"Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate
one with the other ... Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture make up a single deposit of the
Word of God, which is entrusted to the Church."
We can also see from Scripture that there were always false teachings.
2Thess. 2:2 "not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a
"spirit," or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the
Lord is at hand."
Act 15:24 "Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate
from us",
(from who? from us - there must have been some group from the very beginning who had the
''authority" to say what was right and what was wrong and this verse also shows that there was
always people who did not have the authority to teach), "have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,".
God would have foreseen this problem and given His Church a sure way of knowing and
teaching without error!
At first there was question only of traditions claiming a Divine origin, but subsequently there
arose questions of oral as distinct from written tradition, in the sense that a given doctrine or
institution is not directly dependent on Holy Scripture as its source but only on the oral
teaching of Christ or the Apostles. Finally with regard to the organ of tradition it must be an
official organ, a Magisterium, or teaching authority. (CE)

Now in this respect there are several points of controversy between Catholics and every body
of Protestants.
For example:
Is all revealed truth consigned to Holy Scripture? Or can it, be admitted that Christ gave to His
Apostles to be transmitted to His Church, that the Apostles received either from the very lips
of Jesus or from inspiration or Revelation, Divine instructions which they transmitted to the
Church and which were not committed to the inspired writings? Must it be admitted that Christ
instituted His Church as the official and authentic organ to transmit and explain in virtue of
Divine authority the Revelation made to men?
The Protestant principle is: The Bible and nothing but the Bible; according to them the Bible is
the sole rule of faith: by it and by it alone should all dogmatic questions be solved; it is the
only binding authority. Catholics, on the other hand, hold that there may be, that there is in
fact, and that there must of necessity be certain revealed truths apart from those contained in
the Bible
(ME) such as happened at the First Council of the Church in Jerusalem, if the Apostles had
used Scripture to decide the problem rather than merely accepting a decision already made
by St. Peter in Acts 10 & 11, we would all still be getting circumcised); they hold furthermore
that Jesus Christ has established in fact, a living organ as much to transmit Scripture and
written Revelation as to place revealed truth within reach of everyone always and everywhere.
(CE)

The problem of "Oral & Written" tradition verses "Written" tradition alone,
leads back to the age old cry of the "Reformers", "Sola Scriptura" or "The
Bible Alone" as our sole authority in doctrinal matters!

I would like to share with you 3 reasons why Sola Scriptura is not from God.
1) SCRIPTURE:
No where in Scripture does the Bible tell us that we can only follow the Bible for teachings of
our Faith. Admittedly there are some verses which would seem to say something like we can
only follow the Bible but under the pressure of close scrutiny our opponents arguments
unravel. So, in order for some one to accept the teaching of Sola Scriptura they would have to
accept the word of someone (outside the Bible). This of course would nullify their theory of
following only the Bible.
2) HISTORY:
...the Church was spreading for decades, long before the New Testament books were written,
gathered and officially canonized, or collected in an authoritative collection. Historians who
are objective will see that the Church saw itself bound to the Word of God as it was handed
down from Christ to the apostles and their successors in their doctrine, in their worship and in
their morals apart from New Testament books. The New Testament books were in a certain
sense occasional documents written to help certain congregations or certain area churches
with particular questions, but nowhere does the Bible say, or does the New Testament regard
itself, as a compendium that is sufficient for everything we need to know to live the Christian
life.(Dr. Scott Hahn)
Historically for the first one thousand years there was one visible church! Not until 1054 AD
did we have a major split. There was one authority for all those years, admittedly there were
many heresies, but the existence of heresies would only show that there must have been a
truth!
Some one once told me that the term Catholic only came into being when the Protestant
Reformation started. Over the years I have heard many different ideas of when the term
Catholic started. I suggest to anyone who wants to know the truth merely look the term
Catholic up in any dictionary or encyclopedia.
For example the following is an excerpt from the Encyclopedia Britannica:
catholic
Encyclopedia Britannica Article
(from Greek katholikos, "universal"), the characteristic that, according to ecclesiastical
writers since the 2nd century, distinguished the Christian Church at large from local
communities or from heretical and schismatic sects.

A notable exposition of the term as it had developed during the first three centuries of
Christianity was given by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechesis (348): the church is called
catholic on the ground of its worldwide extension, its doctrinal completeness, its adaptation to
the needs of men of every kind, and its moral and spiritual perfection.
There are many other sources available for this information but for the sake of brevity this
should suffice.

We can also see in the writings of the "Early Church Fathers" reference to disagreements that
were settled by either "Councils" that represented the Pope or directly by the Pope himself.
Between Catholics and the Christian sects of the East... both sides admit the Divine institution
and Divine authority of the Church, but there are contentions concerning the bearers of the
authority, the organic unity of the teaching body, the infallibility of the pope, and the existence
and nature of dogmatic development in the transmission of revealed truth. (CE)
In the writings of the Church Fathers:
About AD 96 for example, in the pontificate of Clement I, a faction in the Church in Corinth
created schism by ousting some bishops and presbyters. Clement wrote a strongly worded
Letter to that church. He begins his Letter apologizing for his delay "in giving our attention to
the subjects of dispute in your community." Vigorous persecution of the Church, especially at
Rome under Nero and Domitian, had prevented the Church at Rome from intervening earlier.
[...] Clement commands the schismatics to be "obedient to what we have written through the
Holy Spirit." He warns them, "But should any disobey what has been said by Him [Christ]
through us, let them understand that they will entangle themselves in transgression and no
small danger."
Had the Church at Corinth appealed to Clement to settle the schism? That Clement
apologizes for delay in intervening suggests it had. The Corinthians were not simply seeking
help from some authoritative person. Were that true, they could have appealed to the apostle
John. According to early testimony, at that time, he was still living and in a city (Ephesus)
much closer to Corinth than Rome. No they appealed to the successor of Peter. At the end of
the first century, Rome's authority and responsibility for settling such matters was already
recognized.
How did they respond to Clement's intervention? They held Clement's Letter in almost as high
esteem as Sacred Scripture. Eusebius tells us 70 yrs. later, it was still read during Sunday
Liturgy!
(TR, 02/97, p. 36; 06/97, p. 25)
And the last reason why "The Bible Alone" is an untenable teaching.
3) COMMON SENSE:
Before the invention of the "printing press" in 1450 the Bible alone was an impossibility! Up
until this time not even every church had a full copy of the bible. Each parish would have parts
of the bible and they would trade them off to each other every so often so they could cover
more of the bible. Only the places charged with copying the bible from one generation to the
next would have had whole copies and perhaps as in every time, the very rich.
(Jesus didn't write a bible and give it to the world! He started His Church, "I tell you, you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,")
We can see from Scripture that only Peter was given rule over the Church by Christ.
The word "feed" when applied to humans = rule.

