Evangelism Passages:
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One God:
One God:
Important arguments against polytheism (prevelent in the teachings of the LDS church).
Joseph Smith clearly taught that our God was once just a man, that we are coequal with him, that we must learn to become Gods like him as every God before us has done, that many Gods joined council to decide how to create this world... and if we do not believe all this, we do not believe the bible, and are apostates of the LDS church.
See all this in his King Follett Discourse here (see black numbering):
tinyurl.com/king-follett-discourse
It is important to remind Mormons that this is the most grievous sin to the Lord. Wanting to become your own God was the very sin that caused Satan and Angels to fall. It was the original sin that Satan tempted Adam and Eve with in Gen 3 that was so severe that the whole earth was cursed because of this sin.
Why would we worship and revere a God that we can become equal to one day? There is no greater sin than thinking that we can become God. “Woe to him who strives with his creator” (Isa 45:9).
39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”
God doesn’t even KNOW of another God. Mormons will argue that, in these passages in Isaiah, God is only refering to being the only God of this world. But God clearly says he doesn’t even know of another God, yet JS teaches that God had a mother and a father, and had a council with many other Gods to form this world.
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
21 Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another.
12 “Listen to me, O Jacob,
and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first,
and I am the last.
Only Begotten Son:
Only Begotten Son:
This word “monogenesis” we translate as “only begotten son”.
“Mono” means only, “genesis” means brought forth.
It must be remembered that entire doctrine cannot be based on Greek interpretation of a single word, but what the entire Bible says. Based off of ALL the passages above proving that there can be only ONE God, we know that when the Bible says “monogenesis” we CANNOT interpret this as Jesus being born of God, being another God, brothers with Lucifer, having been brought forth through sexual intercourse with a Goddess, descended from many other Gods.
“Monogenesis” refers to the eternal and unique RELATIONSHIP that the Father and Son have.
This same premise is true of verses like Col 1:15. “Firstborn” cannot mean that Jesus was born and came into being for the same reasons above, and below passages stating that ALL things were created by Jesus, and that he is God. “Firstborn” (prototokos) was a way of saying that one had preeminant rights over all that their Father had given them in Jewish culture (see Rev 1:5 to see another example of this preeminance use of ptototokos).
(The above passages prove that there can only be one God, the below passages prove that Jesus is fully God, and that nothing came into being without Jesus. Therefor he cannot be offspring of God, or be another God).
ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Works based Salvation:
Works based Salvation:
Both Catholics and Mormons believe in Salvation by the Grace of Jesus’ work on the cross. However, they do not believe in Salvation by Grace alone. Salvation through Jesus’ work on the cross must be in tandem with our works. Often Mormons will use the analogy of scissors, where it takes both grace and works to cut. Sometimes the analogy is used that Christ opened the door for us, but we must make strides to walk through by keeping obedience to the ordinances and laws of the church.
This is no different than what the Church of Galatia was deceived into believing. They believed in Christ and his grace, but were bewitched into believing that certain laws were also necessary (namely circumcision). In Galatians, we see the severity of believing in grace + works, as Paul makes it clear that whoever relies on works also is under a curse and is severed from Christ.
Catholic Scripture:
Catholic Scripture:
Catholic Council of Trent
(Considered equal with Scripture and called “Canon”)
Canon 7:4
“If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification... let him be anathema.”
Canon 7:5
“If any one saith, that these sacraments were instituted for the sake of nourishing faith alone; let him be anathema.”
Canon 7:7
“If any one saith, that grace, as far as God's part is concerned, is not given through the said sacraments...let him be anathema”
Canon 7:8
“If any one saith, that by the said sacraments of the New Law, grace is not conferred through the act performed, but that faith alone in the divine promise suffices for the obtaining of grace; let him be anathema”
Mormon Scripture:
Mormon Scripture:
Articles of Faith 1:3
“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel”
2 Nephi 25:23
“for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do”
Biblical Scripture:
Biblical Scripture:
(The standard for heaven has always been perfection)
(See also James 2:10, Gal 5:3, Rom 2:23, Rom 2:25, Rom 3:23, Gal 3:10, Gal 4:21, Gal 5:9)
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Below: Many will think on that day that they should gain entrance to heaven based on what they did (“many mighty works in your name”), but the credentials for heaven is not works, but (1) knowing the Lord (intimately), and (2) doing the “will of the father”, which Jn 6:40 tells us is to “believe in Christ” (faith).
