Do Catholics Read the Bible?

It is common for many protestants to think that Catholics do not read the bible. They often think that the Catholic Church even discourages reading the bible. In more extreme cases some people think that the Church tries to hide biblical truths from lay Catholics.

If you’re Catholic, you probably know that this is kind of ridiculous but many protestants have grown up hearing these sorts of claims.

catholics read the bible

Catholics Read the Bible at Mass

Did you know that the Catholic Church reads the entire Bible to her congregation over the span of three years?

The Bible is read during the first part of the Catholic Mass: 3 readings on Sundays and 2 readings Monday through Saturday, also known as daily Mass. At each weekend Mass Catholics hear an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading, and a Gospel reading, all relating to a central theme. Then the priest gives a homily (or sermon) typically on that theme or sometimes directly regarding one or more of the Scripture readings. At daily Masses is typically one Old Testament reading and a Gospel reading.

Catholics also sing the Scriptures during the Responsorial Psalm which takes place between the first and second readings, and Scripture is also sung throughout the hymns which are primarily based on the Bible.

Catholics Read the Bible at Home

While it is true that many, many Catholics never really read the bible on their own, that is not the case for all Catholics. It is also not true that the Church discourages it! In fact, Saint Jerome said “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” That was back in the 5th century!

Catholics are certainly encouraged to read the Bible for personal devotion and study outside of Mass. Additionally, there are many excellent Bible studies held at parishes around the world.

Not only do Catholics read the Bible, they experience the Bible like no other Christians in the Mass. Sprinkled throughout the Mass, in the prayers the priest prays or the responses from the congregation, are rituals and quotes directly from the Bible.

You see, the Catholic Church celebrates, lives, and teaches everything through the Scriptures. The Catholic Church is the most biblical church in all of Christianity.

catholics read the bible

Why the Misunderstanding?

So why is it, then, that so many protestants think that Catholics don’t read the bible? There are a few reasons.

First, it’s probably because many of them have met Catholics who don’t know much about the bible. This is a sad, but true reality. All people, including Catholics, should read the bible more, we can all agree on that!

Next, is that in there has been much in-fighting between Catholics and Protestants. Due to that there has been misinformation spread about Catholics. This is where the idea of the Catholic Church not wanting lay people to read the bible comes from.

Finally, one possible reason is that many protestants put a heavy emphasis on memorizing scripture passages. This is a great practice and Catholics should do this as well. However, it’s less of a focus for Catholics so it can come off as if we don’t know the bible because we can’t cite chapter and verse very easily. That doesn’t mean we don’t read it.

From our perspective, the Catholic Church invented the bible. Sounds kind of funny to most people. By that, I mean that many books were considered to be a part of the New Testament and the Catholic Church chose which ones to include. You can read more about what Catholics believe about the bible here.

107 thoughts on “Do Catholics Read the Bible?”

  1. Do you know the story told in the Old Testament and the Quran? Adam, Noah, Abraham, Israel, Joseph, Moses. It’s the same story.
    There is only one god who created the world and made all these religions to test us.
    Respect each other and do good deeds, this was the key message from religions.

  2. Yes, Catholics read the Bible. I do several times per day. And I am an engineer, not a priest.
    About that statement, who invented the Bible, of course it is done in a stupid way. That is our Church – some people know that, other know that, some are devoted, other just consider it politically. Why existed, exists, and will exist – of course Jesus created “catholic” Church. He said – go to all the world….If somebody here knows Greek will know what is catholic.
    Somehow the Roman Catholic Church is an easy target. Everybody outside, attacks it. Why ? Because it is 2000 years old and has long history. Any Protestant denomination we investigate, the ratio of bad stuff happened is the same, probably. And all like to game with that – what wrong is Catholic Church done. Ok, go ahead. God doesn’t see any other way to keep more than billion people in Christianity, than keep this unholy Church , still existing 2000 years. With all my love to my Protestant brothers and sisters !

    1. Here’s why protestants KNOW that the RCC is a cult, untrue and demonic.
      https://www.born-again-christian.info/catholics.htm

    2. Then you can’t read very well. Start with this:
      10 Unscriptural Basic Catholic Doctrines
      From the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church

      The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is the only source of salvation for sinners. The Bible teaches the LORD Jesus Christ is the only Saviour. Details
      Catholics are taught that the Catholic Church forgives sins. The Bible teaches that forgiveness comes directly from God through faith in Christ, not through church membership or sacraments. Details
      Catholics believe the lie that Baptism saves. Water baptism saves nobody. Salvation must precede water baptism. Details
      The Vatican claims Peter was The Rock upon whom Christ founded His Church. The Christ of the Holy Bible disagrees. Details
      Popes claim they are infallible. The Holy Bible declares all men are corrupt. Only God is infallible. Details
      Roman Catholic Priests and Leaders are infallible. This blasphemy is clearly exposed by recent publicity. Details
      The Catholic Sacraments are essential for salvation. Nobody is saved by sacraments, but through faith in Christ alone. Details
      The Catholic Church is the only correct interpreter of Scriptural doctrine. The Holy Spirit is the only Interpreter man needs. Details
      Transubstantiation; God is formed into a wafer-biscuit at the priest’s command. This unbiblical idolatrous blasphemy is taken from Babylonian sun worship. Details
      https://www.born-again-christian.info/catholics.htm

      1. Michael O'Byrne

        I’m a former Catholic ( Roman ) and most Catholics I know don’t own and have never read a Bible from any denomination. So what percentage of Irish Catholics possess a Bible and how many of them read it?

