A new look at an old word The Catholic Connection

I. A. The Alexandrine School (the birthplace of Catholic theology)

  " . nevertheless from the  3rd cent. BC to the 6th  cent. AD it was the center of Gravity in the philosophic world. "Plato was numbered among the prophets. Greece here acknowledged the Divine  Unity to which the OT was pledged.   Here the Jew acknowledged that Athens as truly as Jerusalem had taught a vision of God.  This was the first attempt to form a universal religion. The Alex. philosophy was the Elijah  to prepare the way for a Savior of the world. The thought of both Sadducee and  Pharisee was affected  by it and much  late Jewish lit. is saturated with it.
 ".... Neoplatonism was the 'germ out of which Christian theology sprang"'
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia "Alexandria" Camdem Cobern

   It is interesting to note that the word "catholic"  means universal. So the Alexandrian's attempted to start a catholic religion. "Germ" is also a very appropriate word as we finally unravel the mystery as to why the ancient Catholic Church was so alien to the New Testament Church.

"Historians debate whether the school  arose from within the church at Alexandria or whether it was at first independent of the church.   The evidence it seems to me, points to an independent beginning.  We know that individual philosophers-Stoic, cynics and Gnostic- opened  schools in major cities and drew students to their lectures. Christians followed  this practice." Bruce L. Shelly Church History in Plain Language pg. 95

   We never find these school systems in the New Testament, we only find synagogues which expounded the scriptures, and the house churches of the early church.
  "The first theological school  of Christendom was founded in A.  It was probably modeled after earlier gnostic schools established for the study of religious philosophy." The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia "Alexandria" Camdem Cobern

  So these schools were from the Gnostic s who inherited them from the pagans.

''The theologians with whom the scientific spirit had it's birth were Platonist...Not that they had been  simply brought up Platonist (as were Justin and Athenagorus, who yet. after they adopted  Christianity. rejected Platonism as the work of demons ); but they remained Platonists, and sought to explain Christianity according to the Platonic categories. In somewhat the same way in which Philo had, two centuries earlier, attempted to explain Judaism. In fact, these Christian Platonist were greatly indebted to Philo." Newman Manual of church history, 1:272.(gathered from Final Authority by William P. Grady)
                  Here we see that the religion, which is not the gospel, was deeply influential to Jews and Christians.

Colossians 2:8Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Jude 4Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
⁴ For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Some of the greatest  Christian leaders used all their influence against such atrocities, but the Egyp Christians were always noted for their excitability. They killed heretics easily, but they would themselves rather than renounce the very slightest  and most intangible theological tenet.
'' Even when the Arabs under the Caliph  Omar captured the city on Good  Friday  (641),  Easter  Sunday was spent by the Orthodox in torturing supposed heretics!  The next morning  the city was evacuated and the  Jew. and Copts received better Treatment the Arabs: than they had from the Rom or Greek ecclesiastics" The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia "'Alexandria" Camdem Cobern

  Here we see the violent nature of Catholicism present in the Alexandrine Church. Do they really believe they are followers of Christ when they cannot tum the other cheek?  When the takeover by radical Muslims is seen by all as a more peaceful alternative to your church, then you might be Legalistic! 
"The oldest autographic Christian letter known (3rd cent.) proves that at the time  the church was used as bank, and it's ecclesiastics (who whether priest or bishops, were called  'popes') were expected to help the country merchants in their dealings with Roman  markets." The International Standard Bible  Encyclopedia ''Alexandria" Camdem Cobern
  This mix of business church and state seems to contradict the teaching of Christ.

John 2:13-16Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
¹³ And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: ¹⁵ and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; ¹⁶ and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Matthew 21:12-13Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
¹² And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, ¹³ and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

B.  Clement of Alexandria (teacher from Plato and Christ)

"His parents were pagans; but young Clement was converted in unknown  circumstances. and then undertook a vast search for a teacher who could give him deeper instruction in the Christian faith." Pg.71 Justo Gonzales The Story of Christianity

      There must be at least a little suspicion when a famous Christian teacher does not have a public testimony.  Especially, if one is from a pagan background.

