Catholic Doctrine Bible Study

  Key Points: We give our best to Jesus’ Church because his gift to us of eternal life with Him is more valuable than anything.  The woman’s gift, and Judas’ price for betraying Jesus (only the price of a slave) showed how much each of them valued Jesus.  Reflect:  How much do I value Jesus?  What you spend your money on will reflect this. Beautiful church structures, paintings, statues, etc. draw people towards God, so they are not a “waste.”

  Key Points: God has given ALL of us talents to be used for the benefit of the Kingdom.  What we don’t use, we’ll lose.  (Just as we do physically by not exercising.) Check yourself with verse 40.  What are you doing for/to others who need help? Many of those are not easy to love.  We love them not because they are “lovable”, but because Christ loves us so much, that he gave everything, (Our life, and  His life!)for us. We’re all brothers and sisters in God’s family.  Nothing pleases a good father more than to see his children care for one another. You can’t say you love God without showing love for all others.  (You can’t say “It’s Jesus and me, and the hell with thee!)

  Key Points: Don’t be a “show” Catholic.  Check your inner thoughts.  Mt24:13-  Once again, we don’t believe in the false doctrine “Once Saved, Always Saved”, at least not the way many non-Catholic Christians do.  We must persevere to the end of our life in our walk with Christ.  (Salvation is not at a moment in time early in our lives, though it can start there.  Salvation is a lifelong journey-it’s important how we complete it.) Everything you have, and everyone you know,  on this earth will pass away.  All that will remain is your eternal relationship with Christ and those who accept His grace. Be ready!  (It’s later than you think!)

  Key Points: Though our invitation to eternal life is a free gift, and we are provided with the “garment” of grace to do good works, we must still prepare ourselves for heaven by cooperating with God’s grace, and doing what God wants. Loving God, and loving your neighbor as yourself sums up the 10 Commandments.  (If you love God and everyone, you won’t want to lie, cheat, steal, covet, murder, etc.  That’s why Augustine said “Love, and then do as you will.”) We’re not just a social service agency:  We have a duty to love God.  We’re not just an adoration group: hence the teaching about loving our neighbor. The two “loves” go together:  You can’t love God properly WITHOUT loving your neighbor (everybody), since we are all a family and are all brothers and sisters.

  Key Points: Jesus did not sin when he overturned tables and chairs and forced the money-changers to leave the temple, because it was His house!  (An owner has the right to remove unwanted intruders!)  He was exhibiting righteous indignation, which we as Christians should do when OUR Church and its doctrines are being abused. Jesus caused the barren fig tree to wither, not because of a temper tantrum, but to illustrate that all Israel is to bear fruit , and will bear the punishment of it’s fruitlessness.  (The fig tree had long been a symbol for Israel, as an eagle is a symbol of the U.S.)

  Key Points: Although a sincere “deathbed conversion” is valid, don’t wait!  Why miss out on the graces of the greatest relationship you can have, for ANY length of time? We are to lead through service, as Jesus did for us. How/who are you serving?

  Key Points: Marriage is a COVENANT, not merely a CONTRACT.  Each partner’s goal should be to make sure the other goes to heaven.  Daily prayer TOGETHER greatly increases the odds of a lasting, successful marriage.  For marriage in general, read CCC paragraphs 2360-2381. Divorce: paragraphs 2382-2385 Annulment: paragraph 1629 The rich young ruler’s wealth was an impediment to a closer walk with Jesus. What’s your impediment?  Pray about your priorities and what to do about them. You can’t earn your way to heaven! (Pelagianism heresy)  It is a free gift from God, but we must cooperate. Eternal life beats any life we could imagine on this earth!

  Key Points: We must have the faith of little children, in the sense that little children instinctively know they must depend on others, just as we must depend on and trust God. Do an examination of conscience-Who have I been a bad example to recently? Go to Confession if necessary. Jesus would have died for you if you were the only person on earth!  He loves you that much!! Mt 18:17-20 is another example of how Jesus intended that there be ONE authoritative Church. We must forgive others principally because God has forgiven us.  (We don’t DESERVE forgiveness, and sometimes the person that offends us doesn’t DESERVE our forgiveness either.  But, we must!) Homework:  Think of someone that you hold a grudge against, pray for them each day for a week, and forgive them, at least in your own heart.  Let it go!(Depending on circumstances, you may or may not decide to communicate with the person directly— if there has been physical abuse towards you in the past, as an example.)