    1. Silly of you, Jim; to ignore the very clear text above where it says the Catholic Church decided which books were to be included in the Bible. She used her authority to declare which books were, in fact, inspired by the Holy Ghost, and deserved to be preserved, studied, meditated, and revered as the Word of God. So, she “invented” the definitive list. Don’t take one word out of context and pretend to make a logical argument.

    2. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, decided which books were to be included in the Bible. Much later, men following Luther edited the Bible in order to eliminate some of the books which did not mesh with their theology.

    1. Check yourselves ladies and gentlemen. Why are we criticizing each other? Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah? Did you believe Jesus died for our sins on the The cross? The Catholics and Protestants believe in Jesus. Which religion is not Christian? Don’t be like the Pharisees with their righteous condemnation.

      1. The Catholics did not invent the Bible. It was God breathed, Holy Spirit led. If anyone needs to check themselves it’s the Roman Catholic Church! Explain to me why in the Bible, God directly speaks against idols, the making and worshipping of statues, praying to anyone but the father, bowing only to him. Yet, the Catholic Church has statues everywhere, they praise and bow to the pope (idolatry), and pray to saints and Mary? I was catholic ….raised that way and the Lord pulled me out of it. They say they believe in Jesus, yet they still have people confessing their sins to a priest. When Jesus was crucified you no longer went through a priest, no one gets to the father except through Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We need to confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord and repent….he is our direct link to God. We live in New Testament times, we are under the law of the messiah….no longer the law of Moses where you would need to go to priests. Are we still doing animal sacrifices when we sin? I hope not! We go to God with our sins, not a man that tells us to say penance which most times is praying to Mary. Do your research and look into the history….things are not right. I pray that the Lord will begin opening peoples eye to this deception.

        1. All you thick prosetents think your so clever you won’t be going to heaven
          You think a Bible gonna get you there don’t think so
          Our lord founded the catholic church for salvation of mankind on gods earth and give the keys to the gateway to heaven to St Peter all the popes are successors from him and the priests act as Christ for us and carry on him work and power
          The only way to salvation is through the 7 sacraments in our lords holy catholic church which includes confession!!!!
          So that’s it you all read your books you big jokes thinking you have more power than our lords holy catholic church hahahaha haha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
          Your churches arnt gods house there unholy and most where stolen from the catholic church which is blastermy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          1. If what you say is true then why isn’t any of what you believe written in God’s holy word? I find no mention of popes,nuns,cardinals,praying to mary,and priests as you have in your church in the bible. The church you say God started, the catholic church, is mentioned nowhere in Gods word. Please give me book,chapter and verse in the bible for just these few things that you believe God has anything to do with in His church. Read your nativity story and compare it to the real story of Christ’s birth in the bible. What you believe is not in the bible. None of what you believe is in the word of God. Not one thing!!!!!!!!

          2. Just re-read your comment. Do you read the Bible? We don’t think a book will get us to Heaven, we believe in what it says and regard it as holy. It gives us basis and unchanged information so that we can learn more. Your comment calls us “big jokes” and “unholy” and yet think of when the Lord heard those thoughts, do you think he was proud. Be humble and forgiving. Just as we may have misunderstood some of your denominational practices, you may have misunderstood ours. Please remember to respect others before you call yourself holy and call us blasphemous.

          3. FSHS DISCIPLES (APA)

            2 Thessalonians 2:15 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
            “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter”.

            1 Corinthians 4:6 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
            “…you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another”.

            Sacred tradition is in the Scripture. God bless.

        2. As you were nominally a Catholic, I understand that you did not practice your Faith; or you would know better than to transfer to a lesser religion that excludes much of what Christ Himself commands us to do and believe. Taking some lines out of the Bible and using them as APPARENT contradictory arguments; only proves that you are wilfully closing your eyes to God’s orders.

        3. How did you decided to leave the Catholic Church? I wasn’t raised Catholic but I’ve never been yenckraged to read the Bible. When I asked about reading the Bible I was told that it can be misenterpreted. Then why give me a Bible. That does’t give me a reason to read it at all and makes me feel that God cannot speak to me other than the priest. I want to know if the Cathechism and the Bible are equal then why not make it one complete book? It feels like other Christian groups who use the Bible plus. What is the standard by which we should measure truth? For every religious group that claims the Bible plus something, the only commenailty is the Bible.

        4. Tracie, I was a Southern Baptist for 27 years before I converted to Catholicism 34 years ago. The Catholic Church existed before there was a Canonized book of Scripture that today we refer today as the Holy Bible. Have you ever asked anyone to pray for you, or have you prayed for someone that was very sick. All prayers go through Christ Jesus, even the prayers of the Virgin Mary must go thru Jesus. There is only 1 redeemer & he is Jesus Christ Our Lord & Savior. The Catholic Church believe’s in the Triumphant Church in Heaven, who are no longer weighted down by temptation & sin. Do you believe that you are more worthy of praying for someone than the Virgin Mary, St. Paul, or St. Peter? All prayers must go thru Jesus. James chapter 5 should help you understand confessing your sins to another. The Priest is simply there waiting for anyone who needs to unload there guilt to someone & then the Priest usually will ask the confessor to pray to our Hevenly Father for forgiveness. I stole a pair on sunglasses & my Pastor Father O’Sullivan sent me to the Homeless Shelter for 4 nights, so I could see people in desperate need & look at those sunglasses I stole, and reflex on how much I needed in comparison to those without a home. One night I was assigned the job of making 250 peanut & Jelly Sandwiches. Man oh Man did I learn a lesson. Catholic Priest are not Levitical Priest: Jesus is our High Priest & he brought back to life the Priest Hood of Melchizedek, that will last forever: We are part of this being members of the Priesthood of the faithful & in Christ Jesus. You will find much of what you’ve heard about the Catholic Church is not true. Please pray for me, I am fighting a deadly disease that I will lose. But, Thanks be to God, My Master & My Lord evidently has other plans for me, He is my King of endless glory. Peace be with you..❤️..Timothy 🎚

    2. My mother in law just died last week and was married to a catholic man in a Catholic Church over 40 years. The priest called when she had died firstly started to prayer for her and then realised she was not baptised and said the church would not handle her service and called her a corpse in front on my wife and her husband. does this man think he is representing Christ. Since then the church tried to apologise through a text to another brother. what hypocrites. This happened in Ireland where the majority of the country follow this cult. I feel sad for them that they follow such a bigoted institution.

