Bible-believing Christians differs from Roman Catholism?

Question

This is a question based off a response I read to another question.

Is this a prominent belief between Protestants (restorationist, reformist, fundamentalist)?

If so on what authority, evidence and knowledge do you have it that the Bible is in itself the "Word of God"?

How can you suppose that you are not lacking information?
(e.g. Council of Nicea discernment of the "Inspired Works")

I'll hang up and listen.

P.S. I'm not Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican or anything similar.

Answer 1

There are lots of difference between Catholics and other christian denominations. Historically, the most obvious is that other denominations can only trace their founding as far back as the time of Luther and thats in the 1500's. That's why the only Bible that is complete is that of Catholics simply because the Church is the mother of the Bible and She was the one who declared that it is the Word of God. Without the Catholic Church, there would be no Bible. All other Bibles are missing books in the OT. Go to any bookstore/library and check it out. Catholics have more number of books in the Bible. Fundamentalists claim they are descended from the early Christians but its one thing to claim and something else to have proof. They don't even know a single early christian they can call their own. They don't even have a complete Bible!

Council of Hippo
"[It has been decided] that besides the canonical Scriptures nothing be read in church under the name of divine Scripture. But the canonical Scriptures are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the Son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, the Kings, four books, the Chronicles, two books, Job, the Psalter, the five books of Solomon, the twelve books of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Ezra, two books, Maccabees, two books . . ." (canon 36 [A.D. 393]).

Council of Carthage III
"[It has been decided] that nothing except the canonical Scriptures should be read in the Church under the name of the divine Scriptures. But the canonical Scriptures are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, Paralipomenon, two books, Job, the Psalter of David, five books of Solomon [Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Sirach], twelve books of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two books of the Maccabees . . ." (canon 47 [A.D. 397]).

Augustine
"The whole canon of the Scriptures, however, in which we say that consideration is to be applied, is contained in these books: the five of Moses . . . and one book of Joshua [Son of] Nave, one of Judges; one little book which is called Ruth . . . then the four of Kingdoms, and the two of Paralipomenon . . . . [T]here are also others too, of a different order . . . such as Job and Tobit and Esther and Judith and the two books of Maccabees, and the two of Esdras . . . . Then there are the Prophets, in which there is one book of the Psalms of David, and three of Solomon. . . . But as to those two books, one of which is entitled Wisdom and the other of which is entitled Ecclesiasticus and which are called `of Solomon' because of a certain similarity to his books, it is held most certainly that they were written by Jesus Sirach. They must, however, be accounted among the prophetic books, because of the authority which is deservedly accredited to them" (Christian Instruction 2:8:13 [A.D. 397]).

Augustine
"God converted [King Assuerus] and turned the latter's indignation into gentleness [Es. 15:11]" (The Grace of Christ and Original Sin 1:24:25 [A.D. 418]; this passage is not in the Protestant Bible).

Augustine
"We read in the books of the Maccabees [2 Macc. 12:43] that sacrifice was offered for the dead. But even if it were found nowhere in the Old Testament writings, the authority of the Catholic Church which is clear on this point is of no small weight, where in the prayers of the priest poured forth to the Lord God at his altar the commendation of the dead has its place" (The Care to be Had for the Dead 1:3 [A.D. 421]).

The Apostolic Constitutions
"Now women also prophesied. Of old, Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron [Ex. 15:20], and after her, Deborah [Judges. 4:4], and after these Huldah [2 Kgs. 22:14] and Judith [Judith 8], the former under Josiah and the latter under Darius" (Apostolic Constitutions 8:2 [A.D. 400]).

Jerome
"What sin have I committed if I follow the judgment of the churches? But he who brings charges against me for relating [in my preface to the book of Daniel] the objections that the Hebrews are wont to raise against the story of Susannah [Dan. 13], the Song of the Three Children [Dan. 3:24-90], and the story of Bel and the Dragon [Dan. 14], which are not found in the Hebrew volume, proves that he is just a foolish sycophant. I was not relating my own personal views, but rather the remarks that they are wont to make against us. If I did not reply to their views in my preface, in the interest of brevity, lest it seem that I was composing not a preface, but a book, I believe I added promptly the remark, for I said, `This is not the time to discuss such matters'" (Against Rufinius 11:33 [A.D. 401]).

