The Roman Catholic Bible and the Roman Catholic Church

Front matter

The

Roman Catholic Bible

and the

Preface

THE purpose of the author is to set forth the Holy Scripture, while pointing to the application made of it in tenets of the Roman Catholic Church.

If the reader will give impartial attention, the author's purpose will have met with success, and as we believe, the reader edified.

[The author's work herein is from consideration given the subject matter at various times during the past eight years. Scriptural quotations are from the Douay Version of the Holy Bible as used by the Roman Catholic Church.

As we ask attention in particular to the Douay Version of Scripture, it is expected that copious quotations will be made therefrom, in treating the subjects of these pages.

The following quotations relating to its inspiration are from the title pages of the Holy Bible according to the Douay and Rheims Versions, with annotations by the Rev. Dr. Challoner, authorized by the various CathoHc bishops :

^'Inspiration as understood in this matter means a certain influence of the Divine Spirit upon the mind of a writer, moving h m to write, and so acting upon him while he writes, that his work or writing is truly the word of God."

*The proof of the inspiration of the Scriptures is easy on Catholic principles. The Church of Christ has always held and taught the doctrine of the Scripture and as the Church cannot err in what she teaches therefore the Scriptures are inspired."

— Title Page — Douay and Rheims Version. 7

8 PREFACE

May not the time be approaching when Christendom holding to faith in the Trinity, the Incarnation of the Only Begotten Son of God, and His resurrection, will for its own protection and for the needs of the world at large require some material form of Christian union?

If Supremacy and Infallibility of the Popes, Invocation of Saints, the Worship of Mary, Purgatory, and Prayer for the Dead, the construction placed upon the Last Supper of Our Lord with His disciples by the Roman Catholic tenet of "The Holy Eucharist," the Sacrifices of the Mass, Penance, Indulgences, the Forgiveness of Sins by Other Than Christ, are at variance with the Scripture, they must therefore be placed in the catalogue of the church dogma, which is so large a part of the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church.

A. W. J.

Schenectady, N. Y.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Primacy of Peter ii,

II. Infallibility and Supremacy of the

II Infallibility And Supremacy Of The Popes

I

N his purpose to prove the infaUibility of the popes, Cardinal Gibbons has this significant passage :

"First, The infallibility of the popes does not signify that they are inspired. The Apostles were endowed with the gift of inspiration and we accept their writing as the revealed word of God."

*'No Catholic on the contrary claims that the pope is inspired, or endowed with divine revelation, properly so called."

"Bear in mind also that this divine assistance is guaranteed to the pope, not in his capacity as private teacher, but only in his official capacity, when he judges of faith and morals as head of the Church."

"What then is the real doctrine of infallibility? It simply means that the pope as successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, by virtue of the promises of Jesus Christ, is preserved from error of judgment when he promulgates to the Church a decision on faith or morals." '- — Pages 146-9

Thus we learn from the above quotations the claim is, not that the pope is inspired or endowed with divine revelation, properly so called, but that when he promulgates to the church a decision on faith or morals, he is infallible. But we learn from the prayer of Jesus for His disciples (John 17: 14, 17, 18, 20, 21) that His prayer was not only for the disciples, but for all who believed on Him through their word, and also that they might be one as He and the Father were one, that the world might beheve. Also that they might be one in the Father and the Son. Furthermore, that the Father's Word had been given them, *'I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world/' ''Sanctify them in truth, thy word is truth."

We further learn that His disciples were to receive the Holy Spirit, and that they were to be taught all truth.

"But I tell you the truth. It is expedient to you that I go; for if I go not the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you." ^

"But when he the Spirit of Truth is come, he will teach you all truth ; for he shall not speak of himself ; but what things soever he shall hear he shall speak, and the things that are to come he shall show you."

