BIBLE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR CATHOLICS
With Bible Answers

"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." [John 18:37]

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." [John 8:32]

The purpose of this questionnaire is to point out to members of the Catholic church some areas of important Catholic doctrine that are not in agreement with the Bible. The King James Version of the Bible was used for the scripture quotes below. However, Catholics are encouraged to examine their own Catholic Bibles if they wish, such as the New American Bible, the Jerusalem Bible or the Douay Bible, keeping in mind that there are footnotes in the Catholic Bibles that try to explain away some of the errors in Catholic doctrine.

1. Which of the following words, phrases and practices are mentioned anywhere in the Holy Bible or were ever taught by Jesus Christ?

ANSWER: None of the above are in the Bible or were ever taught by Jesus - all are man-made, many are of pagan origin and all have nothing to do with Biblical Christianity.

2. Which commandment did the Catholic Church remove from their catechisms and CCD classes?

ANSWER: They removed the second commandment...

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" [Exodus 20:4-5]

3. How did the Catholic church end up with 10 commandments if they got rid of the second commandment?

ANSWER: They split the 10th commandment into 2 commandments. This is how the Bible describes the 10th commandment (thou shalt not covet)...

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." [Exodus 20:17]

These are the 'Catholic' 9th and 10th commandments:

9th commandment -> thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife

10th commandment -> thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods

4. Is it OK to call anyone except Jesus Christ the head of the Church on earth or in heaven?

ANSWER: No. God says Jesus is the head of all things. He has always been and always will be the head of His Church and His Church is not the Catholic church...

"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" [Ephesians 1:20-22]

5. If the Bible says that Jesus is the head of His church, why do I need the pope?

ANSWER: It is a natural human tendency to want a leader who can be seen and to want to worship a God who can be seen. However, a true Christian (who truly has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him) has no need for such things. Therefore a true Christian has no need for a pope. Christ is sufficient. He leads His church on earth through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all born-again (i.e. spiritually born) believers...

"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." [Eph 5:23]

If you are truly a born-again believer then your Chief Cornerstone is Christ, not Peter or the pope:

"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." [1Corinthians 10:4]

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." [1Peter 2:6]

The idea of a mere mortal being the exalted and infallible head of the Church on earth goes contrary to everything that Christ taught...

The pope lets people refer to him as the Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Pontifex Maximus, The Pope, and The Holy Father.

Jesus said: "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." [Luke 14:11] and "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi." [Matthew 23:5-7]

The pope has thousands of servants subordinate to himself called Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Monks, and Nuns.

Jesus said: "Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." [Matthew 19:30] and "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." [Mark 10:44]

The pope talks about peace and love and yet he has yet to reverse the blood thirsty decrees that his church put in place to sanction the murder of people who disagree with Catholicism.

Jesus said: "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." [Matthew 23:3] and "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." [Mark 7:6]

The pope runs his own self-governed country called Vatican City that has its own secretary of state who meets with ambassadors from many nations.

Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world" [John 18:36].

The pope lives in an enormous palace in Rome.

Jesus said: "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath no where to lay his head." [Matthew 8:20]

The pope controls immeasurable wealth that could be given to the poor.

Jesus said: "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" [Matthew 6:20]

The pope gets a royal welcome from heads of state of almost all countries on earth.

Jesus said: "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." [Luke 6:26]

6. Is the pope or anyone else on earth infallible regarding church teachings and doctrine?

ANSWER: No. Only Christ, who was and is eternal God is infallible in His teachings and doctrine:

"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." [Romans 3:4]

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." [Proverbs 30:5]

"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." [Ecclesiastes 7:20]

The Bible warns us about people who say they are infallible:

"There shall be false teachers among you" [2 Peter 2:1].