Pope Innocent I
"A brief addition shows what books really are received in the canon. These are the things of which you desired to be informed verbally: of Moses, five books, that is, of Genesis, of Exodus, of Leviticus, of Numbers, of Deuteronomy, and Joshua, of Judges, one book, of Kings, four books, and also Ruth, of the Prophets, sixteen books, of Solomon, five books, the Psalms. Likewise of the histories, Job, one book, of Tobit, one book, Esther, one, Judith, one, of the Maccabees, two, of Esdras, two, Paralipomenon, two books . . ." (Letters 7 [A.D. 408]).

The African Code
"[It has been decided] that besides the canonical Scriptures nothing be read in church under the name of divine Scripture. But the canonical Scriptures are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the Son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, the Kings, four books, the Chronicles, two books, Job, the Psalter, the five books of Solomon, the twelve books of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Ezra, two books, Maccabees, two books . . . Let this be sent to our brother and fellow bishop, [Pope] Boniface, and to the other bishops of those parts, that they may confirm this canon, of these are the things which we have received from our fathers to be read in church" (canon 24 [A.D. 419]).

Answer 2

First of all, Roman Catholics to believe in the Bible. At Mass we have three readings from the Bible. Psalms (old Testament), Epistle from New Testament, and the Gospel from the New Testament..

I really don't have time to type all the information, but Roman Catholics do not cling to every word of the Bible like most protestants do. A book that was written so long after the death of Jesus Christ and has been interpreted by so many languages and people in general, cannot be all correct.

The Roman Catholic church also believes in Transsubstantiation. We believe in the Ten Commandments and live by them. We are one of the few denominations that have Seven Sacraments.

And I would like to make this perfectly clear, as I have been a Roman Catholic for 60 years, we DO NOT worship Mary, we DO NOT idolize Mary. We only worship The Trinity.. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

As to asking the saints to pray for us, have you not ever asked a friend to pray for you? Same difference.

Answer 3

First of all the Catholic Church existed over 500 years before the Bible was compiled. The Bible (New Testament) was compiled by the Catholic church and no additions or deletions to it's canon have been made by any other Christian religion since its composition. The Bible was written in its entirety by Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic church is not a child of the Bible as many Protestant churches claim they are. The Roman Catholic Church is the "mother" of the Bible. It was the Catholic church that protected and nurtured the Bible in its formation inthe first 5 centuries of Christianity. Then there almost 1,000 more years before the first Protestant church came on the scene. No other Christian churches existed. Men didn't start them yet. Just as all Christian denominations can only trace their foundings by men or women, the Catholic church has an uniterruped succesions of Pope, that start with St. Peter. He was the Rock(Peter means Rock) that the Jesus entrusted His teachings to and also gave him the keys of the kingdom. The differences between Bible-believing Christians and the Roman Catholic church is in the interpretations of those teachings in the Bible. Did Jesus Christ really mean for over 1,000 different interpretations of His word? The only one, holy, catholic and apostalic church in the world today is the Roman Catholic church. It is one throughout the world,it is holy, it is catholic, meaning universal, and it is the only church that originated with the apostales, making it the only apostalic Christian church in the world today.