Thus we find the pope although infallible in his decision to the church on "faith and morals," is not claimed to be inspired, nor endowed with divine revelation properly so called; while all of Christ's disciples were to receive the Holy Spirit and be taught in all truth, and that even the Holy Spirit, unlike the pope, would not speak of Himself, but would speak of the things He should hear. It seems to be impossible to reconcile in this respect the Holy Scripture and the claim made for the pope, that Peter, a pope, was inspired, but no other popes, but all popes infallible on a decision of faith.

That those who are one with Jesus and His Father throughout all ages speak that which they hear from the Holy Ghost, is fully proven by the Scriptures.

"I have baptized you with water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." ^

"Going therefore teach ye all nations, baptizing them

i John 16 : 7 and 13. - Mark i : 8.

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." 3

"And unto all nations the gospel must first be preached. And when they shall lead you and deliver you up, be not thoughtful beforehand what you shall speak; but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost." ^

"But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you." ^

"And on the last and great day of the festivity, Jesus" stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst let him come to me and drink. He that believeth in me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Xow this he said of the Spirit, which they should receive who believed in him ; for as yet the Spirit Avas not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." ^

From Scripture then, as plain as language can present it, is the knowledge that the Holy Ghost represents and brings to all who believe in Jesus as their Saviour, the things of God; that the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and with the Son, and that they who believe and are His are also one with Christ, even as He is one with the Father.

Surely His Reverence, Cardinal Gibbons, if he would have the pope of equal authority in Christendom with any believer in Jesus as his Saviour, must admit that the pope is "endowed with divine revelation properly so called," and if so, that when he speaks to his people it is not he that speaks, but the Holy Ghost the same

Holy Spirit that teaches all things to all who believe in Jesus as their Saviour.

*'And he that keepeth His Commandments abideth in Him and He in him. And in this we know that He abideth in us by the Spirit which He hath given us." ^

For possible want of other Scriptural texts from which to fortify some of the particular tenets of the Roman Catholic Church which we are discussing. Cardinal Gibbons in his book frequently quotes the passages from Matt. 16 and John 20; upon which passages we believe an unwarranted emphasis and interpretation have been placed in the use made of them by the Reverend Cardinal, as we find no Scripture in support of such use. In referring again to these passages, we also quote from the chapters the portion of Scripture immediately preceding and following the verses quoted by Cardinal Gibbons so frequently.

''Jesus saith to them, But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: Because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter: and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again. And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee. Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me : Because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men." ^

At an earlier period in his ministry, before this meeting with Peter and the other disciples, our Lord had said:

*The law and the prophets were until John ; from that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every one useth violence towards it." ^

The people believed John the Baptist to be a prophet and the common people heard Jesus gladly. The Sun of Righteousness had risen with healing in His wings. All creation being awakened, the birds, the blossoms, the field, the brook, the sea, were all to lend their voices to the putting forth of the Word of Life. The blind were brought by a way they knew not. The lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, and the poor had the Gospel preached unto them. Now, in the closing months of our Lord's ministry, after the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and His going about with His disciples, they were to be drawn closer to Him in service and love and eventually to receive those keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, which would be delivered to them after the tarrying at Jerusalem, and the receiving of the Power which was to accompany the Holy Ghost which after His resurrection He breathed upon them. The Kingdom of Heaven would be told in likeness by parables. The teachings of our Lord would continue to fit the disciples for their future work. They would eventually find the door of the sheepfold of which He has spoken. The Good Shepherd, the Pearl of Great

INFALLIBILITY OF POPES tj

Price, they would see the falling of the seed into the poor soil and into the good. They were to cast the gospel net, and all to be guided by the Holy Spirit whom they were to follow and with Christ Jesus who was to work with them. The keys which He held they were to use, and those keys have been used by all devout followers of the Lord in all ages since, and will be used by all of His followers in the Gospel for all ages to come, " 'til every knee shall bow and every tongue confess."

As Simon Peter was the first to answer, he was the first to receive the keys which were afterward so mentioned as being given to all of His disciples.

