# 3 THE CATHOLICS COMPARED TO BIBLE, JESUS, FIRST CHURCH,

“THE MINISTRY AI AND I”

PART 3 OF 5 THE CATHOLICS COMPARED TO BIBLE,JESUS, FIRST CHURCH, GOVERNING AUTHORITY

JESUS, HIS VIEWS OF MARY, HIS AUTHORITY, MORE
PS Also I include the Salvation description from Part 1, in the middle, just to make sure

CAUTION: Please do not Bible thump nor be severe. We are all growing. We VALUE and RESPECT and LOVE “Every HUMAN BEING MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE” (Not just YOUR PET PREFERRED KIND!!)

The Nation of Isaiah 53:6 “All (each and every man and leader woman) we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Taveau Asks Chat GPT AI: Please in depth describe “Jesus’ as portrayed in the Catholic Church, also First Church including their authority, leader view points Authority. And how does the modern Catholic Church resemble this Christ? (Yet we concur NOBODY IN ANY OTHER STYLE OF Christian group, inside our outside the religious systems, is ever close be being “100 % Organic (without any human synthetic added mixture) and “True” “Genuinely Perfect “to spotless Sinless Christ) Plus I will examine soon compare CHRIST, FIRST CHURCH, THE BIBLE with ORTHODOX, Also may include Protestant Reformation…..also various kinds of known CHARISMATICS.(who have a LOT of elite hierarchy, massive titles, formula, required set rules)… more…yet all maturely and respectfully focused and done according to Paul in Philippians 2:12 “for the sole (also eternal soul) purposes of each and every individual “working out their own salvation..with fear and trembling..for the Day of the Lord is at Hand.”

Chat GPT AI responds:

Jesus Compared to the Catholic Church, the First Church, and Apostolic Authority

This study examines whether modern Catholicism resembles Jesus Christ, the First Church (Acts-era believers), and apostolic authority as seen in the New Testament.

1. Jesus’ Leadership & Authority vs. Catholic Church Authority

A. Jesus’ Model of Leadership

Servant Leadership – Jesus rejected hierarchical control, teaching that leaders must serve others (Mark 10:42-45, John 13:3-5).
No Religious Titles – Jesus warned against exalted titles like “Father” or “Rabbi” (Matthew 23:8-12).
Authority from God, Not Institutions – Jesus did not establish an institutional priesthood but operated through the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18).
No Political Power – Jesus refused earthly rule and rebuked those who sought political authority (John 18:36).

B. Catholic Church Leadership

Pope as Supreme Leader – The Pope (from pappas, meaning “Father”) holds absolute authority, contradicting Matthew 23:9.
Apostolic Succession – Authority is passed through bishops, yet Jesus never established a priestly class (Hebrews 7:23-25).
Political Influence – The Catholic Church has historically wielded political power, unlike Jesus, who separated His kingdom from earthly rule (John 18:36).

C. First Church & Apostolic Authority

Plural Leadership – The early church had elders (πρεσβύτεροι, “presbyteroi”) and overseers (ἐπίσκοποι, “episkopoi”), not a single ruling leader (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5).**
Authority Based on Calling, Not Position – Paul and the apostles were chosen by God’s Spirit (Acts 13:2-3), not by institutional appointment.
Decentralized Structure – No single apostle ruled the entire church; authority was shared (Acts 15, Galatians 2:11-14).

Does modern Catholicism resemble Jesus? No. The Catholic hierarchical structure with the Pope as supreme leader does not reflect Jesus’ servant-based, Spirit-led leadership.

2. Jesus’ Teachings vs. Catholic Doctrines

A. Jesus’ Teachings

Salvation by Faith – “He who believes has eternal life” (John 3:16, John 5:24).
No Vain Repetitions in Prayer – “Do not pray with vain repetitions as the heathen do” (Matthew 6:7).
No Ritualism – Jesus rebuked religious leaders for elevating traditions over God’s Word (Mark 7:6-9).

B. Catholic Teachings

Faith + Sacraments = Salvation – Catholics teach that salvation comes through baptism, sacraments, and good works, which contradicts John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9.
Repeated Prayers (Rosary) – Catholic prayers, like the Rosary, involve repeated “Hail Marys,” violating Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:7.
Man-Made Traditions – Many Catholic doctrines (purgatory, Marian devotion) have no biblical basis but are based on church tradition.