"And let it not be this one man alone-Plato; but, O philosophy, hasten to produce many  others also, who declare the only true God  to be God. through his inspiration if  in any  measure they  have grasp the truth." Clement (gathered from Final Authority by William P. Grady pg. 85 )         

''According to him,  philosophy has been  given to the Greeks just as the law had been given to the
Jews. Both have purpose of leading to ultimate truth. now revealed in Christ.  The classical  
 philosophers were to the Greeks what the Prophets were to the  Hebrews. "
Justo Gonzales The Story of  Christianity  pg. 72

     Here we see the similarity between the early Alexandrine doctrine and "Council of Trent" Catholicism.  The Bible is not scene as an exclusive source of divine revelation. Instead there is a dichotomy; for the Alexandrian s, the Bible plus philosophy; and for the Catholics, the Bible plus unwritten sacred traditions (which would include Alexandrine teaching).

"Clement is the prototype of the broad. liberally minded, intellectual and philosophically minded Christian theologian who seeks to synthesize Christian belief with culture as much as possible." Roger E Olson, The Story of Christian theology Pg. 85                  
"Clement contrast such people who are satisfied with the rudiments of the faith, with the wise person  or, as he says,  the 'true Gnostic.' Those who are wise go beyond the literal meaning of scripture.'  Pg.73. Justo Gonzales The Story of Christianity.
                                                                                       
The question is, "does Clement want to find a spiritual meaning, which is not intended by the scriptures?".
  "An obvious question for Clement's interpretation of God's nature is. What about the dark wrath of  Yahweh? If God is without parts or passions, why is he described in the Hebrew scriptures as angry, wrathful and vengeful? Clement answered 'Anthropomorphism s!' That  is, he viewed  biblical references to wrath and anger  as mere figures of speech or as ways humans perceive and experience God."
"Clement's ideal person-the true Gnostic-is a human  as much like God as possible  self-controlled, serene, unmoved and unaffected, rational and calm.  One is tempted to think of  Plato's philosopher kings as described in his book 'The Republic'. "Roger E Olson The Story of Christian theology pg. 90

    I have  to reject these ideas up front.  The thing that has always attracted me, to the Biblical Christian God is indeed His passion.  It is the God who pours out His wrath because the innocents are murdered and mutilated.  The Christ who is enraged at his temple becoming a den of thieves.  The Jesus who weeps at the death of His followers even if he plans on raising them from the dead.  The Father who loves an undeserving world so much that he would give His only begotten son.  It is His passion which brings praise.  The Question is, if you disagree with God's Character, are you not going to end up with a different God?

C. Origen (student of Clement and teacher of the early Church)

"'However. once  this has be said.  It is also important to note that on many points  Origen is more  Platonist  than Christian.  Thus, for instance, Origen rejects the doctrines of Marcion and of the Gnostics, that the world is the creation of an inferior being; bur then he comes to the conclusion that the existence of the physical world - as well as of  history- is the result  of sin.'  At this point there is a marked difference with Irenaeus, for whom  the existence of history  was  part of the eternal purpose of God.   And  when  it comes to the  preexistence of  souls, and to the eternal cycle of fall and restoration. There is no doubt that Origen strays from what Christianity has usually taught. " Justo L. Gonzales The story of Christian  theology pg. 81   

"I do not condemn them  (authors of scripture) if they even sometimes dealt freely with things which  to the eye of history happened differently, and changed them so as to subserve the mystical aims  they had in view; so as to so as to speak of a thing which  happened in a certain place, as if it happened in a another, or of what took  place at a certain time, as if it taken place at another time, and  to introduce into what  was spoken changes of their own.   They proposed to speak  the truth where it was possible both materially and spiritually, and where it was not possible it was their intention to prefer spiritual to material.  The spiritual truth was often preserved, as one might say in material falsehood."  Origen, Menzies, Anti-Nicene Fathers, 10;383(gathered from Final Authority by William P. Grady pg. 94)

 Obviously Origen is identical with today s moderate or liberal, denying inerrancy. So would  he desire to be more accurate in words he does not believe in?

