Catholicism compared to the Bible

Catholicism: Popes, Priests and Saints (note: the word "pope” is not in the Bible).

Bible: Christ is our head & high priest (Col. 1:18; Heb. 8:1), all Christians are spiritual priests (1 Pet. 2:5,9) and called saints (Col. 1:26).

The Bible teaches two church leadership positions:

• "A bishop (pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…" - 1 Tim. 3:2

• "Let the deacons (elders) be the husbands of one wife…" - 1 Tim. 3:12

Catholicism: Peter was the first pope and rock of the church in Mt. 16:18.

Bible: The rock was Jesus: “...and that Rock was Christ." - 1 Cor. 10:4 (Psa. 62:6; 2 Sam. 22:32; 1 Pet. 2:6-8; Rom. 9:33; Duet. 32:4)

• Peter was married (Mt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5).

• Peter wouldn't allow a man to bow to him as popes do (Acts 10:25-26; 1 Pet. 5:3).


• Jesus called Peter Satan (Mt. 16:23).

Catholicism: Salvation requires the seven Catholic sacraments (works).

Bible: Salvation is to repent to God and believe on Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; Rom. 10:9). Works are the result, not the cause of saving faith.

• "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Eph. 2:8-9

Catholicism: Mary is a mediator, perpetual virgin and sinless.

Note: Nowhere in the Bible are we told to pray to anyone other then God in Jesus' name, nor is there an example of someone doing so.

Bible: ”For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" - 1 Tim. 2:5

• Mary had more kids (Mk. 6:3; Gal. 1:19; Mt. 1:25; Psa. 69:8-9/Jn 2:17).

• She sinned like everyone else (Lk. 1:47; 2:22/Lev. 12:6; Rom. 3:23).

• Jesus rebukes a Mary idolater (Lk. 11:27-28).

Catholicism: The Mass is a continuous sacrifice of Jesus.

The wafer and wine becomes the LITERAL FLESH AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. A priest supposedly has the power to change the bread and wine into His body and blood.

Note: Millions of Christians were tortured and murdered for denying these doctrines during the inquisition (1231 - 1834).

Bible: ”But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; …there is no more offering for sin.” - Heb. 10:10-14,18 (Heb. 7:27; 9:25-28; 1 Pet. 3:18)

• Jesus said "eateth my flesh" - Jn. 6:53 is spiritual (Jn. 6:63).

• In the same book (John) He is also "the door" - 10:9, "the true vine" - 15:1 and said you must “...be born again," - 3:3. Why would you say these passages are all spiritual but that “eateth my flesh” is literal when Jesus Himself told you it wasn’t?

• Consuming blood is forbidden (Acts 15:20).