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
The following passages are to the church of Galatia. These are the most important (IMO) for witnessing to Mormons and Catholics because of the context of the heresy (they were deceived into thinking thay needed Jesus PLUS works for salvation), and the aggressive nature that Paul combats this heresy (this doctrinal difference is a matter of eternal salvation or damnation).
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Salvation by faith alone was the plan since the OT:
Salvation by faith alone was the plan since the OT:
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Common objection to grace alone in Scripture:
Common objection to grace alone in Scripture:
“But what about James 2? Doesn’t that say that ‘faith without works is dead’?”
This is often the response of Mormons or Catholics.
First, it must be pointed out that one single passage can’t contradict the rest of Scripture.
Second, we must remember that James was one of the primary voices in Acts 15 making it clear that the Gentiles were saved by grace alone and did not need to conform to Laws like circumcision for salvation.
Third, we can see in context that James clearly categorizes what he is about to say by stating in James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it”
So what is James saying? He is actually agreeing with all that Paul and the rest of Scripture teaches, that if your faith is genuine, it will by nature bear good fruit. If someone “says” he has faith (not genuine), THAT faith (non-genuine faith) cannot save him. James then compares THAT kind of “faith” to demons. Even they believe in God, but that kind of faith does not save or produce good works. He must be Lord (Rom 10:9), and if he is truly our Lord, we will demonstrate that by good works (not to make him love us more, but simply our of joy to serve our master).
This is EXACTLY the same point Paul makes in Rom 6. In Rom 2-5 Paul is clearly making the argument that we are saved by grace alone and NOT works. Paul knows what the natural objection to this will be, and answers the objection. “Why would anyone feel compelled to do good works if they’re saved by grace alone? Why not just keep sinning if you’re already saved?” (Rom 6:1). Paul responds with “Mē Ginoitē!” or “May you never even begin to think that!”, explaining that “how can someone who has truly become a new creation live in the sin of their former sinful being” (Rom 6:2-11).
Paul is saying the same thing as James 2. If we have truly been saved (by grace alone, as he argued in Rom 2-5) then we will be a new creation who is no longer enslaved to sin, but alive to good works in Christ.
See the order of salvation by grace alone AND THEN good works summarized in Titus 3:
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Mormons are very zealous for good works, and often put Christians to shame, but like the Pharisees, their zealousness is in ignorance:
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Scripture Alone:
Scripture Alone:
When logic and Scripture stumps a Mormon, he will revert to Doctrines and Covenants 9:8, that you will know the Mormon faith is true because your “bosom will burn within you”.
Essentially, he will not be able to respond to logic, but say “But I just know that it is true, because I prayed about it”.
It is important here to bring up the fact that feelings in one’s heart does not equate to truth.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Muslims believe that they have truth based on the same feelings. So do Buddhists, Hindus, JW, New Age, etc...
All religions will say they believe their religion is true, and it feels right, and they’ve prayed about it - just as Mormons do. Truth obviously cannot be ascertained by feeling, nor our hearts or minds.
So how can we KNOW the truth?
Scripture alone. That is what sets Christians apart from all other religions. We look to Scripture, not ourselves, for truth.
If our bosoms burn for truth that is contrary to Scripture, it is probably just bad indigestion… or worse, it is decieption that is promised in Scripture.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
Who is the authority? Scripture or what we feel inside? Remember, denying Scripture for selfish gain was the original sin in Gen 3.
Catholics, like Mormons have added to Scripture and contradict it.
The revelations of the Pope were made equal with Scripture by Gregory the Great and Gregory VII.
The Council of Trent (1563) and many other Catechisms are made equal with Scripture, and contradict Scripture (see examples in Works Based Salvation section).
The Catholic church added the Apocrypha as Canon in the 1500’s, even though all of church history, including before Christ affirmed these were not Scripture. They did so to affirm teachings such as Purgatory (using 1 Maccabees).
Authority of Scripture:
Authority of Scripture:
Scripture alone is sufficient to make us wise for salvation. We don’t need any further revelation.
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Scripture is breathed out (“theo-neustos) by God. He is the author.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
There can be no errors or contradiction in Scripture, for God the author cannot lie.
19 God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Christ is the final revelation from the Lord, and there must be nothing added to it:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
The NT letters and gospels were considered Scripture from the moment they were written. This is why they quote from the gospels, and eachother’s letters as Scripture.
