Topic 1: The Bible, The Tradition, and the Magisterium

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Teaching of the Holy Church

The Holy Church was given by Christ the sole authority to teach and
interpret divine revelation contained in the Bible, which is the written
divine revelation, and in Tradition, which is the divine revelation not written
and passed down through oral teaching. The Holy Church does not derive
the complete certainty of all that is revealed by God from the Bible alone,
but from two sources: the Bible and Tradition. Both the Bible and Tradition
should be given the same regard as containers of the Word of God.

The authority of infallibility in teaching what is necessary for the salvation

of people was not promised by Christ to every reader of the Bible but to the
living authority of the Holy Church called the "Magisterium," which is
composed of the Holy Pope and all the bishops united with the Holy Pope.

Objections:

1. Objection 1: Saint Paul said, "Do not go beyond what is written" (1

Corinthians 4:6). Therefore, we should not accept teachings that are
not written in the Bible.
2. Objection 2: Jesus rejected traditions, "Because of your traditions
you have nullified the word of God" (Matthew 15:6).
3. Objection 3: Jesus said, "Search the Scriptures, for in them you think
you have eternal life" (John 5:39). Therefore, the Bible alone is
sufficient to lead us to eternal life.
4. Objection 4: Saint John wrote, "But these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Messiah... and by believing you may have life
in his name" (John 20:31).
5. Objection 5: The Bible is sufficient as a guide for salvation because,
according to Saint Paul, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so
that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Response:

It is good for us to learn from the example given to the people of God in the
Old Testament. If there is a people who have given great importance to the
Scriptures, none can match the Jews. They were the first to hold the Word
of God. The Scriptures were their pride in times of victory and their hope in
times of distress. But they never thought of understanding it on their own to
know the will of God. Instead, God chose priests to teach them: "Go to the
priests and to the judge who is there, and inquire of them" (Deut. 17:9).
"They gave a verbal interpretation of the Law of God, and explained it so
that the people could understand" (Neh. 8:8). "The duty of the priests is to
teach the true knowledge about God. My people should seek instruction
from them, for they are the messengers of the LORD Almighty" (Mal. 2:7).

In the New Testament, Jesus established the new people of God, which is
the Church: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the
gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18). And among His disciples,
Jesus chose twelve whom He called apostles: "When morning came, He
called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also
designated apostles" (Luke 6:13), and He sent them out into the whole
world to continue His mission of teaching, governing, and sanctifying His
people: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20). Moreover, Jesus warned of the
severe punishment for those who reject them: "If anyone will not welcome
you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that
home or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and
Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town" (Matt. 10:14-15).

The apostles, knowing the authority given to them by the Lord, used that
authority to teach and correct false teachings: "But even if we or an angel
from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,
let them be under God’s curse!" (Gal. 1:8). In the first council of the Holy
Church in Jerusalem, the apostles and the leaders of the Church, with Peter
as the chief leader, settled the confusion about teaching (Acts 15:1-11). And
the early Christians recognized the infallible authority of the apostles sent
by Christ: "When you received the word of God, which you heard from us,
you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God"
(1 Thess. 2:13).

We can see that the living teaching authority for the early Christians was
the apostles and the leaders of the Church under Peter as the chief leader.
This was the situation at a time when not a single line of the New Testament
had yet been written!

Proving that the Bible Alone is Not Sufficient for Salvation

First, because the Bible does not reach all people at all times. The first book
of the New Testament was written in 45 AD, and the last book was written
around 100 AD. The compilation of all the books into one volume called the
Bible happened around 397 AD through the Council of Carthage. The early
Christians reached holiness without reading even a single stroke of the New
Testament books. Even after the books of the Bible were completed, only a
few people had copies of the entire Bible because printing was not invented
until 1456. At that time, copying the Scriptures was done by hand. Even in
our current times of printing, how many people cannot benefit from it due
to the simple reason that they cannot read?

Second, because not everything taught by Jesus and His apostles was
written in the Bible. According to Saint John, "If every one of them were
written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for
the books that would be written" (John 21:25). We know that from the
beginning, the apostles preached orally, but over time there emerged a
need for an orderly, authoritative, and reliable account of Jesus' life from
those who witnessed it firsthand or from those with sufficient authority and
knowledge about it. This was because the apostles gradually died, and there
were many inaccurate or false writings circulated to distort the person and
works of our Savior. This prompted Saint Luke and other evangelists to
write their accounts. The Epistles were also written to address the various
needs of each church regarding teaching, governance, ritual, or discipline,
and were written to encourage, rebuke, and warn against false teachers, as
well as to protect the apostles from accusations. However, none of the Holy
Writers thought of creating a complete summary of Christian doctrine or
that their writings would be collected into a single book to be the sole basis
of faith apart from the living teaching authority left by Christ, which is the
Holy Church.

Third, because the Bible is not clear and easy to understand for many. Saint
Peter said, "There are some things in them that are hard to understand,
which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do
the other Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16). The division of many faith groups, all
using the Scriptures as the basis of their teaching but holding conflicting
interpretations, is clear proof that the Scriptures are not easy to
understand.

