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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Why do Catholics not use the title "Jehovah", if that's what Scripture commands?

“Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your MIND”--Matt 22:37


Question: 
Why do Catholics not use the title "Jehovah", if that's what Scripture commands?  "Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
This is, of course, one of the main tenets of the Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs).

When JWs come to our door I think we should be eager to engage them in dialogue, willing to be "prepared to give them a reason for the hope that is in us, with gentleness and respect"-1 Peter 3:15, (provided, of course, that we are knowledgeable in our faith).  Instead, I think that the JWs find us Catholics to be woefully ignorant of our faith and easy targets for their very well-rehearsed, superbly-trained evangelization efforts. I suspect that they smile to themselves when they see that their potential target is a Catholic--"here's another Catholic we can show how unbiblical his faith is, and he won't have any defense!" ** How surprised would these JWs be to meet a Catholic who knows what we believe, why we believe it, and can provide apologia (defense) when prompted!

(Sadly, we Catholics have been poorly catechized and often aren't prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us.)

The JW's main objection to mainstream Christianity is that we have not named our god. That is, how can we have a personal relationship with a god if we can't call him by name? They propose: 

"It would be reasonable that any god who has personality would need a personal name to distinguish him from other gods with names of their own. It would preferably be a name designated by the god himself, rather than a name coined by his worshipers.
In this regard, however, a very puzzling fact emerges. While most well-established religions ascribe personal names to their gods, Jews and mainstream churches of Christendom have failed to identify by a distinctive personal name the god that they worship. Instead, they resort to such titles as Lord, God, Almighty, and Father."  source:  Watchtower Society

Our response:  Firstly, we don't need to call a person by his name in order to have a personal relationship with him.  After all, we don't call our parents "Luis" and "Terry" but rather "Dad" and "Mom".  Thus, calling someone by name is not an indicator of intimacy.

Secondly, the Tetragrammaton is the name of God: the four letter name, spelled in Hebrew: YHVH, translated in English as "I AM".  This is the name God revealed to Moses in Exodus.  The Jews do not pronounce this name.** When they encounter it in Scripture, they substitute "Adonai", which means, "The Lord." Scribes used to write the vowel points of Adonai beneath the Tetragrammaton, to remind the reader to insert the substitution. Later, people began to use these vowel points to pronounce the Tetragrammaton, which rendered Yehovah. In Latin, this rendering became Jehovah.


Thus, YHWH is the name of God in the Mosaic covenant. (He made the earlier covenant with Abraham under the name El Shaddai).  However, the fulfillment of the covenant was made in the New Testament under the name of Jesus,
at which every knee shall bow-Phil 2:10.

"The earlier covenants were impartial, imperfect, and provisional; they were foreshadowings of the new and eternal covenant... As the old covenant was transformed into the New and ceased to be, so too did the older understanding of God as absolute unity become modified to admit of a unity through Trinity. His name is still YHVH, as it indicates the mystery of his Eternity,but we have a new understanding of the Sacred Mysteries through the New Covenant. Because of this, we should not hold that those who remain fixed on points in the old covenant are being faithful; rather, they are breaking faith by giving pride of place to the old and dispensible covenant, over that of the New and Eternal."  source

**Jews considered the Holy Name "Yahweh" too sacred even to speak.  In accordance with this immemorial tradition, there are new Vatican directives on the use of the "name of God" in the sacred liturgy.  Liturgical hymns which proclaim the sacred name Yahweh are "to be rendered into any given vernacular by a word equivalent in meaning
".  "Apart from a motive of a purely philological (i.e. scholarly) order, there is also that of remaining faithful to the church's tradition, from the beginning, that the sacred Tetragrammaton was never pronounced in the Christian context nor translated into any of the languages into which the Bible was translated." source:  Catholic News Service

In other words, speaking the name "Yahweh" or "Jehovah" has never been part of Jewish or Christian tradition; it is a recent innovation and this renewal/return to tradition is
"an opportunity to offer catechesis for the faithful as an encouragement to show reverence for the name of God in daily life, emphasizing the power of language as an act of devotion and worship." ibid



For more in-depth study visit these websites:

Catholic Bible online

Catechism of the Catholic Church online



"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" - 1 Peter 3:15

119 comments:

  1. i had JW at my door today talking about this and i said why should i call God by his name as he is my father and i dont call my humna father his name

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  2. When you pray to Jehovah using the Title,"God". How would you know which god you are praying to when there are hundreds of false gods? His name Jehovah distinguishs from all other gods showing He is the Only True God.At Psalms 83:18 the psalmestsays,: "That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the most high over all the earth."Showing that Jehovah wanted His people to know His name, not just His titles.

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    1. There are no other gods, Anonymous.

      There is only ONE GOD.

      And how do I know "which god I am praying to"? The same way my kids know which father they are talking to when they call out "FATHER!" in a room full of other dads.

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    2. Yes, You know,but other people still do not. Because of who? You guessed it! Satan. Twisting everything into "God". So there is only one True God. and a name makes a distinction. It is only Logical. Also it makes,a distinction between false Trinity Doctrine. It is a demonic teaching. it has pre Christian existence. Anybody that has done an extensive amout of research can tell you that.

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    3. Can you tell us where and when the Trinity was proclaimed before Christianity?

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    4. To: The Amateur Apologist

      Go to the Catholic Church, your pastor, a library that houses original biblical documents or anywhere else and ask to see the Catholic Bible in it's ORIGINAL text prior to 1915 are. You'll find on the inside cover that the Catholic Church admits to removing the name Jehovah out of the bible and that they knew Catholics would be outraged. I was astounded to see that for myself, and maybe it'll help enlighten you as well as to the name Jehovah and why it should be used.

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    5. Thanks for your comments, Anonymous.

      I am a bit confused by your assertion. There were numerous publishers of the Catholic Bible prior to 1915. Are you saying that every single publisher, prior to 1915, included this alleged admission?

      If so, why is there no evidence for this online? It should be very easy for someone to simply post a picture of this admission, for all of us to see.

      And yet, there is no evidence of this. Why is that?

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    6. I compared most catholic bibles and the kjv. None of the catholic bibles can be found the name-title of God-Jehovah whereas in KJV, it appears 6 times. Why? Because the title jehovah is not the real or nearest name of God. It was a title INVENTED by a catholic dominican monk in 13th century. Even the Jehovah's witnesses were amenabled that they continuously using that title because it is popular during that time and many were adopted to it.