(John 21)
15 When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John,
lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I
love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea,
Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed (4165) my lambs.
17 He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was
grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to
him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him:
Feed my sheep. (Douay Rheims = DR)

(Acts 20)
26 Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all men;
27 For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath
placed you bishops, to rule (4165) the church of God, which he hath purchased with
his own blood.
29 I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. (Douay Rheims)

4165 poimaino poy-mah'-ee-no
from 4166; to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, supervisor):--feed (cattle), rule.
Strong's Bible Dictionary
4165 - Greek
poimainw poimaino

The high priests speaking to King Herod.
Mat_2:6 Mat 2:6 And 2532 thou 4771 Bethlehem 965, in the land 1093 of Juda 2448, art 1488
not 3760 the least 1646 among 1722 the princes 2232 of Juda 2448: for 1063 out of 1537
thee 4675 shall come 1831 a Governor 2233, that 3748 shall rule4165 my 3450 people
2992 Israel 2474. (rule: or, feed)
King James Version w/ Strong's Numbers
6 And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of
thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel. (DR)

John_21:16 Act_20:28 1Peter_5:2 Rev_2:27 Rev_7:17 Rev_12:5 Rev_19:15
(New Testament Greek Concordance)
Greek. to feed.
Psalm_78:70-72; Psalm 78:70 He chose 977 David 1732 also his servant 5650, and took
3947 him from the sheepfolds 4356 6629:
Psalm 78:71 From following 310 the ewes great with young 5763 he brought 935 him to feed
7462 Jacob 3290 his people 5971, and Israel 3478 his inheritance 5159. (following: Heb. after)
Psalm 78:72 So he fed 7462 them according to the integrity 8537 of his heart 3824; and
guided 5148 them by the skilfulness 8394 of his hands 3709.
King James Version w/ Strong's Numbers
70 And he chose his servant David, and took him from the hocks of sheep: he brought him
from following the ewes great with young,
71 To feed Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
72 And he fed them in the innocence of his heart: and conducted them by the skillfulness of
his hands. (DR)

Pro_10:21; Isa_40:11;
Jer_3:15; Jer 3:15 And I will give 5414 you pastors 7462 according to mine heart 3820, which
shall feed7462 you with knowledge 1844 and understanding 7919.
King James Version w/ Strong's Numbers
15 And I will give you pastors according to my own heart, and they shall feed you
with knowledge and doctrine. (DR)

Eze_34:3; Mic_7:14; Zec_11:4; Mat_2:6;
(Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge)
feed/tend = rule

The primacy was conferred when Christ, after His Resurrection, gave the mandate
to Peter, after the latter's three-fold assurance of His love: "Feed my lambs!...Feed
my lambs!...Feed my sheep!" (John 21:15-17). Here, as in Mt. 16:18 et seq., the words
are directed solely and immediately to Peter. The "lambs" and the "sheep"
designate Christ's whole flock, that is, the whole Church (cf. Jn 10). "Feed" in
ancient and biblical language means, in its application to human beings, rule or
govern (cf. Acts 20:28). By Christ's thrice-repeated mandate, Peter obtained, not
re-appointment to the Apostolic office-he did not lose this through his denial-but
the supreme power of government over the Church. (Fundamentals of Catholic
Dogma by Ludwig Ott)
Again:
"Feed" in ancient and biblical language means, in its application to human beings,
rule or govern". I would add, as we can see from the above Scripture quotes, "feed"
also means "teach".
1 Cor 11:23 "For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,"

Books and monuments of every kind are a means, an organ of transmission, they are not,
properly speaking, the tradition itself. To better understand the latter it must be represented
as a current of life and truth coming from God through Christ and through the Apostles to the
last of the faithful who repeats his creed and learns his catechism. (CE)
The living Magisterium, therefore, makes extensive use of documents of the past, but it does
so while judging and interpreting,...
she still finds her doctrine and rule of faith in these venerable monuments; the formulas may
have grown old, but the truth which they express is always her present thought. (CE)

Quick Explanation:
Mat 16:18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys to
the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever
you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of
John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Feed my lambs." John 21:16 He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son
of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to
him, "Tend my sheep." John 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you
love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he
said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed
my sheep.
That's it! The "Promise" and the "Foundation"!
(Acts 20:28 KJV "feed")

Bibliography
(CE) Catholic Encyclopedia
(NAB) New American Bible for a non Catholic, free download Bible study aid that I
have used (but not the Commentaries) try e-Sword, contains Douay Rheims.
(TR) This Rock, editor Karl Keating   http://www.catholic.com/magazines/thisrock.asp
(All scripture is taken from the NAB unless noted)

Jesus names St. Peter as the rock foundation of His Church