7 Bible Verses Every Catholic Should Know (1 of 7)

“Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” St. Paul sees the church as the pillar and bulwark of the truth. From this, we know that St. Paul was not speaking from a protestant point of view because a protestant would never see the church as a pillar and bulwark of truth. For protestants it is scripture that is the pillar and bulwark of truth. Sola scriptura. The Bible alone. No. St. Paul says that the church is the pillar and bulwark of truth. Even the Bible does not say that the Bible is the pillar and bulwark of truth. The Bible itself calls the church as the pillar and bulwark of the truth. A pillar is a firm upright support for a structure. In the Greco-Roman world of St. Paul’s time, a pillar supports the roof of a structure, to bear the weight of what is placed on top of it: the church supports truth. Bulwark: acts as a defense, a wall that protects and preserves. The church is the defense of truth. The church is the support and defense of truth. If you want the truth you go to the church, which is the entity or reality that supports and defends truth. This implies that there can be only one church. This also implies that the church is visible and identifiable, not invisible. An invisible or unidentifiable church is of no help in supporting or defending truth. The church is one and visible, so you can go to the church, find the church; it’s distinct from other claimants. There you can find truth being supported and defended. It is this church that Jesus founded: the Catholic Church. (Source: Dr. John Bergsma, St. Paul Center)