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  3. Saying that that God's name was never sid aloud is an inaccurate statement. If you look to the scriptures of thre Old testament, the prophets of old called out to Jehovah. Of course many translations have replaced this with tit;les, but I urge you to read into the scriptures and see for yourself. Job, Danial, King David, etc. used this name in speech "indicated by quotations." This name was very important. The tradition of not speaking this name came much later, around the second century. Jesus said "I have made your name known" and in the lords prayer "hallowed be thy name" (also renderd "let your name be sanctified"). This teaching was important to Jesus as well.

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    1. I don't disagree with you here, Anonymous. If prophets in the OT said God's name aloud, then that's fine.

      We, however, are not prophets, right?

      And as far as names being important, we are agreed on that as well. God does have a name: Yahweh.

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    2. @The Amateur Apologist: In case you forgot, King David is not a prophet.

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    3. True, that.

      Not sure what that is in reference to, but i don't think I've posited that King David was a prophet.

      Is there some reason this is important?

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  4. therefore, is this stating that all who believe in God, should call him by his name "Yahweh"?
    Pastor Arnold Murah, from The Shepherds Chapel always uses Yahweh. He is the only one I have heard refer to God as Yahweh and yes, that is Gods name.

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    1. No, this is saying that those who are bound by the Old Covenant knew God as YHWH (although it was never uttered, except by the prophets).

      We Christians are part of the New Covenant, and as such, we know Him as Jesus.

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    2. Hello to all! To Amatuer Apologist...please refer to these two links I have included..one you will call biased and one based on what is called the authority of your faith. I ask this question...can you please help me to understand your stand when you say that those in Hebrew and Aramaic Scriptures(OT) knew Him as "Jehovah" and then the Christian (Greek) Scriptures(NT) knew Him as Jesus!? Where was the change according to scriptures? Did God or Jesus make this change or connection? As I recall the Hebrews started branching off from true religion; The Mosaic Law...the Laws that Jehovah handed down HIMSELF because HE has the AUTHORITY to do so! (many more than 10 commandments btw. All of Hebrew Scriptures should be respected and used in order to know WHO our God really is! he meant business back then and He means business now) )...I mean seriously,the Hebrews killed Jesus...they were far off from what was truth. They were allowing sellers to come in and rob those coming to sacrifice to God in which Jesus overturned their tables...(hmmmm...why do religions make money off The Bible when Jesus made it clear in his actions and word that you "received free,give free" Matthew 10:8) The time Jesus was here, he called these one Scribes, Hypocrites, and Pharisees; who Jesus told true Christians to aware of (Mark 12;38,39.) The scribes, hypocrites,and Pharisees were not to be trusted anymore. These are the ones; at that time after Jesus death, who began to misuse Jehovah's name and was teaching it to be in accordance with the 2nd commandment...however, just as many religions do today, they picked and chose what they wanted to believe and follow according to the power they wanted to control the masses...it has always been easier to go with the main stream ideals...as many do not like the righteous boundaries set forth by God.( such as fornication which shouldn't be accepted or tolerated but it is in many churches) So these scribes, hypocrites, and Pharisees Jesus talked about,killed him to take his power...and kill him they did! Which furthered Jehovah's will (Philippians 2:8).but they did not kill the truth...for Jesus worked closely with his apostles to continue to spread the truth regardless of what those others were teaching. He passed on his God given powers so they could do this his work...this is why they were also persecuted and killed...Jesus told them as well as all true Christians today "to pick up their torture stake and follow him"(Mark 8:34) this scripture and a few more show the sure persecution all true Christians will face. To carry out torture stake is to remember that those that quit using God's rightful name has no God given authority to do so. By the time the Greeks had access to the Hebrew texts,all the notes and changes the scribes, hypocrites, and pharisees had made, had to be studied,researched, and understood so that proper translations in Greek kept to furthering Jehovah's purpose..."for His NAME to be sanctified"(Matthew 6:9) who else take a pleasure in hiding/removing that name? Well it would be advantageous to read John 8:44. Sounds to me just like those who murdered Jesus and lied to make sure his death was a success...and success it was...he was faithful to the end which gives us a hope of life! All of us humans are in the same sinful state! The Hebrews were no longer trusted by Jesus himself yet you choose to trust the changes they made?


      https://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/nwt/appendix-a/

      http://www.catholic.org/news/ae/music/story.php?id=29022
      And please, if you have other references,please share them!

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    3. Thanks for your comments. I'd like to address as many as I can. You asked "Where was the change according to Scripture?" My answer is: there is no change Jesus and Jehovah are NOT the same person. They are 2 separate persons, in One Divine Being.

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    4. As far as your comment that it was wrong to allow sellers to come into the Temple, we are agreed.

      Regarding making money off the Bible, well, I know the Catholic Church certainly hasn't gotten rich off selling Bibles...*shrug*...maybe some other denominations have. I dunno.

      Regarding not trusting the Scribes and the Pharisees--actually, I think you're contradicting Scripture here. Jesus actually tells his disciples to obey them! "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them."—Matthew 23:1-3

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    5. And you are correct that so many "pick and choose" what they want to believe. I think that's why so many denominations have split from the Catholic Church--we now have tens of thousands of Christian denominations, each reading the Bible and interpreting it to their own private beliefs.

      Regarding fornication--you can rest assured that the Catholic Church does NOT "accept or tolerate" this!

      As far as Jesus giving us the "hope of life", you are correct about that! Glory be to His Name!

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    6. Finally, in response to your last comment: "The Hebrews were no longer trusted by Jesus himself yet you choose to trust the changes they made?"--haven't you done the same thing? Don't JWs use the Old Testament?

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  5. So then who is Yeshua?

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  6. Jehovah God is not Jesus Christ.

    Jesus is the son of God.

    Jesus was "a" God but not "The" God.

    Jehovah is the one and only "TRUE" God

    We pray through Jesus Christ to Jehovah our God.