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." [1John 1:8]

7. Wasn't Peter the first Pope?

ANSWER: No. The Bible makes no mention of Peter ever being in Rome. It never mentions any leadership that he had over the other apostles. The word pope is not found anywhere in the Bible. Pope is from the Latin word papa which means father. A true Christian's spiritual father is God:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" [Romans 8:14-16]

Does God's Spirit bear witness with YOUR spirit that you are a child of God? How do you know? When did God ever change you into a new creature in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) and at what point in your life did you truly understand the holiness of God and His hatred for sin? When did you come to realize that you were a lost a hell-deserving sinner who was completely at the mercy of God and unable to contribute to your salvation in any way whatsoever?

Getting back to the office of "pope" - nowhere in the Bible will you find a description of any man that resembles the description of the Catholic popes. Peter never walked around with a pagan fish-hat and fancy robes carrying a staff with an image of an emaciated dead Jesus on it. Nor did he have a palace to live in like today's popes have. Christ warned others about people like the popes:

"Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts" [Luke 20:46]

8. But isn't there a verse in the Bible that teaches that Peter was the first pope?

ANSWER: The one passage that Catholics are referred to by their leadership to justify the exaltation of Peter to the position of head of the Catholic Church is found in the Gospel of Matthew:

"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." [Matthew 16:16-19]

Where in the above passage is Peter called the pope or the head of the Church? Nowhere. Christ calls the church "MY church", meaning Christ's church, NOT Peter's Church. The Church that Rome built is not the church that Christ built. It is a religious counterfeit based on the paganism of the ancient Roman empire and hence the name ROMAN Catholic Church. To be a ROMAN Catholic is to be SOMETHING OTHER THAN a true Christian. And just because a ROMAN Catholic does not realize that, does not mean it is untrue. Many of today's Jews still think they are God's Chosen people, not realizing that the purpose their nation was chosen for by God - to bring forth the Messiah - has been fulfilled in Christ.

Where in the above passage - in Matthew 16 - is apostolic succession mentioned (i.e. that Peter was supposed to confer his office of pope to a successor at some point in the future)? Nowhere. Just what are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Well we must determine what is it that looses things on earth? It is the true Gospel of salvation. It is the Gospel that sets people free who are captives of sin:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" [Isaiah 61:1]

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" [Luke 4:18]

So if it is the Gospel of salvation that contains the key to freedom from sin, then any TRUE believer who preaches the TRUE Gospel possesses the keys to the kingdom of God.

9. What about apostolic succession? Isn't there an unbroken line of popes since Peter?

ANSWER: Even in Catholic books that list the names of all the popes, there is disagreement as to how many popes there were and who they were. Apostolic succession is a Catholic invention used to keep people in the Catholic church by making them think that theirs is the one "true" church of Christ. The title of "pope" or "pontifex maximus" was borrowed from the title of the emperor of Rome who was known as the high priest of the Roman empire... "Pontifex Maximus" means high priest. At one point in history there were 3 popes all at the same time, vying for power. Other popes were the illegitimate children of other popes. Still other popes paid for the privilege of being pope. Does that sound like apostolic succession or an unbroken line? Jesus warned others about people who would come saying that they represented him:

"And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them." [Luke 21:8]

The Pope is referred to the Vicar of Christ. Vicar means "serving as a substitute or agent". While every TRUE believer in Christ is Christ's representative or ambassador, no TRUE Christian would dare allow himself to be elevated the way the pope has. Even John the Baptist, who was a remarkable man of God, refused to allow people to exalt him as we read in John 3:30 where he said of Christ: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

10. Why do we need catechisms and Vatican councils? Isn't the Bible sufficient for teaching us about God and His salvation plan?

ANSWER: We don't need catechisms. They are very inaccurate so they should be avoided. They represent the preconceived ideas people have about what the Bible says and they are designed to present clever arguments to get people to believe that Catholic teachings and traditions are biblical when they are not. God declares that His word in the Bible is very adequate for our religious instruction:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." [2 Timothy 3:16-17]

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." [Proverbs 30:5]

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." [Psalms 138:2]

Many churches and organizations tell their followers that they need specially trained religious leaders to interpret the Bible for them. This keeps the people thinking that the leaders know more than others about God and the Bible when nothing could be further from the truth. Most religious leaders are spiritually lost - they are the blind leaders of the blind as Jesus mentioned in Matthew 15:14. Also, most religious leaders are simply repeating the false teachings they were taught in the seminaries they attended.

