Catholic Practices/Beliefs vs Scripture
đź“ś Table: Roman Catholic Beliefs/Practices Contradicted by Scripture (KJV)
| Catholic Belief or Practice | KJV Scripture | Biblical Conflict / Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Praying to Mary or Saints | 1 Timothy 2:5 – "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." | Jesus is the only mediator; praying to others is not biblical. |
| Calling Priests “Father” | Matthew 23:9 – "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." | Jesus forbids religious titles like “Father” for spiritual leaders. |
| Purgatory | Hebrews 9:27 – "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." | No mention of a purging place between death and judgment. |
| The Pope as Christ’s Vicar | Colossians 1:18 – "And he is the head of the body, the church..." | Christ alone is the head of the Church. No biblical office of Pope. |
| Transubstantiation (literal body/blood of Christ) | John 6:63 – "...the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." | Jesus spoke spiritually, not literally, about eating His flesh. |
| Confession to Priests | 1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins..." | We confess directly to God, not through a human intermediary. |
| Veneration of Images and Statues | Exodus 20:4-5 – "Thou shalt not make... any graven image... thou shalt not bow down thyself to them..." | Worship or veneration of images is forbidden in the Ten Commandments. |
| Salvation by Works + Grace | Ephesians 2:8-9 – "For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works..." | Salvation is by grace alone through faith, not earned by works. |
| Immaculate Conception of Mary | Romans 3:23 – "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" | All humans (except Christ) are sinners; Mary is not sinless. |
| Rosary Repetition (Hail Mary, etc.) | Matthew 6:7 – "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions..." | Repetitive prayers like the rosary contradict Jesus' instruction. |
| Baptism of Infants for Salvation | Acts 2:38 – "Repent, and be baptized..." | Baptism follows personal repentance, not administered to infants. |
| Elevating Tradition Equal to Scripture | Mark 7:13 – "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition..." | Human tradition must not override God’s Word. |
| Assumption of Mary (not in Bible) | Hebrews 11:5 – Enoch’s assumption is mentioned, Mary’s is not. | No scriptural basis for Mary being taken bodily into heaven. |