Answer 4

Well, there are many differences between Roman Catholicism and Conservative Protestants.
One, of course, is the honor paid to the Virgin Mary. Catholics believe that Mary was born without original sin. They have also declared that she is a co-redemptrous with Jesus. They say she was taken bodily into Heaven without having to die. They say that she was made Queen of Heaven by God.
There is nothing the Bible, that I can find, to support any of this. It is strictly Catholic tradition.
the Bible says: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' John 14:6. The New Testament also quotes Isaiah when it says: "Here is my servant whom I have chosen (speaking of Jesus) , the one I love , in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.......In his name the nations will put their hope.:" Matthew 12:18&21.
There isn't anything mentioned in either of these verses about Jesus needing help to save anyone. In fact, the whole New Testament is about how JESUS saves those who will turn to Him.
Mary said in Luke1:46-48: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." If she was born without original sin what did she need a savior for?
As far as being made Queen of Heaven or being taken bodily into Heaven, there is nothing in the Bible that mentions these events. They are Catholic triditional beliefs.
There are many other differences but it would take a book to go into them all.
Protestants believe that traditions are nice and some of them may be true, but they are, by and large, unprovable stories. The only source we are given whereby we can know anything about God is through the Bible. If the Bible is untrue, we can know nothing about God.
Protestants believe that God being God, He is perfectly capable of guiding over 60 individuals in the writing of His book. They believe that He is also capable of keeping His book intact over the centuries. God has managed to protect His book for over 3,000 years and I don't think that "The DiVinci Code" and a pack of howling atheists are going to destroy it now.

Answer 5

I was a Roman Catholic growing up and we used Saints and the Virgin Mary as Idols and only learned about Christ On Easter and Christmas. Roman Catholics are also big on purgatory.

As a Christian my main focus is on God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and reading the bible to which our Catholic church never recommended. Not saying everyone had the same experience.

Answer 6

It probabaly depends on the individual... I dont like these overgeneralizations but not all protestants of Christians and not all Catholics are Christians

CS Lewis said "......In the essay Christian Reunion he states that the real disagreement between Catholics and Protestants is not about any particular belief, but about the source and nature of doctrine and authority:

"The real reason I cannot be in communion with you is ... that to accept your Church means not to accept a given body of doctrine but to accept in advance any doctrine that your Church hereafter produces."

When Lewis was working on Mere Christianity, he had Book II vetted by Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian clergymen, to avoid any hint of denominational bias creeping in. In a telling passage in Allegory of Love he recognises the potential flaws in both the Catholic and the Protestant paths:

"When Catholicism goes bad it becomes the world-old, world-wide religion of amulets and holy places and priest craft; Protestantism, in its corresponding decay, becomes a vague mist of ethical platitudes."

...."
from http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/lewis/cs-lewis.htm


We all strugle with sin... and all need tons of amazing grace... Bible believing Christians often appreciate Catholic Christians like Tolkien and Pascal in fact protestants share many stunnign truths with Catholics

some differences are in the areas of emphasis of the following

- the ultimate authoity is scripture
- salvation is by grace alone through faith
- the importance of the indivuduals concience and the priesthood of each believer before God

and generally they like to avoid
- Jesus substitutes, which Mary and Saints might become in a practical sense for some

Answer 7

One difference in America is that Roman Catholic priests no longer tend to bash Protestants to their congregations, having gotten that out of their systems after many decades of doing so, whereas a number of Protestant denominations still routinely bash Catholics.

Answer 8

There's a few questions there. The big proof for Christians is the comming of the Christ; he fullfilled the prophecies. If it weren't for him then there's little to say that the Jews had it right. If you read the prophecies then you'd be impressed.

Catholics, I think, are Christians, and I say that even though I'm a N. Irish protestant. However, we think they got a load of things wrong, and that's why the reformation happened.

Answer 9

The bible says what a person of God (saved by Jesus)is suppose to be and do.
The bible tells how to become a christian.
You need to recognize the instruction book.
Men can't decide what they like and don't like about the bible.
You can only pray to and worship Jesus.

Answer 10

This is what the Bible says about itself:

Psa 18:30 This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Pro 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Joh 21:24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

And there is no reason to believe the writers were lying.

Answer 11

well i dont know how to read respond to your details but as for the main question i might be able to answer.

from my perspective (ex-catholic, currently atheist) there is a difference between catholics and christians. catholics are very traditional yet liberal while christians are bible thumping, hardcore fundametalists whi are insanely conservative.

thereality of the matter is that the difference is small...but visible.