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Asking Saints to Intercede: Teaching of Jesus [2015]
Why Pray to Saints Rather than God? [9-4-15]
Reply to a Lutheran Pastor on Invocation of Saints [12-1-15]
John Calvin Did Not Pray to Philip Melanchthon [9-19-09; revised with retraction, 5-3-16]
Dialogue on Praying to Abraham (Luke 16) [5-22-16]
Prayer to Saints: “New” [?] Biblical Argument [5-23-16]
Treatise on Communion of Saints (Anthony Zarrella) [6-9-16]
Must Catholics Pray to Saints or be Excommunicated? [12-2-16]
Why Would Anyone Pray to Saints Rather Than to God? [National Catholic Register, 1-8-17]
Invocation & Intercession of Saints & Angels: Bible Proof [10-22-16 and 1-9-17]
“Armstrong vs. Geisler” #5: Prayer to Creatures [2-20-17]
Dialogue: Rich Man’s Prayer to Abraham (Luke 16) and the Invocation of Saints (vs. Lutheran Pastor Ken Howes) [5-3-17]
Dialogue on Samuel Appearing to Saul (Witch of Endor) [5-6-17]
Dialogue on Prayer to the Saints and Hades / Sheol [12-19-17]
Prayers to Saints & for the Dead: Six Biblical Proofs [6-8-18]
4 Biblical Proofs for Prayers to Saints and for the Dead [National Catholic Register, 6-16-18]
Angelic Intercession is Totally Biblical [National Catholic Register, 7-1-18]
Why the Bible Says the Prayers of Holy People Are More Powerful [National Catholic Register, 3-19-19]
C. S. Lewis & the Invocation & Communion of Saints [10-10-19]
The Saints in Heaven are Quite Aware of Events on Earth (featuring a defense of patron saints) [National Catholic Register, 3-21-20]
Invocation of Saints and Angels (Luke 16 [Lazarus & the Rich Man & Abraham] is One of the Most Unanswerable Arguments in Catholic Apologetics) (vs. Jason Engwer) [5-26-20]
Invocation of Saints: Jesus Allegedly “Calling on Elijah” (vs. Jason Engwer) [6-8-20]
Prayer to Abraham and Dead People in Scripture [National Catholic Register, 6-20-20]
What Christ’s Words on the Cross Tell Us About Elijah and the Saints [National Catholic Register, 8-2-20]
Can Mary Hear “Simultaneous” Prayers of Millions? (vs. Matt Slick) [9-30-20]
Prayer to Creatures Proven from Holy Scripture (vs. Matt Slick) [10-1-20]
How Can a Saint Hear the Prayers of Millions at Once? [National Catholic Register, 10-7-20]
Jason Engwer, Origen, & Intercession of Saints [10-16-20]
Origen and the Intercession of Saints [National Catholic Register, 11-19-20]
Dialogue: Prayer For & To the Dead (w Dr. Lydia McGrew) [2-17-21]
Dialogue on Prayers to Saints & for the Dead [5-29-21]
Prayer to an Angel: An Explicit Biblical Example [11-21-21]
Reply to Jordan Cooper: Invocation of Saints [4-27-22]
Why Do We Ask Mary to Pray for Us? [National Catholic Register, 5-24-22]
Seven Replies Re Interceding Saints (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [5-25-22]
Answer to Banzoli’s “Challenge” Re Intercession of Saints [9-20-22]
Nutshell Systematic Theology of the Efficacy & Biblical Nature of “Prayers of the Righteous” [Facebook, 9-20-22]
Bible on Praying Straight to God (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [9-21-22]
Reply to Banzoli’s “Analyzing the ‘evidence’ of saints’ intercession” [9-22-22]
Reply to Banzoli’s “Questions for Catholics About Prayer…” [9-23-22]
5 Replies to Questions About Catholic (and Biblical) Prayer [National Catholic Register, 11-30-22]
Bible & the Intercession of Saints (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [2-8-23]
John Calvin in Effect Regards Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer to Abraham as “Novel and Impure” [Facebook, 3-8-23]
Do Petitions to Departed Saints Offend God? [3-20-23]
Jason Engwer vs. the Biblical Case for Invoking Saints [4-22-23]
Invocation of Saints: Jason Engwer Still Out to Sea [7-19-23]
Jesus: Okay to Request Abraham’s Intercession [9-25-23]