There are three crucial questions that cannot be answered if we rely

on the Bible alone:

1. How do we know the correct canon of the books of the Bible?

Before the New Testament books were compiled, many Christian
writings were circulated. Who identified the 27 books of the New
Testament as inspired? None other than the Catholic Church, under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, through the Council of Carthage in
397 AD, after approval by the Pope, declared definitively and for all
time which books were to be included in the Bible and which were
not. The original writings have long since vanished. What we have
today are copies of copies of the originals. Who guarantees that the
text of these copies is accurate and faithful? The Catholic Church,
based on its ancient Tradition, in its teaching and liturgy, knows what
the true text is and what is incorrect.

2. How do we know the translation is accurate since many of us use a

Bible translated from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic? To be sure of an
accurate translation on our own, we would need to study the original
languages, and how many of us can undertake this difficult task? Once
again, we must rely on the authority of the Holy Church.

3. How can we be sure that our understanding or interpretation of

what we read is correct? Every pastor who establishes a new belief
system claims that their understanding is correct, but they do not agree on
what the Scriptures mean. For Catholics, the infallible authority of the
Church established by Christ provides the assurance that what they receive
is the pure Word of God without human error.

Responses to Objections:

Objection 1: The "extra" that is not to be accepted refers to teachings that

contradict the Scriptures, "If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise
gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is
the Lord’s command... But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be
ignored" (1 Cor. 14:37-38).

Objection 2: The Bible mentions three types of tradition.

1. Of the patriarchs, "And my words that I have put in your mouth will
always be on your lips, on the lips of your children, and on the lips of
their descendants—from this time on and forever" (Isa. 59:21).
2. Of the apostles. Saint Paul urged, "So then, brothers and sisters,
stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you,
whether by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Thess. 2:15) and he also
warned, "Keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive
and does not live according to the teaching you received from us" (2
Thess. 3:6).
3. Of the Jews criticized by Christ in Matt. 15:2-6 because they taught
that if a person could have helped their father or mother, but said, "It
is devoted to God," they no longer needed to honor their parents.

Objection 3: Jesus said this to the Pharisees who did not believe in Him,
and the continuation of the passage states: "These are the very Scriptures
that testify about me" (John 5:39). Jesus meant that the prophecies of the
Scriptures fulfilled in Him testified to His being the Messiah, but not only
the Scriptures testified about Him (John 5:33-39).

Objection 4: This means that Saint John wrote so that through his writings,
people may believe in Jesus, but faith does not come only through reading
the Bible but also through hearing the preaching (Rom. 10:14-15). The first
Christians came to faith in Jesus not by reading the Scriptures but by
hearing Saint Peter’s preaching (Acts 2:37-41). Moreover, it is not the
reading of the Bible that grants life but faith in Jesus.

Objection 5: The statement that all Scripture is "useful" for teaching does
not mean that Scripture alone is the guide to salvation or the only source
for teaching, and the Scripture referred to by Saint Paul is the Old
Testament Scriptures that Timothy had known since childhood. If this
passage is taken to mean "sola scriptura," as some Protestants believe, it
would imply that the New Testament Scriptures are unnecessary for
salvation! We need a living teacher to explain the difficult-to-understand
passages (2 Peter 3:16) and this teacher must be infallible in their teaching
to provide certainty. An eunuch was reading the Scriptures but did not
understand them, so the Holy Spirit sent Philip to teach him (Acts 8:29-31).

Teaching:

We thank God for giving us His words through the Bible and Tradition. We
should read the Bible, live out its teachings, and share it with others. As we
study the Bible, we must always bear in mind the understanding of the Holy
Church in difficult passages and be willing to submit to the authority of the
Holy Church.

Topic 2: True Church

Teaching of the Holy Church: The Holy Church teaches that Christ, while
He was still on earth, established a Church to continue His work of
teaching, governing, and sanctifying His people, and that we can recognize
this as the Catholic Church. Christ placed four marks in His Church: One,
Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, so that it can be recognized by those seeking
it from those groups founded only by men. The Holy Church is the universal
instrument of salvation, and it is necessary for salvation that a person be
united to it. Those who know that the Catholic Church is the true Church
founded by Christ and then do not join it, or those who are its members but
do not remain in it, will not be saved. For its members, perseverance until
the end is necessary because otherwise, God's judgment will be stricter
since they have received more graces.

Question:

1. Is it enough for a group to bear the name of Christ to truly belong to

Him?

Answer:

The name alone is not enough to identify the true church. Christ warned
that many would come in His name to deceive people.

 Matthew 24:4-5: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will
come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive
many."
  Matthew 24:24: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear
and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the
elect."
 Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven... Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons
and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them
plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"

Even during the time of the apostles, false teachers began to appear.