      1. This priest clearly did not know about Baptism of Desire, whereby a person is baptized by desire because upon their imminent death, they haven’t got the means to be ritually baptized.

        “For catechumens [those instructed in the Catholic faith who are preparing to be baptized into the Catholic Church] who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament” (CCC 1259).

        1. Please give me Book, Chapter, and Verse for the “Baptism Of Desire”. I want to read up on this. I must have overlooked that while I was studying my bible. Is that in the new testament or the old testament?

        2. The Irish Times did an article on the silent death of the Catholic Church in Ireland. After the child molestations the Irish just plain quit the Catholic Church.
          I was raised staunch Catholic, but I never saw one person whose life was radically changed by Jesus in the Catholic Church. Sure, we were scared of breaking a commandment, and that kept us from many sins, but born again? What’s that? One way- Jesus, not one way- Catholicism.

      2. If she wilfully chose NOT to be Baptized, that priest was respecting her decision and rightfully did not impose himself, too late… PRETENDING, after the fact, to have some rights to Catholic services, after forty years of refusing them, does not make someone a Catholic. Since she was already passed, yes, her body was a corpse. Never fun to have someone you love die; stop trying to cancel your sorrow with illogical anger against the Catholic Church.

    3. I frequently found my Catholic friends give no preference on bible … in 1 occasion, I was to go at Catholic church for a visiting with some of my friends then on then way I recognise that I left my bible at home. Then they says # don’t wary no 1 will bring bible, all message which will be delivered is written on lass pages of the song book # I was sock when I hear this… so, I have this question y?

      1. Haha left your Bible at home don’t cry no prosetents should be aloud near our lord church your disgraces thinking your so called Christians!!!!!!!!!!

        1. Pat, stop being so nasty; Christ died for the salvation of all men of good will; if people have been led into heresy; you are not helping them by being nasty. Learn you Faith and practice it; and you can lead others to full Communion with Christ in His One, True, Holy Catholic Church.

        2. Just a Believer in Christ

          Please stop hating on our denomination. Remember to represent Christ before speaking and please read Ephesians 4:29.

  3. I REMAIN SOLEMNLY COMMITTED AND IN UNION WITH THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST HIMSELF. (Matthew 16:18.)
    THE ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. WHICH HAVE SURVIVED OVER 2000 YEARS AGO WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMIDST CRITICISM AND ATTACKS, THE GATES OF HELL CAN NEVER PREVAIL AGAINST IT.
    CATHOLICS ARE UNIVERSAL CHRISTIANS.
    I PRAY FOR THE UNITY OF THE FAITH THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN
    BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE

    1. Sadly Daniel, you have been misled by centuries of Catholic lies and myths. Peter NEVER went to Rome, Paul did and the Roman Catholic Church was founded by Emperor Constantine for political purposes. If the Roman Catholic Church is ‘the one true church’, why did Pope Borgia’s family (most notably his son and daughter) go down in history as poisoners and murderers? Also why did the Roman Catholics murder, burn, torture thousands of true Christians because they challenged the might (and money) of Rome? The work of the Holy Spirit in the Roman Catholic Church is only seen by the fact that there are now many true Christians in that church, I know because I’ve worked with them on inter-denominational projects. I’ve seen this change both in UK and in France and Spain, I look forward to more Roman Catholics becoming enlightened through the scriptures and thus abandoning the shameful past of their church.

      1. Saint Peter has been in Rome, twice. This has been documented not only by Christian historians, but by pagans and Jews as well.

        Biblical proof: Peter wrote his first epistle in Babylon, which is the code name for Rome at the time because of the similar persecution Jews suffered at the hands of the Romans and earlier, from Babylonians.

        bible clearly stated:

        “The Church HERE in Babylon, united with you by God’s election, sends you her greeting, and so does my son, Mark”
        1 Pet. 5:13

        Peter was writing FROM Babylon (code name for Rome), and with him is his son Mark.

        Catholics have the literary, archeological and testimonial proof of his sojourn to Rome. Linus, Clement and Cletus (all mentioned in the Bible, and all residents of Rome) were his successors to the episcopacy and were ordained by Peter himself in Rome.

        If you have read the testimonies of Roman Christians and even hostile pagans immediately after the martyrdom of Peter is proof enough.

  4. My exwife is Catholic, has been for 10 yrs. She divorced me because i wouldn’t convert (Catholic church let her . In my bible Jesus says confess your sins not to man for only I CAN FORGIVE YOU ! JESUS ALSO SAYS CALL NO MAN FATHER FOR THERE IS ONLY ONE FATHER WO ARE IN HEAVEN. My exwife tells me that that Catholics use a different bible and that theres is the only real bible. My mother was born Catholic but left the Catholic church before i was born. All the research ive done on the Catholic church and Christians shows that Catholics are not Christians. They have their Pope who they worship, he’s the one that god talks to they say. No man can pick someone for god to talk to.GOD speaks to who he chooses!