Vs. J. Oliveira #3: Mediating Saints [9-28-23]
Vs. J. Oliveira #5: Talking to Dead Saints [10-3-23]
Defense of My NCR Article, “4 Biblical Proofs for Prayers to Saints and for the Dead” [Facebook, 10-7-23]
What Are Saints & Angels in Heaven Doing with Our “Prayers”? [Catholic365, 11-26-23]
Are Saints in Heaven Ignorant and Passive or Extremely Knowledgeable and Active in Charity and Prayer? [Facebook, 12-22-23]
Vs. Turretin #3: Communion Of Saints 3 (Intercession) [12-23-23]
Vs. Turretin #4: Communion Of Saints 4 (Invocation) [12-26-23]
Invoking Saints and Angels: A Nutshell Biblical Proof [Facebook, 12-26-23]
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COMMUNION OF SAINTS: VENERATION OF SAINTS AND ANGELS
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Veneration of & Bowing Before an Angel (Joshua 5:13-15) [9-7-13]
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COMMUNION OF SAINTS: VENERATION OF ICONS AND IMAGES (INCLUDING OF GOD) / STATUES / HOLY OBJECTS / HOLY DAYS
Early Protestant Antipathy Towards Art (+ Iconoclasm) [1991]
Veneration of Images, Iconoclasm, and Idolatry (An Exposition) [11-15-02]
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COMMUNION OF SAINTS: RELICS
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Classic Catholic Reflections on Purgatory [1994]
Fictional Dialogue on Purgatory [1995]
25 Bible Passages on Purgatory [1996]
Purgatory: . . . Saved, But Only As Through Fire [4-21-94; rev. May 1996]
Purgatory: A Short Exposition [5-9-02]
A Biblical Argument for Purgatory (Matthew 5:25-26) [10-13-04]
“Catholicism Refuted” (?): “Father” / Purgatory / Statues / Confession (Pt. III) [12-11-04]
Dialogue with Lutherans on Jesus’ Descent Into “Hell” [2-1-07]
Purgatory: Refutation of James White (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) [3-3-07]
Has Limbo Been Relegated to Limbo? [12-28-07]
Luther Believed in Soul Sleep; Thus He Rejected Purgatory [2-9-08]
Dialogue on Sheol / Hades (Limbo of the Fathers) and Luke 16 (the Rich Man and Lazarus) with a Baptist (vs. “Grubb”) [2-28-08]
Luther: Purgatory “Quite Plain” in 2 Maccabees [3-5-09]
Purgatory is the Waiting Room for Heaven [4-25-09]
50 Bible Passages on Purgatory & Analogous Processes [2009]
John Wesley’s Belief in an Intermediate State After Death [7-13-09]
Purgatory: My Biblical Defense of its Doctrinal Development [9-20-11]
John Wesley’s View of Purgatory and Analogous Processes [2013]
Dialogue with an Evangelical on Purgatory [10-7-13]
Multiple Meanings of “Paradise” in Scripture [1-2-14]
Purgatory in One Verse (1 Corinthians 3:15) [Facebook, 1-29-14]
Catholic Mystics & Contemplatives on Purgatory [2014]
Martin Luther’s Belief in Purgatory (1517-1522, 1528) [11-17-14]
Dialogue w Calvinists on Prayer for the Dead & Purgatory [3-18-15]
Dialogue: Raising of Tabitha from the Dead & Purgatory [March 2015]
50 Biblical Indications That Purgatory is Real [National Catholic Register, 10-24-16]
“Armstrong vs. Geisler” #1: Purgatory (Mt 12:32) [2-17-17]
“Armstrong vs. Geisler” #2: Purgatory (Lk 23:43) [2-17-17]
Does Matthew 12:32 Suggest or Disprove Purgatory? [National Catholic Register, 2-26-17]
Did Jesus Descend to Hell, Sheol, or Paradise After His Death? [National Catholic Register, 4-17-17]
11 Descriptive and Clear Bible Passages About Purgatory [National Catholic Register, 5-7-17]
Purgatory: Exchange with a Presbyterian (Calvinist) [5-11-17]
Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #7: Unbiblical / Non-Patristic Purgatory? [10-19-17]
Dialogue on Prayer to the Saints and Hades / Sheol [12-19-17]
Reflections on Interceding for the Lost Souls [National Catholic Register, 6-26-18]
C. S. Lewis Believed in Purgatory & Prayer for the Dead [6-22-10; rev. 10-8-19]