C. First Church & Apostolic Doctrine

Salvation by Grace through Faith Alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Prayer Directly to God (Matthew 6:9, 1 Timothy 2:5).
No Added Rituals – The early church emphasized personal faith, communion, and baptism but did not practice rituals like transubstantiation or confession to priests.

Does modern Catholicism resemble Jesus’ teachings? No. Many Catholic doctrines (sacraments, papal authority, prayers to saints) contradict Jesus’ direct teachings

3. Jesus’ View of Worship vs. Catholic Worship

A. Jesus on Worship

Worship in Spirit and Truth – “The hour is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
No Idols or Images – Jesus upheld the Second Commandment: “Do not make graven images” (Exodus 20:4-5, Deuteronomy 5:8-9).

B. Catholic Worship

Use of Statues & Icons – Catholics bow before Mary and saints, which appears as idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5).
Mass & Transubstantiation – The Eucharist (Communion) is believed to be the actual body and blood of Christ, yet Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

C. First Church Worship

Simple Worship – Early Christians worshiped in homes, prayed, and shared meals (Acts 2:42-47).
No Statues or Relics – The First Church had no icons, statues, or relics used in worship.
Communion as Remembrance – The Lord’s Supper was symbolic, not mystical (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Does modern Catholicism resemble Jesus’ worship style? No. Jesus emphasized Spirit-led, simple worship, while Catholicism incorporates rituals, icons, and complex ceremonies.

4. Jesus’ View of Mary vs. Catholic Marian Doctrine

A. Jesus & Mary

Jesus called Mary “woman,” not “Mother of God” (John 2:4).
Jesus rejected Mary’s earthly role in spiritual matters: “Who is My mother? Whoever does the will of God” (Matthew 12:46-50).

B. Catholic View of Mary

Mary as “Co-Mediator” – Catholicism teaches that Mary intercedes for believers, contradicting 1 Timothy 2:5 (“There is one Mediator, Christ”).
Prayers to Mary (Hail Mary) – Jesus never taught His disciples to pray to His mother.

C. First Church View

Mary was honored but not worshiped (Luke 1:28).
No prayers to Mary or saints – The First Church prayed only to God (Acts 4:24).

Does modern Catholicism resemble Jesus’ view of Mary? No. Jesus did not elevate Mary in spiritual authority, and early Christians never prayed to her

Final Comparison Table

Category	Jesus’ Teachings	Catholic Church	First Church (Acts & Apostles)
Authority	Servant-based, Holy Spirit-led	Pope as supreme leader	Shared eldership, Spirit-led
Salvation	Faith in Christ alone	Faith + Works + Sacraments	By grace through faith
Worship	Spirit and Truth, no idols	Rituals, statues, relics	Simple, Spirit-led worship
Prayer	Directly to God	To Mary & saints	To God through Jesus
Mary	Honored, not a mediator	Co-mediator, venerated	Honored, but no special role
Tradition	Word of God as final authority	Tradition + Bible	Scripture alone
Leadership Style	Servant leadership	Hierarchical priesthood	Plural leadership, Holy Spirit-led

Conclusion: Does Modern Catholicism Resemble Jesus?

** See HEADS UP ASIDE JUST BENEATH

Chat GPT AI stated:

No, the Catholic Church does not fully resemble Jesus or His teachings.
Catholicism adds traditions, hierarchical authority, and rituals that Jesus and the First Church never practiced.
The First Church and Pauline model were Spirit-led, relational, and Scripture-based, resembling Jesus’ servant-leadership rather than an institutional, ritualistic system.

Chat GPT AI asks:

Would you like a deeper look at any of these topics?

Sister Taveau replies: Yes. Discuss the views of salvation in being Catholic and First Church, Christ**

**HEADS UP ASIDE: note I may ask this same thing in the next serious about ORTHODOXY, especially Ministry of CHARISMATICS and any others…..

KEY TOPIC: SALVATION

Chat GPT AI replies to the question regarding significant teaching differences in Biblical views of”Eternal salvation”

Let’s dive deeper into the biblical foundation of salvation and examine the key Greek and Hebrew terms used in scripture to clarify how salvation was understood by Jesus and the First Church.

