Catholic Apologist’s Bible Cheat Sheet

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The text of this Bible “cheat sheet” was used by permission by the owner of the site where I found it, The Catholic Convert; however, that site is no longer online. I’m working on a new version of this document and will post the various formats once complete.

Below is a growing list of Scripture verses that speak to certain truths taught by the Church. Those verses with an asterisk * are “proof-texts often used by Protestants and others to try to make objections to these teachings. I am working on providing further explanation of these verses and linking them back t o this page by topic, so stay tuned

THE CHURCH

• Mt 16:18-19 – upon this rock I will build my Church
• Mt 18:17 – if he refuses to listen even to the Church…
• Mt 28:18-20 – go baptize and teach all nations
• Mk 16:15-16 – go to whole world and proclaim gospel
• Lk 10:16 – whoever hears you, hears me; rejects you, rejects me.
• Jn 14:16, 26 – Holy Spirit with you always, teach/remind you of everything
• Jn 16:13 – Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth.
• 1Tim 3:15 – Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.

The Church is the body of Christ

• Col 1:18 – He is the head of the body, the church.
• 1 Cor 12:20-27 – you are Christ’s body, individually parts of it.
• Eph 5:30 – we are members of His body.
• Rom 12:4-5 – though many, we are one body in Christ
• 1 Cor 6:15 – Don’t you know your bodies are members of Christ?

The Church must be one

• Jn 10:16 – there will be one fold and one shepherd.
• Eph 4:3-6 – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father
• Rom 16:17 – avoid those who create dissensions
• 1Cor 1:10 – I urge that there be no divisions among you
• Phil 2:2 – be of same mind, united in heart thinking one thing
• Rom 15:5 – God grant you to think in harmony with one another
• Jn 17:17-23 – I pray that they may be one, as we are one
• Jn 17:23 – that they may be brought to perfection as one
• 1Cor 12:13 – in one spirit we are baptized into one body
• Rom 12:5 – we, though many, are one body in Christ
• Eph 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to be one hope
• Col 3:15 – the peace into which you were called in one body
• Mt 16:18-19 – upon this rock I will build my Church (singular)
• Mt 18:17 – tell it to THE Church; if he refuses to listen even to THE Church… (must be visible)

Apostolic Church

• Jn 15:16 – Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
• Jn 20:21 – Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
• Lk 22:29-3 – Jesus gave them a kingdom
• Mt 16:18 – Jesus built Church on Peter, the rock
• Jn 10:16 – one shepherd to shepherd Christ’s sheep
• Lk 22:32, Jn 21:17 – Peter appointed to be chief shepherd
• Eph 4:11 – church leaders are hierarchical
• 1Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17 – identifies roles of bishops, priests, deacons
• Tit 1:5 – commission for bishops to ordain priests

Authoritative Church

• Mt 28:18-20 – Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
• Jn 20:23 – power to forgive sin
• 1Cor 11:23-24 – power to offer sacrifice (Eucharist)
• Lk 10:16 – power to speak with Christ’s voice
• 1Rom 5 – bringing obedience
• Mt 18:18 – power to legislate
• Mt 18:17 – power to discipline

Infallible Church

• Jn 16:13 – guided by Holy Spirit into all truth
• Jn 14:26 – Holy Spirit to teach & remind them of everything
• Lk 10:16 – speak with Christ’s own voice
• 1Tim 3:15 – Church called “pillar and foundation of truth”
• 1Jn 2:27 – anointing of Holy Spirit remains in you
• Acts 15:28 – Apostles speak with voice of Holy Spirit
• Mt 28:20 – I am with you

Perpetual Church

• Is 9:6-7 – of Christ’s government there will be no end
• Dan 2:44 – God’s kingdom shall stand forever
• Dan 7:14 – His kingdom shall not be destroyed
• Eph 3:21 – to him be glory in the church to all generations for ever and ever.
• Lk 1:32, 33 – no end to Christ’s kingdom
• Mt 7:24 – Jesus is like a wise man who built his house on a rock
• Mt 13:24-30 – let wheat & weeds grow together until harvest
• Mt 16:18 – gates of hell will never prevail against Christ’s church
• Jn 14:16 – Holy Spirit will be with you always
• Mt 28:19-20 – I am with you all days