Does Time & Place Apply to Purgatory? (vs. James White) [11-6-19]
Luke 16 Doesn’t Describe Hell or Purgatory, But Hades [1-16-20]
Dialogue: Purgatory & 2 Maccabees 12:39-45 [11-8-20]
Purgatory in the Bible (vs. Calvin #60) [1-15-21]
Reply to Gavin Ortlund on Purgatory [5-12-22]
Vs. J. Oliveira #6: Bible & Purgatory [10-3-23]
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Jewish 1st Century Belief in Purgatory (Paul Hoffer) [9-20-11]
Raising of Tabitha: Proof of Purgatory (Tony Gerring) [3-20-15]
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PRAYER AND PENANCE FOR THE DEAD
Baptizing the Dead? (Odd Verse 1 Corinthians 15:29) [6-5-02]
Baptized for the Dead: The “UnProtestant” Verse (1 Cor 15:29) [2004]
New (?) Biblical Argument: Prayers for the Dead [2004]
“Catholicism Refuted” (?): “Father” / Purgatory / Statues / Confession (Pt. III) [12-11-04]
Prayer for the Dead & Retroactive Prayer (Luther & Protestants) [3-22-05]
Does God Forbid All Contact with the Dead? [6-23-07]
John Wesley Believed in Prayer for the Dead [7-13-09]
Prayer for the Dead (vs. Calvin #57) [2012]
Fasting for the Dead in the Old Testament (Not Unlike Praying) [11-4-12]
Dialogue on Prayer for the Dead & the Bible [11-5-12]
“Pray for the Dead Like Paul Did!” (mock Church billboard) [Facebook, 2-10-14]
Dialogue w Calvinists on Prayer for the Dead & Purgatory [3-18-15]
“Armstrong vs. Geisler” #4: Prayer for the Dead [2-20-17]
Prayers to Saints & for the Dead: Six Biblical Proofs [6-8-18]
4 Biblical Proofs for Prayers to Saints and for the Dead [National Catholic Register, 6-16-18]
Reflections on Interceding for the Lost Souls [National Catholic Register, 6-26-18]
Dialogue w Lutherans: “Proxy Baptism”? (1 Cor 15:29) [12-28-18]
C. S. Lewis Believed in Purgatory & Prayer for the Dead [6-22-10; rev. 10-8-19]
Jesus, Peter, Elijah and Elisha All Prayed for the Dead [National Catholic Register, 2-23-20]
Dialogue: Purgatory & 2 Maccabees 12:39-45 (vs. Luke Wayne) [11-8-20]
Dialogue: Acts 9:40 and Prayers for (not to) the Dead (vs. Luke Wayne) [11-11-20]
Dialogue: Prayer For & To the Dead (w Dr. Lydia McGrew) [2-17-21]
Dialogue on Prayers to Saints & for the Dead [5-29-21]
Prayer for the Dead: Brief Exchange with a Friendly Agnostic [Facebook, 3-9-23]
Prayers to and for the Dead (vs. Jason Engwer): Did Jesus & Peter Talk to Dead People Before They Rose from the Dead, and — Along with Elijah and Elisha — Pray for the Dead, or Only Ask Them to Move After They Were Raised? (+ Part 2) [3-13-23]
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PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: ST. PAUL AND ONESIPHORUS
Paul Prayed for Dead Onesiphorus (Protestant Commentaries) [7-14-09]
Cardinal Newman on Onesiphorus and Prayer for the Dead [Facebook, 3-18-15]
St. Paul Prayed for a Dead Man: Onesiphorus [8-19-15]
St. Paul Prayed for Onesiphorus, Who Was Dead [National Catholic Register, 3-19-17]
Was Onesiphorus Dead When Paul Prayed for Him?: Data from 16 Protestant Commentaries (1992-2016) [3-20-17]
Paul & Dead Onesiphorus (vs. Steve Hays) [10-10-23]
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SACRAMENT OF PENANCE: CONTRITION, CONFESSION, SATISFACTION, AND ABSOLUTION
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[for lengthy philosophical analyses of suffering and the problem of evil, see my Philosophy, Science, and Christianity web page; second section]
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Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,600+ free online articles (the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-five books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.
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