 2 Corinthians 11:13: "For such people are false apostles, deceitful

workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ."
 1 John 2:19: "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to
us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us;
but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."
 Jude 1:18-19: "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow
their own ungodly desires. These are the people who divide you."

Question:

2. How can we identify the true Church?

Answer:

There are two ways to identify the true Church. First, that Christ Himself is
its founder, and second, through its marks. The establishment of the Church
was foretold by the prophets.

 Daniel 2:44: "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up
a kingdom that will never be destroyed."

This was fulfilled with the coming of Christ:

 Matthew 16:18: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

From this, we understand that the true Church is 1) founded by Christ, 2)

built by Christ on Peter and his successors as visible leaders, and 3) that
His Church will be perpetual and indestructible. It is easy to prove that the
Catholic Church alone holds these three qualifications of the true Church.
That the Catholic Church was founded by Christ is evidenced by unbiased
historical references.

Evidence:

 "Catholic Church - the general term used to describe the organization

founded by Christ and sent forth with the Holy Spirit on the day of
Pentecost. It is the community of believers united under the Bishop of
Rome and thus also called the Roman Catholic Church" (Grolier's
Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 106).
 "The Catholic Church has two natures, human and divine, similar to
Christ its founder" (International Encyclopedia, Vol. 15, p. 520).
Only the Catholic Church acknowledges Peter as the leader and continues
to be governed by his successors, as seen in the unbroken line of the Popes
starting from Peter.

 "Peter from Bethsaida in Galilee, prince of the apostles, was the first
pope. He stayed initially in Antioch and later in Rome for 25 years
where he was martyred in 64 or 67 AD" (World Almanac, Ed. 1963, p.
298).
 "It is affirmed that Saint Peter was the first Pope of the Catholic
Church and first of all its Popes" (Information Almanac, Ed. 1968, p.
296).

The Catholic Church's unbroken history that can be traced back to the time
of the apostles is proven by standard references:

 "It is an indisputable fact that the only Church that can trace its
history back to the time of the apostles is the Catholic Church"
(Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 8, p. 664).

Even our opponents are forced to acknowledge this:

 "Even world history shows the direct connection between the Catholic
Church and the apostles, leading to the conclusion that the Catholic
Church is the true Church founded by Christ" (Pasugo, July-August
1988, p. 6).

Question:

3. What are the marks of the true Church?

Answer:

The true Church holds four marks:

1. One and Unity:

o This means that Christ established only one Church, not many,
and in this Church, there is unity.
o John 17:11: "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your
name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we
are one."
o a) Unity in Faith: All members believe in the same teachings.
 Ephesians 4:4-5: "There is one body and one Spirit, just
as you were called to one hope... One Lord, one faith."
 Galatians 1:6-8: "I am astonished that you are so quickly
deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of
Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is
really no gospel at all... Even if we or an angel from
heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we
preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!"
o b) Unity in Governance: All are united under the visible head
left by Christ.
 John 10:16: "They shall become one flock with one
shepherd."
 John 21:15-17: "Feed my lambs... Take care of my
sheep."
o c) Unity in Worship: All are united in one way of worship
through one sacrifice.
 Acts 2:42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer."
  1 Corinthians 10:17: "Because there is one loaf, we, who
are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf."
2. Holy:
o 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation."
o The Church is holy because:
 a) Christ, its founder, is holy and the source of holiness.
 Romans 11:16: "If the part of the dough offered as
firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the
root is holy, so are the branches."
 b) The Church teaches holy doctrines.
 Matthew 28:20: "Teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you."
 c) The Church holds the instruments of holiness, which
are the sacraments established by Christ.
 1 Corinthians 4:1: "This, then, is how you ought to
regard us: as servants of Christ and as those
entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed."
 d) The Church produces saints.
 John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose
you and appointed you so that you might go and
bear fruit—fruit that will last."
3. Catholic (Universal):
o Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age."
o This means the true Church is:
 a) Catholic in place: "Go and make disciples of all nations."
 b) Catholic in doctrine: "Teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you."
 c) Catholic in time: "I am with you always, to the very end
of the age."
o The Catholicity of the true Church is not absolute because some
people will reject the truth.
 2 Thessalonians 2:10: "They perish because they
refused to love the truth and so be saved."
 Isaiah 2:2: "In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s
temple will be established as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will
stream to it."
4. Apostolic:
o This means the true Church has an unbroken line of leaders
originating from the apostles.
o The apostles were made leaders of the Church by Christ.
 Ephesians 2:20: "Built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief
cornerstone."
 John 20:21: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending
you."
o Among the apostles, Christ chose Peter as the chief shepherd.
 Matthew 16:18-19: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will
build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome
it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
o The apostles sent by Christ went to different places under
Peter’s leadership.
o Saint Anselm said, "Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia" (Where Peter is,
there is the Church).
 o This teaching and governance power was passed from the
apostles to their successors (bishops).
 Acts 14:23: "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for
them in each
church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to
the Lord."