No sooner had Peter in his exaltation realized that he was thus to be one of the apostles upon whose teachings of the Gospel, together with those of the prophets who had preceded him, the Church of our Lord was to be builded, than he took, at the instigation of Satan, to rebuking our Lord for His teaching that He was to suffer as our atonement.

It was then that the revelation was made to him by Our Lord that whereas the Father in Heaven had revealed the Christ to him, that now his anything but infallibility had led him to accept the teachings of anti- Christ as he had heretofore accepted the teaching of the Spirit. And the rebuke of his loving Saviour when he was told that he savored not of the things of God, but of men, prepared him to meet later with a penitent heart the Christ who was to forgive him for his later denial.

"And when He had said this, He shewed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.'' *'He said therefore to them again. Peace be to you." "When he had said this, He breathed on them, and He said to them. Receive ye the

Holy Ghost." "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." ^^

By these words and this act of making ambassadors of His disciples, Jesus did not give over His prerogative, that which is written in words w^hich will stand although heaven and earth pass away.

"God hath spoken once, these two things have I heard, that power belongeth to God, and mercy to thee, O Lord. . . ."^1

"O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our princes, and to our fathers that have sinned."

"But to thee the Lord our God, mercy and forgiveness, for we have departed from thee." ^^

"I the Lord, this is my name : I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven things." ^^

To infer from the words of Jesus to Llis disciples, as quoted from John, Chapter 20, that He was to leave them and give over to them, or to Peter alone. His prerogative for forgiveness of sins, is contrary to all Scripture. He was ever with them.

"Now Thomas, one of the twelve who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came." "The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord, But he said to them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

"And after eight days again His disciples were within and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be to you." "Then He said to Thomas, Put in thy finger

Jhither, and see my hands : And bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side : And be not faithless but beheving." Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and My God/' "Jesus saith to him, Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast beheved. Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed." ''Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of His disciples which are not written in this book." "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name." ^*

It is apparent that these words were written, not that centuries after the Roman Catholic Church should claim a special privilege of commanding the Church of Christ and a prerogative for the forgiveness of sins, but rather that "you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name."

Thomas was converted, received the Holy Ghost which bade him cry out, "my Lord and my God," and his sins upon that confession were remitted, as also were the sins of all who believed on the day of Pentecost. Those who believed not, their sins were retained both upon earth and in heaven, as it has ever since been, as in John 3 : 18, "But he that doth not believe is already judged," and *'he that believeth in him is not judged."

Let us here consider the phrase, "And upon this Rock I will build my Church."

In Douay Version of Holy Scripture, Deut. 32 : 3 & 4, we read,

"Because I will invoke the name of the Lord, give ye magnificence to our God."

"The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments. God is faithful and without any iniquity, he is just and right."

In the 4th Verse, the name of the Lord, "The Rock/' is given in King James Version and left out in Douay Version. Notice the difference in the translation:

"Because I will publish the name of the Lord, ascribe ye greatness to our God.'' ''He is the Rock." "His work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

— King James Version.

Whatever the significance may be, the Hebrew w^ord for "Rock," Exodus 17: 6, the Rock Horeb w^hich Moses w'as commanded by the Lord to "strike," is not the same word as that for "Rock," Numbers 20:8, "The Flint Rock" at Kadesh, which Moses was to "speak to." The name "Kadesh," meaning holy, is the same w^ord as the Arabic name of Jerusalem.

A study of the Hebrew word "hatzur" reveals the "ha" standing for the definite article "the." This article here used has the same meaning as in the New Testament, where it is applied to Jesus as "the Son of God." The word "tzur" used for rock, refers to flint; a rock out of which implements with sharp edges w^ere made. We may therefore read the sentence, "He is the flint rock."

The song contained in II Kings (II Samuel), Douay Version, is the same song contained in the 17th Psalm, Douay Version (i8th Psalm, King James Version).

