Evidence Protestants Can't Ignore: The 7 "Catholic Inventions" That Existed "Before Catholicism"

From Totus Catholica

The 33 AD Evidence Protestants Can't Ignore Ignatius of Antioch was a disciple of the Apostle John, martyred in 107 AD. In his final letters, he's not defending "scripture alone" - he's demanding obedience to bishops and calling the Eucharist the literal flesh of Christ. Everyone assumes the early Church was simple - house churches, a Bible, and faith alone. But within decades of the apostles, we see bishops, the eucharistic sacrifice, confession to priests, and prayers for the dead. If the Reformation got it right, none of that should exist. 📌 The Point: Either Christianity drifted into error instantly (meaning Christ's promise to guide His Church failed), or these seven realities aren't medieval inventions - they're apostolic roots. 📖 Core Sources 1. The Canon Itself: CCC 120 - "It was by the apostolic tradition that the Church discerned which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred books" Councils of Hippo & Carthage (late 4th century) - Discerned the 27-book NT canon through apostolic tradition, not scripture alone The New Testament doesn't include an inspired table of contents - if you reject binding tradition and a teaching magisterium, you're left with circular reasoning 2. Eucharistic Realism: Justin Martyr (c. 155 AD) - Described Sunday worship where bread and wine are "not common bread and common drink, but the flesh and blood of that incarnated Jesus" - not metaphor The Didache (late 1st century) - Instructs believers to confess sins before partaking of "the sacrifice" - assumes Eucharist is more than a memorial meal 3. Episcopal Structure (Bishops): Ignatius of Antioch (c. 107 AD, disciple of Apostle John) - Seven letters written while being transported to execution: "One flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup... one altar, just as there is one bishop along with the presbyters and deacons" Insisted: "Without the bishop, there is no valid Eucharist and no true church" - defending what he'd received from John himself By the early 2nd century, the three-fold order (bishop, presbyter, deacon) was the norm 4. Sacramental Confession: John 20:22-23 - Jesus told the apostles: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained" - delegation of authority The Didache - Instructs Christians to confess transgressions in the assembly Augustine & other Fathers - Attest to confessing serious sins to a priest who pronounced absolution in Christ's name 5. Purgatory & Prayers for the Dead: CCC 1030-1032 - The saved may still need purification if they die with attachment to sin; final cleansing, not a second chance 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 - Judas Maccabeus offers sacrifice for fallen soldiers "that they might be delivered from their sin" (Catholic canon) Early Christian inscriptions in catacombs - Pray for the repose of the dead Augustine - Speaks of his mother Monica's request for prayers after her death 6. Intercession of Saints: CCC 956 - Saints' intercession is Christ-centred participation, not competition - like asking a living Christian to pray, but extended beyond death Christ is the one mediator in the sense of source and redeeming cause; others participate derivatively 7. Mary as Theotokos (Godbearer): Council of Ephesus (431 AD) - Defined Mary as Theotokos to protect Jesus's identity - if Mary didn't bear God incarnate, then Jesus isn't truly one person, fully God and fully man Luke 1:43, 48 - Elizabeth greets Mary as "the mother of my Lord"; Mary prophesies "All generations will call me blessed" - not late inventions, they're in Scripture Nestorius wanted to call her only "Christotokos" (Christbearer), implying separation between Jesus's human and divine natures - the council saw the danger 📺 Chapters 1:00 - The Canon: Who Decided What Counts as Scripture? 2:44 - Eucharist & Bishops: Justin Martyr & Ignatius (107-155 AD) 5:14 - Confession, Purgatory, and the Saints 7:43 - Mary: Why Honouring Her Protects the Truth About Jesus 9:30 - Conclusion: Seven Realities That Should Be Absent if Protestantism Were Right 🌐 Connect 📿 https://totuscatholica.org/rosary 🌍 https://totuscatholica.org/ ✉️ https://totuscatholica.org/contact 🔍 https://catholicexaminationofconscien...