Servants Preparation ClassMay 6, 2014

Orthodoxy and Catholicism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wg4zdLPqc8&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KqMLs8q72Q

Terminology

catholic = universal, whole, complete (speaking about the church and epistles written by James, Peter, John and Jude because they were not addressed to specific churches like St. Paul’s epistles)

Catholic = Roman Catholic Church

Timeline

451 – Council of Chalcedon

1054 – Great Schism

1517 – Protestant Reformation

Timeline

Differences in Vision

Development of DoctrineAs history progresses, new

doctrines appear that were absent in previous centuries◦Ex. Vatican I and Vatican II

◦ In the Church of Rome’s model – Christ gave only a “seed” to the Apostles which has grown and changed over time.

Differences in Vision

Faith and ReasonReason is put on a much higher level

in the Roman Catholic church than in the Orthodox Church

Rome has defined and redefined much of its dogma to try to “prove” God’s existence according to reason and logic◦Leads to the “development of doctrine”

“Filioque” ControversyMeans “and the Son”Council of Nicea in 325Council of Constantinople in 381“Yes, we believe in the Holy

Spirit, the Lord, the life-Giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets…”

“Filioque” ControversyIn A.D. 587, the local council of Toledo

(Spain), attempting to combat Arianism by emphasizing The Son’s equality with The Father, added the Filioque clause to the creed.

This changed the Creed to: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-Giver, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets…”

“Filioque” ControversyLeo III, Pope of Rome,

protested against any innovation, by having the creed engraved upon two tablets of silver that were hung in St. Peter's Church, and under which was written the following inscription: "I, Leo, have put up these tablets for the love and preservation of the Orthodox faith."

“Filioque” Controversy"But when the Helper comes,

whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." (John 15:26)

"But if I depart, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7)

The Primacy of Roman PontiffWherefore we teach and declare that,

by divine ordinance, the Roman church possesses a pre-eminence of ordinary power over every other church, and that this jurisdictional power of the Roman pontiff is both episcopal and immediate. Both clergy and faithful, of whatever rite and dignity, both singly and collectively, are bound to submit to this power by the duty of hierarchical subordination and…

First Vatican Council (1870)…true obedience, and this not only

in matters concerning faith and morals, but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the church throughout the world…This is the teaching of the catholic truth, and no one can depart from it without endangering his faith and salvation. (Pastor Aeternus, Vatican I, 1870)

The Primacy of Roman Pontiff“The Roman pontiff is the true vicar

of Christ, the head of the whole church and the father and teacher of al Christians; and to him was committed in blessed Peter, by our Lord Jesus Christ, the full power of tending, ruling and governing the whole church.” (Council of Florence, 1439)

Also reaffirmed this teaching at Vatican II, 1965

The Primacy of Roman Pontiff

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— (Matthew 20:25-27)

The Primacy of Roman Pontiff

“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he (St. Peter) would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision and the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him (St. Peter), so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

The Primacy of Roman Pontiff

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘if you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?’” (Gal. 2:11-14)

The Primacy of Roman PontiffOrthodoxy believes in councils, not

the supremacy of one over another

Acts 15 – presided over by St. James

The Primacy of Roman PontiffMisinterpreted verses:“Now the names of the twelve apostles are

these: first, Simon, who is called Peter and Andrew his brother…” (Matthew 10:2)

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19)

The Primacy of Roman Pontiff“But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),” (Gal. 2:7-8)

The Primacy of Roman Pontiff“I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation” (Romans 15:20).

John 21

Doctrine of Papal Infallibilitywe teach and define as a divinely revealed dogma

that◦ when the Roman pontiff speaks EX CATHEDRA, that is,

when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church, he possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals.

◦ Therefore, such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church, irreformable.

◦ So then, should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of ours: let him be anathema. (Vatican I, 1870)

Doctrine of Papal Infallibility

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

St. Peter was not infallible!

Papal infallibility essentially makes all councils pointless

Original Sin Orthodox doctrine: We

inherited the consequence of Adam's sin which is a fallen sinful nature and mortality (ancestral sin)

  Catholic doctrine: We inherit

the guilt of Adam's sin because we were in the loins of Adam when he sinned

PurgatoryFrom Latin ‘purgare’, to make

clean, to purify) is a place or a condition of temporal punishment for those who died in a state of grace yet are not entirely free from lesser faults or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.

Purgatory

For the Roman Catholic church, there are 3 destinations after a person dies:

1. Heaven2. Hell3. Purgatory - Painful temporal punishment (literal fire)

Purgatory

1. Purgatory contradicts the doctrine of Atonement and Redemption:“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9)

Purgatory

2. Purgatory contradicts the good news of the Holy GospelThe angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11)

Purgatory

3. Purgatory contradicts God’s justice

4. Purgatory contradicts God’s mercy

5. Purgatory contradicts the Bible

PurgatoryIndulgences

an indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, the guilt of which has been forgiven.

Purgatory assumes a division of salvation into two parts:

1. Getting into heaven2. Being purged/paying off debt due to sin

PurgatoryPuts emphasis on satisfying

the “wrath” of God as opposed to the healing and transformation of the human person

The “Immaculate” ConceptionStates that St. Mary was exempt from the stain

of “original sin” when she was conceived.

Orthodox belief: Christ and St. Mary suffered effects of fallen nature (hunger, fatigue, etc.)

Virgin Mary died – if born without “original sin” she would have been incapable of death.

This would affect the “human nature” of Christ

The “Immaculate” ConceptionSurely I was sinful at birth, sinful

from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

St. Mary herself declared her need of salvation when she said, “my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:47)

Other differences…Original SinCreated graceCelibacy of priests

◦No beards or traditional attire◦Some monks and nuns have abandoned

traditional habitPriest faces peopleSacramental life (liturgical and other)Icons vs. statuesMany other theological differences

Conclusion

Why does this matter?

1. That you may not be shaken2. So you can live your faith to the

fullest3. You represent Christ and the

Church4. The body of Christ is “broken”