''We say that the Savior  and the Holy Spirit exceed  all creatures without possible comparison, in a wholly transcendent way but that they are exceeded  by the Father by as much or even more  than they exceed the other beings. " Origen quoted by Henry Crouzcl

 pg.203 and later_Roger E. Olson The Story of Christian Theology pg. 110

"We therefore, as the more pious and truer course,  admit that all things were made

by the Logos and that the Holy Spirit is the most excellent and first in order of all that was
made by the Father through Christ."  Origen Allen Menzies, Anti-nicene Fathers
pg.328(gathered from  Final Authority by William P.Grady)   Pg.91

 At this point it may be that Origen is disqualified as an orthodox Trinitarian or even as a traditional monotheist. Like the Gnostics, he is a Henotheist.  Though theologians prefer to call him a Subordinationist.

''The end of the world, then, and  the final  consummation, will take place when everyone shall be subjected to punishment for his sins: a time which God alone knows, when he will bestow on each one what he deserves.    We think. indeed,  that the goodness of God, through his Christ,  may  recall all His creatures  to one end, even his enemies being conquered and subdued." Origen (gathered from  Final Authority by William  P.Grady   Pg.92-93

   Origen was a Universalist, who denied the eternal nature of Hell and exclusive salvation, not only the salvation of man but all creatures, including Satan.

"In the early fourth century Origen was considered by many Christians to have been the greatest teacher of the church. He was not generally considered a heretic yet. "  Pg. 42 Roger E. Olson The Story of Christian theology

What is disturbing is not that Origen alone had these views, but that his school and much of early Christianity followed his lead.  It is obvious That Origin when understood altogether was a false teacher who brought the church under false teaching.  From my studies here and elsewhere, it is my belief, that the Roman Catholics would inherit much of their theology from Origin and other Alexandrine teachers.  While Rome built the Frankenstein body.  It was Alexandria that formed the perverted monstrous mind.

II.  Jerome (The Revisionist of Rome)
A. Jerome's Past
Pagan influence) "He was an ardent admirer of classical learning, and felt that this love for an essentially pagan tradition was sinful.  His inner turmoil on the score peaked when, during a serious illness, he dreamt that he was at final judgement and was asked: 'Who are you?'  'I am a Christian,' Jerome answered.  But the judge retorted: 'You lie. You are a ciceronian.'  After that experience, Jerome resolved to devote himself fully to the study of scripture and of Christian literature.  But he never ceased reading and imitating the style of the classical pagan authors."
The story of Christianity Justo Gonzales pg. 201
    Sexual addiction)
  Jerome was already committed as a Christian "But his conversion to ascetical Christianity was still years away and there are indications that his ardent but less ennobling, sexual adventures that were to cause him much more remorse of conscience"
  "In the sun-scorched barren retreat he spent several years praying 'Although my companions were scorpians and wild beast, time and again I was mingling in dance with girls.'"
   I want to be clear in writing this; I believe that we are all sinners and therefore  saved by God's grace(Christians).  So I want to be careful not to convey judgment on Jerome in that way.  However,  I'm delving into the character of Jerome to see how to evaluate where he was at spiritually.
Monastic influence)
    What was Jerome's answer to his problem?  One of the greater influences upon Jerome was Egyptian monasticism.  Monasticism is based off of a few passages of scripture intertwined with Gnostic and platonic philosophy and theology.
"Some time later Origen, following the Platonic ideal of the wise life, made arrangements to live on mere subsistence level, and lead a life of extreme asceticism-it is said that he even took literally the word of Christ about those who made themselves 'eunuchs for the kingdom.'  Also, although Gnosticism had been rejected by the church, it's influence could still be felt in the widely held notion that there was a fundamental opposition between the body and the life of the spirit, and that  therefore in order to live fully in the spirit it was necessary to subdue and punish the body."
Pg. 137 The Story of Christianity  Justo Gonzales


The idea of sanctification and holiness by works and attacking the flesh goes against scripture.

Galatians 3:3-7 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."


It is a little known fact that following the flesh is reference to works based salvation, because the follower of Christ is trying to become holy through there flesh.  Yet good works can not attain salvation in their Christian living much like their conversion.
  It is obtained by faith.  It is a well known fact that the monastics followed Catholicism in the view of there works based salvation.

Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
3:9 and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Paul was imperfect and struggled with his flesh. Yet he lived by grace, and fellow Christians accepted the godly teaching he had.  Paul advises the same of us.  Christian spirituality is not to war with the physical or work our way to heaven.  It is lived by God's grace as we praise Him for it.


1 timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:"
   This teaching of Paul warns us to stay away from future false teachers.  Forbidding marriage and abstaining from certain meets were a signs of false teaching.
   Monasticism would push millions into a life of celibacy.  They would also over emphasize the practice of fasting.  In the end Monasticism takes the focus away from evangelism and family raising, for a godly isolated life.
Verse 4 shows the difference between Gnostic and Christian spirituality.  Nothing made by God  is naturally evil, only if it is based in an evil manner.  Yet the legalism of monasticism is historic for poor interpretations of the scriptures to war against anything physical.
  One only needs to look  at the testimony of Martin Luther to see how this lifestyle can not lead to salvation.
   Jerome was not simply effected by monasticism but was a major proponent.
   "Jerome, besides writing the life of Paul the hermit, translated Pachomias' rule into Latin and he himself became a monk--although an unusually one.  Since Jerome was one of the most admired and influential of his time, his works, and his example had a significant impact on the Western Church, which thus became more interested in the monastic spirit."  The story of Christianity Justo Gonzales pg. 147   
Yet did his lifestyle really cure his sinful desires?





B. Rome and Jerome
   "In the year 383, Pope Damasus urged Jerome (ca. 342-420), the most learned Christian scholar of his day, to produce a uniform and dependable text of the Latin Scriptures; he was not able to make a totally new translation but to revise a text of the Bible in use at Rome.  Jerome's first inclination was to say 'No, thank you' to the pope's invitation.  He wrote:
    'You urge me to revise the Old Latin version, and, as it were, to sit in judgment on the copies of scriptures that are now scattered throughout the world; and, inasmuch as they differ from one another, you would have me decide which of them agree with the original. The labor is one of love, but at the same time it is both perilous and presumptuous- for in judging others I must be content to be judged by all... Is there anyone learned or unlearned, who when he takes the volume in his hands and perceives that what he reads does not suit his settled tastes, will not break out immediately into violent language and call me a forger and profane person for having the audacity to add anything to the ancient books, or to make any changes or corrections in them?" Bruce Metzger The Bible in Translation pg. 32
   Here we see the now ancient scholar Jerome groaning over the task of taking sovereignty over the Word of God,  just as the later text criticism movement.  Like Pontus Pilate he is attempting to wash his hands of his personal guilt as what he fears "a forger and profane person". Like Pilate he is a servant of Rome who claims this authority over the King of Kings. Jerome conducted his translation under papal authority.  This assumes that the Pope had the priesthood of the church and therefore authority to preserve God's Holy Word.  But according to Peter, whom the Pope claims his authority derives,  the priesthood belongs to the body of saints.

1 Peter 2:5-10Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
5 ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
    The apostle Peter gives the priesthood to born-again believers.  Therefore the believing congregation had the authority to preserve God's Word and not hierarchical authorities.  Yet Jerome's translation was authorized under a different priesthood.
   Could this be an example of Catholicism taking precedents over the Word of God?
"Many Roman Christians at the time were rather cool toward Jerome's crusade for asceticism and virginity which they regarded as extremist.  One of them was a layman, Helvidius, who in his published refutation of Jerome strove to prove that even Mary after the birth of Jesus lived a normal married life with Joseph.  This attack on the perpetual virginity of the Mother God aroused Jerome to an absolute fury, which he unleashed in reply, against Helvidius. The perpetual virginity of Mary was henceforth to be an unassailable doctrine of Catholic Christianity." Thomas Bokenkotter A Concise History of the Catholic Church pg. 69
   Obviously, Jerome wasn't just effected by Roman-ism, but he was one of it's top defenders.  But Jerome's affinity for Mary has roots in the pagan Egyptian Jewish community.
Jeremiah 44:¹⁵ Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, ¹⁶ As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. ¹⁷ But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. ¹⁸ But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine."
The Catholic Church gives Mary the very pagan title used of the Egyptian pagans.
“Ave ave, ave, Maria! Ave, ave, Maria! In heaven, the blessed thy glory proclaim, On earth, we thy children invoke thy fair name.”Immaculate Mary #37
“Hail holy Queen, enthroned above, O Maria!… Turn then most gracious Advocate, O Maria!” Hail Holy Queen enthroned Above #38
“Hail Queen of Heav’n the ocean Star, Guide of the wand’rer here below!
Tossed on life’s sea, I claim thy care, save me from peril and woe. Mother of Christ, Star of the Sea, pray for wand’rer, pray for me.” hymn 72vrs.1 Hail Queen of Heaven Parish Mass book and Hymnal In accordance with New Revised Liturgy Catholic Publishing Company NY(1967)