  Key Points: Matthew shows that Jesus is the “newer, better” Moses. Moses makes it to the Promised Land after all!  (But, as with us, Moses doesn’t reach the ultimate Promised Land until after his death- this world is not our home!) With faith, we can “move mountains”, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD ( which is what we’re here for!) , but not necessarily for our own personal earthly benefit. Jesus didn’t need to pay the temple tax. (As God, the Temple was his house!), but did so as an example for us.

  Key Points: God only changes someone’s name on 3 occasions in the Bible.  Each time, the change denotes the person is to become the leader of God’s people. Peter, (“Rock”) is given the “keys”, the power to “bind and loose”, will represent the authority of God on earth. The Church is to last until the end of the earth, so that authority (keys) is to be passed down. “Apostolic succession.” See linked images for additional support https://drive.google.com/file/d/1at58RsLF1j7OHu-2Xof5lWs9dYH3zoso/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cw6Z8gYqeDAnf7NVx_uLcPe_xhmrW3Vb/view?usp=sharing

Key Points: 15:3-9  Don’t edit the word of God to suit your beliefs.  (Follow the one Church that Jesus founded.) Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  At different moments in our lives, we can be both, and we need Jesus equally in both circumstances. Jesus helped the Canaanite (non-Jewish) woman because of her PERSISTENT FAITH. He indirectly referred to her as a “dog”, I believe, to show the Apostles the error of their ways in assuming that Jesus came only for the Jews, using an epithet that they, themselves, likely used to describe Gentiles.  It was a “teaching moment” that Jesus used, for their benefit.

  Key Points: There is a Hell.  Jesus makes reference to it about 60 times in the Gospels.  (Having said that, Jesus makes about 3 times more references to Heaven.) The Feeding of the 5000 (men, plus additional women and children) was a real miracle of Jesus.  To say otherwise is to deny the divinity of Christ. When we keep our eyes on Christ, we can do more than we ever could without him, as Peter discovered. (14:39)  When we doubt Him, we will “sink.” (14:30)

“ How to get rid of a sinful habit.” and “Is the doctrine held by many non-Catholic Christians of “Once Saved, Always Saved” true? Key Points: Jesus has given us enough signs to trust him.  We don’t need more signs; we need more faith! To rid ourselves of a sinful habit, we must replace the bad habit with a good one.  The vacuum will be filled with something. Jesus’ gift is to all who will follow him, which is more important than even family. The seed sown on the rocky ground shows that salvation can “fall away.” So, NOT  “Once Saved, Always Saved.” We must persevere!  (With God’s grace!) The Parable of the weeds and the wheat growing together describes the Church.

  Key Points: What sin can’t be forgiven? We must look beyond the LETTER of the law to follow the SPIRIT of the law. ( So, if helping an accident victim causes you to miss Mass, helping the wounded person takes priority.)  The LAW is good and needed, but it’s ultimate purpose is to guide us as to how to love God and our fellow people better, not the other way around.  “Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.....” means to reject God’s mercy to the end of our life...either by saying that we don’t need God’s mercy (that we don’t need God at all), or by saying that our troubles are so great that God cannot help us.  (See CCC paragraph 1864.) We will answer for every thing we’ve said and done on the day of judgement. (But, thank God for Purgatory!)

  Key Points: (“Came not to bring pea ce, but the sword”) Your eternal life is more important than your earthly life. How am I acknowledging Christ to others? Jesus causes division.  (But in a good way!) We must choose between following what the world tells us, or following Christ. To “take up one’s cross” is to risk even crucifixion to follow Jesus, as was understood in Jesus’ culture.  10:40 A prelude to Apostolic Succession. Who do you know that needs “a cup of cold water” today?

Key Points: Jesus has power over sin and death. The Church is a hospital for the sick (all of us!), not a country club for the (spiritually) well-off. Who can you “take by the hand” or “touch” to help with their problems? “Whoever endures to the end will be saved”  flies in the face of the “once saved, always saved” theology espoused by many non- Catholic Christians.

  Key Points: Jesus healed several people in this chapter,  including total social outcasts (lepers) with a touch.  Who needs our touch today, even if (ESPECIALLY IF!) they are outcasts by our society? Leprosy analogous to mortal sin.  Jesus told the lepers to “show yourself to the priest”, just as WE must show ourselves to a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be declared clean of our “leprosy” of serious sin. Jesus’ healing is available to ALL!  ( The Centurion was a Gentile.) Our relationship with Jesus needs to be our #1 priority.  (2 examples where they were not.)