    I use to be Catholic. However, it helped to read the Catholic Encyclopedia to learn that it was a false religion.
    I had some JW's come and teach me about their religion and at first I argued against it but then I did the research myself as they suggested. A few years later after doing a lot of research, I came to a conclusion that nothing they have been teaching me was false. I realized after a long time that I misunderstood many things because I was definitely naive about what was in the bible to begin with. I studied my own bible and then studied with them theirs. Jehovah is truely worshipped well by this crowd of great people. I learned to trust them as I was able to distinguish better who they were and why they do what they do. For instance, they don't celebrate holidays or birthdays. At first this was appaling to me. I loved celebrating holidays and birthdays....what was so wrong??? Of course, I quickly disagreed and wanted to dismiss this but instead I did the smart thing I looked up where each holiday originated from and again that catholic encyclopedia was a big help. I realized I was unknowingly practicing false worship.
    Now I understand. Jehovah's Witnesses are trying to do their best to honor God and worship him thoroughly. They study the bible like all the time and learn what he hates. They use not only his direct commandments.

    Jehovah is God's name and I am proud to say it everyday in my prayers and when speaking to other's about God. No shame.
    Why should there be? This doesn't mean JW's believe everyone in the world is wicked or stupid and they would never force anyone to believe their ways. They show respect for everyone.

    I am not a Jehovah's Witness but I am now studying with them and It's becoming more clear to me that this is the way to the "Truth"

    I prayed to God for the truth and I am getting it....

    Thank you just felt like commenting =)

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    1. I appreciate your comments.

      I would ask that before you leave the faith given to you by your parents that you know what Catholicism is before you leave it. The Catholic encyclopedia is not a way to learn your catechism, friend.

      I suggest going to Catholic Answers (www.catholic.com) to look for what it is that the Church teaches. Know what you are leaving before you leave it!

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    2. Do you even know jesus purpose here on earth!???.
      To talk about his fathers kindom. What he will bring if we all try to do the right things? Jesus was the only example.how hard is it to comprehend that???. The bible is exact. Of couse what do we expect if is coming from god??? The one who loves us more than anything that gave his one and only son right??.if you choose not to believe the word well...just dont forget what happened to noahs days..only few believed. Only few wer saved...is it that hard to understand that the loard will bring peace to all tha believe....please my advise. Dont argue about jehovahs name.belive. he is real. Believe he will come.oh everything he tells us it is for our own good. We benefit from it.he loves us verymuch. ..

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    3. Keep studying A. Come to know the only true God and the one whom he sent, Jesus Christ. The world will hate you but Jesus says, all this they will do to you because they do not know the one who sent me. He left us a model to follow his steps closely so he tells the only true God in John 17:14,16 "They are no part of this world, just as I am no part of this world. I have given THEM your NAME. We have it A!

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    4. Thanks for your comments. All of the above is very Catholic!

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    5. So why do jw's celebrate baby showers, anniversaries, and weddings? To me it seems contradicting. I can understand a small wedding celebration but to go all out for all three occasions?

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  7. To the Anonymous JW who posted above. I would like to address a few items about your post.

    I am not a Catholic, but a Christian. You partial quote from John 1 out of your translation of your Bible. My question for you to answer or research is: If the Watchtower tranlated Bible is correct translation, who translated it? All the widely available Bibles Christians use have the names of the academic or theologians who participated in the translation listed in the Bible itself. If the Watchtower organization claims to be the only correct translation, why don't they publically list the names of the individuals who translated your Bible? Also, with over 24,000+ NT manuscripts available to researches in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin, what manuscripts did the Watchtower use to translate. There is such an abundance of manuscripts written from approximately 30 years to 300 years after Jesus died that can be compared, where did the non Watchtower translators go wrong that only the unknown Watchtower Bible translators can translate correctly?

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    1. Catholics are Christians. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of world. I don't know why some people insist that Catholics are not Christians. Again we believe in Jesus Chirst our Lord. The bottom line is that we believe in God our Father and Jesus his Son. Does it really matter is God has a particular name? He is called the Great Spirit by the Indians, the all-knowing and all-loving God--the one true God.
      As far as translation goes, it is very difficult to translate from one language to another because of all the other aspects of language--culture, inflection, the period of time in which the trnalsation wa made,etc. Again, the bottom line is to believe in the one true God, our all-knowing, omnipotent, loving God.,

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    2. To inform you of where JW get there translations from, it is from Bibles written many years ago. In our Bethel building in New York we have bibles written from different centuries that are on display for viewing. Also we get copies of the original scrolls that were found so that our translations can still be accurate. We don't just make it up. In your bible please read Psalms 83:18 and Exodus 6:3. There are many gods, especially from false worship, Jehovah has to distinguished from them. And if you know that the Tetragrammaton is the name He uses then use that. As someone stated before why don't you go and research the many false teachings that are taught by many religions. Even though Jehovah wants all to be saved we know that is not possible but JW's are here to spread the truth about who Jehovah is, why he sent his son and what his purpose is for the earth.

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    3. Thanks for your response. Catholics give a hearty "amen!" to Psalm 83:18 and Exodus 6:3.

      As far as there being many gods--this is contrary to Scripture. There is only ONE GOD.

      If there were many gods, where do they reside? What do they do? What is their purpose? I have never read a single verse in the Bible that talks about what these many gods do, and where they reside and what their purpose is.

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    4. What you say is true. But what I was referring to were the gods that people worshiped other than the One True God. Such as the Egyptians. And sad to say that some of the Israelites adopted these forms of worshipping false gods. Even some were drawn into the ways of the Canaanites, He has to be distinguished from the gods of false worship. I just wanted to clear that up. Thank for responding. Interesting blog

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    5. Catholicism doesn't disagree with what you posted above, Anonymous. We are agreed with you on this!

      God's name is Yahweh. No one disputes that in the CC.

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  8. Also, from what the Bible says and shows, a prophet from God is never wrong as they receive the word directly from God. If you believe that, then why has the Watchtower prophets been wrong so many times. The Watchtower prophets have wrong prophecies about the start of the tribulation on multiple occasions. Here are a few examples with reference material for you to look at:
    •1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874," (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, p. 621).
    •1899 "...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced," (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101).
    •1916 "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873," (The Time Is at Hand, forward, p. ii).
    •1918 "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection," (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89).
    •1922 "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914," (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1922, p. 262).
    •1925 "It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work," (Watchtower, Sept., 1925, p. 262).
    •1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit fixing dates," (Vindication, p. 338).
    •1941 "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon," (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288).
    •1968 "Why are you looking forward to 1975?" (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494).
    Also, if Jesus wasn't God then why did he say in John 10:30 that "I and My Father are one?" That is a pretty radical statement to make if you are not equal to God. Immediately after Jesus said that, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him as they said Jesus claimed to be God. The Jews at the time recogonized that Jesus was claiming to be the one true God.