    1. Is so true. Catholicity is all full of lies made by man to fool them from the evangelical path. ONLY CONFESS TO JESUS. JESUS IS. THE ANSWER. He is the only one we should ask to be our mediator not the so called saints. Mary was a good woman chosen to birth the messiah but she was still human

      1. “Is so true. Catholicity is all full of lies made by man to fool them from the evangelical path”

        ok according to you catholic is full of man made thing . so be careful when you read bible becos it means your bible also man made lies becos it compiled by the catholic church church.

        . He is the only one we should ask to be our mediator not the so called saints.

        yo have to understand saints do intercession with prayers, and anyone can pray for other person…. generally when people facing any trouble they request prayers from us tooo ,and they ask prayers from pastors..in bible saint paul also asked other ppl to pray for him … then why they ask they can directly pray to Jesus …. you have to understand , Jesus is a mediator and he had given his blood and life for sins and nobody cant do that ,,, but saints are different they pray for us thats all…as we are sinners we need more prayers form ppl and saints.. mediation of Jesus and intercession of saint are completely different thing…

    2. “”My exwife tells me that that Catholics use a different bible and that theres is the only real bible “””

      Yes she is right catholic bible has more books than other bibles.. all books exist from history, Septuagint has all the old testiment books that Catholics have , later remove by other protestant churches..

      “Catholic church and Christians shows that Catholics are not Christians”
      Catholics are Christians too and tell me the evidence that u can say Catholics are not Christians ?This is your own idea but church ds not teach like that .

      they have their Pope who they worship, he’s the one that god talks to they say.

      this also wrong Catholics are not worshiping pope we respect him as a leader , we worship only God.
      in catholic religion worship, respect have 3 categories , if u want i can explain you that also .

      “In my bible Jesus says confess your sins not to man for only I CAN FORGIVE YOU “!

      no doubt jesus can forgive our sins… but he also gave authority to apostles to forgive the sins in the name of jesus, when ppl do confession through priest (that time apostles) john 20 21

      [21] He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. [23] Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. [24]

      JESUS ALSO SAYS CALL NO MAN FATHER FOR THERE IS ONLY ONE FATHER WO ARE IN HEAVEN. ”
      you are correct , and catholic teching also same, nowhere in catholic church teach us we can go to father without jesus or with through anyone , if you saw any teaching like that show me pls

    3. Haha all these protasents uneducated our lord founded the catholic church himself
      Church of England for example was founded by dirty Henry 8th from nothing just because he wanted to marry loads of wives what a big joke!!!!!!!!!!
      there’s no salvation if your not a catholic
      All protasents do is read the Bible they can’t even take the holy eucharist because there churches alre all made up from nothing,have no power and are a big joke
      They have women vicars hahahaha which is wrong and marry gays which is not what God wants !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Was a catholic till a few weeks ago when I discovered that they do not follow the bible they only follow man made rules don’t trust me what I am saying please read the bible and go speak to your local priest and u will discover that you know more about the bible than them
    My eyes have truly been opened

    1. Chris, I’m saddened to hear about you losing your Catholic faith. I just want to assure you that true Catholicism promotes the Bible and the only reason we have the Bible is because of the early Church creating and preserving the Divinely inspired Word. As for your priest, you should not condemn him for not knowing more about the Bible than you–which I do find hard to believe unless you too have been to Seminary for 7+ years, he is most likely more educated about Scripture but I will not judge your knowledge based off one internet post. Priests are human so don’t judge the Church based off one human. Continue to do research and I suggest reading Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. Blessings.

      1. FSHS DISCIPLES (APA)

        You knowledge is not promoting THE FAITH IN THE TRUTH.

        1Corinthians 5:12-13
        “For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”

      2. Yeah its sad that the Catholic church in the year 1046 pope Urban ordered the killing of hundreds of thousands of Turks and jews. But hey.times were different back then. They could get away with it. They told their soldiers that they would be forgiven their sins. I read my bible (Holy Bible ) and in it Jesus says ” CONFESS YOUR SINS NOT TO MAN FOR ONLY I CAN FORGIVE YOU ” Catholics do more then 10 things that Jesus warns us not to do. I don’t judge them i just pray that they we many do bible study or even just read the bible. The Bible is ever hard t k read and understand, but that’s y they have Bible Study on the radio. To help people. My mother was born and raised Catholic, she converted before i was born. She never told me till she found out that i was doing research.

      3. If catholics are Christians why are they not called Christians ? Before you claim being catholic check the differences between Christianity and Catholics and see where you stand. EVEN SO RELIGION DOES NOT EXIST THE ONLY RELIGION THAT DOES IS TO LOVE THE LORD and confess to Him only

        1. If catholics are Christians why are they not called Christians ? Before you claim being catholic check the differences between Christianity and Catholics and see where you stand.

          please think twice when you asked a questions IF BIBLE IS WORD OF GOD THEN WHY PEOPLE CALLED IT BIBLE NOT WORD OF GOD OR SOMTHING ELSE LIKE HOLY WORD OF GOD HWY IT CALLED BIBLE (THE BOOKS)?

    2. Oh really man made i will look up but I don’t think Christians do it man made if I look it up if they are not man made I will suggests you to being a Christian

    3. Good for you; I would recommend reading the commentary from Adam Clarke and his writing on the Holy Bible and teachings. God Bless.

  6. God’s word is not from men. (2Timothy 3:16) IF the catholic made the bible then God’s word is a lie.

    My church cannot save me. Your church cannot save you nor the religion.

    The bible says: Jesus is the way , the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by him. John 14:6

    Be not deceived seek the truth while there is still time Jesus is coming soon……………..

      1. Obviously the Bible is divinely inspired but it was created by humans, who were Catholic, lead by the Holy Spirit. To say Catholics do not believe in the Bible, read the Bible, etc. is really the preposterous notion.