TOPIC 3: THE HOLY TRINITY

Teaching of the Holy Church: The Holy Church teaches that there is only
one God, but within this one God, there are three distinct persons: the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is God without origin. The
Son is God who comes from the Father. The Holy Spirit is God who
proceeds from the Father and the Son. Each of them holds the complete
nature or essence of God. How in one God there are three persons and why
the three distinct persons are one in God is part of the mystery of the
Trinity, which cannot be fully comprehended by our minds. However, we
can understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by knowing the meanings of
the words used to explain this doctrine.

The term "nature" refers to the essential qualities of a thing. It defines what
a thing is. The nature of God is His self-existence and independence. Other
essential qualities of God include His omnipotence, omniscience,
omnipresence, and eternal nature. These are shared by the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. The term "person" refers to a being with intellect and
will. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each have intellect and will, so
each of them can be called a person.

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is hinted at in the Old Testament. When
God created man, He said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness"
(Gen. 1:26). This implies that the Father had companions in creation,
indicated by the use of the plural pronoun "us." When God confused the
language of the people who wanted to build a tower reaching to heaven, He
said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language" (Gen. 11:7). When
God called the prophet Isaiah, He said, "Whom shall I send? And who will go
for us?" (Isa. 6:8). And Isaiah said, "The Sovereign Lord has sent me,
endowed with His Spirit" (Isa. 48:16). However, the texts in the Old
Testament are ambiguous about the plurality within God, so these passages
must be understood in light of God's revelation in the New Testament. We
should also remember that God revealed Himself gradually. The emphasized
teaching in the Old Testament is the oneness of God. At that time, the
people were not ready for the revelation of the mystery of the Trinity, as
they were surrounded by many nations recognizing multiple gods, which
could easily lead to misunderstandings about there being three gods.

In the New Testament, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is revealed in four
significant events in the life of Jesus. First, at His birth. In God's plan of
redemption, the second person of the Holy Trinity became incarnate
through a woman. Among women, Saint Mary was chosen by God, so she
needed to know who she would bear. The angel said to Mary, "The Holy
Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke
1:35). Second, at the baptism of Jesus. After Jesus was baptized, John saw
the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and a voice
from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased"
(Luke 3:22). Third, on the night of Jesus' suffering. He promised His
disciples, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, the
Spirit of truth" (John 14:16). Fourth, at Jesus' ascension into heaven. Jesus
commanded His disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). In these words, Jesus placed the Holy Spirit on the
same level of power, honor, and glory as the Father and the Son.

The Apostles, in their preaching, often mentioned the close connection

between the three persons. On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Each of
you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of God, which is the
Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). At the end of his letter to the Corinthians, Paul
blessed them by saying, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians
13:13). Peter mentioned that our calling is a participation in the life of the
Trinity, "You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and
made holy by His Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled
with His blood" (1 Peter 1:2). Jude warned, "Pray in the power of the Holy
Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God as you wait for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life" (Jude 1:20-21).

In the Bible, each person is identified as God. Regarding the Father, Paul
said, "For us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things" (1
Corinthians 8:6). And in the letter to the Hebrews, the Father Himself
identified His Son as God, "But about the Son, He says, 'Your throne, O God,
will last forever and ever'" (Hebrews 1:8). Peter taught that the Holy Spirit
is God, "You have lied to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to people but to
God" (Acts 5:3-4). Although each person is identified as God, they are not
three gods, but they share one divine nature. Jesus said, "The Father and I
are one" (John 10:30). In the letter of John, it is said, "There are three that
testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. And these three
are one" (1 John 5:7). The word "Trinity" is not read letter for letter in the
Bible, but the meaning of the word is accurately taught in the Bible!

Next, let us compare the nature of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. If the
essential qualities of the divine nature are also held by Christ and the Holy
Spirit, we can understand that they are truly God. First, the Creator: "God is
the builder of everything" (Hebrews 3:4). But Jesus said, "Whatever the
Father does, the Son also does" (John 5:19). And in the creation of
everything, it is said, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Genesis 1:1-2).
Therefore, the Holy Spirit was involved in creation. Second, the Eternal:
"Before the mountains were born, God was already from everlasting to
everlasting" (Psalm 90:2). Regarding the Messiah prophesied to be born in
Bethlehem, it is said that His origins are "from of old, from ancient times,
from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). Regarding the Holy Spirit, it is said,
"Through the eternal Spirit, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice"
(Hebrews 9:14). Third, the Omniscient: "The Most High knows all things
that can be known and understands the signs of the times" (Sirach 42:18).
And regarding Christ, "In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). According to Paul, "The Spirit searches The
Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:10).
Fourth, Omnipresence: "I am a God who is everywhere" (Jer. 23:24).
Regarding Christ, "The one who descended is also the one who ascended
higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with his
presence" (Ephesians 4:10). In the book of Psalms, "Where can I go to
escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" (Psalm 139:7-10).
Fifth, the Source of Life: "For with you is the fountain of life" (Psalm 36:9).
Jesus affirmed, "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
so the Son also gives life to whom he wills" (John 5:21). About the Holy
Spirit, Job said, "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty
gives me life" (Job 33:4).

