More Biblical Evidence for Catholicism: Companion to a Biblical Defense of Catholicism

Biblical Defense of Catholicism #2

by Dave Armstrong, Scott Hahn (Foreword)

My purpose is to accumulate biblical arguments in support of distinctively Catholic doctrinal positions, with Protestant readers particularly in mind. I also touch upon the closely related subjects of sola Scriptura (the Protestant notion of Scripture Alone), the Catholic Church's high regard for Holy Scripture, and critiques from our separated Christian brethren with regard to matters of ecclesiology (Church) and Tradition. Additionally, a fair degree of emphasis has been devoted to certain common and erroneous charges against the Catholic Church and to dialogue (back-and-forth discussion), so that readers can have a sense of interaction with opponents of various Catholic doctrines, and how they might be answered from Scripture, history, and reason. Almost all of these chapters came about as a result of challenges and dialogues undertaken via e-mail and Internet lists and bulletin boards, from mid-1996 through to mid-2000.

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Christian

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

I was received into the Catholic Church in 1991 (was evangelical); conversion story in the book Surprised by Truth (1994). Articles: The Catholic Answer, This Rock, Envoy, & The Coming Home Journal. Many nationally syndicated Catholic radio appearances including Catholic Answers Live; Faith and Family Live. My website, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, was online from March 1997 to March 2007. My blog began in February 2004 & contains more than 2500 papers (including more than 50 separate web pages and 570+ dialogues). Sophia Institute Press has published four of my 23 books: A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (2003), The Catholic Verses (2004), The One-Minute Apologist (2007), and Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths (2009). I am co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for The New Catholic Answer Bible (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), & editor for The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes Quips and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton (Saint Benedict Press / TAN Books: 2009).

Happily married to Judy since October 1984: three sons & a daughter.

Reviews

[Steven H]

A SUPPLEMENT TO HIS EARLIER "BIBLICAL DEFENCE OF CATHOLICISM"

Author (and convert from Protestantism) Dave Armstrong has also written 'One-Minute Apologist,' 'The Catholic Verses: 95 Bible Passages That Confound Protestants,' 'Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers,' etc.

He wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, "This work is intended as a companion piece and continuation ... of my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism A Biblical Defense of Catholicism. Once again my purpose is to accumulate biblical arguments in support of distinctively Catholic doctrinal positions, with Protestant readers particularly in mind... Additionally, a fair degree of emphasis has been devoted to certain common and erroneous charges against the Catholic Church..." (Pg. xi)

Commenting on John 6:52-58, he observes, "Does Jesus then say, 'look, guys, settle down; you misunderstood Me! I was just talking symbolically; don't be so literal!' No, not at all. Rather, He reiterates His point in the strongest (and most literal) language." (Pg. 46)

He states, "The Bible and other books were chained in the libraries and churches in the Middle Ages to preserve them from theft, and especially to make them available to students... The Reformers adopted this custom of having chained Bibles in their churches, and the practice lasted for over 300 years... At the present time we have records of over 5000 chained books in eleven Protestant and two Catholic libraries." (Pg. 65)

He observes, "I am curious ... in those areas where Protestants can't bring themselves to agree with each other; for example: 1. TULIP; 2. Baptism; 3. The Eucharist; 4. Church Government; 5. Regeneration; 6. Sanctification; 7. The Place of Tradition; 8. Women Clergy; 9. Divorce; 10. Feminism; 11. Abortion; 12. The Utility of Reason; 13. Natural Theology; 14. The Charismatic Gifts; 15. Alcohol; 16. Sabbatarianism; 17. Whether Catholics are Christians; 18. Civil Disobedience." (Pg. 84)

Not nearly as comprehensive or helpful as his early book, this book will still be a useful supplement to it for students of Catholic apologetics.