Is Catholicism Biblical? - A Defense of the Truth

First of all, the bible says nothing of the rosary. The bible says that all our prayers should be addressed
to God our heavenly Father in the name of Jesus. The bible never mentions prayers to be made to Mary or to
the saints or to anybody.

I am going to be quoting from the Catholic Bible (The New American Bible) to prove my point least you say that I am using the Protestant Bible. By the way there are very minor differences between the Catholic and the
Protestant Bibles.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray directly to God.

"This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,...." Matthew 6:9-13

[1]History teaches us that "the rosary, or prayer beads
was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in the year 1090.
Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans."

The bible warns us not to use vain repetitions when
we pray. Jesus said: "In praying, do not babble like
the pagans, who think that they will be heard because
of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father
knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:
7-8.

The bible teaches that Mary is a descendant of Adam
born in sin just like everyone. She too needed a Savior
to save her from her sins.

"And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of
the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior." Luke
1:46-47.

The bible teaches that Mary was a virgin until the birth
of Christ. Later she had other children through Joseph.

"When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord
had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and
he named him Jesus." Matthew 1:24-25

"Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named
Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?" Matthew 13:55-56

History tells us that "the Immaculate Conception of
the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in the
year 1854."

History tells us that "in the year 1950 the last dogma
was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII, the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary."

History tells us that "confessions of sins to the priest
at least once a year was instituted by Pope Innocent
III., in the Lateran Council, in the year 1215."

The bible says in the New Testament that only God can
forgive sins. Regarding that passage in James 5:16
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray
for one another, that you may be healed." This doesn't
refer to confessing to a Priest rather it refers to
believers going to a brother whom they offended and
asking forgiveness from them.

History tells us that "the doctrine of Purgatory was
proclaimed as a dogma of faith by Council of Florence
in 1439. There is not one word in the Bible that would
teach the purgatory of priests. The blood of Jesus
Christ cleanses us from all sins. (Read 1 John 1:7-9;
2:1-2; John 5:24; Rom. 8:1)."

In the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:4, the bible forbids
us to make statues to worship and make prayers to it.

History tells us that "the worship of Mary, the mother
of Jesus, and the use of the term, "Mother of God" ,
as applied to her, originated in the council of Ephesus
in the year 431."

SEE THE WEAKNESS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH! IT BASES
MOST OF THEIR DOCTRINE ON HUMAN TRADITIONS RATHER THAN
THE WORD OF GOD,THE BIBLE. AND THEY KEEP EVOLVING
THEIR DOCTRINE OVER THE YEARS. SEE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
NEVER STARTED BELIEVING ALL THESE DOCTRINES FROM THE
BEGINNING.

Jesus said in John 17:17 "Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth."

The bible says: "All scripture is inspired by God and
is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction,
and for training in righteousness. So that one who
belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every
good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Look at what Jesus' response to someone who is highly
praising Mary:

"While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called
out and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried
you and the breasts at which you nursed." He replied,
"Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it." Luke 11:27-28

The apostle Peter never claimed to be sinless.
He said to Jesus in Luke 5:8

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of
Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful
man."

The bible never says to confess to a priest. The bible
says that we should confess our sins directly to God.
Read 1 John 1 and 2. The bible says we go to God through
Jesus Christ our mediator. We don't need Mary or the
saints or the priests.

"For there is one God. There is also one mediator between
God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human,
who gave himself as ransom for all." 1 Timothy 2:5-6

The bible says that there is only the office of Pastor,
teacher, and deacon in the church. There is no office
of Priest or Pope in the New Testament church. Show
me one place in the New Testament where there is the
office of Priest. The Catholics most likely borrowed
the idea from the Jews.

The bible says: "And he gave some as apostles, others
as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors
and teachers." Ephesians 4:11

The Catholic church forbids marriage to Priests and
nuns and forbids eating of meats on Fridays in the Lent
season. That is contrary to what the bible says.

"Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times
some will turn away from the faith by paying attention
to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions through
the hypocrisy of liars with branded consciences. They
forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that
God created to be received with thanksgiving by those
who believe and know the truth." 1 Timothy 4:1-3

The bible says that salvation is a free gift. It is
not earned.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and
this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not
from works, so no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

The bible doesn't mention anything about infant baptism.
Water baptism doesn't save you. The bible says water
baptism should be administered only to believing adults
or youth who have trusted in Christ as their savior.
Baptism is only a sign given after conversion.

Show me an example on infant baptism in the bible!

The bible says baptism is done by immersion not by sprinkling
or pouring. The New Testament was originally written
in Greek. The Greek word for baptism means "to immerse."

"John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized," John 3:23

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?”

Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.

As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?”

Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.

When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:34-39

The bible speaks of only two ordinances in the New Testament.
They are Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both
of them are signs. They don't get us into heaven.
The bible doesn't mention anything about the communion
only to be administered through priests.

Rather, in the New Testament the bible calls all true
believers priests and saints.

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins
by His blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests
for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever."
The Apocalypse 1:5-6

The bible doesn't mention anything about the mass which
is unscriptural. The bible says that Christ was once
sacrificed for sins and we need not to repeat the same
sacrifice over and over.

"But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated." Hebrews 10:12-14

And finally, the bible says that Christ is the head
of the church. The bible doesn't say anything about
a Pope as being head of the church. The bible says
that the apostles had no successors, "for to succeed
them one needed to be a witness of Christ's resurrection
(Acts 1:21, 22).

The bible says of Jesus in Colossians 1:18

"He is the head of the body, the church."

And regarding this passage in Matthew 16:18

"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld
shall not prevail against it."

The Greek word for Peter is "Petros" which means a stone
or small rock.

The Greek word for rock in Matthew 16:18 is "Petra"
which means massive stone. And that is the rock which
the church is builded upon.

The Greek word "Petra" is used in referring to Christ
in 1 Cor. 10:4. "And the rock was the Christ."

So it is clear that Christ is the rock, the foundation
of the church. The bible speaks of Christ as the Cornerstone.

"built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone." Ephesians
3:20

In conclusion, let us follow the bible not human traditions
because following either way will have eternal consequences.

[1] History information taken from List of Heresies by Stephen L. Testa.