Sixth, Omnipotence: "Lord, there is no one like you; you are great, and your
name is mighty in power" (Jer. 10:6). Saint Paul said, "Christ is the power of
God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24). Jesus said, "But if it is by the
Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come
upon you" (Matt. 12:28).

Based on these comparisons, it is clear that the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit hold the same nature or state of being God!

Even though this truth is revealed to us, it remains the deepest and most
incomprehensible mystery of our faith. "Can you fathom the limits of the
Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?" (Job
11:7-8). Saint Paul said, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond
tracing out!" (Romans 11:33).

In the face of this mystery, our appropriate response is humility, gratitude,

and praise for God's glory. Our life is an offering to the Holy Trinity. When
we begin our spiritual life, we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Before doing anything, we make the sign of
the cross and say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit." In the liturgy, we join the angels in heaven by saying, "Glory be
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit."

Topic 4: Divinity of Christ

______________________________________________________

Teaching of the Holy Church: The Holy Church teaches that Christ is the
second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is of one divine nature with the
Father. He is the Word of God, the only-begotten Son of God. From His
incarnation, Christ holds two natures: He is truly God and truly man. His
divinity comes from the Father from all eternity, and His humanity comes
from the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Although His divinity and humanity are united in Christ, they are not mixed.
Therefore, we can say that Christ experienced tiredness, suffering, and
death in His humanity, but in His divinity, He does not become tired, suffer,
or die. However, because Christ is a divine person, everything He did
through His human nature was done by a divine person, and thus it has
infinite value. Everything Christ did through His divine nature, He did with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, but what He did through His human nature,
we can ascribe to Christ alone.

Since Christ holds two natures: divine and human, He has a divine intellect
and will and a human intellect and will. His human intellect was always
enlightened by divine wisdom, and His human will always fulfilled the divine
will.

Objections to the Divinity of Christ

Objection 1:

The Bible teaches that there is only one God: "I am the Lord, and there is no
other; apart from me, there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5). The only God
recognized by Jesus is the Father: "Now this is eternal life: that they know
you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).
Saint Paul also taught, "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father" (1
Corinthians 8:6). If Christ is God, then there would be two gods.

Objection 2:

"God is not a man... nor a human being" (Numbers 23:19). But Christ is a
man: "For there is one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ
Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5), and Christ was born of a woman: "When the set time
had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman" (Galatians 4:4).
Therefore, he is not God.

Objection 3:

Christ cried out to another God. On the cross, he shouted, "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Can God be forsaken by
God? Jesus never claimed to be God: "I am returning to my Father and your
Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17).

Objection 4:

God does not die: "To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God" (1
Timothy 1:17). But about Christ, it is said, "Then he bowed his head and
died" (John 19:30). Can God die?

Objection 5:

God knows everything: "The Most High knows all that may be known"
(Sirach 42:18). But Christ admitted that he did not know everything: "But
about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Therefore, he is not God.

Objection 6:

God is above all: "Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over
all" (1 Chronicles 29:11). But Jesus said, "The Father is greater than I" (John
14:28). Can there be a God who is surpassed by another God?

Objection 7:

God is to be worshipped and is the Savior: "I, even I, am the Lord, and apart
from me, there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:11). But in Gethsemane, Jesus
prayed, "Father, save me from this hour" (John 12:27). Is there a God who
prays and seeks salvation from another God?

Objection 8:

Jesus said, "God is spirit" (John 4:24), and he also said, "Touch me and see;
a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:39).
Therefore, he is not God.

Objection 9:

It is also said that Christ is "the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians
1:15). Therefore, Christ is just a created being. Furthermore, "Therefore, let
all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,
both Lord and Messiah" (Acts 2:36).

Response:

