Catholic Apologetics

Catholic Biblical Apologetics
Table of Contents - Text Version

Foundations
Apologetics Without Apology
An Incomplete Picture
Dearly Beloved Catholic Brothers and Sisters

Being Catholic and Christian: Faith and Salvation (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
The Transmission of Authoritative Doctrine
Apostolic Confessions of Faith
Post-Apostolic Confessions of Faith
The Apostles Creed
The Nicene Creed
Salvation: A Biblical Portrait
Salvation: "Being Saved"
The Catholic Response to "Are You Saved?"
The Knowledge of Salvation
Faith and Works
The Process of Christian Initiation
The Church: A Biblical Portrait - A New Testament Apologetic
Jesus Christ preached a Reign or Kingdom, the Kingdom of God (or of heaven).
Jesus preached an end-times kingdom but one already existing on earth.
Jesus preached that the kingdom was primarily spiritual and internal but also visible and external.
Christ called and founded an exclusive, inner core group of twelve men called the "apostles."
Christ committed His very mission to this twelve man inner core group, his Apostles, alone.
Christ gave to the Twelve, the Apostles, the power of ruling, teaching and sanctifying.
Christ at the same time instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all people.
This same church Christ willed to endure until the end of the world.
Christ instituted only one church, and that society was both formally and specifically a visible one.
The Marks of the Church
One
Holy
Catholic
Apostolic
Labels Among Christians
Genealogy of Christian Faith Communities (Link to Graphics Version of this timeline)
American Christian Branches Among European Founded Churches
Lutheran Branch
Reformed Branch
Anglican Branch
Presbyterian Branch
Baptist Branch
Anabaptists
Methodist
Modes of Transmitting Authoritative Doctrine

Divine Revelation "By Letter" (2 Thess 2:15): The Bible (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
Divine Revelation
The Bible: Written Revelation
The Hebrew Scriptures: Books of the Old Testament
Historical and Geographical Background for the Development of the Two Old Testament Canons
Background Chart: Development of the Old Testament Canons
Chronology of the Apostolic Age and the Development of the New Testament Canon
The Canon of the Bible
Comparison of Terms for Disputed Books
Inspiration of the Bible
Hermeneutics: Understanding Revelation
Literal Sense
Literary Form of John 6:25-69:
Literary History of John 6:25-69:
Interpretation of John 6:25-69:
Fuller Sense
Typical Sense
Major Church Pronouncements on the Bible

Divine Revelation "By Word of Mouth" (2 Thess 2:15): Handing On (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
Paradosis: Handing On Divine Revelation
The Biblical Model for Handing On Truth and Refuting Error: Acts 15, The Council of Jerusalem
Acts 15 Model: General or Ecumenical Councils of the Church Universal
General Councils of the Church
Jerusalem (Acts 15:2)
Nicea I
Constantinople I
Ephesus
Chalcedon
Constantinople II
Constantinople III
Nicaea II
Constantinople IV
Lateran I
Lateran II
Lateran III
Lateran IV
Lyons I
Lyons II
Vienne
Constance
Florence
Lateran V
Trent
Vatican I
Vatican II
Apostolic Fathers of the Church
Clement I, St. (Clement of Rome)
Ignatius of Antioch, St.
Polycarp of Symrna, St.
Unknown Author of the Didache
Barnabas
Papias of Hierapolis
Hermas
Post-Apostolic Fathers of the Church
Justin (Martyr), St.
Irenaeus, St.
Clement of Alexandria
Tertullian
Origen
Cyprian, St.
Athanasius, St.
Cyril of Jerusalem
Basil, St.
Gregory of Nazianzus, St.
Gregory of Nyssa, St.
Ambrose, St.
Jerome, St.
John Chrysostom, St.
Augustine, St.
Cyril of Alexandria, St.
Gregory I, St. ("The Great")
John Damascene, St.
Doctors of the Church
Ephrem The Syrian, St.
Athanasius, St.
Cyril of Jerusalem, St.
Basil, St. (the Great)
Gregory of Nazianzus, St.
Ambrose, St.
Jerome, St.
John Chrysostom, St.
Hilary of Poitiers, St.
Augustine, St.
Cyril of Alexandria, St.
Peter Chrysologus, St.
Leo The Great, St.
Gregory I, St.
Isidore of Seville, St.
Bede The Venerable, St.
John Damascene, St.
Peter Damien, St.
Anselm, St.
Bernard of Clairvaux, St.
Anthony of Padua, St.
Albert The Great, St.
Bonaventure, St.
Thomas Aquinas, St.
Catherine of Siena, St.
Theresa of Avila, St.
Peter Canisius, St.
Robert Bellarmine, St.
Lawrence of Brindisi, St.
John of the Cross, St.
Francis De Sales, St.
Alfonsus Liguori, St.
Theresa of Lisieux, St.
Handing On Divine Revelation: Vatican Council II