11. The Bible says that I am complete in Christ (Col 2:10) so why do I need Rome?

ANSWER: True Christians do not need Rome. They ARE complete in Christ...

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" [Col 2:10]

12. If the fullness God wishes us to seek is not found in the Catholic church, then where is it?

ANSWER: The fullness that a true Christian is to seek is the fullness found in Christ alone...

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell" [Col 1:19]

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." [Col 2:8-9]

The Galatians did not need Rome. The Ephesians did not need Rome. The Philippians did not need Rome. Their churches all consisted of local groups of believers who met for worship in homes (Rom 16:5, 1Cor 16:19, Col 4:15, Phm 1:2) and were overseen by local elders (Titus 1:5). They had the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and local elders to guide them as indicated by various passages in the New Testament (Acts 17:11, 2Tim 3:16-17, 1Pet 5:5).

13. The Bible says that the true Church, the true Bride of Christ is not a visible earthly institution like the Catholic church or the Jehovah's Witnesses organization (Luke 17:20-21) so why should a person become a Catholic?

ANSWER: To be a Catholic is to be a member of a man-made religious institution. To be a Christian, is to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit who unites all believers into one spiritual body, one true Church...

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." [Luke 17:20-21]

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." [1 Corinthians 12:13]

Those who have the Holy Spirit living in them are new creatures in Christ:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." [2 Corinthians 5:17]

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" [Colossians 1:27]

14. Does salvation involve human effort of any kind including sacraments, penance, prayers, good deeds, etc.?

ANSWER: No. Adding any human effort to the perfect work of Christ is to say that what Christ did was not perfect and needs completion through the aid of sinful mankind...

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9]

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" [Titus 3:5]

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" [Isaiah 64:6]

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." [Matthew 7:22-23]

15. Should a true Christian be satisfied with just Christ's sacrifice at Calvary 2000 years ago?

ANSWER: Absolutely yes. The true Gospel is a salvation plan that requires nothing from mankind but something very costly to God to pay for a person's sins - the completed work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Rome and all its accouterments are noticeably missing from this Gospel and missing from the Bible. God the Father is more than satisfied with Christ and His complete and sufficient sacrifice on the cross...

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." [Hebrews 10:14]

"And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [Mark 1:11]

Why was the Father well-pleased with the Son? The Son (Jesus) faithfully came into the world to lay down His life for lost sinners. The Son gave glory to the Father by his obedience unto death, so that by His sacrificial, atoning death, ALL the sins of the "elect" (those God plans to save) would be COMPLETELY paid for:

"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." [John 17:1-2]

Notice that the verse above says "to as many as thou hast given him". Are you one of those whom the Father has given tot he Son? How do you know?

Those who are not satisfied with Christ's complete payment for sins are simply not Christ's and they are still dead in their trespasses and sins.

16. Can we know for sure if we are going to heaven?

ANSWER: The Catholic church says a person cannot know for sure if they are going to heaven. In fact, they claim that if you believe you are sure of your salvation, then you are committing a sin - the sin of presumption. However, the Bible says a person can know for certain if they are saved and ready to go immediately to heaven as soon as they die...

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." [1 John 5:13]

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." [2Corinthians 5:8]

17. Is it OK to believe or teach that there is any way other than Jesus Christ to get to heaven? In other words, is it right to preach any other way to Heaven besides faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross?

ANSWER: No. Jesus is the only way to heaven and those whom He saves must believe that His death was sufficient payment for their sins without any help from Rome or from themselves or others...

