Tag: Bible

Did the Apostles Doubt Christ When He Appeared in Galilee?

Happy Ascension Thursday, maybe!  In some parts of the US, we celebrate Ascension Thursday today. In other parts of the US (including here in Virginia), we celebrate Ascension Thursday on Sunday.  Depending on where they are on Thursday and Sunday, travelers may celebrate today twice, or not at all.  It’s a mess. I agree with Fr.… Continue reading Did the Apostles Doubt Christ When He Appeared in Galilee?

Prayers for the Dead: Memorial Day in 2 Maccabees

Since this Monday is Memorial Day, I thought it would be fitting to talk briefly about prayers for the dead.  This is particularly so since the most explicit Scriptural depiction of prayers for the dead involves praying for the souls of dead soldiers.  It comes from 2 Maccabees 12:38-46: Judas rallied his army and went to… Continue reading Prayers for the Dead: Memorial Day in 2 Maccabees

Why Liberal Scholars Are Wrong on John 21 and Luke 5

I’ve mentioned before that the New American Bible has some extremely sketchy footnotes. By buying into liberal theology, the original NAB editors slip in all sorts of absurdities into the footnotes. Let’s take a concrete example of this — John 21. First, some Scriptural background: In Luke 5, as Jesus was standing by the Lake… Continue reading Why Liberal Scholars Are Wrong on John 21 and Luke 5

The Holy Trinity and the Church: You Can’t Have One Without the Other

Jesus and the Father: Distinct, but Inseparable Yesterday’s Gospel is a great one, and one line of it is pretty famous. It’s John 14:1-12, in which Jesus said to His Disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me. In my Father’s house there are many… Continue reading The Holy Trinity and the Church: You Can’t Have One Without the Other

Apocalypse Now?

As you’re almost certainly aware, tomorrow is the day that Harold Camping of Family Radio claims that the world is going to end.  Well, technically, it’s tonight. Camping claims that there will be a different rapture per timezone, at 6 PM each timezone.  The first rapture, in lovely Tonga, would occur at 6 PM local time,… Continue reading Apocalypse Now?

Sola Scriptura and the Authorship of the Gospels

In recent years, liberal Biblical scholars have trotted out all sorts of novel theories about the authorship of the Gospels.  For example, there have been claims that the Gospel of Luke was written by a woman, despite his use of the masculine in referring to himself in Luke 1:3 (it’s masculine in the Greek, not… Continue reading Sola Scriptura and the Authorship of the Gospels

Did Christ Die for “All,” or Just “Many”?

Five-point Calvinists claim that Jesus’ Death on the Cross was not for the whole world, but only for those few who are saved. For the rest, Calvinists claim, Christ didn’t die for them, and no amount of faith or virtue could ever save them. Catholics rightly reject this as contrary to both Scripture and even a… Continue reading Did Christ Die for “All,” or Just “Many”?

What About Those Who’ve Never Heard the Gospel?

An old friend of mine asked me to address the status of all of those who have never heard the Gospel. Scripture suggests that, at least in a certain sense, there’s no such person. Prior to anyone presenting a Bible, two “missionaries” proceed us everywhere: Creation and Conscience.  Our job is to build upon what they’ve… Continue reading What About Those Who’ve Never Heard the Gospel?

Five Ways the Old Testament Foreshadowed the Eucharist

I just finished reading Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre, and it’s fantastic.  He does a great job of showing how various things from the Old Testament point to Christ. I wanted to use today’s post to show five different ways the Eucharist is prefigured in the Old Testament, and what each… Continue reading Five Ways the Old Testament Foreshadowed the Eucharist