Si San Pablo diha sa iyang mga sulat nagtudlo usab niini nga kamatuoran.
“Kaliwat sila sa mga patriarka, ug sa ilang kaliwatan natawo si Cristo ang
Dios nga labaw sa tanan daygon unta hangtod sa kahangtoran” (Rom. 9:5);
“samtang nagpaabot kita sa bulahang Adlaw nga atong gilaoman
inigpadayag na sa himaya sa atong gamhanang Dios ug Manluluwas nga si
Jesu-Cristo” (Tito 2:13); “Diha niya kanunay ang kinaiya gayod sa Dios,
apan wala siya maghunahuna pagpakigtupong sa Dios pinaagi sa kusog
Busa mangluhod ang tanang binuhat sa langit, sa yuta ug sa ilalom sa yuta;
sa pagpasidungog sa ngalan ni Jesus” (Fil. 2:6, 10). “Kay ang tibuok nga
kinaiya sa Dios anaa kang Cristo sa iyang pagkatawo” (Col. 2:9). Apan bahin
sa iyang Anak, miingon ang Dios (Amahan), “Ang imong trono, O Dios,
molungtad hangtod sa kahangtoran” (Heb. 1:8). Tubag 1. Si Cristo dili lain
nga pagka-Dios sa Amahan kay siya miingon, “Ako ug ang Amahan usa ra”
(Jn. 10:30). Dili sabton nga kon si Cristo mipaila sa Amahan nga Dios nga
dili na siya Dios tungod kay ang Amahan mitawag usab sa Anak nga Dios,
“Ang imong trono, O Dios, molungtad hangtod sa kahangtoran” (Heb. 1:8)
wala kini magpasabot nga dili na Dios ang Amahan. Tubag 2. Maoy gipaila
dinhi ang kinaiya sa Dios nga dili siya tawo nga magbakak, Atong tiwason sa
pagbasa, “Ang Dios dili tawo busa dili siya mamakak. Dili siya anak sa tawo
busa dili mausab ang iyang hunahuna” (Num. 23:19) ug “Magpabilin nga
matinud-anon ang Dios bisan pag bakakon ang tanang tawo” (Rom. 3:4).
Ang Dios dili tawo apan dili ta makabuot kon ang Dios magpakatawo, “Sa
wala pay nagbuhat bisan unsa, ang Pulong diha na. Ang Pulong kauban sa
Dios ug ang Pulong Dios Ang Pulong nahimong tawo ug mipuyo uban
kanato” (Jn. 1:1, 14). Tubag 3. Si Cristo matarong, “kita may manlalaban
nga si Jesu-Cristo, ang matarong” (1 Jn. 2:1) ug ang Dios misaad nga dili
niya biyaan ang matarong niyang katawhan (Sal. 37:28) busa dili mahitabo
nga si Jesus biyaan sa Amahan kondili kitang katawhan ang gibiyaan sa Dios
tungod sa atong mga sala, “ang inyo hinuong kalapasan maoy nag-ulang
kaninyo sa inyong Dios; ang inyong mga sala maoy hinungdan sa iyang
pagpahilayo kaninyo” (Isa. 59:2) ug didto sa krus gidala ni Cristo ang atong
tingog, “Didto sa krus gidala ni Cristo diha sa iyang lawas ang tanan tang
mga sala” (1 Ped. 2:24) busa alang kadto kanato nga si Cristo mituaw
niadtong maong mga pulong. Tubag 4. Si Cristo sa iyang tawhanong
kahimtang namatay, “Kay si Cristo mismo namatay sa makausa lamang
tungod sa atong mga sala” (1 Ped. 3:18) apan sa iyang pagka-Dios dili siya
mamatay, “Ako ang pagkabanhaw ug ang kinabuhi” (Jn. 11:25); “Ang
pagtulon-an nga among nadawat mao nga ang Cristo dili mamatay, nga ang
Cristo magalungtad” (Jn. 12:34); “Si Cristo mao gihapon kagahapon, karon
ug sa walay kataposan” (Heb. 13:8).

Response:

The Bible indeed testifies to the divinity of Christ. Concerning the Messiah,
it was prophesied: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and
the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
The fulfillment of this prophecy is Christ, "Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11), and
according to the prophecy, He is the Mighty God. Isaiah also wrote, "Say to
those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he
will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.'
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf
unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer" (Isaiah 35:4-6). When Jesus
was asked by John’s disciples if He was the one to come, Jesus replied, "Go
back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the
lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised" (Matthew 11:4-5). Thus, Jesus clearly indicated that He is the
fulfillment of the God who would come, and the sign of His coming is the
many miracles He performed. In another part of Isaiah's writings, we read,
"The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard"
(Isaiah 52:12). And this God of Israel who guards them is Christ, "for they
drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was
Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4).

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we read, "In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1),
indicating that the Word was not created because He was already there
before anything was made. "The Word was with God" (John 1:1) signifies
that the Word is distinct in person from God the Father. "The Word was
God" (John 1:1) clarifies the nature or substance of the Word—that He is
God. "He was with God in the beginning" (John 1:2)—John repeats what he
said earlier to emphasize that while the Word is God, He is distinct in
person from the Father. "Through Him all things were made; without Him,
nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3)—this teaches us that the
Word was with the Father in the work of creation; a work that only God can
do. "In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind" (John 1:4)—
here, the divinity of the Word is also emphasized because only God is the
source of all life and light to humanity (Psalm 36:9). "The Word became
flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of
the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth"
(John 1:14). Here, the mystery of the incarnation or the Word becoming
flesh is explained: 1) The Word, who was with the Father before anything
was made, is His only Son. 2) The Word, who previously acted in an invisible
manner, has now been revealed in His incarnation in the Person of Jesus
Christ.

This is the theme that the evangelist always discusses. He shows that Jesus,
even though seen as a man, implies that he is God.

 John 5:19: "Whatever the Father does, the Son also does."
 John 8:23: "You are from below; I am from above."
 John 8:58: "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am."
 John 10:30: "I and the Father are one."
 John 17:5: "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the
glory I had with you before the world began."