    I am sorry if I am a little harsh, but these are just a few of many errors in the JW teaching and beliefs. I know they do not allow you to researh any negative or critical statements against the Watchtower organization, but I ask you to please research some more. Your salvation is at risk, and if the JW is the complete truth, then what risk are you facing to research the skeptics? However if it is false, then you are not saved through the works and faith in the true Jesus Christ.

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  9. It's not a title. It is Gods personal name. Therefore, it is of great importance. It makes Gods name known and shows clearly who his people are.

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    1. God's name is Jesus Christ. And his people are known as Christians, Britt.

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  10. Christians always say that the name of Father is YHWH and thus render it as Yahweh. But who tells them its Yahweh; even the Jews themselves have lost the pronunciation.

    To make things worst, never can we found the pronunciation of YHWH , or Jesus using the so called name of God as YHWH in New Testament .

    If we look at one of oldest Hebrew source, the verse in Dead Sea Scroll that is Isaiah 42:8

    I YHWH and ‘my name’ and my glory..

    it shows God’s name was no longer mentioned and indeed a separate name, YHWH means “I am what I am” “He who is” “The Eternal” based on several translation by Jews or Christian.

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  11. maybe wikipedia will help you a lot about the meaning of JEHOVAH... you can see pictures of catholic churches using the name of Jehovah written inside

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    1. Yes--it is a Catholic term.

      About the 13th century the term "Jehovah" appeared when Christian scholars took the consonants of "Yahweh" and pronounced it with the vowels of "Adonai." This resulted in the sound "Yahowah," which has a Latinized spelling of "Jehovah." The first recorded use of this spelling was made by a Spanish Dominican monk, Raymundus Martini, in 1270.
      http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-gods-name-yahweh-or-jehovah

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    2. 1. When I talk to my dad, I refer to him as Papa.

      But when I talk about him to others, I refer to him with his personal name and stating that he is my dad. In the same way, we can talk to Jehovah our father in heaven in an intimate way on our personal prayer, and refer to Him with His personal name when talking about him with others.


      2. Jesus (Yeshua) name means "Jehovah Saves".

      If Jesus the Son is also Jehovah the Father, why not name himself the same? If this is the truth, and that it is a mystery, does it manifest God's justice? Deut. 32:4 says, "The Rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he;"

      Would it be more faithful on our part to believe that God's truth is straightforward, simple, and easy for us to understand that Jehovah is our Father in heaven, just as Jesus has taught us in (Lord's) prayer, and that Jesus is Jehovah's only begotten son whom He is pleased.

      Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

      John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

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    3. Thanks for your comments. You wrote, "If Jesus the Son is also Jehovah the Father, why not name himself the same?"

      You have misunderstood the dogma of the Trinity. We do not say that "Jesus the Son is also Jehovah the Father."

      Rather, they are 2 different Persons.

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    4. This is awesome stuff. I can use this with my CCD students to amplify and clarify key points of our faith.

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    5. Would you mind explaining the trinity belief for us in the simplest way possible please?

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    6. The Trinity is something God has revealed about Himself that we could never have come to believe of through our own examinations.

      It tells us that God is above and beyond anything that we could ever comprehend.

      Essentially, it is the belief that there is One God and Three Persons in the Godhead.

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    7. Google (or bing.com) for the Shield of the Trinity to see a simple diagram of the Catholic teaching

      [cutting and pasting didn't work in this reply box]

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  12. Hi, good post... i read through most of it...but let's just keep it simple...THE BIBLE IS CATHOLIC AND THE NAME JEHOVAH'S IS CATHOLIC. ..please read the writings of theearly father's of the Church. ..everything is Catholic.... then read about the Catholic Spanish Dominican monk, Raymundus Martini, in 1270.
    http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-gods-name-yahweh-or-jehovah

    Jehovas Witnesses have ONLY been around for about 135 years... THEY ARE A MUSHROOM RELIGION that just POPE UP...The founder, Charles Taze Russel used the measurements of the pyramid of Egypt to predict the end of the world in 1914..a false prophet =a false religion/cult....Please remember, that a tree that is planted from a seed of a "Lie and false prophet" will NOT produce a fruit of "TRUTH"...
    I'm a Catholic and if anyone is serious about learning the TRUTH, you must ALWAYS go to the beginning. ...if you love the truth you will carefully look at the beginning of the Jehovah's Witnesses and of the Catholic religion, this may take you years of research ...a religion like the Jehovah's Witnesses have no basis to exist or make criticisms, at the very base of their teachings are done with a Bible that was canonized by the Catholics and the very name Jehova. ...please go to the beginning before you make a mistake my brother and end up in a cult....

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  13. Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Luis.

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  14. Just to follow up. ..I have spent many years and money buying old books from the Jehovah's Witnesses and also reading a lot of books of our early fathers in the Catholic religion. I have done this because my wife started taking bible teachings from the Jehovah's Witnesses and i Had to relearn my faith to save my wife from entering a cult...i hope this blog helps people that are starting to get caught up with that so called religion...please pay very close attention to how baptism is performed with the Jehovah's Witnesses. ..IT IS NOT PERFORMED in the name of the Father, the Son and the HolySpirit as Jesús tought us...Jehovah's Witnesses are baptized INTO an organization. ...if you follow their teachings the closest they could come to baptism would be ...Baptism in the name of Jehovah, Michael the Arche Angel and the Force...jehovas witnesses will know what I mean and maybe even the folks taking their bible studies. ..Please research your catholic faith and understand it COMPLETELY before going to another religion that will brain wash you and divide your family and friends. ..

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  15. Hi, wow I wish you could all hear yourselves. I personally don't follow any given religion but I am not atheist either. I just can't decifer which particular world religion is actually telling the truth. As such I have taken it upon myself to take parts of each religion that I find I believe in. You who have posted here are all supposed to be Christians as I've understood yet here you all are arguing. You are not very good roll models for people like myself who wish to learn the truth but realise there is no way of knowing which is the truth. I don't think any of you know actually know yourselves! In New age religion it is said that we are all God, we are all one, one energy, one chi, one spirit, we are all connected. Spirit beings living a Human existence. I think I prefer to believe this. I don't usually post on things and I don't usually read blogs like this but after reading this thread I couldn't help myself. Namaste.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comments.