  Key Points “Judge not, lest ye be judged!”  means we are not to judge a person’s eternal destiny.  We also don’t necessarily know what’s going on in that person’s life that may lessen their culpability.  BUT, we ABSOLUTELY must judge whether an act is moral or not.  There are moral absolutes!  We must be introspective about our own lives through frequent examination of conscience, asking friends, etc. “Do not throw your pearls before swine.”  While we are to witness to all, there’s a time, a place, and a way to share the Gospel.  It is best sometimes to avoid a confrontation, pray for that person, pray for a better set of circumstances in which to share, and pray for other people to witness that the subject might listen to.  “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still!” Jesus is not preaching a “prosperity Gospel.”  God WILL give us what we ask for, for the good of our relationship with him, for our eternal salvation, and the good of HIS kingdom, but this world

  Key Points: Our attitudes are as important as our actions.  (Do we do good things (prayer, fasting, good deeds) to promote OUR good name, or GOD’S?) Prayer: A conversation with God.  It’s all about a growing RELATIONSHIP with God. (We can’t have a RELATIONSHIP without COMMUNICATION!) We pray for GOD’S will to be done.  (And for our will to become one with GOD’S will.)  We are merciful to others because of God’s mercy toward us. Our lasting treasure is eternal life with God.  NOTHING else lasts!

Key Points “Do not kill” means more than physical murder- do we kill other people’s spirit with harsh words? Examination of conscience (see attached example) is essential to our relationship with God. Marriage is a Sacrament, to be entered into only once during the life of a couple; annulment is NOT “Catholic divorce.” “Turn the other cheek” is another example of Jesus’ use of hyperbole.  Though we are not to be doormats, we are not to escalate a bad situation.  We don’t always have to have the last word! Do we pray for those that we don’t like? As part of being Salt and Light to the world,  we are to speak out politically regarding Church teaching.  (Even though neither party fully embraces Catholic teaching....see attached.)   https://bulldogcatholic.org/ wp-content/uploads/2018/12/a- detailed-catholic-examination- of-conscience-2nd-ed..pdf

Key Points: “Poor in spirit” are those who realize they don’t have all the answers and they need God’s guidance. WE are to be “salt and light” to the world- - we should be influencing our culture instead of being influenced by the attitudes of the world. Jesus is calling us not merely to external observance of rules, but to an internal transformation of our hearts. Jesus frequently uses HYPERBOLE to get our attention. (5:22, 29, 30)  (Don’t cut your hand off!) Jesus holds the moral bar quite high!  None of us can reach it on our own!  But, he provides us His death on the cross as payment for our sins, grace to change, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we fail. We must do a frequent examination of conscience.  How am I treating my brother?  Am I a bad example to others? Am I shining the light of Christ?

Key Points: When “tempted”, Jesus looks to Scripture for answers, as we should. When tempted, we know that Jesus can relate to us.

  Key Points: John the Baptist is the New Testament fulfillment  of Old Testament prophets Isaiah ( quotation), and Elijah (attire).  For Jews even today, Elijah is awaited to show them their Messiah. There IS a Hell! The Trinity is implicit in scripture, but not explicit.  We needed the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, to define the relationships in the Trinity.  (See Session 1 about why the Catholic Church has that unique authority.)

Key Points: Matthew seeks to show the connection  between Jesus and Moses and David through 4 Old Testament quotations in this Chapter alone. The gifts of the Magi reflect Jesus’ Role as King (gold), Priest (frankincense), and Sacrifice (myrrh). Again, though Matthew’s and Luke’ account of Jesus’ birth and first visitors are quite different, they are not contradictory. The Magi travelled far and risked much to find Jesus.  How passionate is your search to know Jesus? OT Joseph’s dreams , as with NT Joseph’s dreams, ultimately resulted in a trip to Egypt, where his people were ultimately saved. The Holy Family’s refugee status may cause us to contemplate and soften our hearts towards potential refugee immigrants in our own country. The horrible slaughter of the innocents in Mt. 2 reminds us of the slaughter of countless millions through the sin of abortion, and that we must work and pray to end this awful practice.

Jesus’ birth story per Matthew....Was Mary really a Perpetual Virgin?” Key Points: Joseph is the “hero” of Matthews account. (Vs Mary the “hero” in Luke’s account.)  This is not a contradiction, just a difference of emphasis. Joseph a great example for us: He chose to forego his legal rights to follow God’s will and act for the benefit of others. The word “until” in verse 25 does not mean that Mary was not a perpetual virgin. (Two other examples of “until” in scripture.) The Magi were non-Jews; Jesus came for all of us! No Magi in Luke, no shepherds in Matthew; just different emphases. Luke emphasizes women, poor. Matthew emphasizes fulfillment of OT prophecy.