In the Douay Version, II Kings (II Samuel), 22nd Chapter, 2nd Verse, it reads :

"And he said: the Lord is my rock and my strength and my Saviour."

while in the Douay version of the song in the 17th Psalm, 3rd Verse, the reading is

"The Lord is my firmament, my refuge and my deliverer." ^^

The word ''rock" as above in Douay Version, II Kings, 22nd Chap., 2nd Verse, is the same as in Deut. 32 : 4th Verse of King James Version, ''tzur," flint.

The deduction from the study of the word "hatzur" rock, the flint rock as the name of our Lord, is reasonable, made so by the following reference to His name given in Douay version, Deut. 8: 15, ''Who brought forth streams out of the hardest rock," or as in the same Chapter and Verse of King James Version,

"Who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint."

We here have one reason for God's judgment upon Moses and Aaron, Numbers 20: 12,

"And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you have not believed me to sanctify me before the children of Israel, you shall not bring these people into the land which I will give them."

Instead of obeying the command of God to speak to the rock, which symbolized their Lord as the flint rock. Numbers 20 : 8, Moses used the rod which was to be used in assembling the people to strike the rock which was the "hatzur," "the flint rock," the name of Deity.

"Take the rod and assemble the people together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall yield waters." "Moses therefore took the rod which was before the Lord, as he had commanded him," "And having gathered together the multitude before the rock, he said to them, Hear, ye rebelHous and incredulous : Can we bring you forth water out of this rock?"

^5 Psalms 17:3, Douay Version, reads ^'firmament" ; Psalms 18 : 2, King James Version, reads "rock."

"And when Moses had Hfted up his hand and struck the rock twice with the rod, there came forth water in great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank."

We desire to make the connection now with the Lord Jesus' words to Peter, Matt. i6: 15 to 19:

"Jesus saith to them : But whom do ye say that I am ? Simon Peter answered and said : Thou art Christ the Son of the living God."

"And Jesus answering said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee but my father who is in heaven."

"And I say to thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

"And I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed in heaven."

It is not possible that after having been proclaimed as the "Rock," "The Good Shepherd," "The Door," "The Vine," "I am the way, the truth and the life : no man cometh to the Father but by me," that Our Lord and Saviour would have given over His name to mortal fallible man. Can any thoughtful person hesitate in deciding as to whom Our Lord refers as the foundation for His Church, when He speaks of Peter (a stone) and "This Roc.c"?

Could it be otherwise than that the Peter who was to be joined to his Lord by a living faith, through which he even now recognizes the Christ, was to be one with his Lord as were also all who should abide in Him and He in them even as He was one with the Father?

"Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you except you abide in me."

"If you abide in me and my word abide in you, you shall ask whatsoever you will, and it shall be done unto you." i«

We learn from the Scripture that all believers are not fully inspired as oracles of God for the purpose those were to whom was committed the writing of the Holy Scriptures, for except in the gift to His Only Begotten Son, God gives by measure, but every disciple who by the Spirit of God speaks as the oracle of God, speaks infallible words, as the Scripture here says :

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit." ^'^

"According as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith." ^^

"But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ." ^^

"How much more will your Father from Heaven give the good spirit to them that ask him." ^^

Does not the written word of God both inspire and reveal, and yet no disciple of Jesus Christ named in Scripture calls himself "infallible."

Shall we not then, every soul who feels the need of building his house upon a Rock, and not on sinking sand, cry out in the Holy Spirit as did David:

"The Lord is my rock, my strength, and my Saviour." ^^

"The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and His word by my tongue." ^^

Seemingly with prophetic foresight, even after all the prophesies of Jesus Christ as the one foundation of which no other could be laid for His Church, there is given by Peter himself a refutation of certain claims that in these later days of the world are made in his name — refutation like that of both prophets and apostles who have witnessed in Scripture, so clear as to be unmistakable to sincere seekers of truth.

