|
|---|
| Mt 23:9 | Jesus: Call no man "father" on earth [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teaching | While this verse would appear to be definitive against the Catholic practice of calling priests "father," attempts to reconcile conflicting verses (see selected references below) with such a hard and fast prohibition causes problems. Something else is going on. Looking at the context (e.g., Mt 23:2-12), we find Jesus talking about religious leaders. Jesus is decrying their love of earthly honor and recognition. In context we can see Jesus is simply saying that we should not seek after earthly honors for our religious views or to place such men above God in Heaven. One could think of this as a warning from Jesus, an antidote for earthly pride. |
| Lk 14:26 | Jesus: "his father..." | Here we see Jesus use "father" to describe others favorably. |
| Lk 16:24 | Jesus: calls Abraham "father" | |
| Jn 8:56 | Jesus: "your father Abraham" | |
| AA 7:2 | Stephen: "our father Abraham" | |
| AA 22:1 | Paul addresses some as "fathers" | The apostles also use "father" as a title of honor for others. |
| Rm 4:1 | Abraham, our forefather... | |
| Rm 4:16-17 | God, Paul: Abraham="father " | |
| Rm 9:10 | Paul: "our father Isaac" | |
| 1 Cr 4:14-15 | Paul: "I became your father" | The apostles even use the term "father" to describe themselves. |
| Ep 6:1-2 | honor your father and mother | And do not forget that the title is found in the 10 Commandments. |
| Pp 2:22 | a son (Timothy) with father (Paul) | |
| 1 Th 2:11 | as a father treats his children | |
| 1 Tm 1:2 | my true child (Paul as "father") | |
| 1 Tm 5:1 | treat older men "as a father" | |
| Pm 1:10 | I've become father of Onesimus | |
| He 12:7-9 | earthly fathers to discipline us | |
| Ti 1:4 | Titus, my true beloved child | |
| Ga 4:19 | Paul: "my little children" | |
| 1 Tm 1:18 | my son (i.e., Paul=father) | |
| 2 Tm 2:1 | my son (i.e., Paul=father) | |
| 1 Pt 5:13 | Peter: "my son Mark" | |
| 1 Jn 2:13-14 | I write to you, fathers... | |
| 1 Jn 2:1 | John: "my little children..." | |
| 3 Jn 1:4 | John: "my little children..." | |
|
|---|
| 1 Tm 4:1-3 | forbidding marriage is evil [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teaching | |
| 1 Tm 6:20 | avoid profanities of false "knowledge" | Paul's conclusion makes clear what he is talking about throughout 1 Timothy. In the Greek, the word for "knowledge" is "gnosis." This was the term used for the secret knowledge taught by the Gnostic heresy of that time. They wrongly believed that matter was evil and only spirit was good. They falsely concluded that marriage and eating were evil because they perpetuated our material lives. Paul is giving Timothy instruction on why and how to avoid the Gnostic heresy. |
| 1 Tm 3:2 | bishop to be married only once [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teaching | |
| Ep 5:21-33 | marriage is good, holy [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teaching | Note: consecrated celibacy does not equal anti-marriage. Foregoing marriage for the love of God is a "good" in part because what is being given up is also "good" in and of itself. There is no sacrifice in foregoing marriage if marriage were deemed an evil (and clearly it is not). |
| Is 56:3-4 | prophecy of celibate priesthood | |
| Je 16:1-4 | no wife & children for Jeremiah | |
| Mt 19:12 | celibacy for sake of heaven | |
| Mt 19:29 | Jesus: reward for giving up all | |
| 1 Cr 7:7-9 | Paul was unmarried, celibate | |
| 1 Cr 7:32-35 | celibacy in Lord's service | |
| 1 Tm 5:9-12 | older widows celibacy pledge | |
| 2 Tm 2:3-4 | avoid civilian entanglements | |
|
|---|
| Gn 14:18 | Melchizedek | |
| Ps 109:4 | role of Melchizedek | |
| He 7:1-7 | Melchizedek, King of Peace | |
| 1 Cr 12:4-31 | different roles of followers | |
| Lk 22:19 | do this in memory of me | |
| Jn 20:21-22 | As Father sent me, I send you | |
| AA 1:15-26 | apostolic succession | |
| AA 6:1-6 | ordination of deacons laid hands | |
| AA 13:3 | they laid hands on them | |
| AA 14:22-23 | presbyters ordained | |
| AA 15:6-23 | church leaders act in concert | |
| AA 20:28 | you are guardians of the flock | |
| 1 Tm 4:11-13 | instructions for pastors | |
| 1 Tm 4:14 | gift through laying on of hands | |
| 1 Tm 6:3-14 | exhortation to godliness | |
| 2 Tm 1:6 | imposition of hands = God's gift | |
| 2 Tm 2:2 | 1st 4 generations of succession | Paul (1) has taught Timothy (2), a new bishop, who is to commend faithful men (3), who then are to teach others (4). |
| Ti 1:5 | appoint presbyters in every town | The word "priest" is just the modern derivative of the Old English "presbyter." |
| Ja 5:14-15 | elders administer sacraments | |
