One of the arguments raised against the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is that it violates Genesis 9:4, which forbids eating anything with the blood still in it. So, for example, Roger Oakland makes the argument this way, in trying to explain away Christ’s Eucharistic discourse from John 6: Master of Sigena,Jesus Amongst the Doctors of… Continue reading Does the Real Presence Violate the Old Testament Law?
Tag: apologetics
What a Priestly Heart Looks Like
St. Isaac Jogues statue,Shrine of the North American Martyrs Today is the optional memorial of the North American Martyrs: Sts. Isaac Jogues and John de Brebeuf, and their companions, a group of truly heroic Jesuit martyrs. St. Isaac Jogues was influential in my vocational discernment. I knew next to nothing about him prior to winter 2010,… Continue reading What a Priestly Heart Looks Like
Could It Be That Jesus Had a Wife?
While seminary life prevents me from being able to post as often as I used it, it also connects me with a whole world of thoughtful, orthodox Catholic thinkers in the form of professors, formators, and fellow seminarians. I wanted to take a moment to highlight one of them, a fellow barbate seminarian for Kansas… Continue reading Could It Be That Jesus Had a Wife?
Why It’s Important that We Call Priests “Father”
Some Christians, based upon Matthew 23:9, are opposed to the practice of calling priests “fathers.” They’re mistaken in this opposition, and risk doing a disservice to God out of their misreading of this text. Now, we already know that the practice of referring to spiritual fathers as “father” is in found throughout the New Testament (e.g., Luke… Continue reading Why It’s Important that We Call Priests “Father”
Catholic Voting and The Order of Truths
A common mistake that Catholics make is assuming that every Catholic teaching carries equal weight, and that as the faithful, we are equally bound to follow everything that the pope or a bishop says. Related to this is the idea that a politician who goes against Church “teaching” on one issue, like supporting a particular… Continue reading Catholic Voting and The Order of Truths
Does Saint Jerome Endorse the Protestant Canon?
In response to last week’t two–part series on the canon of Scripture, my Lutheran friend Rev. Hans wrote: Guercino, St Jerome in the Wilderness (1650) I am curious about the view St. Jerome has on the Deuterocanonical books. I have read that he questioned these books and separated them from the Old Testament Canon. You brought… Continue reading Does Saint Jerome Endorse the Protestant Canon?
Why Not 66: Answering Brian Edwards’ Arguments for the Protestant Canon (Pt. II)
This is the second part of my response to Evangelical theologian Brian Edwards’ case for the 66-Book Protestant canon, “Why 66?” Yesterday, I answered three of Edwards’ major claims: that the Deuterocanon was rejected by the early Jews, by Jesus and the Apostles, and that the Septuagint at the time of Christ probably “did not include” the… Continue reading Why Not 66: Answering Brian Edwards’ Arguments for the Protestant Canon (Pt. II)
Why Not 66: Answering Brian Edwards’ Arguments for the Protestant Canon (Pt. I)
Brian Edwards In continuing my search for a principled basis for the Protestant canon of Scripture, I found what looked to be the perfect fit. It’s a talk called “Why 66?,” an hour long presentation by the Evangelical theologian Brian Edwards, which sought to answer, for a Protestant audience: (I, 6:37). “So what is the… Continue reading Why Not 66: Answering Brian Edwards’ Arguments for the Protestant Canon (Pt. I)
How Do We Know Jesus Wasn’t Married?
An LDS couple I’m friends with asked me recently about the so-called Gospel of Philip, and specifically, about its claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Let’s address the reliability of the “Gospel of Philip” first, and then the broader question: how do we know that Jesus wasn’t married? The So-Called Gospel of Philip… Continue reading How Do We Know Jesus Wasn’t Married?
The Deuterocanon and the Communion of Saints
If Catholics are right about the Books that make up the Bible, then we’re also right about the Communion of Saints. In fact, if the Second Book of Maccabees is true (whether or not the Book is inspired Scripture), then the Catholic doctrines on the Communion of the Saints are true, as well. How can… Continue reading The Deuterocanon and the Communion of Saints