PAPACY & APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION

Primacy of Peter

• Mt 16:18 – upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church
• Mt 16:19 – give you keys of the kingdom; power to bind & loose
• Lk 22:32 – Peter’s faith will strengthen his brethren
• Jn 21:17 – given Christ’s flock as chief shepherd
• Mk 16:7 – angel sent to announce Resurrection to Peter
• Lk 24:34 – risen Jesus first appeared to Peter
• Acts 1:13-26 – headed meeting which elected Matthias
• Acts 2:14 – led Apostles in preaching on Pentecost
• Acts 2:41 – received first converts
• Acts 3:6-7 – performed first miracle after Pentecost
• Acts 5:1-11 – inflicted first punishment: Ananias & Saphira
• Acts 8:21 – excommunicated first heretic, Simon Magnus
• Acts 10:44-46 – received revelation to admit Gentiles into Church
• Acts 15:7 – led first council in Jerusalem
• Acts 15:19 – pronounces first dogmatic decision
• Gal 1:18 – after conversion, Paul visits chief Apostle
• *Gal 2:11-14 – I opposed Cephas to his face for his hypocrisy
• Peter’s name always heads list of Apostles: Mt 10;14; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13
• “Peter and his companions” Lk 9:32; Mk 16:7
• Spoke for Apostles – Mt 18:21; Mk 8:29; Lk 8:45; 12:41; Jn 6:69
• Peter’s name occurs 195 times, more than all the rest put together

Apostolic Succession

• 2 Chr 19:11 – high priest is over you in everything of Lord’s
• Mal 2:7 – seek instruction from priest, he is God’s messenger
• Eph 2:20 – Church built upon foundation of apostles & prophets
• Eph 4:11 – God gave some as apostles, others as prophets…
• 1 Cor 12:28-29 – God designated in church: apostles, …
• Acts 1:20 – let another take his office
• Acts 1:25-26 – Matthias takes Judas’ apostolic ministry
• 1 Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17 – qualifications for: bishops, priests, & deacons
• 1Tim 4:14 – gift conferred with the laying on of hands
• 1Tim 5:22 – do not lay hands too readily on anyone
• Acts 14:23 – they appointed presbyters in each church
• 2Tim 2:2 – what you heard from me entrust to faithful teachers
• Titus 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed

SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION

Bible Alone or Bible Plus Tradition?

• 1Cor 11:2 – hold fast to traditions I handed on to you
• 2Thess 2:15 – hold fast to traditions, whether oral or by letter
• 2Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition
• Jn 21:25 – not everything Jesus said recorded in Scripture
• Mk 13:31 – heaven & earth shall pass away, but my word won’t
• Acts 20;35 – Paul records a saying of Jesus not found in gospels
• 2Tim 1:13 – follow my sound words; guard the truth
• 2Tim2:2 – what you heard entrust to faithful men
• 2Pet 1:20 – no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation
• 2Pet 3:15-16 – Paul’s letters can be difficult to grasp & interpret
• 1Pet 1:25 – God’s eternal word = word preached to you
• Rom 10:17 – faith come from what is heard
• 1Cor 15:1-2 – being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached
• Mk 16:15 – go to the whole world, proclaim gospel to every creature
• Mt 23:2-3 – chair of Moses; observe whatever they tell you

Tradition Condemned?

• *Mt 15:3 – break commandment of God for your tradition
• *Mk 7:9 – set aside God’s commandment to uphold tradition
• *Col 2:8 – seductive philosophy according to human tradition
• 1Cor 11:2 – commends them for following Apostolic tradition
• 2Thess 2:15 – commands them to keep traditions
• 2Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition

Deuterocanonicals

• Heb 11:35 – ‘Women received their dead by resurrection.  Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life’ refers only to 2Macc 7
• Mt 26:16 & 27:43 –  Unless purely coincidence, the words spoken by the Pharisees in Mt are near identical to those in Wis 2:17-21

SALVATION, FAITH AND WORKS

Faith Alone or Faith plus Works?