C. Jerome and Alexandria

"Another project he undertook at this time the translation of thirty seven of Origen's writings for obvious reasons.  As a biblical scholar, daring speculative theologian, and prolific polymath.  Origen (d.c. 254) was the greatest mind produced by the church before Constantine. Jerome's enthusiasm for Origen at first knew no bounds and he often borrowed freely from the masters writings.  Later, when a strong anti-Origen movement surfaced in the church, Jerome did a switch and played down his immense debt to the Alexandrine genius." Thomas Bokenkotter A Concise History of the Catholic Church  pg. 67
   "Then Jerome went on to Egypt where he visited the alexandrine Scholars as well as the desert dwellings of the monks." The Story of Christianity Justo Gonzales pg. 204
   Here we see the connection I mentioned earlier, the sins of Alexandria would be passed on to infect the rest of the Roman Empire.  From Origen to Jerome, and from Alexandria to Rome.  Now to be fair once Origen was ousted as a heretic, Jerome changed positions and attacked all who would defend Origen.  However I believe this was a dishonest attack.  Origen's writings were already old and Jerome had well read them when he was at first an admirer.  Conveniently, Jerome made this turn when everyone else did.

Codex Vaticanus
   "In time, however, this hostility towards the monks in Christian Rome- Which Jerome thought still resembled Babylon led him to withdraw to a monastary at Bethlehem, were his linguistic skills were put to use in translating the Old and the New Testament from the original tongues into literary Latin.  The result was the so-called Vulgate, the authorized version of the Bible in Roman Catholicism until recent years.." pg. 135 Church History in plain language Bruce L. Shelly

   "The striking coincidence of the Greek of the Vatican manuscript with the Latin of the Vulgate leads to the establishment of the same conclusion.  This version received the corrections of St. Jerome during his abode in Palestine: it is thus only probable that the Greek copies, after which he modeled it, were those, which were from Palestine. were used in the monastery, into which he had retired. But these he assures us were of the edition of Eusebius. For this edition he had imbibed an early partiality for Gregory of Nazianzum who first put the scriptures into his hands, who had been educated at Caesarea Palestine."
Frederick Nolan, An Inquiry into the integrity of the Greek Vulgate, or received text of the New Testament ( London F.C. & J. Rivington Publishers. 1815). 83-84.

"His revision was hasty and became more or less confused with the old Latin VSS to which people clung to as they do all old VSS.  Having probably completed the NT from the Gr. Jerome began immediately on the OT from the Greek of the LXX."  The International Bible Encyclopedia: Vulgate

