Catholics... Someone please make sense of this for me?

Question

It says in Ephesians 2:19-22 that the church of God was built upon apostles and prohpets, if catholics are the true church, why don't they have apostles and prophets. Because god is "the same yesterday, today and forever" His church today then would also require having these apostles and prophets. Why don't catholics have them? And how can they be the true church of god without them?

Its saying that todays true church requires there to be prophets and apostles. If they don't exist in the church tis a key we can use to recognize it as not being the true church. There are so many ways that we can translate the bibel on our own we need these men to guide. For example, the word "the", whos to decide that it means the original apostles. I don't think it does cause then that would require God to change what he has already spoken, which may happen on occasion, but not with something this serious.

I've come to a conclusion, the catholic church may have a portion of the doctrine of god, but I don't think it has the completeness of it here is why. The believe in the bible which is good, but its incomplete and missing parts, such as Exodus 24:7, where is the book of the Covenant? Numbers 21:14; Where is the book of wars? Joshua 10:13; Where is the book of Jasher? 1 Kings 11:41 Where is the book Acts of Solomon? 1 Chron. 29:29; The Books of Nathan and Gad? Pus another atleast 10 books that I won't list for the sake of space. They have all been removed from the bible. An we all know Rev. 22:18-19. So that brings me to the following 2 points, 1-) If god loves us so much wouldn't he provide us with more doctrine that hasn't been altered in order to allow us to know with certainty his gospel? Which I believe he has done. Point 2-) If any church is based solely on the teachings of the bible, it would seem to me like a chair with 1 leg. Its works but its not what it could be had it 3 legs

Answer 1

The bishops of today are the direct successors of the original apostles with Pope Benedict the direct successor of Simon Peter.

I disagree with your interpretation of Ephesians 2:19-22:

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

The prophets of the Old Covenant and the apostles of the New Covenent do make up the foundation of the Church. But this does not mean that God will continue to send us prophets as in the Old Testament. The prophetic revelation of God is pretty much completed with the New Testament writings.

And the Holy Spirit coming to rest on the Apostles at Pentecost and has been brought down through the ages by an unbroken progression of believers laying on their hands on new believers, passes on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

FOUR MARKS OF THE TRUE CHURCH



If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)
Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.

His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).

Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.

The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)
By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).

But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).

The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20).

For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).

Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).

The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.

The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)
The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and, since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).

These beliefs include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Mary’s special role, and much more —even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.

Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.

Answer 3

The Church was built upon the 12 apostles and later Judas' replacement. There were prophets and are prophets in the church. Unlike the Old Testament, New Testament prophets are not recognized by the official Church.
The Church today is not the exact same Church as the early Church. Jesus did not come for the Gentiles but the early Church evolved in its theology to include Gentiles. The Holy Spirit continues to live in and through the Church and guide the Church. The Church changes as the Spirit leads it to change. Jesus said that what ever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and what ever you change on earth will be changed in heaven.
Change is growth and is a part of life.

Answer 4

Good question. The true church is still built upon apostles and a living prophet called by God. Anyone familiar with the scriptures understands this method God has always used in leading his children since the time of Adam.

True membership in the church of God requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The fruit of these attributes is faith, baptism by immersion by one holding the authority to baptize from Jesus Christ and God the Father, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

These ordinances and principles are given and exercised in our day and the church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth with all the keys of the Priesthood restored.

Pray to know if these things are true and God shall manifest the truth of it unto you.

Answer 5

The bishops are the duly ordained successors of the apostles.

And so far as prophecy goes ... when the proper time comes, authentic and true prophecy is always there ... and always will be there ... because the Holy Spirit guides the church from age to age ... and the Holy Spirit is the source of all prophecy.

Don't confuse the claims of televangelists and other confused men or stage actors, with authentic prophecy.

True prophecy is purposeful and often rare.

Note the number of years between the various prophets of the old testament, and you'll see.

Answer 6

It says in Ephesians 2:19-22 that the church of God is built upon the apostles and prophets you foregot the "the" as in the original apostles. Their words are what we have today not their physical bodies. Just like with Jesus we have his words not his physical body here.

Answer 7

We are built upon the FOUNDATION of the prophets of the old testament and the apostles of the new testament. What is that foundation? 1 Corin 3:11, "For other FOUNDATION can NO MAN LAY than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ". Jesus is the cornerstone. We turned a corner from the law of Moses to Grace. A new direction ordained of old by God.

Answer 8

Funny though, the LDS Church HAS a Prophet and has 12 Apostles JUST like Christ had when he was here on earth.

Answer 9

the catholic church does have Apostles (bishops) and prohpets. Father Gobbi, St Gertrude, St catherine of Siena, St Theresa the little flower, padre pio, francis Exchavier, etc etc.

Answer 10

I feel like Catholics have added their own practices and preaching into gods word. They worship Mary (hail mary full of grace) and no where in my bible does it say that we should do that. They also add the practice of confessing to a priest. i think he's just some nosey guy who wants to know everyone's business because my bible says that if you ask you shall recieve. It does not require a middle man to do it for you.