• Jam 2:24 – a man is justified by works and not by faith alone
• Jam 2:26 – faith without works is dead
• Gal 5:6 – only thing that counts is faith working in love
• 1 Cor 13:2 – faith without love is nothing
• Jn 14:15 – if you love me, keep my commandments
• Mt 19:16-17 – if you wish to enter into life, keep commandments
• 1Tim 5:8 he who doesn’t provide for family worse than unbeliever.

Have You Been Saved?

Past Event (I have been saved)

• Rom 8:24 – for in hope we were saved
• Eph 2:5, 8 – by grace you have been saved through faith
• 2Tim 1:9 – He saved us, called us according to his grace
• Tit 3:5 – He saved us through bath of rebirth, renewal by Holy Spirit

Present Process (I am being saved)

• Phil 2:12 – work out your salvation with fear and trembling
• 1Pet 1:9 – as you attain the goal of your faith, salvation

Future Event (I will be saved)

• Mt 10:22 – he who endures to the end will be saved
• Mt 24:1 – he who perseveres to the end will be saved
• Mk 8:35 – whoever loses his life for my sake will save it
• Acts 15:11 – we shall be saved through the grace of Jesus
• Rom 5:9-10 – since we are justified, we shall be saved
• Rom 13:11 – salvation is nearer now than first believed
• Cor 3:15 – he shall be saved, but only as through fire
• 1Cor 5:5 – deliver man to Satan so his spirit may be saved
• Heb 9:28 – Jesus will appear second time, to bring salvation

Good Works

• Mt 7:21 – not Lord, Lord but he who does the will of father
• Mt 19:16-17 – to have life, keep my commandments
• Jn 14:21 – he who keeps my commandments loves me
• Rom 2:2-8 – eternal life by perseverance in good works
• Gal 5:4-6 – nothing counts but faith working through love
• Eph 2:8-10 – we are created in Christ Jesus for good works
• Phil 2:12-13 – work out salvation with fear and trembling
• Jam 2:14-24 – a man is justified by works & not faith alone

Judged According to Deeds

• Rom 2:2-8 – eternal life by perseverance in good works
• 2Cor 5:10 – recompense accord to what did in body
• 2Cor 11:15 – their end will correspond to their deeds
• 1Pet 1:17 – God judges impartially according to one’s works
• Rev 20:12-13 – dead judged according to their deeds
• Col 3:24-25 – will receive due payment for whatever you do

Assurance of Salvation?

• Mt 7:21 – not everyone saying “Lord, Lord” will inherit
• Mt 24:13 – those who persevere to the end will be saved
• Rom 11:22 – remain in his kindness or you will be cut off
• Phil 2:12 – work out your salvation in fear and trembling
• 1Cor 9:27 – drive body for fear of being disqualified
• 1Cor 10:11-12 – those thinking they are secure may fall
• Gal 5:4 – separated from Christ, you’ve fallen from grace
• 2Tim 2:11-13 – must hold out to the end to reign with Christ
• Hb 6:4-6 – describes sharers in Holy Spirit who then fall away
• Heb 10:26-27 – if sin after receiving truth, judgment remains

Regenerative Baptism

• Jn 3:5, 22 – born of water & Spirit: Apostles begin baptizing
• Tit 3:5 – saved us through bath of rebirth & renewal by Holy Spirit
• Acts 2:37-38 – repent, be baptized, receive gift of Holy Spirit
• Acts 22:16 – get selves baptized and sins washed away
• 1Cor 6:11 – you were washed, sanctified, justified
• Rom 6:4 – baptized into death; live in newness of life
• 1Pet 3:21 – baptism…now saves you
• Heb 10:22 – heart sprinkled, bodies washed in pure water
• Ezk 36:24-28 – God promises to unite Himself to His people through a regenerative washing in pure water by the power of the Holy Spirit (added by Shameless Popery)

(also see The Sacraments)

