I’m now going to ask what I know will get me banned, because no one can answer it. One person tried to do it on here before, and the next thing you know someone on here says he was banned.
This is it:
- Where in the ECF, or more specifically, as John1968 asked, where in the Ante-Nicene Fathers (ANF) do you find annulments?
- Where in the ANF do you find indulgences?
- Where in the ANF do you find Marian veneration?
- Where in the ANF do you find graven images in churches?
- Where in the ANF do you find interdicts?
- Where in the ANF do you find Papal infallibility?
- Where in the ANF do you find the Immaculate Conception?
- Where in the ANF do you find prayers to angels and saints?
- Where in the ANF do you find a canon of saints?
- Where in the ANF do you find 7 sacraments listed as such?
This is the death blow to any Protestant who comes on here. I saw John’s posts and the moment he began to question these topics he got canned. Because the answer for all these is no where.
I would like to answer No. 3.
veneration: Profound respect or reverence. (Synonym: honor.)
honor: High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem. Glory or recognition; distinction.
You find veneration for the Virgin Mary in the Bible.
Luke 1:28, «The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”»
This is GOD speaking through a messenger, a supernatural messenger, an angel. This is not the word of the angel, it’s the word of GOD the Father. HE is the one calling Her “full of grace”, and HE tells Her through the angel 2 verses later that HE “has looked kindly on” Her. Do you see the profound respect shown by God Himself for this humble virgin? Five verses later the angel continues, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God.” Here are the three persons of the Holy Trinity together in the same sentence with “the handmaid of the Lord”: GOD the Father, GOD the Holy Spirit and GOD in the flesh, Jesus. Do you know of any other human being that has such a close relationship with the Holy Trinity? Is there anyone you can think of that can be closer to the Holy Trinity than the Blessed Virgin Mary? If you “respect” the Holy Trinity, why would you not “respect” the closest person to the Holy Trinity in God’s creation?
Luke 1:41-43, «When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”»
Elizabeth shows respect for Mary in these passages, she calls Her “blessed” but we can also say that it’s GOD again greeting the Blessed Virgin Mary, but this time through a human messenger. Why do I say this? “ELIZABETH WAS FILLED WITH HOLY SPIRIT.” Again we see the union of this humble virgin with the Holy Trinity. Why would any of us demean Her when God is doing just the opposite?
Luke 11:28, «Jesus replied, “Surely blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well.”»
Jesus here is referring to His Mother, He (GOD in the flesh) calls her BLESSED because She has heard the word of GOD and She has kept it. Jesus knows this is true, He knows Her better than anyone. If calling Her BLESSED is not veneration, what is it? The Lord Himself is showing veneration for His own Mother. And you want us to go against what Jesus did? Aren’t we supposed to be like Him?
Now let me show you these verses:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, BUT MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY”. Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, BUT MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY”. Marc 13:31
“Heaven and earth will pass away, BUT MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY.” Luke 21:33
My question to you is, where are the words of Jesus not recorded in the books of the New Testament? He said “MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY” so I assume you believe, like I do, that ALL of what He said and taught the Apostles is known today. Someone somewhere knows them, knows where they are. Where can we find His unrecorded words? They are the Word of God because they were spoken by Jesus, right? Where are they?