        1. FSHS DISCIPLES (APA)

          Roman Catholic believes the bible one among the other man made faiths. Lord Jesus and His Apostles did not created any Institutional Churches. Religion started because of the Institutional Churches. Doctrinal fight started because of the Institutional Churches. Lord Jesus did not created Catholic Religion. The word Catholic is meant for a Spiritual purpose. But, this word was not used by the Apostles. Rather they used “One body, we are all members”. Members through Faith in One Body or Institution???. These Institutions will not come to Heaven.

          Only those who belonged to catholic institution will be saved???. In many ways roman catholic doctrines is against the Apostle’s Gospel(Apostles tradition). Let your eyes be opened towards the Truth.

        2. Need to read the bible from front to back, or go to a bible study group. If you read the bibl it tells you that god told man what to write.in it. That’s number one. Number 2 everything in the bible happenef after it was written

    1. Bible warns US ! Catholic religion ommits for then 10 sins against god ! For one Jesus warns by saying ” confess no sin to man, for only I can forgive you ! ” That’s just one and theres many more.

  7. Jesus said ” I am the way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father, but by Me”.
    Mary can’t hear our prayers, she can’t pray for us. Catholics omitted Exodus 20:4 out of the commandments ” Thou shalt not make any grave images, or likeness..”
    Jesus is our one and only mediator between God and Man!

  8. Deat All..Reading the threads has led me to tell my recent story. I too was raised Catholic,went to school and church faithfully. Age 19 found Calvary Chapel and my personal relationship exploded with God. Many walks with just God,myself and my Bible..What a rich and deep time of growth..33 years later while sitting in my prayer space, I had a fast strong thought…”Who changed My Word and when did they change it”. It came out of no where. I instantly knew he was refering to the Holy Eucharist..Don’t ask why, I cannot explain it. I just knew…Fast forward, I now know it was the Lord and with my heels in the ground he took me on a 4 month study with my Bible and the availability to research Catholic answers to all the questions I had and online history studies.

    Gang..for me the truth became clear.. After a month I had the answer to the original question I heard that day in prayer…Martin Luther changed the word and he changed it over 1500 years later.

    From the apostles up to Martin Luther not one generation had not believed in the sacramental process of the Holy Eucharist. Side bar; Did you know Martin Luther loved the Blessed Mother and encouraged his believers to ask her to intercede with them when praying
    to Jesus? Look it up yourself. It has been lost through out the Protestant teachings, as no one has protected the original beliefs of Martin Luther.

    What I realized is that he changed the process (clearly given by Jesus ), of the Holy Eucharist to be a symbol..Read John 6..the whole story. I had to admit I never questioned it, no matter how much my Catholic mother asked me to….Note, when reading that many of his followers left because they could not accept what Jesus said
    about his Body and Blood, I noticed he didn’t stop them and say..no..no, its just a symbol…He let them go because they did not believe. He actually commented on how many would fall
    away because they could not accept this
    teaching… God took me on this journey..I know I didn’t take myself because it was the last place I wanted to be.

    While I was a Protestants, I enjoyed great Bible studies every Sunday ( which Catholics now have ). I came to see that Catholics go to church on Sunday to worship God and receive the Holy Eucharist. I get it, I never did before..My heart was never open to it..I realized I held bitterness and resentment towards the church. Really, I blamed the church for the dysfunction of humans at home and church….And 33 years later, the Lord taught me the value of obedience (even when it goes against every
    grain in my body)…

    Sitting alone with my Bible did not give me the knowledge of what was going on in the times when Jesus walked. I did not have knowledge of what words really meant, I do not know the traditions that took place when he walked this earth ( even the word tradition is not how we think of it today)..This is why a one on one did not give me the full story . I realised I did not have a full grasp, no matter how earnest my efforts were. I saw that although myself and my Bible were were rich and wonderful, the Holy Spirit had to gently show me what I did not see.
    At the end of the day he knew my heart was searching constantly for the truth.

    In closing, I encourage all to sit with him and ask him to open your heart for the truth at all costs. All you are doing is putting down your pride and surrendering. If you discover nothing changes in your beliefs you lost nothing..If you find he takes you on another path wonderful…
    Summary, he knows our hearts and loves us all…
    God Bless

    1. Concerning John 6 and Jesus teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. You must read verses 61 through 64. Jesus answers those who were having a hard time accepting his words, “Does this offend you? What is the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus is explaining that he came from the Father and that know one can come to him unless the Father has enabled him. It is referring to our election as Christians. God the Father draws us to believe in his son. It is a spiritual commitment and nothing to do with the flesh, which counts for nothing. It is all about the gospel. The fact that Jesus came down from heaven and died on the cross for my sins and your sins. He gave up his body and blood to pay for the penalty of our sins. He died in our place. But this chapter has nothing to do with the Last Supper which occurs much later. Don’t confuse the two, see Mathew 26;26 and Mark 14:22-25 and there you will see that Jesus tells us that as often and we eat and drink we should remember that he gave his body and blood on the cross to give us eternal life. God is spirit and we are to worship him in spirit and in truth.

    2. Grew up catholic in Europe, it is not the same Jesus in the Catholic church , not the same marie either , check the history of the roman catholic church and see the details /symbols of the paganism Babylon.
      The persecution through the ages.
      The roman catholic church do not encourage its followers to read the bible or if / when they do (there are exception) they do not encourage to study it in context with consideration of the culture etc because they know that it would have a serious impact in the numbers of followers.There are too many evidence to this. When leaders do not bring to justice pedophile ,but transfer them to poor countries , knowing very well that these predators will do it again , that the poor in those countries involved will not be able to defend themselves. Why they do not bring it to the justice in the country they are in ? We have system in place who could keep track of them.The followers in this religion ,where are their outcry at this???