*Tf so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is sweet."

"Unto whom coming as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made honorable by God."

"Be you also as living stones, built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." ^^

What is the meaning of "church" where it proposed that the "church" is and shall be custodian of the Holy Spirit who is in the Written Word of God, by faith. Spirit and life? The "church" that is infallible, and proposes to dictate the policy of all Christendom, or of believers in Christ?

Shall we make answer by saying it is the Roman Catholic Church, the pope and hierarchy, a governing power? The pope being the Vicar of Christ? If so, where in such an institution do we find the church of the Roman Catholic Bible — His church, His body?

"Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven." -*

The above verse of Scripture was uttered by Our Saviour after it is claimed that Peter was made the Vicar of Christ, an oracle whom all were to consult.

And there is no restriction as to the time when the request should be made, simply that if made with consent by any two of the disciples whatsoever it might be that was asked, it should be done by the Father. Who is the oracle consulted^ here ? Peter, or the Father in heaven ?

The Roman Catholic Bible thus describes the Church :

"As Christ is the head of the Church He is the Saviour of His Body." 25

"And He is the Head of the Body, the Church, Who is the beginning." ^^

Paul evidently makes the church to be the believers in Christ Jesus when he writes thus of his experience before he was himself a believer :

"According to zeal, persecuting the church of God."

All references to the church of Jesus Christ who was the Beginning, show it to be the sheep whom Peter was to feed, himself a part of it, as have been all pastors since, who have been bishops of the flock.

Not infallible oracles, who should claim the place of the Holy Ghost in determining and governing the believers in Christendom irrevocably.

The church of Christ is made to be a body governed, and that primarily by Christ Flimself through the Holy Ghost, rather than a governing agency composed of men who claim to have been appointed by God to a primacy over the church of Christ.

The claim that the Roman Catholic Church is infallible and that the pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth, falls through of its own weight, for if it were infallible, it would have performed an infallible part in history, and as a Vicar of Christ the pope would have had a monopoly of the things of Christ which history shows they have been far from having. God is one, and is not divided.

46 THE RO:\L\X CATHOLIC BIBLE

"In this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He hath given us of His Spirit."-^

"The history of the United States with the presidents left out would be more intelligible than the history of the church to the exclusion of the vicar of Christ."

"You cannot, my dear reader, be a loyal citizen of the L^nited States while you deny the constituted authority of the president."

—Cardinal Gibbons, "Faith of Our Fathers/'

The \'icar of Christ is recognized by all Protestant churches. lie is the Holy Ghost promised to be sent by Our Saviour when He was about to go away. The Vicar of Christ is not the pope of Rome.

But what must we believe when we find the presidents of the L^nited States by their acts, their signed documents as President filling pages of history, while when looking for some such correspczdine evidence of a Vicar of Christ in the ::rr: :* :. 3 t :: ? ::.e, we find no such constituted au:v. i: : t : :r I ::. Scripture, but do find definite sta: : t: :s ciitn : : : :3ut the Bible, of the personal gi::i : r :: His Ch ::/. : v Jesus Christ and by the Holy 5 : :.

Think of the Preside:.: :: :' e L':: :ed States directing an official letter or 'pTCzL:.:zi^ZLzr. :: :::e citizens of tbe L^nited States, and making no n:e:.:::r. of his officml position as Chief Executive or President, yet where do we find in any of Peter^s preaching, a reference to his having been appointed by Jesus Christ His vicar on earth, or of any such reference on the part of any other writer of the New Testament?

How can any portion of the Church of Jesus Christ or any body of men calling themselves the church of

Jesus Christ justly claim to be infallible in their own dogma ?

"But you will say: The people of the United States prefer to be a Christian nation. Do you also claim them? Most certainly: for even those American Christians, who are unhappily severed from the Catholic Church, are primarily indebted for their knowedge of the gospel to missionaries in communion with the Holy See/' ...