Health and Wealth Gospel

• Mk 10:28 – no “take cross and follow me” = not worthy of me
• Rom 8:16-17 – heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
• Rom 8:18 – present suffering nothing compared w/future glory
• Phil 1:28-29 – granted to believe, also to suffer for him
• Col 1:24 – filling up what is lacking in Christ sufferings
• Heb 12:5-7 – whom God loves, he disciplines as sons
• Heb 12:11 discipline seems painful, but brings righteousness
• 1Pet 1:6 – for a while you must suffer various trials
• 1Pet 2:19-21 – suffering = grace; Jesus suffered as our example

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Mary

• Lk 1:28, 30 – angel: “full of grace, found favor with God
• Lk 1:42 – Elizabeth: “most blessed among women”
• Lk 1:48 – Mary: “all generations will call me blessed”

Mother of God

• Lk 1:43 – Elizabeth calls her “mother of my Lord” = God
• Mt 1:23 – virgin bear a son, Emmanuel = “God is with us”
• Lk 1:35 – child born will be called holy, the Son of God
• Gal 4:4 – God sent his Son, born of a woman

The Assumption

• Gn 5:24 (Hb 11:5) – Enoch taken to heaven without dying
• 2Kg 2:11 – Elijah assumed into heaven in fiery chariot
• Mt 27:52 – many saints who had fallen asleep were raised
• 1Thess 4:17 – caught up to meet the Lord in the air
• 1Cor 15:52 – we shall be instantly changed at the last trumpet
• Rom 6:23 – for the wages of sin is death
• Rev 11:19-21 – ark in heaven = woman clothed in sun
• Ps 132:8 – Arise, O Lord & go to thy resting place, thou & the ark of thy might.

The Immaculate Conception

• Lk 1:28 – hail full of grace[highly favored] Lord is with you
• Lk 1:30 – you have found favor with God
• Lk 1:37 – for with God nothing shall be impossible
• Gn 3:15 – complete enmity between woman & Satan, sin
• Ex 25:11-21 – ark made of purest gold for God’s word
• *Rom 3:23 – all have sinned & are deprived of God’s glory
• *Lk 1:47 – my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

Perpetual Virginity

• Lk 1:34 – how can this be, since I do not know man
• Lk 2:41-51 – age 12, Jesus evidently only son of Mary
• Mk 6:3 – “the son of Mary” not “a son of Mary”
• *Mt 13:55-56 – brothers James, Joseph, Simon & Jude
• Mt 27:56 – Mary the mother of James & Joseph also
• Jn 19:25 – Mary the wife of Clopas
• Jn 19:26 – entrusted Mary to John, not a younger sibling
• Jn 7:3-4 – brothers advise like elders: “go to Judea, manifest self”
• unthinkable for younger siblings (see next verse)
• Mk 3:21 – set out to seize him, “he is out of his mind”
• *Mt 1:25 – Joseph knew her not until she bore first-born
• Mt 28:20 – I am with you always, UNTIL the end of the age
• 1Tim 4:13 – until I arrive, attend to reading, teaching…
• 1Cor 15:25 – he must reign until has enemies underfoot
• Lk 1:80 – John in desert until day of his manifestation
• Ex 13:2; Num 3:12 – consecrate first -born that opens womb
• Ex 34:20 – first-born among your sons you shall redeem

THE PRIESTHOOD

Call No Man Father

• Acts 7:2 – St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders “fathers”
• Acts 21:40, 22:1 – St. Paul calls Jerusalem Jews “fathers”
• Rom 4:16-17 – Abraham called the father of us all”
• 1Cor 4:14-15 – I became your father in Christ through gospel
• 1Tim 1:2 – my true child in our common faith
• Heb 12:7-9 – we have earthly fathers to discipline us
• Lk 14:26 – if anyone comes to me without hating his father…
• 1Thess 2:11 – we treated you as a father treats his children
• Philem 10 – whose father I became in my imprisonment
• 1Jn 2:13, 14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him

Celibacy

• *1Tim 4:1-3 – forbidding marriage is a doctrine of demons
• *1Tim 3:2 – bishop must be married only once
• Eph 5:21-33 – marriage is good: holy symbol of Christ & church
• Mt 19:12 – celibacy praised by Jesus, who was chaste
• Jer 16:1-4 – Jeremiah told not to take wife & have children
• 1Cor 7:8 – St. Paul was celibate
• 1Cor 7:32-35 – celibacy recommended for full-time ministers
• 2Tim 2:3-4 – no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits
• 1Tim 5:9-12 – pledge of celibacy taken by older widows