    3. The scriptures are explicit there is only one mediator between God and men .
      Jesus stated also the exclusivity of this position when He stated “I’am The Way, The Truth, and The Life no one come to The Fathet except by Me
      John 14:6

    1. Invent means- to create something that hasn’t existed before.
      So, did Catholic create the bible that hasn’t existed before?
      Before in what we call now is the bible, it was either called The Pentateuch, or Torah, which was the first five Books of Moses. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he quoted from either Deuteronomy or psalms, God’s word way before there was a so-called Catholic Church.
      And you have letters from the Major and Minor prophets that makes up the rest of the Old Testament.
      Than we have the Four synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And after we have majority of Paul’s letter to different churches. Than gospels of john, James, and Peter, than Revelation of Jesus Christ.
      So how can the Catholic invent something that already existed? They may have put it together, I’ll give them that. Yet, if they created the bible, then why are their Ten Commandments are different from the bible?
      Exodus 20:4-“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”.
      You don’t see that commandment on the Catholics ‘Ten Commandments’. Why?
      Why won’t you have that important piece of commandment? So that idol worshiping would be permitable?

  9. I was born, baptized and raised Catholic. Eight years of Catholic grade school. Went to Mass every morning before school. Very involved in liturgy/music as an adult for many years. It is true…if a Catholic attends Mass every day for three liturgical cycles, he/she will only hear 1/3 of the Bible. And, look up the verses that are omitted. By the +Grace of God+, I was born again and received the true baptism of the Holy Spirit in my 30s. No different than Martin Luther 500 years ago. I am grateful for the religious foundation that the Catholic church gave me, but tradition, laws, doctrine, works will not save me or get me to heaven. But, faith in Jesus’s redemptive work has. Please, just ask God directly to reveal the truth to you. He will answer. And, your life will never be the same. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  10. To Protestants who like to claim that Catholicism is not biblical; Christianity was never a “book” religion to begin with. Originally, it was an oral tradition and various Christian communities had their own scriptures to supplement the oral traditions handed down by the Apostles. It wasen’t until much later that the the books that became the Bible were even compiled into one source and that was done by the Catholic Church. Since Christianity’s beginnings, we have had the deposit of faith made up of sacred scripture and sacred tradition. Sacred (oral) tradition always precedes sacred (written) scripture. Both are equal and valid. Your churches would not be so divided as they are had they retained sacred tradition.

    1. If the Catholics were the ones to be applauded for bringing us Christians the bible, than, why were so many people were tortured or killed for owning a bible.

  11. CATHOLICS DID NOT MAKE OR INVENT BIBLE CATHOLICISM IS JUST ANOTHER DENOMINATION THAT DID NOT WANT TO STAY TRUE TO THE REAL TEACHINGS OF GOD BY ADDING EXTRA THINGS AND PLACING FALSE POWER IN MEN (PRIEST’S) DUE TO THE FACT IT WAS TO TEDIOUS OR HARD FOR THEM TO COMPLETE – WRITTEN FROM A 15 YRO PUERTO RICAN

    1. About Catholics

      I appreciate your passion for your own church, but you will find that your assertions are incorrect when you study history.

      1. As I assume you know so much an you are so well informed why don’t you tell me…….well I suppose ignorance is bliss when u decide to twist the sands of time yet answer me this why do you proclaim of what you’ve given no facts for how do you actually know – 15 yrold

        1. Sydney, I don’t think you’re really being sensible. I once thought like you did, too, until I read up on the history for myself. I found out the Catholic Church has been responsible for the preservation of the Christian Church’s teachings, theology, and beliefs. After all, everyone was Catholic before the Reformation. Instead of telling Jon to give you the information, research it yourself. Isn’t that why you’re challenging him in the first place? Why not just find out for yourself?

    2. I am Catholic.
      I agree with you. While this is a nice article. The statement
      ” Catholics invented the Bible!”
      was maybe a bit overzealous. It felt profoundly inaccurate.
      It was though, a very human thing to say.
      I believe that this is an example, an opportunity, a demonstration of a statement, made by one person says does not reflect a Religion. It also does often even reflect the person either.
      The author may have made an inaccurate statement, however this, to me, does not undermine
      his or her enthusiasm, knowledge and faith.
      It is impossible to know everything. Peace brother.

      1. I Apologize for using my phone to write this, it resulted in some poor grammar. Also my response was regarding The Old Testament.

      2. THANK YOU FOR BEING NICE ABOUT THIS. I myself am Baptist Christian, not Catholic, but I’m struggling to find a non-shaming comment about the other denomination when a single fact is incorrect.

  12. Talking about confessing to the priest, furthermore, Jesus, having healed the ritually unclean man in Matt. 8:1-4, asks the man to go and see the Priest. For us Catholics, sin is a deadly disease. After we realise our sin, we pray for pardon, as we prepare for confession. Then we confess to the Priest, our spiritual Head, Christ’s representative, who assures us of God’s mercy, gives words of counselling, as well as necessary restitution to be carried out. God’s word remains the same for all times. If restitution, as well as priestly absolution, for purpose of reintegration of the outcast (for sin renders one an outcast) into the family of God’s people were necessary in old times, they are still very necessary today, for us Catholics.

  13. Jon I was raised in the church of Christ and became catholic later on I have always wondered why there are more books in the catholic bible than in the King James Version can you explain

    Thanks

  14. 1 Corinthians 4:6 (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition) says:
    “I(Paul) have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us the meaning of the saying, “Nothing beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another.”