Truth Handling and Teaching Authority (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
Peter: A Biblical Portrait
Matthew Chapter 16, Verse 18: The Primacy of Peter
The Charism of Truth Handling: Infallibility
Bishop of Rome
Bishops of Rome: Popes
First and Second Centuries
Third and Fourth Centuries
Fifth and Sixth Centuries
Seventh and Eighth Centuries
Ninth and Tenth Centuries
Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries
Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries
Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty First Centuries
The Charism of Infallibility: The Magisterium
Vatican Council II, The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Chapter 25

The Sacraments: The Life of The Christian (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter Part 1 of 2)
The Sacraments: Opportunities of Grace
Baptism: Initiation and Regeneration
Infant Baptism
Baptism by Water: Immersion, Pouring, Sprinkling
Reconciliation
A Biblical Portrait of Sin
The Existence of Sin
Indulgences
Confirmation
Baptism and Confirmation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The Eucharist: The Lord's Supper (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter Part 2 of 2)
The Mass: Synagogue Service and Last Supper
Remembrance: One Sacrifice--Calvary--Continued
Transubstantiation
Healing/Anointing of the Sick
Matrimony
Annulment: There Never Was A Marriage
Orders
Clerical Celibacy
Priests as "Father"

The Communion of Saints (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
A Biblical Portrait of Saint
The Canon of Holiness
The Role of the Saints
The Intercession of the Saints
How Do Saints Hear Us?
The Canonization of Saints
The Current Canonization Process
The Biblical Description of Miracles
Images and Relics of the Saints
The Incorruptibles
Praying to the Saints / Praying for the Dead

Mary the Mother of Jesus: Saint (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
Mary: An Introduction
A Biblical Portrait of Mary
Mary: Virgin and Ever Virgin
Constant faith of the Church
Magisterium of the Church
Protestant Reformers
Objections to Continued Virginity
The Immaculate Conception of Mary
The Assumption of Mary
Private Devotions to Mary: The Rosary
Development of the Rosary
Prayers of the Rosary
Apparitions of Mary

Eschatology: The Last Things (Link to Graphics Version of this chapter)
Death
Immediately after Death: Particular Judgment
Reincarnation
Being Taken Up Into Heaven
Heaven
Hell: Reprobation
Purgatory
Limbo
The Parousia: Christ's Second Coming
Millennialism: A Thousand Year Reign
Resurrection of the Dead
General Judgment
The New Creation

Appendix: A Personal Relationship With Christ
Bibliography
Document References
For the Roman Catholic foundations for Sacred Scripture:
For English translations of Vatican Council II documents:
For biblical references as bases for Catholic theology and belief:
For the Fathers of the Church and their teachings:
For the teachings of the ecumenical councils:
For explanation of general Catholic teaching:
For the genealogy of Christian communities:
For general historical facts:
Additional reading:

The Original works are by Paul Flanagan and Robert Schihl. This is just a link page. The owners of this content are Paul Flanagan and Robert Schihl.