      I think that the paradigm you are using is the recipe for creating a god in your own image.

      The paradigm you should be using, indeed, all of us should be using is: find what the Truth is, and then conform your view to Truth.

      Not to what sounds good to you.

      Delete
    2. As far as Christians arguing and not being good role models, well, Christians are commanded to "always have a reason for the hope that lies within us".

      That means presenting good arguments for what we believe and why.

      So "arguing" is a Christian endeavor.

      However, I think you perhaps mean "quarreling". And Christians ought not be quarreling, 'tis true.

      But no one on this blog has been quarreling.

      Delete
    3. I read your entire blog today. It's amazing! The master of deception really has done his work. You should continue in your darkness with your father the devil, just like Jesus condemned the Scribes and Pharisees of his day, for teaching traditions of men as doctrine. Mark 7:6-8. What a twisted distortion of the truth of the Bible. You pray on the sincere and unsuspecting. John 8:44. If Jesus is really Almighty God, or a part of a trinity of a godhead, could he actually really die? Could any part of him actually die? If he really didn't completely die, how could he be resurrected? 1 Corinthians 15:16-19. The Bible makes clear that Almighty God cannot die! Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 2:17, Revelation 10:6. I read the Bible, not Catholic Church tradition. Mr Amateur Apologist, I would not want to be in your shoes, at this time. 2 Corinthians 4:4. I do however hope that one day you will find the true light of the Christ. Psalm 56:13. Your own Catholic Encyclopedia condemns may of your traditional teachings and beliefs, as does the Bible. In closing, why don't you reference the scriptures in the Bible to substantiate your beliefs? Where does the Bible teach us to pray to Mary, as the mother of God? Your church teaches teaches that, does it not?

      Delete
    4. Thanks for your comments, Anonymous.

      Firstly, I'm not sure why you think God, who is omnipotent, could not "really die". Death is the separation of the body from the soul. Not sure why you think the Omnipotent God couldn't manage this?

      Delete
    5. As far as "where does the Bible teach us to pray to Mary, as the mother of God?", my answer is: it's right after the verse that says that everything we believe has to be found in the Bible ;)

      You have simply been following a tradition of man when you believe that everything we profess as Christians has to be found in the Bible. You can search Genesis through Revelation but will never see that in a single verse. You just heard a man say it, who heard another man say it, who heard another man say it, but no one ever read, in a single page of the Bible, "Everything you believe about God has to be found in the Bible!" #manmadetradition

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    6. If it's not found in the Bible, I'm afraid you've gone through the wide gate and are on the broad way to... Matthew 7:13,14; Luke 13:24. Mr. Amateur Apologist, if you're really a true follower of Jesus, please show me the scripture that says the soul is immortal, and that everyone lives forever, whether or not one accepts Jesus or he doesn't. Show me too where everyone lives forever in hell, or heaven, whether they are wicked or righteous. The Bible is clear on this. Please tell me what scriptures support this teaching. Please read Romans 6:23. Only the ones that accept Jesus ransom sacrifice receive life, but guess what, you have to be conscious to be tormented in hell forever, which requires you to be ALIVE, not dead. Jesus always quoted the holy writings, will you? Show me in the Bible because it has the answers to all of our problems. 2 Timothy 3:16,17. Show me who you really are. Are you a spiritual son of Almighty God? Show me the scriptures please.

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    7. "If it's not found in the Bible, I"m afraid you've gond through the wide gate and are on the broad way to...."

      ...is something you've NOT found in the Bible, my friend.

      You believe "everything you believe about religion has to be found in the Bible" ONLY because you heard a man tell you this...NOT because you've read it in a single page of the Bible.

      That's the definition of a man-made tradition.

      Unless you can provide me with a Bible verse that says, "Everything we believe has to be found in the Bible" then you've been duped into believing a self-contradicting tradition.

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    8. How did Jesus teach? Did Jesus use the traditions of the Jews of his day to teach, or did he always quote the Holy Writings of the prophets, and writers of the Holy Scriptures, that we now have in the Bible? Did not Jesus condemn the Religious leaders of his day for making "God's word invalid by teaching traditions of men as doctrine?" Mark 7:6-9, Matthew 15:7-9. In that scripture he quotes the prophet Isaiah at Isaiah 29:13. Jesus continually used the Holy Writings of old to teach the people and condemn the Jewish priests who were not following the truth of the Law Covenant. If it's not in the Bible, whose "truth" does the Catholic church follow? Do you even believe that the complete Bible is the "word of God?"

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    9. Those are good questions. "Did Jesus use the traditions of the Jews?" Yes, yes He did!

      "Did he always quote the Holy Writings of the prophets?" No, of course he didn't always quote the Holy Writings.

      And yes, Jesus did condemn the religious leaders for making God's word invalid by teaching traditions of men as doctrine. But this is not an indictment of traditions, but rather teaching traditions of men as doctrines--something the Catholic Church doesn't do.

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    10. And, yes, Jesus did use the Holy Writings of old to teach the people, but he didn't use ONLY the Holy Writings.

      As far as whose truth does the Catholic Church follow? We follow the teachings of Christ given to His Church through His Apostles, and their successors, the Holy Bishops.

      And so do you, my friend. You follow the Catholic Church each and every time you quote from, say, Hebrews, as the Word of God. You don't use the Bible for that, (for the Bible doesn't say "The book of Hebrews is inspired! And the Epistles of Clement are not inspired!"), rather, you defer to the authority of the Catholic Church to tell you which books belong in the Bible.

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    11. Finally, you asked: Do you even believe that the complete Bible is the "word of God?"

      Yes! Every word in the Bible is theopneustos, or God-breathed.

      (But you need the Catholic Church to tell you the table of contents, for the Bible didn't come floating down from heaven, leather-bound and intact. You needed men to discern which of the over 400 ancient Christian texts were God-breathed, and which ones weren't).

      But if you mean: is the Bible the COMPLETE Word of God, the answer is: NO!

      And the reason is: that's a man-made tradition.

      The Bible NEVER says "This is the complete Word of God!"