    “Nothing beyond what is written” from bible, is the basic thing we Christians have to learn. So, that none of us will not be puffed up (arrogant or proud) in favor of one against another.

    1. APA….Indeed it is correct what you say….Nothing beyond what is written…….catholic church has kept what pope says above the Bible……..indeed anyone can see that all what catholic church has, are beyond what is written………….And the other fault is even if they watch at what Bible says, yet they give a wrong interpretation to them……………So anyway, dear catholics these things should be corrected and your eyes must be opened, and see the truth of God, in Bible.

      Well APA actually I wanna ask a question from you…But this doesnt relate at all to the topic which is being discussed or to the catholic church……I wanna know about something in Revelations……………please can you tell me that whats the 200 million army mentioned in Revelation 9:15 ??

      Thanks !

  15. I did a little research, and it seems that if you went to daily Mass every day for two years (daily Mass has a 2 year cycle) and also went to Sunday Mass every Sunday for three years (Sunday Mass has a 3 year cycle) you would only hear about 30% of the Bible. You can go to the thread below on Catholic Answers for more detail.

    http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=81943

    1. I wanted to thank JValentine for his clarification as to the percentage of the Bible which is covered in the Mass readings.

  16. Hi Fam,
    It is all in the Bible, so why not direct her there, rather than a website? Why leave the quotes I have shown clearly from the Bible unanswered? Matt 15v9?

    If the hope of Abraham, David, Paul, John etc etc is to await the resurrection and establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, when Jesus returns, should it not be the hope of every true Christian?

    God Bless
    J

  17. Dear Jon – a correction to the article as what was written can be somewhat misleading. Three points – one: the first reading is not always from the Old Testament – though in ordinary time this is so. During the Easter season and on Pentecost the first reading comes from Acts. Second, to say the second reading comes from the New Testament, while true, does not provide proper catechesis. All second readings come from either the Epistles or Revelations. The Gospels are part of the New Testament also so to say N.T. without being more specific as to what part of the N.T. does not tell the whole story. The last point is that all the readings are NOT all related to a central theme unless you are being so broad as to refer to the central theme of salvation history that is part of every book of the Bible. During ordinary time, the first reading is associated with the Gospel but the second reading is done in a semi-continuous manner so that there is not always a specific connection between the second reading and the first reading and Gospel. On special feasts / solemnities and during the seasons of Lent, Easter and Advent, the readings are all related around a more specific theme but not on regular Sundays in ordinary time.
    God bless

  18. Hello:
    I born into a catholic family, Grew up going to catholic church most of my adult life. One day I picked up the bible and read it and I was very surprised and shocked that I never learned anything That Jesus taught on salvation : Never once heard about the Rapture or The second coming of Christ or that we have to be saved and be baptized after we repent. Never once did the Bible or Jesus or any of his follwers ever tell us to pray to Mary or even mention her or any other saints in Prayer but yet the Catholic church seems more into Mary then the teaching of Christ… I’m very upset and disappointed that the Church has not taught me the right way to Heaven,,,, The bible never says to baptize babies only when once comes into Adult hood for the forgiveness of sin…. The bible never tells us to confess to a Priest or to do communions or confirmations or any other things we are Taught, Reading the whole New Testament made me want to seek other churches that just focus on the Bible and not Religion,. I know you will defend the church but you must read the whole bible and start teaching that we must be saved Not going to confessions. Can you explain why the bible is completely different then what the Church teaches, One sad Catholic.

    1. I’m not sure which Bible you read, but given that I have published a website explaining Catholic beliefs and their Scriptural roots, rather the onus is on you to explain why the Bible actually teaches something completely different from the rapture and getting “saved.”

      1. the catholic and protestant bibles are the same with the exception of the old testament which has the apocrypha books in it. alot of the topics mentioned above are in the old and new testament. the old testament reveals the new testament and the new testament conceals the old testament. it’s absolutely amazing how wonderfully written the bible is. God is so almighty and awesome and His Word is so powerful, why would anyone want to add or take anything away from it eg. beliefs, rules, rituals… I’ve been studying the bible and to me its like gold.

    2. Dear Patricia (and Jon),
      Reading your Bible you will find many discrepancies with the Catholic Church. That is because like the Pharisees of old, Catholics teach for doctrine the commandments of men. For example, the Trinity. This is not even a Bible doctrine, rather was a product of Constantine’s (Roman Emperor, not a Christian at the time) oversight of the Council of Nicaea around AD325, and then formally ratified in the Athenasian Creed around AD 500. You will not even find the phrase “Trinity” or “God the Son” in the entire Bible! Such a dishonour to Jesus who said very clearly “My Father is greater than all” (John 10v29)
      On further reading you will also find that going to heaven is not taught in the Bible. As the Apostle Peter taught in Acts 2v34 even David, a man after God’s own heart, has not gone to heaven. All the faithfuls of old (and today) have died in faith awaiting the resurrection when Jesus Christ will return to earth and establish God’s Kingdom on Earth (See Matt 6v10, Hebrews 11v39-40). So why we go to heaven when he is returning to earth is a doctrine that shows a clear deviation from scripture (Acts 1v11).
      I hope that you keep reading your Bible to find God’s truth!
      God Bless
      James

      1. About Catholics

        You certainly hold one of the more radical interpretations of scripture that I have ever seen! I’ll pray for you likewise.

        1. Thanks John…Jesus had the same response when he spoke the truth in his day. Like him, all that I did is quote the Bible…and you will be able to look up the history of the Trinity anywhere.

          The hope of the faithful has never been going to heaven, David is not in heaven (Acts 2v34). Our reward is in heaven, and we await for Christ to return with it. The entire NT abounds with references to Jesus’ second coming and return to earth to establish the Kingdom.