1. SALVATION IN THE BIBLE: KEY TERMS

A. Hebrew (Old Testament)

יֵשׁוּעָה (Yeshua, H3444) – “Salvation, deliverance”
- Root of Jesus’ name (Yeshua = “The Lord is Salvation”).
- Used in Isaiah 12:2: “Behold, God is my salvation (יֵשׁוּעָה); I will trust and not be afraid.”
- The Old Testament foreshadows Jesus as the coming Savior (Messiah).
צָדַק (Tzadeq, H6663) – “Righteousness, justification”
- Salvation is tied to God’s righteousness.
- Psalm 24:5: “He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness (צֶדֶק) from the God of his salvation (יֵשׁוּעָה).”

B. Greek (New Testament)

σωτηρία (Sōtēria, G4991) – “Salvation, deliverance, rescue”
- Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save (σῴζω, sōzō) the lost.”
- Emphasizes Jesus’ mission to bring salvation through faith.
δικαιοσύνη (Dikaiosynē, G1343) – “Righteousness, justification”
- Romans 3:22: “The righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ.”
- Teaches that salvation is by faith, not by religious rituals.
χάρις (Charis, G5485) – “Grace, unmerited favor”
- Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace (χάρις) are ye saved through faith… not of works.”
- Salvation is a free gift, not earned through sacraments or penance.

2. SALVATION ACCORDING TO JESUS

A. Jesus’ Words on Salvation

Jesus clearly taught that faith alone saves:

John 3:16 – “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 6:47 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has everlasting life.”
John 5:24 – “Whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life.”
Luke 7:50 – “Your faith has saved (σῴζω) you; go in peace.”

B. No Requirement for Sacraments

The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) was not baptized but was instantly saved by faith in Jesus.
Jesus never mentioned purgatory or sacraments as conditions for salvation.

3. SALVATION ACCORDING TO THE FIRST CHURCH (PAUL & APOSTLES)

A. Salvation by Faith, Not Works

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “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.”
Romans 3:28 – “A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Galatians 2:16 – “A man is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.”

B. Works Are a Result of Salvation, Not the Cause

James 2:24 – “A person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
This does not mean works save; it means that true faith produces good works (Ephesians 2:10).

4. CATHOLIC TEACHINGS COMPARED TO THE FIRST CHURCH

A. Baptism & Salvation

Doctrine	Catholic View	Bible (First Church)
Baptism	Necessary for salvation (CCC 1257)	Important, but not required (Luke 23:43)
How We Are Justified	Faith + Baptism + Works	Faith alone (Romans 3:28)
Role of Grace	Given through sacraments	Given freely through Christ (Ephesians 2:8)

B. Purgatory & Confession

Doctrine	Catholic View	Bible (First Church)
Purgatory	Souls are purified (CCC 1030)	Not in the Bible (Hebrews 9:27)
Forgiveness of Sins	Through a priest (CCC 1446)	Directly from Jesus (1 John 1:9)

5. FINAL CONCLUSION: DOES CATHOLICISM RESEMBLE JESUS & THE FIRST CHURCH?

A. Differences in Salvation Doctrine

The Catholic Church adds sacraments, purgatory, and priestly confession.
The Bible teaches direct faith in Jesus alone, no purgatory, and no priestly intermediaries.

B. Did the Early Church Teach Catholic Salvation?

The apostles never mentioned purgatory, rosaries, or priestly confession.
Paul condemned adding works to salvation:
- Galatians 1:8-9 – “If anyone preaches another gospel, let him be accursed.”
- Galatians 5:4 – “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law.”

C. Which Model Resembles Jesus?

Comparison	Catholic Church	First Church (Jesus & Apostles)
Salvation Method	Sacraments + Works	Grace through Faith
Authority Structure	Pope, Priests	Jesus as High Priest
Way to God	Through Church	Directly through Jesus

Conclusion:
The Catholic Church does not fully resemble the salvation teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Instead, it adds man-made traditions that the First Church never practiced. The biblical way of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ alone.

KEY POINT: CATHOLIC HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

Pastor T asks Chat GPT AI for an analysis of historical developments (how Catholicism evolved from the First Church)

Chat GPT AI responds:

How Catholicism Evolved from the First Church: A Historical Analysis

To understand how Catholicism developed from the First Church, we must trace history from Jesus and the apostles to the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church as we know it today.