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    12. Mr Amateur Apologist, I must disagree with you. You write many ideas, but you give "0" Biblical scriptures to support your theories. Jesus did not teach what the Scribes and Pharisees taught, nor was he in agreement with what was being done by the priests of his day. An example for you to "shoot down" is, how can you believe the soul is immortal when the Bible clearly says it can, and does die? Have you not read the scriptures I have referenced to support my statements? Please read Ezekiel 18:4,20, and Matthew 10:28 which says, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell". Notice the part, but rather fear him which is "able to "destroy" both soul and body" in hell. (quotations mine for emphasis) How can the soul be "destroyed" if it is, as the Catholic church teaches, "immortal"? I tell you this Mr Amateur Apologist, you may want to look more closely at the details in your own Catholic Douay version of the Bible at the scriptures I have been inserting in my conversation with you because of what Hebrews 10:31 states. And yes the letter to the Hebrews is an inspired book of the Bible. The Bible itself states that ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired of God and is for our, as the KJ version states "learning". Romans 15:4. Also 2 Timothy 3:16,17, and 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Clearly ALL of the Bible is GOD'S WORD! We cannot pick and choose what we want to accept from it. Jesus quoted extensively from the "Old Testament". Just take a look at all the prophecies about Jesus scattered throughout the "Old Testament" that he fulfilled. I have a hard time believing that you believe, completely, the "Word of God"! Please read Matthew 7:21-23. What is "the will of God?" Oh yes, if you don't include scriptures to support your statements, I have no choice but to believe they are from the demons.

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    13. Thanks for your comments, Anonymous. And just a FYI: I am a Ms. Amateur Apologist, not a Mr. :)

      As far as not citing Scripture to support my theories--I will do that after you cite the Scripture which states "support your religious views with texts from the Bible!".

      Otherwise, what you are doing is following a man-made tradition you've been fooled into believing.

      You just heard a man say this, but never read "support your religious doctrines with a Biblical verse!" in a single page of the Bible.

      That's the definition of a man-made tradition.

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    14. As far as Hebrews being Scripture--yes, that's true. But the ONLY way you know this is because you've deferred to the authority of the Catholic Church to tell you it's inspired.

      You wouldn't know that it belongs in the Bible as the inspired Word of God...except that you give your tacit approval to the authority of the Church to tell you that it's inspired, but that, say, the Shepherd of Hermas is not inspired.

      It's the Catholic Church which told you which books belong in the Bible.

      And then, when you defer to the authority of this Church, you can know, with 100% certainty, that what's between the pages of Genesis and Revelation is, indeed "inspired by God".

      All Scripture is, indeed, inspired by God.

      You just have to be told what is "Scripture".

      You haven't been given a list of the table of contents from God--that came from men. Catholic men. Catholic bishops. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

      Delete
    15. Finally, we are agreed that "ALL of the Bible is GOD'S WORD"

      Also, you are correct: "We cannot pick and choose what we want to accept from it."

      As well as correct here: Jesus quoted extensively from the "Old Testament".

      Now, here, you have, ironically, not quoted Scripture, and are therefore asserting another man-made tradition:"Oh yes, if you don't include scriptures to support your statements, I have no choice but to believe they are from the demons".

      If you're saying that statements made that aren't supported by Scripture come from demons, then, doesn't that mean that your statement here is "from the demons"?

      Delete
    16. Please excuse me for assuming you were a Mr. I based that on the picture you have posted. My apology. I also apologize for thinking you were accepting the Bible as the only book inspired directly by Almighty God, for us to live by. What other book(s) do you believe were inspired to be written about the history of this world, the nation covenanted with through which Jesus would come, and the future prophecy's about Almighty God's purposes? As to my statement "Jesus quoted extensively from the "Old Testament"" being from the demons, read your Bible and tell me who Jesus quoted from. The prophets, and his father. Whose words were the prophets, were they not direct quotes from God, in their own words?

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    17. Firstly, we are agreed that the Bible is indeed the inspired Word of God. (But the ONLY way you know this is because you defer to the authority of the Catholic Church to tell you what books belong in the Bible)

      And it is the ONLY book (or rather, library of books) that is inspired.

      However, God did not say that we should ONLY go by the Bible. (Unless you can offer me a Bible verse that says this, with emphasis on the "ONLY" part).

      So what do Christians use as the pillar and foundation for their truth?

      The Church. (1 Tim 3:15)

      We follow Christ, who gave the kerygma to His Apostles, who then went to all the ends of the earth proclaiming this good news, leaving this Word to their successors, the bishops. So we know that whoever hears these men, hears Christ. (Luke 10:16)

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    18. You stated: As to my statement "Jesus quoted extensively from the "Old Testament"" being from the demons, read your Bible and tell me who Jesus quoted from. ..

      No, my friend. I didn't say that this quote is from demons. You made this statement, but didn't quote from the Bible when you said it: "if you don't include scriptures to support your statements, I have no choice but to believe they are from the demons."

      So doesn't that mean that your statement here ^^ is "from the demons"? Remember, you didn't use Scripture in that quote.

      Also,do you have a Bible verse that states: "If someone doesn't use Scripture whenever he makes a quote, know that this is a statement from demons!"

      Delete
    19. I would just like to summarize that these are some of the man-made traditions you've espoused here. That is, some things you've asserted that aren't in a single page of the Bible.

      To wit:
      -"support your religious views with texts from the Bible!"
      -"everything we believe about God has to come from the Bible!"
      -"if a person says something, but doesn't include a Bible verse, that statement is from demons!"

      All of the above are things you've asserted, but haven't offered any Bible verses to support your view.

      Delete
    20. You believe you have the truth of God, but you are following traditions of your church which conflict with Jesus words in the Bible. Some of your teachings conflict with God's words through the prophets and Jesus, found in the Bible. There are so many of satan's churches claiming to be Christian out there. Matt. 7:22-23. I will have to use the Bible, as it truly is God's word, 1Thess. 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16,17. I cannot trust any church, including the Catholic church, that embraces teachings that conflict with the Bible. Questions: If Adam and Eve had not sinned, when would they have died and gone to heaven? Gen. 3:22-24. Are Adam and Eve in heaven or Hell, or where exactly are they? Gen. 3:19. When did God create hell, before or after Adam and Eve sinned, if he ever created it? Tell me, were Adam and Eve real people, like you and me? Where does the Bible say directly that the soul is immortal? Eze. 18:4,20. And who is not a sinner? In the beginning did Adam's soul sin, or did his body sin? Please give me scriptures to support your answers, if you have the truth of the Bible.
      Thanks.