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." [John 14:6]

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." [Galatians 1:8-12]

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." [John 10:1]

18. Won't all people who believe in God go to heaven (like the Muslims, Hindus, etc.)?

ANSWER: No. Everyone on earth is headed for hell until and unless Christ saves them individually...

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." [James 2:19]

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." [Acts 4:10-12]

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." [Mark 16:16]

19. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell believers to remind them of all things (John 14:26) so why do I need statues, medallions, and sacred heart pictures?

ANSWER: God wishes us to worship Him in spirit and in truth, not according to the ideas of sinful men, who want and need visible reminders of what they worship. Since the Holy Spirit reminds believers of things pertaining to God they do not need statues, medallions, and sacred heart pictures to remind them of WHO they worship. And true believers have the Bible to remind them HOW to worship the true and living God. A true Christian is hindered, not helped by visible representations. Such representations are lies, because no one really knows what Jesus or Mary looked like. Any attempt to represent them or other Bible persons is to create a false picture of them. The people who love to have those kinds of representations are those who are lost - those who do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The Holy Spirit dwelling in a true believer eliminates the desire for statues and images:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." [John 14:26]

"we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." [2Cor 4:18]

When a Catholic priest says "But Moses made a serpent of brass that he put on a pole in the desert, and the Israelites made two golden Cherubim that they placed one either side of the mercy seat in the temple." remember that the making of those images were one-time events that were commanded by God. The Jews never made duplicates of those things. And when the people started burning incense to the serpent that Moses had made, King Hezekiah destroyed it:

"He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan." [2Kings 18:4]

20. Does God approve of people owning or bowing down to religious statues?

ANSWER: No. He abhors idols and any graven images...

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" [Exodus 20:4-5]

We are saying that we hate God, when we violate His commandments and when we make excuses for doing so. Owning and bowing down to statues is still idolatry even if it is approved of by a Catholic priest. I would urge you to read the above verses from Exodus chapter 20 every time you look at or bow down to a statue, and also consider this: What makes a Catholic any different from those who own and bow down to their chubby little Buddha idols? Or from the Hindus who worship their octopus woman with her 8 arms? Catholic statues are made out of the same material (clay) and are just as breakable and just as idolatrous. Just like Catholics, those other idol worshippers will tell you "We don't worship the statue! We venerate what it represents!" And to them, God has this to say:

"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." [Psa 115:2-8]

21. How many mediators with God are there - whom we can pray to, ask intercession from, etc.?

ANSWER: There is only One mediator...

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" [1 Timothy 2:5]

22. If the Bible says that there is only one mediator between man and God - Jesus Christ (1Tim 2:5) then why do I need Mary as co-mediator?

ANSWER: No genuine Christian needs or wants any mediator other than our all sufficient and all powerful mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only advocate that we need and the only One that God has provided...

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" [1John 2:1]

Jesus alone is qualified to be a mediator because of His righteousness and because of His role as the Lamb of God. He earned the position by His precious blood. No one else did (Isa 43:11). In addition, Jesus is eternal God (Col 1:15-16). He is not so weak and helpless that He needs anyone else's help to save people. Jesus is also a merciful Savior (Exod 34:6, Deut 4:31, Heb 8:12). He is not some mean tyrant who can only be coaxed into saving people by his persuasive mother.

23. Was Mary sinless (immaculate) or did she need a Saviour like everyone else?

ANSWER: Mary was NOT sinless. She herself knew that she needed a Saviour...

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." [Luke 1:46-47]

24. Did Mary have any other children besides Jesus and if so, what were their names?

ANSWER: Mary had several children by Joseph. Her children's names are mentioned in the Bible...

