The Canon of Scriptures

"They are as set down here below: of the Old Testament: the five books of Moses, to wit, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Josue, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, two of Paralipomenon, the first book of Esdras, and the second which is entitled Nehemias; Tobias, Judith, Esther, Job, the Davidical Psalter, consisting of a hundred and fifty psalms; the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Canticle of Canticles, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Isaias, Jeremias, with Baruch; Ezechiel, Daniel; the twelve minor prophets, to wit, Osee, Joel, Amos, Abdias, Jonas, Micheas, Nahum, Habacuc, Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zacharias, Malachias; two books of the Machabees, the first and the second. Of the New Testament: the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles written by Luke the Evangelist; fourteen epistles of Paul the apostle, (one) to the Romans, two to the Corinthians, (one) to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, to the Philippians, to the Colossians, two to the Thessalonians, two to Timothy, (one) to Titus, to Philemon, to the Hebrews; two of Peter the apostle, three of John the apostle, one of the apostle James, one of Jude the apostle, and the Apocalypse of John the apostle. But if any one receive not, as sacred and canonical, the said books entire with all their parts, as they have been used to be read in the Catholic Church, and as they are contained in the old Latin vulgate edition; and knowingly and deliberately contemn the traditions aforesaid; let him be anathema."- (Council of Trent, Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures)

Any other books not mentioned above is considered apocrypha and not divinely inspired. Now, some of the names of those books have changed in today's Bible translations, you can see the changed names here. The Deuterocanonical books that are absent in Protestant Bibles are: Tobit, Judith, some additions to the books of Esther and Daniel, first book of Maccabees, second book of Maccabees, Sirach (alias Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch. The Catholic Church considers the Deuterocanonicals as sacred and canonical equal in authority to the protocanonicals (meaning Primary canon). The reason for the label "Deuterocanon" (meaning Second Canon) is because for a time in the early Church there was a hesitation to accept them, but eventually they were accepted. They were present in the Greek Septuagint Version of the Bible. The apostles and their successors used the Septuagint and some of their writings reflect the message of the deuterocanon.(See: Septuagint Quotes in the New Testament) St. Jerome translated from the Greek and Old Latin versions and developed the Latin Vulgate Bible around the year 405 AD.

The Eastern Orthodox canon of the scriptures is a bit different from that of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox only accept the first seven Ecumenical Councils, which did not explicitly mention a list of the canonical books. Therefore, they are divided on what constitutes the deuterocanonical books. Some reject the deuterocanonicals. Some accept them in addition to other books that the Catholic Church considers apocrypha (non-canonical, not divinely inspired). The problem is that the Septuagint has so many different variations, some manuscripts omitting important texts and some adding various apocryphal texts. The Greek Orthodox Church accepts all the deuterocanonicals plus the Third Book of Maccabees, Psalm 151, and the Prayer of Manasseh (inserted at the end of the second book of Chronicles in the Septuagint). These texts are considered as apocrypha by the Catholic Church. One thing that can be said is that the Eastern Orthodox accept the Catholic canon of scripture, but add on some apocryphal texts.

Most Protestants do not accept the deuterocanon. They regard those books as apocrypha and are labeled as such in some of their Bible versions. They put the deuterocanon on the same level as heretical apocryphal texts. Most of their Bible versions do not include the deuterocanon (or "Apocrypha" as they call it).

Sources and Recommended Reading:

The Council of Trent

Canon of the Old Testament, Catholic Encyclopedia

Apocrypha, Catholic Encyclopedia

Septuagint Version, Catholic Encyclopedia

The Catholic Church

Introduction

She is the biggest and oldest institution on earth. She is both the most loved and most hated institution ever known to man. Many questions have arisen since its very beginnings. Questions such as: Is it really the true Church that Christ has founded? Does it speak the divinely revealed infallible truth? Why must there be only one Church? Such questions have always been asked by every generation since the Church was physically established. Such questions will always be asked even by the most zealous and cradle of its members. In this article we shall examine the facts of both the Bible, history, and the early Christian Church. The article will be cut up into sections.

Apostolic Succession

The Catholic Church teaches that all Catholic Bishops carry on the ministry of the apostles through an unbroken line of succession from the original apostles. Such a succession is evident in scripture. "So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well," (2 Tim. 2:2 [NAB]).[1] Here St. Paul was writing to his young successor Timothy and ordering him to appoint other good men to teach. In Acts 14:23 we see further that "they appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith."[2] St. Peter ordered us to "be subject to the presbyters," (1 Pet. 5:5). [3]

The Pope

The Pope of Rome has always been at the center of controversy. He is considered by the Catholic Church as the successor of St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ, and infallible Holy Father of all the Christian faithful on earth. To outsiders such claims is enough to bring chills up the spine and even cause some to joke. However, in order to pursue the fullness of truth we must have an open mind and ask: what is the root behind all these claims?

