One of the major issues dividing Catholics and Protestants is the Bible. Catholic Bibles have seven Books that Protestants reject: Protestants call these Books “the Apocrypha,” while Catholics call them “the Deuterocanon.” This dispute matters, because it’s hard to agree on what Scripture says if we can’t even agree on what Scripture is, on which Books are… Continue reading Four Surprising Facts About John Calvin and the “Apocrypha”
Tag: Calvinism
Three Major Arguments Against “Assurance of Salvation”
I am frequently asked by Protestants why we Catholics don’t teach “assurance of salvation,” the belief that those who are currently saved are guaranteed ultimate salvation, no matter what. Someone cannot be temporarily saved and ultimately damned. Calvinists and many Evangelicals affirm this doctrine (under different names: assurance of salvation, perseverance of the Saints, “Once Saved,… Continue reading Three Major Arguments Against “Assurance of Salvation”
Good Friday: A Superabundant Atonement (Part I)
Guest author Matthew Nagle How does Christ’s death on the Cross save us from our sins?Several months ago, I wrote a piece arguing for the Catholic “satisfaction” understanding of the Atonement (in which Christ lovingly pays for our debt) and argued against the Calvinist “penal substitution” model (in which the Father pours out His wrath… Continue reading Good Friday: A Superabundant Atonement (Part I)
Does the Glorified Body of Christ Have Blood?
One of the strangest beliefs that I’ve come across through this blog is the idea that the glorified Body of Jesus Christ contains Flesh and Bones, but no Blood. I first came across it in a reader comment; since then, I’ve heard this view advanced by several Protestant apologetics websites, like the popular Calvinist apologetics… Continue reading Does the Glorified Body of Christ Have Blood?
Calvinism’s Internal Contradiction, Part 2
On Tuesday, I wrote about what an an apparent contradiction within Calvinism: namely, trying to harmonize “perseverance of the saints,” the view that nobody falls away from the faith, with the Calvinist belief in a Great Apostasy, that the entire Church fell away from the faith. In response, I’ve seen two attempts to harmonize these two… Continue reading Calvinism’s Internal Contradiction, Part 2
Perseverance of the Saints v. the Great Apostasy: Calvinism’s Internal Contradiction
Calvinism affirms two critical doctrines that are in apparent contradiction with one another. On the one hand, Calvinists claim that nobody falls permanently away from the faith. On the other hand, they claim that the entire Church fell away from the faith for generations, and that the Divinely-ordained Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was destroyed,… Continue reading Perseverance of the Saints v. the Great Apostasy: Calvinism’s Internal Contradiction
Is Scripture Self-Attesting?
One of the most glaring problems within Protestantism is on the authority of the Bible: how do we know which Books are sacred Scripture? How can a Christian possibly know which Books belong in the Christian Holy Book without learning this from the Christian Church? Titian, John Calvin (16th c.) As Catholics, we’d argue that… Continue reading Is Scripture Self-Attesting?
Luther and Calvin v. Augustine and Justin Martyr on Free Will
One of the core tenets of Calvinism is the belief that there’s no such thing as free will, particularly in regards to matters of salvation. What strikes me about this doctrine is that I’m not sure anyone really believes it. I realize that sounds odd, but consider: even those, like Luther and Calvin, who claim… Continue reading Luther and Calvin v. Augustine and Justin Martyr on Free Will
“Did God Die For You?” (St. Paul and Unconditional Election)
That’s the title of a tract I was handed on the street earlier this month. It’s in the form of a series of questions and answers. One of the questions is, “How do I know if God has chosen me to be saved?” The answer begins (my emphasis added): A. You may be one of… Continue reading “Did God Die For You?” (St. Paul and Unconditional Election)
The Three “Reformation Day” Ironies
Today, for most of us, is Halloween. But a lot of Christians are disturbed by the way that Halloween seems to celebrate evil, and many Protestants choose to celebrate Reformation Day instead. While I respect the desire to have fun without celebrating evil, I find Reformation Day to be unwittingly hilarious. Here’s why. Irony #1: Calvinist… Continue reading The Three “Reformation Day” Ironies