"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." [Mark 6:3-4]

"But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother." [Galatians 1:19]

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!" [Matthew 12:46-49]

But what about those who say that there was no specific word for brother in Hebrew or Aramaic. There are only words that refer to a more general idea like "kinsman". To them we can say: these verses were not written in Hebrew or Aramaic. They were written in Greek. The Greek word for "brethren" is adelphos which can mean brother in either a literal or a figurative sense. The way we determine if it is to be taken literally is the context and we see in the above passages that Jesus is actually contrasting his literal brothers with his figurative brothers. His is not just referring to his "close relatives" as Catholic theologeans claim. If that was the case, the divinely inspired authors of those passages would have used the Greek words for "kindred" which in the Greek is either "genos" or "suggeneia". We see an application of these OTHER Greek words here:

"And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren <adelphos>; and Joseph's kindred <genos> was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred <suggeneia>, threescore and fifteen souls." [Acts 7:13-14]

The interesting thing is that the words for kindred (genos and suggeneia) are used interchangably in the same passage above. Also note that the Greek word for brethen (adelphos) is also used. But when the word for brethen "adelphos" is used, it is not used to refer to Joseph's kindred in a general sense but to his SPECIFIC brothers! So did the authors of the Greek New Testament not know the difference between brothers and kinsmen? I think they knew and God knew that men would come along and try to twist the scriptures so they could deceive others whom they wish to maintain control over like the Catholic theologeans who know that most Catholic followers will never bother to do the kind of study that we did here.

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." [Romans 16:18]

25. How does God feel about people who call Mary the Queen of Heaven?

ANSWER: God is angry with them...

"The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. [Jeremiah 7:18-20]

"he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." [2 Corinthians 10:17]

The title queen of heaven is a title of a pagan queen in the time of Jeremiah. Also, the title "queen" is a title of royalty that elevates Mary to the same level as Christ, who is king over all the heavens and the earth:

"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" [1Timothy 6:14-15]

Potenetate is another word for "great authority". As James says above, Christ is the only great authority and so he is called the King of kings. Jesus' mother Mary had no more authority than another other Christian. The Mary of ROMAN Catholicism is not the Mary of the Bible. So I guess she can have as much authority as the ROMAN Catholic church is willing to give her.

26. Should a person call any religious worker 'father' in the sense of a spiritual father?

ANSWER: No. God is a jealous God and He wants no one to take his place as our spiritual father...

"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." [Matthew 23:8-9]

"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." [Deuteronomy 4:24]

God knows how easily men elevate and idolize other human beings...

"For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" [1Corinthians 3:4]

27. Did Jesus Christ abolish the priesthood at the cross? Specifically, did He eliminate the need for a human mediator to offer up sacrifices on behalf of the people to God?

ANSWER: Yes. The sacrificing priesthood was abolished at the cross...

"... he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" [Hebrews 10:8-12]

28. The Bible says that Christ is my high priest (Heb 9:11) and that all believers are priests (Rev 5:10) so why do I need a Catholic priest?

ANSWER: A true Christian has no need for a Catholic priest who offers up the sacrifice of the Mass. Catholicism seeks to perpetuate the priesthood of Judaism, denying the finished work of Christ at Calvary...

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building" [Hebrews 9:11]

True Christians act as priests in the sense that when they preach the gospel, they are acting as mediators in their role as ambassadors for Christ:

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." [Rev 5:10]

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." [2 Corinthians 5:20]

29. Is God pleased with people praying repetitious prayers like the Rosary?

ANSWER: No. Believers are expected to pray truly meaningful, personal prayers and we are to avoid behavior that might associate us with pagans...

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." [Matthew 6:7-8]

30. Does God hear the prayers of Catholics and others who are not saved?

ANSWER: No, other than a cry for salvation. However, most Catholics don't pray that kind of a prayer because they don't realize they are lost, unless God is in the process of drawing a person to himself...

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." [Isaiah 59:1-2]

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." [Proverbs 28:9]

God does not hear a person's prayers until their sin problem is dealt with - until they become saved - by Christ, not by Rome. According to Proverbs 28:9 (directly above) God considers the prayers of an unsaved person an abomination.