Let's examine what Jesus says to Peter. "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," (Matt. 16:18).[4] Peter was clearly made the foundation of Christ's Church. Some might argue that it was Peter's profession of faith in Matt. 16:16 that is the foundation and not Peter's office. That concern is understandable. However, just a few lines after in Matt. 16:19 Jesus says: "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."[5] Clearly, Jesus is talking to someone and that someone is St. Peter. The entire verse when read from Matt. 16:16-19 tells us that Christ gave the keys of authority and infallibility to Peter because of his great faith in Christ.

Furthermore, in the Council of Jerusalem addressing all of his fellow apostles Peter got up and said: "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe...," (Acts 15:7).[6] Clearly, Peter had a primacy of authority among the Apostles. Peter is the first Pope and was granted infallibility when preaching faith and morals. He was a sinner just as we all are, but the infallibility only lies in his preaching. Surely, the Pope himself is a sinner as history might attest to that fact, but so too the old testament prophets and the Apostles were guilty of grave sins. The First Vatican Council proclaimed that the Pope is only infallible when in all seriousness and as head of the Christian faithful he preaches a doctrine of faith or morals.[7]

Early Christian witnesses

There are early Christian witnesses to Peter being in Rome. The following quote is from St Ignatius of Antioch (year 98 AD). "Entreat the Lord for me, that by these instruments I may be found a sacrifice to God. I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you," (St. Ignatius of Antioch; Epistle to the Romans, Chapter 4). [8] In that quote St. Ignatius wrote to the Christians in Rome so that they would not fight for him, but instead let him be martyred in the Roman coliseum.

St. Irenaeus of Lyons ( year 115 - 125 AD) said the following. "Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority -- that is, the faithful everywhere -- inasmuch as the Apostolic Tradition has been preserved continuously by those who are everywhere." (Against Heresies; Book 3, Chapter 3) [9]

Proceeding in the same book and chapter right after the above quote by St. Ireneaus is the following. "The blessed apostles [Peter and Paul], then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric."(Against Heresies; Book 3, Chapter 3) [10]

Linus, Anacletus, and Clement were all Popes that are listed in the long list of the succession of Popes. There is an unbroken line of succession down to the present Pope Benedict XVI. The list is too long to put on this document but can be found at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm.

Conclusion

The fact is that the Catholic Church is the one true Church that Christ himself established. It has existed for about 2000 years. Also it is always to be as Jesus said "a sign of contradiction to this world." There are much more early Christian witnesses in which quoting them would make this document nearly endless. There are much more scriptures that can be quoted. The fact is the Catholic Church is responsible for giving us the Bible, just as Luther himself had to admit. There is also much more to discuss on what we have just discussed in this article and there is much more to discuss about the teachings of the Church. The purpose of this document is to open your eyes, ears, and minds to the Church and push you to learn more about the origins of Christianity and the Church, instead of being brainwashed by anti-Catholics and the mass liberal media.

As for the many thousands of churches and sects, the Bible teaches that we are to obey the authority, that is something that Arius, Mohammed, Photius, Martin Luther, King Henry VIII of England, Calvin, and many more failed to do. Disobedience to authority is why there are so many different divisions and sects. If God is only one, so too his Church must be only one, not thousands and millions. Jesus prayed that we all be united under one roof and one shepherd. It is our moral obligation to pursue the truth, only then can we all be unified.

May Christ help us and guide us to the path of truth and salvation. May he have mercy on us all for our sins and may he unite us all under one roof and one shepherd. Amen.

End Notes

[1] 2 Tim. 2:2; New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

[2] Acts 14:23; New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

[3] 1 Pet. 5:5; New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

[4] Matt. 16:18; New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

[5] Matt. 16:19; New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

[6] Acts 15:7; New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

[7] See: First Vatican Council; Session 4; July 18, 1870; Chapter 4

[8] Taken from: Church Fathers; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans, Chapter 4; http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm

[9] Taken from: Church Fathers; St. Ireneaus; Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 3, paragraph 2; http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm

[10] Taken from: Church Fathers; St. Ireneaus; Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 3, paragraph 3; http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm

Under Construction

This new blog is currently under construction. Happy St. Patrick's Day! May holy St. Patrick bless and pray for us all.