The Good News Bible & the Apocrypha

The 66 books found in the standard translations of the Bible have stood the test and scrutiny of time. Their authenticity and canonicity have been reliably established.

The Catholic Good News Bible consists of additional writings (Apocrypha): Tobit, Judith, the Additions to Esther, the Additions to Daniel (the Prayer of Azariah and the Three Young Men, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon), the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, 1 and 2 Maccabees.

The Apocrypha were formally canonized by the Catholic Church on April 8, 1546 A.D. at the Council of Trent. This council was called as a result of the Protestant Reformation, and Martin Luther's criticism of the Catholic church for not having scriptural support for certain distinct Catholic doctrines.

The Apocrypha should NOT be included in the canon of Scriptures because...

• None of the Apocrypha claim inspiration or divine authority. New Testament books claim inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Peter 3:16) None of the apocryphal books are written by a true prophet or apostle of God, or are they confirmed by divine miracles, or contain predictive prophecy.
• New Testament writers do not quote the Apocrypha. There are 263 quotations and 370 allusions to the Old Testament in the New Testament and not one of them refers to the Apocrypha.
• The Apocrypha is not in the Jewish Canon of Holy Scripture.
• There are historical, geographical, and chronological/ numerical errors and discrepancies in the Apocrypha. Historical and archaeological studies have always proven the canonical Scriptures to be accurate over and over again.
• The Apocrypha contains unbiblical doctrines. Such as...

1. Doctrine of the Mass (2 Maccabees 12:42-45; compare with Hebrews 7:27)
2. The notion that the world was created out of preexistent matter (Wisdom of Solomon; compare with Genesis 1 and Psalm 33:9)
3. The idea that giving alms and other works can make an atonement for sin. (Ecclesiasticus 3:3; 3:30; 5:5; 20:28; 35:1-4; 45:16; 45:23; compare with Romans 3:20)
4. The intercession of the saints. (2 Maccabees 15:14; Baruch 3:4; compare with Matthew 6:9)
5. The worship of angels. (Tobit 12:12; compare with Colossians 2:18)
6. Purgatory and the redemption of souls after death. (2 Maccabees 12:42, 45; compare with Hebrews 9:27)

BAPTISM

BAPTISM IS FULL IMMERSION IN WATER, NOT SPRINKLING


Note: The Greek word for baptism literally means immersion. There are separate words in Greek for sprinkling, pouring and immersion. In the Bible only the Greek word for immersion is used.


Jesus was baptized by full immersion int he Jordan River:

"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him." (Matthew 3:16)


When Philip baptized the Eunuch, they both went into the water:

"So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:38-39)


Belief and repentance come before Baptism, (babies cannot be Baptized):

• "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)


• "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'" (Acts 8:36-37)


• "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:37-38)

Church Tradition

Jesus never said it was OK for man to change what the word of God teaches.


"'And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men'...He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.'" (Mark 7:7-9)

STATUES

The 2nd commandment:

(Exodus 20:4-5) "You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them..."


Catholics regularly bow down to idols, icons and images of Jesus, Mary and the apostles, kissing the feet of the statues and praying before them.

PRIESTS

Jesus made all Christians to be priests, not just church leaders:


"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)


"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9)


"And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6)


"And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10)

SAINTS

Catholic Doctrine:

The Pope says only very special dead Catholic people qualify to be called "saints."


Every living Christian in the church in Corinth was called a saint:

"To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2)


Paul wrote the book of Ephesians to living Christians in Ephesus:

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 1:1)


The Christians in the church at Philippi were called saints:

"Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Philippians 1:1)


Every Christian living in Rome was called to be a saint:

"To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7)

VIRGIN MARY

Catholic Doctrine:

1. The virgin Mary never had sex after Jesus was born and that Jesus had no brothers & sisters.
2. The Pope teaches that Mary is the mediator between God and Man.
3. Catholics praise Mary more than Jesus Christ & pray to her to have their prayers answered.

Jesus had brothers and sisters from the womb of Mary.
"Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" (Matthew 13:55-56)

Joseph began normal sexual relations with his wife after Jesus was born.
"And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:24-25)

Mary is not the mediator between God and man.
" For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)

Jesus did not encourage praise to Mary.
" And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28)