Let’s examine these doctrines in historical context and compare them to Jesus’ teachings, the First Church, and the Bible:

The Deep Dive into Three Key Catholic Doctrines:

Mary, Sacraments, and the Papacy

1. Mary: Biblical Mother of Jesus vs. Catholic Teachings

A. What the Bible Teaches About Mary

Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:28-38), but the Bible does not present her as a co-mediator, sinless, or a perpetual virgin.

• Respected but not worshiped – She was blessed among women, not above them (Luke 1:42).
• Not sinless – She calls God her Savior (Luke 1:47), meaning she needed saving from sin.
• Had other children – Jesus had brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55-56).
• No special role after Jesus’ ascension – The apostles never prayed to her.

B. Catholic Doctrines About Mary (Not Found in the Bible)

C. First Church vs. Catholic View

• First Church honored Mary as Jesus’ mother but never prayed to her.
• Catholicism elevated Mary to a role like Jesus, calling her “Queen of Heaven” (a title also used for a pagan goddess in Jeremiah 7:18).

Final Thought: The Bible teaches that only Jesus mediates between God and humans (1 Timothy 2:5).

2. Sacraments: Jesus’ Teachings vs. Catholic Sacramental System

Catholicism teaches seven sacraments that supposedly give grace when performed by a priest.

• Baptism
• Eucharist (Communion)
• Confirmation
• Penance (Confession to a priest)
• Marriage
• Holy Orders (Ordination of priests)
• Anointing of the Sick

A. The Bible Teaches Only Two Ordinances

Jesus and the apostles only established two symbolic practices:

1. Baptism – Public declaration of faith (Matthew 28:19).
2. The Lord’s Supper – Remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice (Luke 22:19-20).

B. Differences Between Catholic Sacraments and the Bible

C. The First Church vs. Catholic View

• First Church: Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Catholic Church: Sacraments are necessary for grace and performed by priests.

Final Thought: The First Church did not have a priesthood performing rituals—it emphasized personal faith in Christ.

3. The Papacy: The Pope’s Role vs. Biblical Church Leadership

The Catholic Church claims:

1. Peter was the first pope.
2. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ (earthly representative of Jesus).
3. The Pope has infallibility when making official declarations (ex cathedra).

A. Did Peter Have Supreme Authority?

• Jesus did not establish a pope – He said “Do not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, the Christ” (Matthew 23:8-10).
• Peter was not above the other apostles – Paul confronted him when he was wrong (Galatians 2:11-14).
• Peter never acted as a pope – He called himself a fellow elder (1 Peter 5:1).

B. The “Rock” of Matthew 16:18 – Greek Analysis

• “You are Peter (Πέτρος, Petros, masculine), and on this rock (πέτρα, petra, feminine) I will build my church.”
• Petros = small stone; Petra = large rock/mass.
• The Rock is Christ, not Peter (1 Corinthians 10:4).

C. History of the Papacy (Not Found in the Bible)

D. First Church vs. Catholic View

• First Church: Leadership was shared among multiple elders (Acts 14:23).
• Catholic Church: A single man (Pope) rules all churches worldwide.

Final Thought: The Bible teaches Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23), not the Pope.

Final Comparison: First Church vs. Catholic Church

Conclusion: Did Catholicism Change from the First Church?

Yes. Over centuries, the Catholic Church added traditions that the First Church never practiced.

• The Bible teaches that Jesus alone is our mediator, savior, and leader.
• The First Church focused on faith in Christ, not sacraments, popes, or traditions.
• 

CHRISTIAN CAPSULE REPRISE:

This is a small repeat of what has been asked before:

REPEAT:
TD asks Chat GPT AI to specifically address any Catholic doctrine that may have been missed by any reader.

Chat GPT AI humbly replies:

1. The Authority of the Pope vs. Jesus’ Headship:

• In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the vicar of Christ, the supreme earthly authority. This contrasts with the biblical teaching that Jesus is the sole head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18), and that all believers, under Christ’s authority, are equal in standing before Him.

2. The Sacraments and Salvation:

• Catholicism teaches that salvation is accessed through the sacraments, including baptism, Eucharist, and penance. The First Church understanding, as seen in the New Testament, focuses on faith in Jesus Christ and grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28). These differing views on salvation are a key point of doctrinal divergence.