Upon Jesus' resurrection, Thomas declared the Church's faith about Jesus:

 John 20:28: "My Lord and my God."

 1 John 5:20

Saint Paul also taught this truth in his letters:

 Romans 9:5: "Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the
human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!
Amen."
 Titus 2:13: "While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
 Philippians 2:6, 10: "Who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be used to his own
advantage... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth."
 Colossians 2:9: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in
bodily form."
  Hebrews 1:8: "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will
last forever and ever.'"

Responses:

1. Response to Objection 1:
o Christ is not a different God from the Father because he said, "I
and the Father are one" (John 10:30). If Christ identifies the
Father as God, it does not mean he is not God because the
Father also calls the Son God: "Your throne, O God, will last
forever and ever" (Hebrews 1:8). This does not imply that the
Father is not God.
2. Response to Objection 2:
o This identifies the nature of God as not a man who lies. Let's
finish the reading: "God is not human, that he should lie, not a
human being, that he should change his mind" (Numbers 23:19),
and "Let God be true, and every human being a liar" (Romans
3:4). God is not a man, but we cannot dictate if God becomes a
man, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made
his dwelling among us" (John 1:1, 14).
3. Response to Objection 3:
o Christ is righteous, "We have an advocate with the Father—
Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1). And God promised
that he would never forsake his righteous people (Psalm 37:28),
so it is impossible for Jesus to be forsaken by the Father. Rather,
humanity was forsaken by God because of our sins, "But your
iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have
hidden his face from you" (Isaiah 59:2). On the cross, Christ
carried our voice, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the
cross" (1 Peter 2:24), thus Christ cried those words for us.
4. Response to Objection 4:
o Christ, in his human nature, died, "For Christ also suffered once
for sins" (1 Peter 3:18). But in his divinity, he does not die, "I am
the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25); "We have heard from
the Law that the Messiah remains forever" (John 12:34); "Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews
13:8).

Response 5:

Christ knows everything, "In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3); "Christ, the power of God and the wisdom
of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24); "Lord, you know all things" (John 16:30). What
Christ meant is that this knowledge is not revealed to man, "The secret
things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us"
(Deuteronomy 29:29). "It is not for you to know the times or dates the
Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7).

Response 6:

The Father is greater than Him in regard to Christ's human nature and also
concerning Christ's self-abasement, "Who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to death" (Philippians 2:6-8). In His
divinity, Christ is equal to the Father, "All that belongs to the Father is
mine" (John 16:15); "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it" (John 5:21).
Response 7:

This is not well understood because Christ said that He was ready to suffer
and would not pray to be saved, "Shall I say, 'Father, save me from this
hour?' No, for this reason I came to this hour of suffering" (John 12:27).
Christ is identified as the Lord and Savior (Luke 2:11) and He is the
expected mighty God and Savior (Titus 2:13).

Response 8:

In His humanity, Christ had a body, "When the fullness of time had come,
God sent His Son, born of a woman" (Galatians 4:4); "Since the children
share in flesh and blood, Jesus likewise partook of the same" (Hebrews
2:14), but before He was born He was in the state of Spirit, "Before
Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58); "The first man Adam was made a
living being, but the last Adam is a life-giving Spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Response 9:

Saying that Christ is the firstborn (Gk. Prototokus = firstborn) means that
He is the source of all things, "For by Him all things were created, in
heaven and on earth... All things were created through Him and for Him"
(Colossians 1:16); "Through Him God made the universe... He sustains the
whole universe by His powerful word" (Hebrews 1:2-3), not the first created
(Gk. Prototiktes = first created).

Topic 5: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

_____________________________________________________

Teaching of the Holy Church: The Catholic Church teaches that Mary,
the mother of Jesus, was conceived without the stain of original sin and was
free from all its effects. From the first moment of her life, God filled her soul
with grace, and there was never a moment when Mary was under the power
of the devil. The Holy Church also teaches that this special privilege
received by St. Mary was not due to any merit on her part but was a gift
from God and due to the merits of Christ.

Objections:

Objection 1:

It is not true what the Catholics teach that Mary was without sin because "It
is written, there is no one righteous" (Romans 3:10). "All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Therefore, this law includes
Mary.

Objection 2:

Mary rejoiced at the coming of the Savior, "My soul rejoices in God my
Savior" (Luke 1:47), which means she had sin because she acknowledged a
Redeemer.

Objection 3:

"Therefore, death spread to all people because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
Since Mary was affected by death, she had sin.

Response:
Just as a woman initiated the fall of man, in saving mankind, God also
initiated it through a woman. In paradise, God said, "I will put enmity
between you (the devil) and the woman, and between your offspring and
hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15).
This woman is Mary, whose seed, Christ, will conquer the devil. And God
said He would create enmity between the woman and the serpent, so it
would not happen that Mary would be under the power of the devil.