(also see Apostolic Succession and the sacrament of Holy Orders)

PURGATORY, HELL, & SIN

Purgatory

• Mt 5:48 – be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect
• Heb 12:14 – strive for that holiness without which cannot see God
• Jam 3:2 – we all fall short in many respects
• Rev 21:27 – nothing unclean shall enter heaven
• Jam 1:14-15 – when sin reaches maturity gives birth to death
• 2Sam 12:13-14 – David, though forgiven, still punished for his sin
• Mt 5:26 – you will not be released until paid last penny
• Mt 12:32 – sin against Holy Spirit unforgiven in this age or next
• Mt 12:36 – account for every idle word of judgment day
• 2Macc 12:44-46 – atoned for dead to free them from sin
• 1Cor 3:15 – suffer loss, but saved as through fire
• 1Pet 3:18-20; 4:6 – Jesus preached to spirits in prison
• 2Tim 1:16-18 – Paul prays for dead friend Onesiphorus
• 1Cor 15:29-30 – Paul mentions people baptizing for the dead

Hell

• Is 33:11, 14 – who of us can live with the everlasting flames
• Mt 25:41 – depart, you accursed, into the eternal fire
• Mt 25:46 – these will go off to eternal punishment
• Lk 3:16-17 – the chaff will burn in unquenchable fire
• 2Thess 1:6-9 – these will pay the penalty of eternal ruin

Original Sin

• Gn 2:16-17 – the day you eat of that tree, you shall die
• Gn 3:11-19 – God’s punishment for eating of the tree
• Rom 5:12-19 – many became sinners through one man’s sin
• 1Cor 15:21-23 – by a man came death; in Adam all die
• Eph 2:1-3 – we all once lived in the passions of our flesh

THE SACRAMENTS

Infant Baptism

• Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16 – baptism required for entering heaven
• 1Cor 15:21-22 – in Adam all die, in Christ all made alive
• Mk 10:14 – let children come; to such belongs the kingdom
• Lk 18:15 – people were bringing even infants to him…
• Col 2:11-12 – baptism has replaced circumcision
• Jos 24:15 – as for me and my house, we will serve Lord
• Mt 8:5ff. – daughter healed because of centurion’s faith
• Mt 15:21ff. – daughter healed because of Canaanite woman’s faith
• Lk 7:1ff. – just say the word, and let my servant be healed
• Acts 16:31 – believe in Lord Jesus you & house will be saved
• Acts 16:15 – she was baptized, with all her household
• Acts 16:33 – he and all his family were baptized at once
• 1Cor 1:16 – I baptized the household of Stephanas

Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

• Jn 6:35-71 – Eucharist promised
• Mt 26:26ff (Mk 14:22ff., Lk 22:17ff.) – Eucharist instituted
• 1Cor 10:16 – Eucharist = participation in Christ’s body & blood
• 1 Cor 11:23-29 – receiving unworthily his body & blood
• Ex 12:8, 46 – Paschal lamb had to be eaten
• Jn 1:29 – Jesus called “Lamb of God”
• 1 Cor 5:7 – Jesus called “paschal lamb who has been sacrificed
• Jn 4:31-34; Mt 16:5-12 – Jesus talking symbolically about food
• 1Cor 2:14-3:4 – explains what “the flesh” means in Jn 6:63
• Ps 14:4; Is 9:18-20; Is 49:26; Mic 3:3; 2Sm 23:15-17; Rv 17:6, 16 – to symbolically eat & drink one’s body & blood = assault

Confirmation

• Acts 19:5-6 – Paul imposed hands on baptized, received Holy Spirit
• Acts 8:14-17 – laid hands upon them, they received Holy Spirit
• 2Cor 1:21-22 – put seal on us and given Holy Spirit in our hearts
• Eph 1:13 – you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit
• Heb 6:2 – instruction about baptism & laying on of hands

