Why do Protestants think Catholics do not follow the Bible when it was The Catholic Church which gave them it?

Question

It was The Catholic Church at the Councils of Carthrage, Hippo and Trent which infalliably declared what books of the New Testament were God-Breathed. She chose 27 books out of hundreds circuling around out there. Such as
The Gospel of Peter
The Gospel of Nicodemus (also called the "Acts of Pilate")
The Gospel of Judas
The Questions of Bartholomew
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (which claims to be according to Bartholomew)
The Apocalypse of Adam
"Secret Gospel of John")
The Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians (wholly independent of its namesake, the Greek Gospel of the Egyptians)
The Coptic Apocalypse of Paul
Three Steles of Seth

The Apostles had nothing to do with it. This all happened later. If the Church is so wrong, then why trust the books she declared were scripture?

If her beliefs are so unbiblical then why would she print a book that anyone could read and see that for themselves?

Answer 1

Your question is SO on the money. I asked a similar one; here’s the link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ahb.RVrz5x7_t3Tl_Jk5kNHsy6IX?qid=20070602103715AAsqKIy

I read through a lot of the answers to your question. It’s amazing that nearly all of them didn’t even come close to actually answering your question. Your point is so simple (probably too simple that most refuse to accept it): you listed some 9 different examples of books, Christian writings that were around during the time of the canonization of the bible. You asked, “Why weren’t those books included in the canon? Who made that decision?” And the best one, “If the Church is so wrong, then why trust the books she declared were scripture?”

It CONFOUNDS me how they will REFUSE to even consider those simple questions.

The canon of scripture every single living breathing Christian still walking accepts as divinely inspired is that very canon approved and authorized by the Catholic Church. Period! If the Protestants won’t accept this, then they’re delusional! If they reject the bible issued by the Church, then they’re free to make their own (provided anyone will trust it)!

Answer 2

If you are a Catholic, then you should know this:
Ordinary Catholics were only allowed to read the Bible in the last four dedades.
Before that, there were Catechetical classes in the schools where only major parts of the Bible such as the creation part of Genesis until the flood of Noah and then the Christmas time and easter observation in the life of Jesus were the normal teachings.
In the late 50's the Catholic church allowed Bible study but only with a Bible Scholar priests as not all priests are well versed in the Book (which you may be surprised to know.)
In a much earlier times, congregations were not allowed private reading of the Bible because they were warned not to have their own interpretation of the word. Besides, in that time even masses were printed in Latin or Spanish. Only a priest's sermon were either spoken in English, Latin, Spanish or the native's language that can be understood only by majority but not by all who have a different dialect. Catholics were dependent on the letters from the archdiocese for the mass and sermons given to them on daily basis and people were only taught with words from excerpts chosen as a topic week after week and year after year.
What you see at present were not made available to all Catholics before unlike the protestants who from the beginning of their movement immediately used the Bible as reference for all members.

Answer 3

The Roman Church has existed for 1900 years. Any institution that old goes through phases. Like any government, things change. If you study Roman Empire history, you will find extreme differences between Ceasars Nero and Marcus Aurelius.

The church at the time of canonization of scripture was prior to a lot of corruption entering, and before the complete merging of state and church.

Most atheists are afraid of merging church and state; alot of us christians are even more afraid of merging state and church.

The modern RC church has been cleaned up of a lot of it's statist political corruption, but still holds on to many of the traditions which came in during that era.

We Bible thumpers are a little weary of that.

We're also convinced that there are a thousand ways to verify that God has prevented corruption in his word by excluding those books which were not written by the Apostles and ensuring that the ones we have were indeed written by them.
The evidence is overwhelming.

Answer 4

The Roman Catholic church is corrupt. A lot of their practices started in pagan religions, and that's why the book of Revelation (at the end of the Bible) calls it a "prostitute". Revelation gives a perfect description of our modern day Catholic church, even telling us where the Vatican is located (on the seven hills) and what colors the Pope and Bishop wear (scarlet and purple). It also tells of Catholic symbols such as the cup, and describes the gold and gemstones worn by the Pope and others. In the end this prostitute will be burned in fire.

Answer 5

My friend, if you believe that the Roman Catholic Church wrote the bible, or that she gave the bible to Christianity, you are truly deceived. Most of the bible was written in Hebrew by Jewish prophets and holy men of God. The New Testament was written by the men who followed Jesus while He lived on this earth, and for about 100 years after his resurrection. God Himself wrote the bible through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through PEOPLE - just like you and I. Jesus read the Old Testament, and you would know that if you have ever really read the gospels.
It is true, however, that centuries later, that the R.C. Church ratified many of the books of the bible - but did not write it! Just as the Continental Congress ratified our Constitution here in the U.S., but they did not write it.
The Catholic Church, since their ratification of many, (not all) of the books of the bible, has strayed FAR AWAY from many biblical truths (not all)
For example - NOWHERE in the bible does it say, that when we've sinned, that we must confess that sin to a priest. It says we are reconcilled to God ALONE! NOWHERE in the bible does it say that when a priest waves his hands over simple bread and wine that it becomes the ACTUAL body and blood of Jesus. And NOWHERE in the bible does it state that we must pray to ANYONE except Jesus Christ Himself. Not His mother, or the saints, or the angels.
I am a former Catholic, who loves Catholic people, but rejects, and totally denies most of the "cannon law" of the RCC. The RCC is - in many cases full of pride - in thinking they know and act better than the world or other sects of Christianity. or are God's gift to himan kind. I will never join those ranks again. Jesus taught (again, read your bible) that if we want to be great in His eyes, that we must humble ourselves, and become like servants. The RCC should be like servants, not like masters and kings as they often protray themselves to be.
Again, the Catholic Church did not write, inspire, or publish the bible. I suggesst that you Google a few names like John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and others who literally, and figuratively lost thier lives defending the teachings of scripture to the Pope and the RCC. Blessings as you do some historical ecclesiastical research.

Answer 6

Catholicism is very misunderstood by Protestants. In fact, many Catholic themselves don't understand why they do the things they do. The Catholic Church has existed since Jesus formed it. It has withstood centuries of abuse and hardship but is still standing. If that's not the hand of the Lord then God help us!

Answer 7

And even more to the point, how can Protestants think they are following the Bible when the beliefs of one denomination contradict the beliefs of another?? Truth can't contradict truth. Each little sect thinks its individual interpretations of the Bible are infallible, even though they are actually surrounded by doctrinal chaos. That's what happens when you separate yourself from the foundation of truth, the Church Christ founded, and try to force a book to be the foundation of truth. How do I know the Church is the actual foundation of truth? It says so in the book!!
.

Answer 8

Interesting point.

When the Protestants have disagreed with a doctrine in the version of the Bible that they have, they print another version. This makes the Bible become whatever the current rewriter wants it to be.

BTW I am not Catholic.

Answer 9

Catholics are all screwed up. In Catholic schooling I was taught to read and follow the bible, but then those beliefs fell by the way side...

This was very confusing for me to understand. It made me question my church and my religious views. At the age of 15 I left the Catholic church and have been leading a spiritual life without organized religion every since.

Answer 10

They're mostly either ignorant of the history of Catholicism (indeed, of christianity itself), or they have some anti-Catholic prejudice, ingrained by their church and/or parents. They RARELY bother to check the facts, as YOU did! Thanks for posting them...but don't expect Protestants (esp. Evangelicals) to bother reading them (at least not with an open mind).