When the time came, "God sent His Son. He came as the Son born of a
human mother" (Galatians 4:4), and the angel Gabriel said, "Rejoice, full of
grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women" (Luke 1:28).
The angel praised the beauty of Mary's soul, which he now beheld, brighter
than the sun, more beautiful than the moon, and purer than the angels, the
only one exempt from the general law that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23).
This fullness of grace in Mary freed her from sin because God alone is the
source of absolute fullness of grace (John 1:14). Since St. Mary was chosen
by God to be the mother of Emmanuel, she was freed from all stains of sin.
The book of Wisdom states, "Wisdom will not dwell in a body that is defiled
or in a soul enslaved to sin" (Wisdom 1:4), and this wisdom is Christ, "Christ
is the power and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). Since Christ
dwelt in Mary in a truly pure state, Mary was pure and without the stain of
sin.

It is fitting in God's plan that when He chooses someone for an important

task, He also provides them with sufficient grace to fulfill it. Thus, when
God called Moses, He said, "Go, and I will help you speak and will teach you
what to say" (Exodus 4:12). When God called Jeremiah, He said, "Before you
were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations"
(Jeremiah 1:5). John the Baptist "was filled with the Holy Spirit even before
he was born" (Luke 1:15) and was "a burning and shining lamp" (John 5:35)
because he was chosen to prepare the way for the Lord. The Apostles,
tasked with preaching the Gospel, "were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
received many gifts" (Acts 2:4). Now, among all who participated in our
salvation, none can match the holiness and importance of the role of the
Mother of Jesus. If God sanctified His prophets and apostles because they
were to bear the word of life, how much more Mary, who carried the
"Source of Life" (Acts 3:15).

Response:

And the angel continued, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be
born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). We should remember that
those things close to God are touched by His holiness. When God appeared
to Moses through the burning bush, He said, "Do not come any closer. Take
off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground"
(Exodus 3:5). The location of the Ark of the Covenant was called the "Most
Holy Place" (Exodus 26:34) because it was always overshadowed by the
glorious presence of God (1 Samuel 4:4). If the place where God revealed
Himself to Moses became holy and the location of the Ark of the Covenant
was called the Most Holy Place, how much holier must St. Mary have
become, who became the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the vessel of
God in the Ark? St. Athanasius reflected, "Just as we cannot fathom the
holiness of God, we also cannot fathom the holiness of the one who became
the mother of God."

St. Mary is pure and without stain of sin, as revealed by the Holy Spirit in
Scripture: "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you"
(Song of Solomon 4:7). According to St. Ildephonsus and St. Thomas, these
words are understood to refer to Mary. "My sister, my bride, is a garden
locked, a spring locked, a fountain sealed" (Song of Solomon 4:12). St.
Sophronius said that she, Mary, is this garden and spring into which no evil
can enter, who is always pure in mind and soul. "She is the only daughter,
cherished by her mother. The maidens saw her and called her blessed"
(Song of Solomon 6:9). This fulfillment is Mary. Elizabeth, filled with the
Holy Spirit, said to Mary, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:42). Mary prophesied, "And from now on all
generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:48). Mary's words do not only
mean that we talk about her as blessed, but we indeed call her blessed.
Therefore, if we are not tired of repeatedly calling Mary blessed, this is in
fulfillment of what St. Mary declared. St. Alphonsus Liguori said, "De Maria
numquam satis" (Of Mary, there is never enough) – we cannot honor Mary
too much as it aligns with how God honored her by choosing her to be His
Mother.

St. Mary had to be freed from sin by God because this is required for
redemption. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins"
(Hebrews 9:22). And Christ used His own blood for our redemption, "For
you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that
you were redeemed... but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-
19). And this blood used for our salvation came from Mary, "Since the
children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by
His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—
that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). And Scripture says, "Who can bring what
is pure from the impure? No one!" (Job 14:4). Therefore, since the blood of
Christ that cleansed our sins is pure, St. Mary, from whom this blood
originated, must also be pure.

Responses:

1. The statement that "all have sinned" and "there is no one righteous" is
called a general law or universal law, and in every general law, there
are exceptions. St. Mary was exempted by God from this due to the
significant reason that she was chosen to be the mother of the only
Son of God who became man to redeem us. Because of this, St. Mary
has a closer relationship with God more than any other creature and
thus received an abundance of grace beyond what anyone else has
received.
2. St. Mary was saved not because she was stained by sin (which is
called 'restorative redemption'), as St. Paul said, "But thanks be to
God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey
from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your
allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to
righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18), but by being prevented from being
touched by sin (which is called 'preventative redemption'), as St. Paul
said, "Those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also
justified; those He justified, He also glorified" (Romans 8:30).
3. In consenting to be the Mother of the Redeemer, which opened her
heart to the greatest love, St. Mary also subjected herself to the
greatest suffering. The prophecy of Simeon was fulfilled in her, "And a
sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35). It was God's will
that Mary should mirror Jesus in all things, so as Jesus went through
death, Mary also went through it. Mary's death is not to be
understood as a sign of her having sin but as a compassionate
sacrifice in sharing the sufferings of her son Jesus.