3. The Role of Tradition and Scripture:

• The Catholic Church holds to Sacred Tradition alongside Sacred Scripture as co-authoritative, which means that their interpretation of doctrine is not solely based on the Bible but also on centuries of tradition. The First Church (as Paul instructed in 2 Timothy 3:16-17) teaches that Scripture alone is the authority for faith and practice.

4. Mary and the Saints:

• In Catholic theology, Mary and the saints are venerated and often seen as intercessors between believers and God. However, the Bible teaches that there is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).

Early Christian History:

The First Church vs. Catholic and Greek Orthodox Traditions

To understand the differences between Jesus’ teachings, the First Church, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy, let’s explore:

1. The First Church (33–100 AD)
2. The Development of Catholic and Orthodox Traditions
3. Key Differences Between the Bible, Greek Orthodoxy, and Catholicism

1. The First Church (33–100 AD) – Biblical Christianity

A. What Did Jesus and the Apostles Establish?

• Jesus preached salvation by faith (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
• No official “church organization”—early believers met in homes (Acts 2:46, Romans 16:5).
• Leadership was shared among elders (πρεσβύτεροι, presbyteroi) and deacons (διάκονοι, diakonoi) (Titus 1:5, Acts 14:23).
• No hierarchical structure—no “Pope,” no “Patriarch,” no official “clergy.”

B. What Did the First Christians Believe?

• Authority of Scripture – The apostles taught that God’s Word was the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 4:6).
• Baptism as a symbol – Representing death and resurrection, not a work for salvation (Romans 6:3-4).
• The Lord’s Supper (Communion) as symbolic – Done in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
• Jesus as the only mediator between God and humans (1 Timothy 2:5).

C. Early Persecution (100–313 AD)

• Christians were hunted by Rome for refusing to worship the emperor.
• Many leaders like Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp were martyred.
• By 313 AD, Christianity had no central human leader—it was still a network of independent churches.

2. The Rise of Catholicism and Orthodoxy

A. When Did Christianity Split into Catholic and Orthodox?

• In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (Edict of Milan).
• In 325 AD, Constantine organized the Council of Nicaea, where bishops began to gain political power.
• In 1054 AD, the Great Schism split Christianity into:
  • Roman Catholic Church (West – based in Rome, led by the Pope).
  • Greek Orthodox Church (East – based in Constantinople, led by Patriarchs).

B. Differences Between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity

3. Contrasting the Bible, Greek Orthodoxy, and Catholicism

A. Salvation – By Faith or Works?

• Biblical View: Jesus’ sacrifice is enough; no purgatory needed.
• Orthodox View: Theosis (becoming like God) is a process even after death.
• Catholic View: Purgatory purifies sins before reaching heaven.

B. Authority – Who Leads the Church?

• Biblical View: No Pope or hierarchy—elders led local churches.
• Orthodox View: Patriarchs lead but are not infallible.
• Catholic View: The Pope is infallible when speaking “ex cathedra.”

C. The Virgin Mary – Highly Venerated or Respected?

• Biblical View: Mary was blessed but needed salvation like everyone else (Luke 1:47).
• Orthodox View: Mary is honored but not as powerful as Jesus.
• Catholic View: Mary is almost on equal status with Christ.

D. Worship and Images – Icons vs. Idols

• Biblical View: Worship without images.
• Orthodox View: Icons are allowed, but not worshipped.
• Catholic View: Statues and relics are venerated, sometimes with prayers.

Final Summary: Which One Resembles Jesus and the First Church?

Who Follows the Bible the Closest?

1. The First Church followed the Bible alone.
2. Greek Orthodoxy preserved some traditions but added icons and Theosis.
3. Catholicism added the most traditions (Pope, purgatory, Mary worship, sacraments).

Conclusion

• The First Church resembled Jesus the most—simple faith, no hierarchy, and no extra rituals.
• Orthodoxy is closer to the Bible than Catholicism but still has extra traditions.
• Catholicism changed the most, making the Pope the supreme ruler and adding many doctrines not found in the Bible.