Confession

• Mt 9:2-8 Son of Man has authority to forgive sins
• Jn 20:23 – whose sins you forgive/retain are forgiven/retained
• Jn 20:22 – breathed on them, “receive Holy Spirit” [recall Gn 2:7]
• 2Cor 5:17-20 – given us the ministry of reconciliation
• Jam 5:13-15 – confess your sins to one another
• Mt 18:18 – whatever you bind & loose on earth, so it is in heaven

Anointing the Sick

• Mk 6:12-13 – anointed with oil many sick, cured them
• Jam 5:14-15 – presbyters pray over sick, anoint, sins forgiven

Holy Orders

• Acts 20:28 – Holy Sprit appointed you overseers, to tend Church
• Lk 22:19 – do this in memory of me
• Jn 20:22 – As Father sent me, I send you…receive Holy Spirit
• Acts 6:6 – the apostles prayed and laid hands on them
• Acts 13:3 – they laid hands on them & sent them off
• Acts 14:22 – they appointed presbyters in each church
• 1Tim 4:14 – gift received through laying on of hands of presbyterate
• 2Tim 1:6 – gift of God you have through imposition of hands
• Tit 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town as I directed you

(also see The Priesthood)

Matrimony

• Mt 19:5-6 – leave father & mother, join wife, 2 become 1 flesh
• Mk 10:7-12 – what God joined together, no man separate
• Eph 5:22-32 – union of man & wife image of Christ & Church
• Heb 13;4 – let marriage be honored among all

SOCIAL TEACHINGS

Divorce and Remarriage

• Mal 2:14-16 – for I hate divorce, says the Lord
• Mt 5:32-33 – to divorce or marry divorced wife is adultery
• Mt 19:4-6, 9 – to divorce wife and remarry = adultery
• Lk 16:18 – to divorce & remarry or marry divorced = adultery
• Rom 7:2-3 – wife consorts = adulteress if living, but not if dead
• 1Cor 7:10-11 – if wife separated, stay single or reconcile

Contraception

• Gn 38:9-10 God killed Onan for spilling seed [see next]
• Dt 25:5-10 – penalty for defying Levirate law: not death
• Gn 1:27-28 (Gn 9:1, 35:11) – be fruitful and multiply
• Ps 127:3-5 – children gift from God, blessed is a full quiver
• 1Chr 25:5 – God gave 14 sons & 3 daughters to exalt him
• 1Chr 26:4-5 – God indeed blessed Obededom with 8 sons
• Hos 9:10-17 – Israel is punished with childlessness
• Ex 23:25-26 – blessings promised: no miscarrying, barrenness
• Lv 21:17-20 – crushed testicles is called a defect & blemish
• Dt 23:1 – no one castrated shall enter the assembly
• Dt 25:11-12 – punishment for potential damage to genitals
• Rom 1:25-27 – natural function of women = childbearing
• 1Tim 2:11-15 – women saved through the bearing of children
• Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias/Saphira slain – withholding part of gift
• Gal 6:7 – God is not mocked-accepting pleasure, denying fruit
• Mt 21:19, Mk 11:14 – Jesus cursed fruitless fig tree
• Gal 5:20, Rv 9:21, 21:8 – Greek pharmakeia = abortifacient potions
• 1Cor 6:19-20 – body temple of the Holy Spirit, glorify God with body

Homosexuality

• Gn 1:27 – complementarity of sexes reflects God’s inner unity
• Gn 2:21-24 – transmission of life through total self-donation – one flesh
• Gn 19 – original sin deteriorates to Sodom’s sin, destroyed
• Lv18:22 – called abomination, cut off from people (v.29)
• Lv 20:13 – both shall be put to death for abominable deed
• Rom 1:27 – called unnatural, shameful, and a perversity
• 1Cor 6:9 – active homosexuals won’t inherit kingdom of God
• 1Tim 1:9-10 – those who engage in such acts called sinners