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    21. Thanks for your comments, Anonymous. Before I give you "scriptures to support" my answers, can you first offer an example of anyone in the Bible asking this question to another believer?

      If you can't, then isn't asking this question a man-made tradition?

      Delete
    22. The belief that someone has to give Scripture to support one's religious beliefs is...NEVER found in Scripture.

      That makes it a man-made tradition.

      Delete

    23. Now, while "all Scripture is inspired by God"--2 Tim 3:16, what that means is that everything between Genesis and Revelation comes from God and is holy and God-breathed....

      ...but that does NOT say "Everything we believe about God has to be found within the pages of this Book".

      That, ironically, is a man-made tradition.

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    24. Also, I would like to point out that since the Bible didn't come floating down from heaven, and the Bible didn't come with a Table of Contents....each and every time you quote from, say, Hebrews, or Philemon, or any book in the Bible, you are giving your tacit acceptance of Sacred Tradition.

      That is, you acknowledge that men discerned which books are theopneustos, or God-breathed. That is, Catholic men. Catholic bishops to be specific.

      Unless you can tell me what other way you know that Hebrews is God-breathed? And that the Shepherd of Hermas, the Epistles of Clement do NOT belong in the Bible?

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    25. Aha! The truth comes out. You pick and choose what you allow on your blog, to your twisted view. You delete what you can't defend, that which is truth.

      Delete
    26. If you are willing to engage in discourse, I will post your comments.

      However, no one gets to post absurdities and misrepresentations, and then say, "And I'm through talking with you.'

      That's the coward's way.

      So...if you tell me that you're willing to discourse, game on!

      Delete
    27. Also, any references to "you're like Satan" or "you speak lies just like Satan" will be deleted.

      I could just as easily post that all of your beliefs are the product of acceding to the whispers of Satan...but I wouldn't do that, because these types of assertions are useless assertions.

      So...game on, if you're able.

      Delete
  16. Ok I apologise for misinterpreting I admit that I am not very educated. In saying that I did begin to do bible study with JW's but stopped as I found that most of the time they just tried to teach me about Satan which is not what I want to learn about. As a general uneducated person who would like to be a little more educated I find it hard going when a group of Christians don't even seem to be able to agree on the most important things.
    You say to find what the truth is, Catholics believe they know the truth but to other religions this is not the truth so I go back to my earlier statement that it is impossible to know the truth.
    I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply. I will stay with this thread as I hope I can learn something truthful from you all.

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    1. Again, thanks for your comments.

      Let's start with the Christians not being able to agree....

      Would you agree with the fact that even if folks don't agree on a particular truth, that doesn't mean that there isn't an absolute truth, right?

      For example, folks may not have agreed on whether the world was flat or round, but that didn't mean that there wasn't someone who was presenting a correct viewpoint, yes?

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    2. Regarding the fact that it is impossible to know the truth...if you mean it's impossible to know All Truth...then we are agreed.

      But if you mean that we can't know anything...then I am afraid we must disagree.

      Delete
  17. To The Amateur Apologist,

    I have just realised that I have never really studied your faith and how it differs from the other Christian religions. With that in mind I would like to thank you as I will now try to learn all I can. :)

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    1. Here's a great resource:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAu5VL6mImA

      Delete
  18. Yes I agree with that, just because you can't physically see or hear something it doesn't mean it isn't there.
    So how can a person find the absolute truth and how do you know when you've found it? Or is that what you're saying, that you can't ever know the absolute truth?

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    1. Your search for truth begins with your intellect. You use your reason and come to some conclusions. You use logic to understand that 2 contradictory premises cannot both be true. You use your will to assent to truth.

      And I am NOT saying you can't know Absolute Truth. I am saying that we can't ever know All Truth--for example we will never know the truth of how many grains of sand there are on earth. We will never completely understand evil. We will never completely understand why we sin. But Christianity does give the best answers to life's most important questions.

      Delete
    2. In your search for truth the first hurdle is to decide is there a God or isn't?

      Either God exists or He doesn't.

      Both premises can't be true or not.

      And God is the best explanation for how the universe came to exist.

      Logic dictates that whatever begins to exist but have a cause.

      Delete
  19. I believe in something that is much bigger than you or I, something that is very difficult for a Human to comprehend. I think of that something as God but I don't see God as a person and I think this is where it gets difficult for me. After everything I learn it always comes back to this for me. Any suggestions would be grateful. Thank you for the link.

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  20. Here's another good link:
    http://www.catholic.com/video/why-be-catholic

    ReplyDelete
  21. What do you think about the Christian claims that Jesus was God Incarnate--that God became Man, and was crucified and rose from the dead?

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  22. I have to be honest this today is the first time I have heard this. I've always been led to believe that Jesus was God's son who he sent to earth.

    Which Christian belief believes that Jesus is God incarnate? What is the Catholic belief?

    It really does change everything if Jesus was actually God reincarnate.

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    1. Yes--the central tenet of Christianity is that Jesus is God Incarnate. (Not God re-incarnate).

      What you have been taught is a Jehovah's Witness belief, which is NOT Christian. It is a rather new (20th century) church that re-embraced an ancient heresy that denied Christ's divinity.

      Delete
  23. Ok, lots for me to learn....

    So what is God when he is not incarnate as man?

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    1. God is an Eternal Union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One Being in 3 Persons, Eternal and Unchanging

      Delete
  24. So would you agree that God is the superior being who has shown himself in human form for us to better understand him? BUT he's not really a person is he?
    You're saying one being in 3 persons or 3 persons in one being, the 'being' is the part I'm trying to understand, I understand that this being is eternal and that this being can take any form it so chooses but what actual kind of being is God? I think this is probably where you tell me that God is everything.
    So if Jesus was God in human form then I can see why we would call God a 'him' the father, the son and the holy spirit, we as a race just can't comprehend 'the being' that God is without referring to him in some human form. That's why people are so confused with the trinity.
    Do you agree with anything I've Said or do you think I've totally got it wrong?

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  25. Much of what you say is very Catholic!

    Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?