Paul quotes the OT and NT (Deut 25:4 and Luke 10:7) in the same sentance as “Scripture”, indicating he views the gospels already as Scripture:
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
Peter quotes Paul’s letters as Scripture:
15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Church fathers as early as Clement (who was a contemporary of the apostles) quote the NT as Scripture. In his Epistle to the Corinthians (~96AD) for example, he sites 18 of the 27 NT books as Scripture.
Preservation of Scripture:
Preservation of Scripture:
When shown a passage in Scripture that clearly contradicts their beliefs, Mormons will always use this argument as a last resort: “Well there are errors in the Bible, and this must be one of them” or “that must not be translated correctly”.
This abides by what they are taught in Articles of Faith 1:8
“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly”
And the Prophecies in 1 Nephi 13:
Heading: “Nephi sees in vision the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles, the discovery and colonizing of America, the loss of many plain and precious parts of the Bible, the resultant state of gentile apostasy, the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion”
“24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the abook proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.
25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.
26 And after they go forth by the ahand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews bunto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.”
So Nephi (Joseph Smith) prophecies that the Bible will become corrupted shortly after the 12 Apostles, and will need to be restored by him.
How does this prophecy compare to Scripture and Jesus’ own words that Scripture will always be supernaturally preserved?
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Remember the test and condemnation of a false prophet:
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
If only one prophecy does not come to pass, we are to take drastic measures to rid ourselves of that false prophet.
Did Nephi’s prophecy come true?
Many of us have stood in the caves containing the Dead Sea Scrolls, and have seen them with our own eyes. These scrolls were written BEFORE Christ (~200 BC) and the supposed corruption of Scripture after the 12 apostles.
The text in the scrolls are 99.9% identical to what we have in our Bibles today.
Most noteably is the Isaiah scroll. It is an entire intact scroll of Isaiah dating to ~200BC. It is identical to what we have in our Bibles.
Meanwhile, BEFORE the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, Joseph Smith taught that Isaiah was corrupted and added pages and pages of his own text to middle portions of Isaiah, assuming we would never know for sure if they should be in there. Of course, now with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we have proof his writtings were never in Isaiah. Who is the false prophet? What should we do with such a false prophet?
Translation issues?
Translation issues?
We translate from the original Greek manuscripts dating back to as early as 125 AD. Translation was not like a game of telephone, using one translation to translate another. Those of us who have studied Greek can look at any of the Greek manuscripts and translate them for ourselves to confirm our English Bibles are accurate.
How was Scripture preserved?
How was Scripture preserved?
While we do not have the autographs (the single original manuscript written by the author), this is not an issue.
During the lifetime of the original authors, thousands of copies were made. We have 40,000 copies that we use to translate our English BIbles.
This is how the Bible was preserved. Those who argue that the Bible became corrupt over time like to think the Bible was copied and corrupted like a game of telephone, one after another.
Instead, with thousands and thousands of copies made of the originals, dispersed all over the known world, if any single copy had an error, it would have stuck out like a sore thumb against the rest and been dismissed or destroyed.
With thousands of exact copies, there would be no need to preserve the originals (or even know which one was the original), especially amidst persecution, when posessing a copy was punishable by death.
Thus, the supernatural preservation comes by mass capying. We have 40,000 early copies, from all over the known world, all matching perfectly.
And of course, this is what we should expect, as it is what Scripture itself predicts, contrary to what Joseph Smith prophecied and his followers are taught.
See this video by Joel Kramer for more:
tinyurl.com/Nephi-false-prophecy
Against veneration of Mary or Saints:
Against veneration of Mary or Saints:
Catholics teach that Mary was sinless, a perpetual virgin, a co-redeemer with Christ, and that we should pray to her.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC:501
“Jesus is Mary's only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom indeed he came to save: "The Son whom she brought forth is he whom God placed as the first-born among many brethren, that is, the faithful in whose generation and formation she co-operates with a mother's love."”
Mary was not a perpetual virgin:
Mary was not a perpetual virgin:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Mary was not sinless:
Mary was not sinless:
She needs a savior like the rest of us:
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
She and Jesus’ brothers did not understand his ministry:
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
Jesus rebukes those focused on worshipping Mary:
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Jesus is our only Savior and Mediator:
Jesus is our only Savior and Mediator:
11 I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Against Purgatory and Indulgeances:
Against Purgatory and Indulgeances:
LDS racism:
LDS racism:
LDS polygamy:
LDS polygamy:
Evangelism Exhortation:
Evangelism Exhortation:
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,