Drinking Wine

• Gn 27:25 – Isaac brought Jacob wine, and he drank
• Dt 14:23-26 – spend money on sheep, wine, & strong drink
• Prov 20:1 – wine is a mocker, unwise to be led astray by it
• Eccl 9:7 – drink your wine with merry heart – God approves
• Is 25:6 – God will provide feast of rich foods & choice wines
• Is 5:11 – woe to those who rise early & run after strong drink
• Is 5:22 – woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
• Luke 7:33-34 – son of man eats & drinks: behold glutton & drunk
• Jn 2:2-10 – miracle at Cana: water turned into good wine
• Eph 5:18 – do not get drunk with wine, that is debauchery
• 1Tim 5:23 – drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach

SAINTS, RELICS, AND STATUES

Communion of Saints

• Eph 1:22-23 – he is head of the Church, which is His body
• Eph 5:21-32 – Christ is the head of the Church, Savior of the body
• Col 1:18, 24 – He is head of the body, the Church
• 1Cor 12:12-27 – if I suffer, all suffer; if I am honored, all rejoice
• Rom 12:5 – we are one body in Christ, individual parts of one another
• Eph 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to one hope
• Col 3:15 – you were called in one body
• Rom 8:35-39 – death cannot separate us from Christ
• Rom 12:10 – love one another with mutual affection
• 1Thess 5:11 – encourage, build up one another
• Gal 6:2 – bear one another’s burdens
• Gal 6:10 – let us do good to all, especially those in family of faith

Intercessory Prayer of Saints

• Rom 15:30 – join me by your prayers to God on my behalf
• Col 4:3, 1Thess 5:25 – pray for us
• 2Thess 1:11 – we always pray for you
• 2Thess 3:1 – finally, brothers, pray for us
• Eph 6:18-19 – making supplication for all the saints & for me
• Tob 12:12 – angel presents Tobit & Sarah’s prayer to God
• Ps 148 – David calls upon angels
• Zech 1:12 – angel intercedes for Jerusalem
• Mk 12:25, Mt 22:30 – men in heaven are as the angels
• Rev 5:8 – those in heaven offer prayers of the holy ones to God
• *Saints dead, prayer is necromancy (Dt 18:10-11)
• Mk 12:26-27 – he is God of the living, not of the dead
• Mk 9:4 – Jesus seen conversing with Elijah & Moses
• Lk 9:31 – Elijah & Moses aware of earthly events
• Rev 6:9-11 – martyrs under altar want earthly vindication
• Heb 12:1 – we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses
• Lk 16:19-30 – departed rich man intercedes for brothers
• Rev 20:4 – saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
• Wis 3:1-6 – the souls of the just are in the hand of God
• 2Macc 15:7-16 – the departed Onias & Jeremiah pray for the Jews
• Jas 5:16 Prayers of righteous man
• 1 Cor. 13:12 – I shall understand fully
• 1 John 4: 20-21 whoever loves God must love his brother
• 1 Cor 12:21 – parts of Christ’s Body cannot say to other parts, “I do not need you”.
• *1Tim 2:5 – “One mediator between God and man”
• 1Tim 2:1-7 – offer prayers, petitions for all men
• 1Pet 2:5 – be a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices through Christ
• Mk 10:18 – only God is good
• Mt 25:23 – well done my good and faithful servant
• Jn 10:11-16 – I am good shepherd; one flock I shepherd
• Jn 21:15-16 – feed my lambs, tend my sheep
• Eph 4:11 – He gave some as apostles…others as pastors
• Heb 3:1, 7:24, 9:12-13 – Jesus eternal high priest; one sacrifice
• Rev 1:6, 5:10 – He made us a kingdom of priests for God

Veneration of Saints

• Jos 5:14 – Joshua fell prostrate in worship before angel
• Dan 8:17 – Daniel fell prostrate in terror before Gabriel
• Tob 12:16 – Tobiah & Tobit fall to ground before Raphael
• Mt 18:10 – angels in heaven always behold face of God (we venerate angels because of their great dignity, which comes from their union with God. Saints also are united with God)
• 1Jn 3:2 – we shall be like him, we shall see him as he is
• 1Thess 1:5-8 – you become an example to all the believers
• Heb 13:7 – remember leaders, consider/imitate their faith & life