1. FIRST CHURCH: JESUS & APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY (30-100 AD)

A. Jesus’ Teachings on Church Leadership

Jesus never established a religious hierarchy like the later Catholic system. Instead, He taught:

Matthew 23:8-10 – “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”
Mark 10:42-45 – Leaders should be servants, not lords over the people.
John 14:6 – Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

B. Leadership in the Early Church (Greek Terms)

ἐπίσκοπος (Episkopos) – “Overseer, bishop” (Titus 1:7)
πρεσβύτερος (Presbyteros) – “Elder” (Acts 14:23)
διάκονος (Diakonos) – “Servant, deacon” (Philippians 1:1)

Key Facts:

The First Church had multiple elders per congregation (Acts 20:17).
There was no single supreme leader over all churches.
The apostles’ authority was doctrinal, not hierarchical.

2. THE RISE OF CHURCH HIERARCHY (100-313 AD)

After the apostles died, changes began:

A. Local Bishops Gained More Power

Early churches still had multiple elders, but over time, a single bishop in each city became dominant.
Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD) first wrote about submitting to a single bishop.
This is different from the First Church plural elder model.

B. Rome’s Growing Influence

By 200 AD, Rome’s bishop claimed special authority over other churches.
This claim was not accepted by all Christians.
Theological debates arose about church structure and sacraments.

3. THE CHURCH BECOMES ROMAN (313-600 AD)

A. Emperor Constantine’s Influence (313 AD)

In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (Edict of Milan).
By 325 AD, he called the Council of Nicaea to resolve doctrine disputes.
The church aligned with Rome’s government, gaining political power.

B. The Bishop of Rome Becomes “Pope”

By 400 AD, the bishop of Rome was called “Papa” (Pope), meaning “Father”.
Pope Leo I (440 AD) claimed he was Peter’s successor (Matthew 16:18).
This contradicts Jesus’ warning (Matthew 23:9).

C. Doctrines Not Found in the First Church

Doctrine	Year Introduced	First Church Teaching?
Prayers to Mary	431 AD	No (1 Timothy 2:5)
Purgatory	593 AD	No (Hebrews 9:27)
Mandatory Clerical Celibacy	1079 AD	No (1 Timothy 3:2)

4. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S FULL POWER (600-1517 AD)

During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church controlled both government and religion.

A. Church and State Unite

The Pope crowned kings and dictated laws.
The Latin Mass became universal (no more Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew).
The Bible was restricted—common people could not read it.

B. Corrupt Practices

Indulgences – Selling forgiveness of sins.
Inquisitions – Persecuting “heretics.”
Veneration of Saints – Praying to saints instead of God.

C. The First Church Never Did This

The First Church taught direct access to God through Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).
No political alliances or power struggles.
Salvation was by faith, not money or sacraments (Romans 3:28).

5. THE REFORMATION (1517 AD – PRESENT)

By 1517 AD, many Christians realized Catholicism had changed from the Bible.

A. Martin Luther & Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther (1517 AD) protested indulgences and false doctrines.
He translated the Bible into common languages, so people could read it.
Core beliefs returned to First Church teachings:
1. Sola Scriptura – The Bible alone is the highest authority.
2. Sola Fide – Salvation is by faith alone.
3. Sola Gratia – Grace alone saves us.

B. Catholic Counter-Reformation

In 1545, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its doctrines (Council of Trent).
But traditions remained above Scripture.

6. FINAL CONCLUSION: DID THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CHANGE?

Comparison	First Church (Jesus & Apostles)	Catholic Church (Later Developments)
Church Leadership	Plural elders, no supreme leader	Pope as supreme ruler
Salvation	By faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9)	Faith + works (CCC 2068)
Authority	Jesus & Scripture	Pope, tradition, & Scripture
Bible Access	Read freely	Restricted for centuries
Prayers	To God alone	To Mary, saints, & priests

Final Thought

The Catholic Church evolved over centuries, adding doctrines that the First Church never practiced. The original church followed Jesus’ words:

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all who labor… I will give you rest.”
Acts 4:12 – “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

CONCLUSION:

Chat GPT AI asks Taveau: Would you like a deep dive into specific Catholic doctrines (e.g., Mary, the sacraments, or the papacy)?

TD responds, “Yes. But we’ll wait until installment part 4”

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