Scriptural Roots of Catholic Teaching: How the Bible Proves the Truth of the Catholic Faith

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best out there
Review: A beautifully written, detailed exploration of all major Catholic doctrines, intertwined throughout with scriptural text. Although Catholics base their faith on both Scripture and Oral Tradition - and are often knocked by non-Catholics for the latter - author Chantal Epie proves how all Catholic doctrine can be traced to Scripture. Far from being dry and tedious, the text is immensely readable; I had a hard time putting this book down. A must read for any Catholic seeking biblical proof of his or her faith. I would also heartily recommend this book to non-Catholics who are curious about Catholic doctrine.

Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like this book
Review: I wanted to like this book; that's why I paid money for it.

There are many problems with this book.

The apologetics are not sound.

Take, for example, the proof that St. Peter is the foundation of the Church. The writer builds her argument on the words of the Lord, "This is the rock on which I build My Church."

Does she quote St. Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, which states that the foundation of the Church is the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone? No.

Does she quote Revelation 21:14 which states that the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem have the names of ALL twelve apostles? No.

Does she quote I Corinthians 3:11, which states that the only foundation is Jesus Christ? No.

The writer only quotes the Scriptures that she can apply to her argument. In this case, like many Roman Catholics, she takes "This is the rock" to somehow mean "You are the rock" to arrive at her conclusion.

This is not acceptable apologetics.

Likewise, she discusses the gift of tongues, though without understanding it. She goes as far as to say that the gift of tongues is not much needed today because people can go to school to learn foreign languages.

She does not understand that the gift of tongues is [1] the prayer language of the spirit (I Corinthians 14:14), [2] a sign for unbelievers (14:22), and [3] when coupled with the gift of interpretation, functions as the gift of prophecy (14:5).

God bless her heart. I don't judge her integrity. But this is "organ pump" stuff.