Catholic Doctrine Bible Study

Jude:  Not an Apostle but a “relative” of Jesus (Mt.13:55) and brother of James. Like James, he didn’t believe his own relative (Jesus) was who He said He was until AFTER  the Resurrection. (We have an encounter with the resurrected Christ when we receive Him in the Eucharist.) Jude urges us to avoid false teachers, that our godless DEEDS will be judged (v.15), and to listen to the Holy Spirit (v.20). Revelation is an example of Apocalyptic Literature (like “Daniel”).  It is written to encourage God’s people to choose to follow God in times of unspeakable persecution, because God will triumph over evil and reward those who persevere.  As with “Daniel”, we will see many figures and numbers that the author (John or a follower of John) will use SYMBOLICALLY to illustrate God’s total control.  (More later!)

1Jn4:6  “Anyone who knows God listens to US... “  ( Listens to APOSTOLIC teaching- listens to the Catholic Church!) v. 10and 11God loved us first.  That’s why we must love (reach out to) others first. 5:16 John differentiates between MORTAL and VENIAL sins, to use the Church’s language. (Mortal sins = serious matter, you’re aware it’s wrong,  and you choose to do the act of your own free will.) 2Johnv6 Loving God is to “walk according to his commandments.” (Not “faith alone”, in the Protestant sense.) 3John v. 5-8 Support the Church financially! v.9, 10 Again watch out for false teachers, and follow the Church founded by Christ on the Apostles!

“Remain” is used 14X in 1,2,3John combined.  One way to “remain” with Christ is found in the GOSPEL of John 6:56 (“whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood REMAINS in me and I in him.”)  That is, frequent reception of the Eucharist.  Also, following the commandments (2:3), loving and taking care of others (2:10, 3:11-18), 1:8-9 All have sinned...acknowledge them (do an “Examination of Conscience”) 2:18-19 The Antichrist is anyone who denies Christ, and denies Apostolic teaching!! That’s why we say the Creed each week at Mass! 3:24 Listen to the (Holy) Spirit within you to remain with Christ.

1:15 Peter will pass on his authority. 1:20 ...”there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation.....”  (We must read the bible through the eyes of the Church to avoid serious error!)  2:22 “The dog returns to his own vomit!”  ( To change this, you must replace a bad habit with a good one, to replace the vacuum that is left.  Train your eyes and heart on God, and you won’t be thinking about the evil thing.) 2:8 (against literalist fundamentalists) “...with the Lord one day is like a thousand years.”  (God’s “time” is not our time!) 3:15-16 ...”Paul.....in his letters.....there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.  (Yet another example of why we must read the bible through the eyes of the Church!)

3:1-7 Wives...”be subordinate to your husbands”.....husbands “understanding, showing honor to” (wives).  (See session on Ephesians 5.) 3:21 “baptism, which saves you now.” Baptism is necessary for those who understand it, welcomes us into the Family of God, imparts grace.  But it is not ALL that  is needed for salvation. (Need faith, perseverance, bear fruit, Mt.25, etc.) 4:10 We all have been given individual gifts by God, to use to serve God.  Discover (and use) yours! ( Do an online search for “Spiritual Gifts Test”, pray!  4:13 “Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of the Christ....” (See session on Colossians 1:24, also see Papal Encyclical “Salvifici Dolores.”) Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fvPOqk4VavigECwrOCU6a_iuuFgXjGpP/view?usp=sharing

Peter shows through many Old Testament references, primarily the book of Isaiah, that Jesus is the fulfillment of those scriptures, that our relationship with Him is eternal, and that our suffering will be worth it. 1:3 and 1:23 “new birth”,  “you have been “born anew.””  (Born Again!)  (See Session on John 3 for further explanation. 1:17 “The Father (him who) judges impartially according to each one’s WORKS. 1:20 Jesus co-eternal with the Father. 1:24 Nothing lasts except the word of the Lord (and our relationship to the Lord!) 2:13 Be subject to leaders:  (In Peter’s time, it was Nero!)

2:16 “give them the necessities of the body....”  Have a plan in advance for helping those in need, guided by the Holy Spirit. 4:2-3 “You do not possess because you do not ask.....you ask wrongly.....to spend it on YOUR passions.”  (We should be asking God to help us mold our will to God’s.) 5:1-4 Pay a fair wage!  Tip generously!! 5:14-15  Describes the sacrament “Anointing of the Sick. 5:16 “The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.”  Intercessory prayer!!  (Including the saints!!!) 5:20 ”whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

2:17,20, 26-  Faith without works is dead!!!!  (Read Romans 2-4 along with this Chapter to get a clearer picture of the correct relationship between faith and works.) Also see other handout! 19: “Believing in God” is not enough!! 24: The only place in all of the Bible where the words “Faith” and “Works” are together are in this verse, where it says “a man is justified by works and NOT BY FAITH ALONE” (!!!!!!) 3 Pray for grace to control your tongue; angry speech, profanity, and  unkind comments. Handout - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DADcWZx-dbTyaXmHA2j_h4dFLEksMXrQ/view?usp=sharing

James was NOT one of the two Apostles named James; he was a relative of Jesus ( cousin? half brother?) who was a skeptic about Jesus until he encountered the Resurrected Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:7) He changed; he became the leader of the church at Jerusalem, was the host of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13).  James and Paul have the same understanding of how we are saved (see Session on Romans 3 and the next Session on James 2), yet James is much more straightforward. 1:2 Trials should produce perseverance: are necessary to grow! 1:13 -15 God tempts no one!! (So don’t blame God!!)  Temptation is from Satan, and giving in to it (through a faulty exercise of our own free will (our “own desire”) produces sin. 1:17 ”All good....is ...from the Father...” (Be thankful!) 1:22 “Be DOERS of the word and not HEARERS only.”  (Faith must be LIVED OUT in a life of service to God and to our brothers and sisters.  God desires our Time, Talent, and Treasure.) 1:27 “Religion ..is...to care for orphans and widows” (Knights of Columbus!!!) (to care for those that need our help) These last 2 points are more fully developed in Chapter 2.

10:25 Go to Mass!!!  In addition to being a precept of the Church and a gateway to receiving the grace of the Sacrament, you go there to be an encouragement to others! 11 Faith is always accompanied by works. 12:1 “we are surrounded by...a cloud of witnesses.”  (Communion of saints!)  They are rooting for us, as we are to pray for those on earth as well as the Church Suffering in Purgatory.