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  26. I can't believe that the Romans crucified God! Crucifying Gods son was bad enough but crucifying your creator that's just about the worst thing you can do.
    You seem very knowledgeable so i must ask, could it be possible that Christ wasn't the messiah? Why do the Jews reject Jesus?

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  27. I don't believe that someone who died and rose from the dead couldn't be the messiah. I mean, really, do you think that it's possible to rise from the dead but not be God?

    And the Jews rejected Jesus because they wanted a military leader who would overthrow their oppressors, the Romans. They could not view a poor, itinerant fisherman as God Incarnate.

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  28. I don't know if I believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I know that the tomb was empty. I believe in God but I truthfully don't know about Jesus. To me he has always been someone I know was born but he was just a man. God on the other hand I believe in, the God I believe of as a being. Only today have I learned that the being I see as God allegedly incarnated as a man and as I said in an earlier post, that changes everything. Do I believe that God as a man could have rose from the dead then yes of course God can do and be anything he chooses to be. His own spirit would have risen from the dead, in fact that's probably when the trinity would have been most visible because that would have been the being in all 3 forms. I'm just speculating and rambling. I find it all so fascinating and its nice to talk to someone about God who is responding with answers about God and not Satan.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Let's connect the dots here...you believe that the tomb was empty. Good.

    So what do you think about the people who say they saw Jesus after he rose? Do you think they were lying? Mistaken?

    If they were lying, do you know that they were tortured and died horrific deaths for saying they saw Jesus alive, and not a single one recanted?

    If they were mistaken, how could this have occurred? How could so many people mistakenly see a person?

    And what explains the empty tomb?

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    1. Don't mean to interrupt you my brother

      from the KJV which is synonymous with the NWT

      John 2:19
      Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

      Then why does Jesus say I WILL RAISE IT UP?

      He doesn't say the Father/Jehovah will raise it up


      As far as the TRINITY question
      3 LEAVES 1 CLOVER
      ONE CLOVER ONE GOD

      I haven't done apologetic in some time

      In Christ,
      Emilio

      Delete
  30. I don't have answers to your questions I'm afraid just lots of questions like for instance...Why did God allow himself to be killed in the first place?

    Also if God always had his Godly powers on earth why would he allow those people who saw him after his death to be killed in such horrific ways?

    One last thing, you believe these people saw Jesus so where did Jesus the man go to?
    Did he live out his life? Or was the Jesus that everyone saw actually a spirit/ghost?
    If it was a spirit then that would explain the empty tomb?
    Do you have the answer to that question you asked about the empty tomb?

    Do Catholics believe in spirits/ghosts?

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  31. Oh, I don't have any problem with having lots of questions :)

    However, it's probably a better system to ask questions, and then to investigate the answers...

    rather than simply posing question after question without connecting the dots.

    Let's try to figure out why someone would lie about seeing Jesus being resurrected...and continue that lie under torture.

    That doesn't sound consonant with what we know of human nature does it?

    The Catholic answer to this question is, of course, "Well, the disciples weren't lying!"

    What's your answer to this?

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  32. I have no reason to believe that the disciples would lie about anything. In fact I never said that they did.
    I have already agreed with you that if Jesus was God then yes of course
    he could have risen from the tomb. God can do anything. Which is why I don't understand why he allowed those people to be tortured in his name.
    I did a little research last night on Catholicism and I learned that you don't only use the bible for teachings, of which I was very happy to learn as I've never agreed with that. Could you tell me what it is you (Catholics) use other than the bible to teach the apostles word and Jesus's teachings?

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    1. That's great. So if the disciples didn't lie, then Christ really rose from the dead....and that makes him God....

      And Christ established a Church.

      There is only one Church which can trace its roots back to Christ and the first century...and that is the Catholic Church.

      Delete
    2. What the Catholic Church uses to know what Jesus and the Apostles taught is Sacred Tradition PLUS Sacred Scripture.

      Sacred Tradition is the Oral Teaching of the Apostles, handed down to the Church and guided by the Holy Spirit to remain true and correct.

      Sacred Tradition is different from (just plain) tradition. Small "t" tradition is simply customs or practices, and Catholics don't believe that this is guided by the Holy Spirit.

      Delete
  33. Great article on Scripture and Tradition here:

    http://www.catholic.com/tracts/scripture-and-tradition

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  34. So many questions! Interesting blog. I usually don't read blogs but this one really caught my attention. I didn't grow up in a religious home. We believed in God but that was as far as it went. When I went to college I received a lot of scholarships to a Catholic university. In my heart I believed that I was lead that direction by God and became Catholic. Now many years later JW has come to my house and today they were asking if I knew God's name. When every religion full heartedly and with such conviction defends their beliefs, how do you know what to believe? Do you think it's possible to just belive in God and His son and the Holy Spirit or do you think that God wants us to pick a religion? And what if we pick the wrong one? And is God's name Jehovah?

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    1. Thanks for your comments, Anonymous.

      Firstly, God's name is YHVH (see above article). But we don't need to call God by a name--we know Him as Father. We know His name is Jesus, at whose name every knee should bend!

      As far as what religion to choose--I suggest you first look at history and see which Church can trace itself back to Christ and His Apostles. And that is ONLY the Catholic Church or the Orthodox Church.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for your reply! Lots to learn.

      Delete
  35. http://www.watchtower.exposed/
    Please do resaerch and check out this couple they have all resources and excellent source to find out the truth of about the truth.

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  36. gods name is Jehovah..

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  37. What give the right for the Catholics to remove a holy name out of God's book did God call on the phone to the church and say remove my holy name from my book what gives them the right to do that the very first commandment says I am Jehovah your God the bottom right at the bottom line is no one had the right to remove his name out of his own book

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    1. No one removed God's name from the Bible, Larry. In English, it is translated "God", in Greek, it is translated "YHWH".

      Delete
  38. Islam holds that the Last & Final Covenant was between God and Prophet Muhammad for all the humanity until eternity. Couldn't a muslim use the exact same argument you used for the "new" Christian covenant but in support for the "even newer" Islamic Covenant? Why aren't Christians considered breaking faith by giving pride of place to the old and dispensible covenent, over that of the New and Eternal?

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    1. I suppose it's because we have the Final Covenant in Jesus Christ. No other incarnation of God has died and risen, atoning for our sins.

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