Relics

• 2Kgs 13:20-21 – contact with Elisha’s bones restored life
• Acts 5:15-116 – cures performed through Peter’s shadow
• Acts 19:11-12 – cures through face cloths that touched Paul

Statues

• *Ex 20:4-5 – do not make and worship any graven images
• Ex 25:18-19 – make two cherubim of beaten gold
• Num 21:8-9 – Moses made bronze serpent & put on pole
• 1Kgs 6:23-29 – temple had engraved cherubim, trees, flowers
• 1Kgs 7:25-45 – temple had bronze oxen, lions, pomegranates

(also see The Blessed Virgin Mary)

Scandals in the Church

• Jer 32:32-35 – OT leaders & priests offered child sacrifices
• 2 Kgs 23:7 – OT cult prostitutes in the temple of the Lord
• Jn 4:22 – in spite of their infidelity, salvation is from Jews
• Mk 14:43-46 – Judas betrayed Jesus
• Mk 14:66-72 Peter denied him
• Jn 20:24-25 Thomas refused to believe his resurrection
• Mk 14:50 – they all left him and fled in garden of Gethsemane
• Rom 3:3-4 – will their infidelity nullify fidelity of God? No!
• 2 Tim 2 :13 – if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful
• Mt 13:24-30 – Parable of the weeds among the wheat
• Mt 13:47-48 – parable of net that collects good and bad

Fasting

• *1Tim 4:3 – condemns anti-flesh heretics
• Mk 7:19 – Christ declared all food clean
• 1Tim 4:4-5 – everything created by God is good
• Dan 10:3 – Daniel refused to eat choice foods for 3 weeks
• Mt 9:15 – Christ’s followers will fast once he is gone
• Mt 6:16-18 – Jesus gave regulations concerning how to fast

Divinity of Jesus

• Jn 1:1 – the Word was God
• Jn 1:14-15 – glory of Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth
• Jn 8:19 – if you knew me, you would know my Father
• Jn 8:58-59 – I assure you, before Abraham was, I AM
• Jn 10:30-33 – the Father and I are one (see Ex 3:14, 20:7; Lev 19:12, 24:14-16)
• Jn 10:38 – the Father is in me and I am in the Father
• Jn 12:45 – whosoever sees me sees the one who sent me
• Jn 14:8-12 – whoever had seen has seen the Father
• Jn 20:28 – Jesus accepts Thomas’s “my Lord and my God”
• Col 2:9 – in him dwells whole fullness of deity bodily
• Acts 20:28 – church of God he acquired with his blood
• Eph 1:7 – in him we have redemption by his blood
• 1Jn 1:7 – blood of his Son Jesus cleanses from all sin
• Tit 2:13 – glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Time of Second Coming Unknown

• Mt 24:44 – be prepared, Jesus coming at unexpected hour
• Mt 25:13 – stay awake, you know neither the day nor hour
• Mk 13:35-37 – watch, unknown when lord of house coming
• Lk 12:46 – master will come like a thief in night
• 1Thess 5:2-3 – day of Lord will come like a thief in night
• 2Pet 3:9-10 – day of lord will come like a thief
• Rev 3:3 – if not watchful, will come like a thief
• Mt 24:36 – no one but Father alone knows day and hour
• Holy Spirit a Person, Not a Force
• Jn 14:26 – “he will teach you all things”
• Acts 8:29 – “and the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up…”
• Acts 13:2 – “Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me…'”
• Rom 8:27 – “Spirit intercedes for the saints…”
• 1Cor 2:11 – no one understands the thoughts of God, but Spirit
• 1Cor 12:11 – Spirit apportions to each as he wills
• Eph 4:30 – “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God”

Repetitious Prayer

• *Mt 6:7 – do not babble like pagans with their many words
• 1Kgs 18:25-29 – example of vain repetition: call Baal for hours
• Mt 26:44 – Jesus prayed a third time, saying the same thing again
• Lk 18:13 – collector kept beating breast & praying: be merciful
• Rev 4:8 – repeat day & night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord”
• 1Thess 5:17 – pray without ceasing
• Ps 136 (26X ‘his steadfast love endures forever’)
• Mt 6:9-13 Our Father