Overview of Matthew: Jesus’ Genealogy; Why the difference between Matthew’s and Luke’s account, and why should we care? Key Points:   The Gospel of Matthew  written between 50-90AD by a convert to Christianity from Judaism. Matthew’s emphasis- to show that Jesus is the promised Jewish Messiah, the ultimate King of the Jews, and to the world.  Jewish prophesy fulfillment.  Jesus is a 2nd, better Moses, and a 2nd, better David. Though from a royal dynasty, Jesus had many deeply sinful people in his ancestry-just like us! Differences in Matthew’s, Luke’s genealogy of Jesus:  Matthew’s gospel records only back as far as Abraham, the founder of the Jews.  Luke, a GENTILE, goes back further,  to Adam, who predated Judaism, to emphasize Jesus came for ALL people. The difference between the 2 genealogies from David to Jesus may be because Mary’s genealogy was used for that time frame.

Best English translation :  Revised Standard Version- 2nd Catholic Edition. Second best translation : New American Bible (Personal Study Edition) Study tips: Write notes IN MARGINS, or on sticky notes you can attach to the bible pages. Use different colors of CRAYONS to highlight key verses. Buy a CATECHISM of the Catholic Church, refer to bible passage index in back of it. Read the bible through the eyes of the Church. (See #3 above)

Key Points: Dealing with Discrepancies In The 4 Gospel Accounts, and Emphases of Each Gospel Account. We would EXPECT discrepancies from 4 separate accounts of a person’s life.  Yet the accounts, combined, paint an honest picture of the life and divinity of Christ. Matthew-written to a JEWISH (Jewish convert) audience, to show that Jesus is the promised Jewish messiah. Mark-written to Christians in Rome. “Peter’s Gospel.”  Emphasises Jesus’ ACTIONS and his HUMANITY.  “Suffering Servant.” Source document for Matthew and Luke. Luke-written for GENTILES .  Emphasises:Kingdom is for ALL.  Women in high esteem.  Treatment of poor.  Holy Spirit presence. Jesus’ prayer life. Matthew, Mark, Luke-“Synoptic.” John- Emphasises: Jesus’ DIVINITY . (NOT “Suffering Servant”, He’s always in control.)  Most symbolism, double meanings, numerology.

  Key Points: The  bible  is NOT a science book or history book.  It is a LIBRARY , calling us to an eternal RELATIONSHIP with God. The  bible  is not DICTATED by God.  God INSPIRED the human authors, but they used their own words, styles, emphasis. The  bible  is ALL TRUE, for the sake of our salvation. Not necessarily always LITERALLY true.  (See 1st Session of Old Testament for more detail on “Truth in the  bible .)  The books of the  bible  were chosen among many others and ratified by the CATHOLIC church, guided by the Holy Spirit,  in the late 300’s.  ALL Christians agree on the Catholic choice of the 27 New Testament books. Martin Luther error on choice of books: no “keys” and was 1200 years late.

Key Points: The UNIQUE AUTHORITY of the Catholic Church: Jesus started ONE Church ( Mt16:16-19 ), prayed for UNITY in that Church ( Jn .17 ), intended for that Church to remain until the end of human history ( Mt 28:20 ), gave that Church the Holy Spirit to guide it into all truth ( Jn 16:13 ), and gave that Church the Unique Authority it would need ( Mt16:16-19 ).   That Church even preceded the bible.   That Church (that Jesus started) is “The Pillar and Foundation of truth.” ( 1Tim 3:15 ) The Authority issue is essential in solving doctrinal differences between Christians.

(Note: This blog is a supplement to the "Catholic Doctrine Bible Study" Podcast. The podcase is available for both iOS and Android) All Christians should want a closer relationship with God.  Toward that end, all Christians should read the Bible!  But there are so many conflicting interpretations that Bible study can be confusing if not disheartening.  Which church, if any, has the God-given authority to interpret the Bible? (Listen to Session 1, if no other,  to see why there can only be one answer to that question.) In this study, you will see the doctrines of the Catholic Church come alive as we go through each book of the entire Bible from a uniquely Catholic perspective. As we come across passages where there are differences in interpretation between the Catholic Church and other groups,  we will point them out, and show why the Catholic Church, the one Church founded by Christ, is the one you can rely on for the Fullness of Truth. The sessions are filled with references