31. Does God forbid clergy (church leaders) to marry?

ANSWER: No. In fact, marriage is a REQUIREMENT of a church leader...

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" [1 Timothy 3:2]

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [1 Timothy 4:1-3]

32. Does God approve of gambling of any kind (including BINGO)?

ANSWER: No. The Bible repeatedly condemns activities that cater to people's lusts...

"thou shalt not covet" [Exodus 20:17]

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Matthew 16:26]

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." [Matthew 6:19-21]

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." [Timothy 6:10]

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." [1John 2:15]

33. Does it matter if we or our church leadership elevate human tradition above the word of God?

ANSWER: Yes. It is a serious violation of God's commandments to elevate human tradition above the Word of God...

"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. [Mark 7:7,9]

34. Is the bread that is used in communion symbolic of Christ's sacrifice or is it His literal body and blood and soul as the Catholic church leadership teaches?

ANSWER: The bread in communion is symbolic and nothing more than symbolic. There is no reason for it to be the literal body of Christ and there are biblical reasons why it cannot be literal...

"And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." [1 Cor 11:24-25]

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." [John 6:63]

35. The Bible says that anyone who preaches another gospel of salvation other than what Paul preached is under the curse of God (Gal 1:8-9), so why should someone remain in a church that preaches a false gospel, a gospel of works?

ANSWER: People don't realize that what they believe about getting to heaven is false. But just leaving the Catholic church doesn't save someone. They need to repent of their sins and be converted to the true Christ, by Christ...

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." [Luke 13:5]

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 18:3]

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." [Gal 1:8-9]

"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." [Rom 10:2-3]

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." [Isaiah 64:6]

36. Do the traditions and teachings of Catholicism contradict the Bible?

ANSWER: Yes. When we are honest about what the Bible says and compare that with many Catholic teachings we see that Catholicism, like all religions, is a man-made system of human design rather than supernatural origin, as we have shown by many examples above...

"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ... And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." [Mark 7:7&9]

Most Catholics, including myself, are born into Catholicism. We go to catechism classes as impressionable and trusting children and we assume that our teachers know the truth and that they are telling us the truth. But all they are doing is repeating error that they were taught.

37. Does the bigness and longevity of the Catholic church mean it is the true church of Christ?

ANSWER: Not at all. The size and longevity of any religious organization is not a seal of authenticity. In fact, most people will end up in hell no matter what they think about the greatness or authenticity of their church or religion...

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." [Matthew 7:13-14].

Most Jews consider themselves saved by virtue of the religion they are born into. Catholics are no different. I was no different, until the Lord showed me that I needed to be converted to Christ, by Christ. I needed a Savior who could separate my sins from me as far as the east is from the west (Psa 101:12). I was spiritually lost. Now I am found, I am Christ's, by the grace of God - without any help from Rome.

Concluding remarks

If you are still a Catholic, may the Lord Jesus have mercy on your soul as He has had with mine and may He grant you true repentance so that you will be satisfied with Christ alone - that precious Lamb of God who came to die for His people, His elect (Rom 9:15-16, Eph 1:4-11). I hope you will someday rejoice with me that you no longer pledge allegiance to Rome, but to Christ alone. Choose this day, whom you will serve. Will it be Rome or Christ? A person cannot serve two masters. Rome and Christ are NOT one and the same. If they were, I would still be a Catholic, Martin Luther never would have written the 95 theses, and there never would have been a Protestant reformation. Revelation chapter 17 makes it pretty clear that Rome represents the whore of Babylon - the city on seven mountains (hills):

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."

The above passage vividly describes the church of Rome, which arrays its priests and cardinals in purple and scarlet robes. It decks its pope's crowns with gold and precious stones, and its popes and priests have been guilty of some of the most abominable crimes and filthiest moral conduct in all the world. In addition, the church of Rome is most certainly guilty of the blood of some of the bravest and most godly men and women - who spoke out against the false gospels of Rome even though it meant torture and death.