          Abraham was told to “look north, south, east and west, because all the land that you see, to you will I give it and your seed forever” (Gen 13). As Jesus is the seed spoken of (Galatians 3v16), it is clear that the faithfuls from all of time are to share this hope through baptism (Gal 3v26-29). So we wait for the time when this Kingdom on Earth will destroy all the Kingdoms of men (Daniel 2v44-45) and bring righteousness and peace to the earth (Isaiah 2v2-4).

          I am happy to discuss any of these further anytime.
          God Bless
          James

          1. Actually, David didn’t go to heaven because he commited a sin. The only exception with the same situation was Moses. If you read the whole story of Moses, Satan and God had an argument if he should stay dead or go to heaven. Elijah went to heaven, too.

            Revelations does say that God will take His people and that God would destroy the Earth afterwards to make a new one. By the way, the last chapter of Revelations said that if anything is added to the “Scriptures”, God will add to him the “plagues” he mentioned, and those who remove anything from the “Scriptures”, God will remove his name from the Book of Life. Umm… explanation?

          2. We are All sinners and have fallen short of Gods glory! We are saved thru grace, that anyone should boast. That’s why Jesus died so that we can go to the Father! When I get to heaven, I will meet David, after first meeting Jesus!

        2. You said your going to “pray for you likewise”, whom you’re going to pray to? Mary, who is a human being and cannot hear our prayers, especially millions of prayers coming to her, which without a divine or Godlike being, would make her Omnipresent as Only God has. So can I pray to my grandmother who also is in heaven, or my grandfather who retired a Minister of God’s word, and went to heaven too?
          Or as Jesus said that in My Name, that we ought to pray to the Father. Can I pray for you in the Mighty Name of Jesus? I’ll guarantee you that God will hear me.

          1. Catholics ask Mary to pray for them to God. Like when we go to a prayer group and Pray for each other. To God. And God alone. It is that simple. Repeatedly others will debate this. But do you not think a person knows to whom they pray and worship.

      2. Hi James,

        I would just like to react on your comment, the concept of the TRINITY was not the work of Constantine, the Concept was there and was just being ratified by the Council. The purpose of the council was not to create something out of nothing rather to discuss something that is there already.

        Trinity can be best explain using water. Water can exist in 3 different states, merely solid[ice], liquid[water] and gas[moisture]. Different physical identities but the same substance which is H2O.

      3. The word “trinity” is not found in the bible, no. But the concept of the Triune God-head IS. One God manifesting Himself in three distinct beings. Who was Jesus praying to in the garden of Gethsemane?
        Matthew 12:32 speaks of blaspheme against the Son of man being forgivable, but not so, blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.
        There are numerous theological words/phrases (not found in scripture) that we use to describe biblical events; Rapture, and Mission just to name a couple. But to assert that they’re not “bible doctrine” just because you can’t find [that particular word/s] in scripture… good grief!
        I once heard a man say that swore by the King James Bible. He didn’t like the NIV bible because he had come across a verse that mentioned “the gospel”, but omitted the phrase, “…of Jesus Christ”. Because it didn’t specifically say “THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST”, he concluded that the NIV was less than authentic.

        I found no less than 10 places in the KJV where the exact same “omission” exists.
        Just sayin….

    3. hi Patricia… for your questions.. it was all in the bible… just research Catholic Apologetic Part 1 – 5 in Youtube.. and watch for it.. all your answers will be answer there…
      here is the link for the part 1
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ONHez1ya08&list=PLF9477A56B43F47B0

      you can share it to james too… 🙂

    4. Actually, Jesus Christ tells us to confess our sins to priests…he said to his Apostles (the first priests) “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, whose sins you retain are retained”. Now, how would they know the sins of the people if the people were not coming to them to confess? Also…Jesus said “Let the little children come unto me”…it also tells us in the Bible that “whole households” were baptized…it does not say “whole households except for all the babies”. It was more uncommon, in those days, for a household NOT to have an infant in it, than to have one…or more…so, we can safely assume that when “whole households” were baptized, it included infants. Saint Paul tells us that intercessory prayer is “good” and “pleasing” to the Lord…this is all we are doing with Mary. . .asking her to pray for us. Why do we give her such a high honor? We do so because her son, Jesus, did so.

      1. This just in ….Mary is dead and can’t hear any prayers you say to her. The Bible (which you say Catholics invented…..which is nonsense) clearly says that there is ONE mediator! (1Tim 2:5) His name is Jesus. Jesus did NOT give Mary a higher honor than she deserved. He never instructs anyone to pray to her or “venerate” her. In Luke 8:19-21 Jesus is told that His mother and brothers are outside. Jesus corrects the informant saying “my mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and obey it”. Clearly Jesus was not going out of His way to lift mary up to a position that was completely inappropriate the way Catholics do. Hear the word of God and obey it. Former Catholic.

    5. Don’t be so upset, dear Judy. You would have no reason to leave the church; if only you asked God to give you the spirit of discernment, if only you received instructions of the Holy Spirit, the promised Paraclete, instead of relying on the words of men. The church is one as God is one. In spite of revolts and divisions, God’s purpose shall be fulfilled. God bless you.

      1. Dear Chinonye,
        Judy doesn’t seem so upset to me , I think you are reading her wrong. All she has mentioned is truth. The Holy Spirit is in our Church with us that’s what guides it, also the Holy Spirit in me tells me never to talk ill of her and to listen for I am not an apostle I am a disciple . It seems to me you could have been lied to about the teaching of the church ,for the church teaches the word of God. Maybe you should listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and not the lies of men.
        Peace Be With You and God Bless

        Reply

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