Septuagint and the Vulgate
  As I have written elsewhere in this book the oldest copy of the LXX was originally found in the Vatican manuscript.  Of course this the LXX in it's fullest most completed draft. There is proof from Origen's Hexapla that the LXX was constructed several times over.  Ironically the infamous Apocrypha of the inter-testimonial period was not something Jerome wanted in the collection.  However, thanks to the pressure of theologians such as Augustine, eventually Jerome translated the books and after he died, they had them included in his Vulgate. The vulgate had some alexandrine readings.
   "The exact date of the pope’s commission is not given: it was probably in 382—the year of Jerome’s arrival in Rome—or early in 383, in which year the Gospels appeared in revised form. Damasus asked simply for a revision of the Old Latin versions by the help of the Greek rather than a new version Jerome collated Greek manuscripts, and carefully compared them with the “Italian” type of Old Latin texts; where possible the Old Latin was preserved. Thus, Jerome approached the task with a conservative spirit. Still the result was a considerable departure from the Old Latin version, the changes being (1) linguistic, removal of provincialisms and rudeness, (2) in interpretation, e.g. supersubstantial is for επιουσιον, epiousion, in the Lord’s Prayer, ⁽¹⁾ (3) the removal of interpolations, (4) the insertion of the Eusebian Canons."http://www.bible-researcher.com/vulgate1.html
  Jerome pieced together the New Testament from Alexandrine manuscripts which he got from Eusebius and ultimately Origen.
   Although Jerome should be commended for taking a sensible, yet controversial approach of Consulting the Hebrew manuscripts.  The move from the LXX to the Vulgate represents a move from Eastern Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicism.
 "The inevitable split between East and West, both politically and ecclesiastically, and the split between Greek and Latin Christianity, rendered the existence of a standard Latin Text imperative.  Christianity was felt to be the religion of the book, and hence that book must be inspired and authoritative in every word- even it's order of words. Pope Damasas determined to remedy this state of affairs, and with all the authority of the Papal See commissioned Jerome to produce an authentic and standard authorized VS." The International Bible Encyclopedia: Vulgate


III. Papal Authority vs. Scriptural Authority
   The Papal system is one of the most powerful religious systems in world history.  Even today the Pope has more authority and powers that no other religious authority has.  For instance the pope has monarchical authority over Vatican City, which is recognized by the united nations as a Sovereign nation.  Therefore, the Pope has special status and credit.
    "From the early years of the church, there has been a hierarchy, that is, different degrees of authority, bishops, priests, deacons.  Bishops have the full authority of the apostles, priest some of the powers, and deacons lesser powers." pg 141Anthony Welhelm  Christ Among us a modern presentation of the Catholic faith

    "The Bible is also the work of men who expressed their own thoughts as they wrote in their own way.  The human authors were not mere passive instruments of God but wrote freely, using the language and style of their time and culture to communicate their message in a way that seemed more appropriate to them.  The writers were like us, sinful, subject to error.  Sometimes they did not grasp the fullness of God's revelation." pg. 159 Anthony Welhelm  Christ Among us a modern presentation of the Catholic faith

   "Infallibility is expressed by the belief of the people of the church who are in union with the pope and bishops.  When the people as a whole believe the doctrine, it must be true 'The entire body of the faithful, anointed as they are by the Holy One .....can not err in matters of belief.' (Constitution of the Church, no. 12)" pg. 150
Anthony Welhelm  Christ Among us a modern presentation of the Catholic faith
 Notice that the Catholics believe that the church can not err even though the writers of the gospels can!!

B. Blasphemy of Papal Authority
  "The title 'Pope' means 'father of fathers' and was once used for the heads of all important diocese; it came to be used soley of the bishop of Rome in the 11th century.  The Popes have rejected other titles such as 'universal bishop,' which might seem to derogate from the position of their brother bishops.  'Pontiff' which has been sometimes used, comes from Imperial Rome and means bridge-builder' or Priest connecting God and man."  Anthony Welhelm  Christ Among us a modern presentation of the Catholic faith
    The Bible specifically teaches that Jesus is the High priest between God and man.

Hebrews 9:11-10:14Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
1 timothy 2:  5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

Jesus does not teach us to use the terminology  father, for God is our father.

John 8:38-44Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father.
Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Matthew 23:9Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
2 Peter 2:15-21Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. "

It is obvious that Peter taught that the very words of Scripture were of God and not man. Secondly, concerning the office of Apostle.

Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

   Notice that Peter is addressing the entire congregation of saints and not just the apostles.

Acts 1:21-26
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."
   Finally, the apostles were not interested in anymore than the number of twelve apostles with Paul as last.


1 Corinthians 15:by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
   Therefore the Bible's contradiction with Roman Catholic religion is obvious.










C. Historic attack on the Scripture

    "It is evident from experience, that the Holy Scriptures when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have produced more harm than benefit [paraphrasing Trent]...... we have deliberated upon the measures proper to be adopted, by our pontifical authority, in order to remedy and abolish this pestilence..... this defilement of faith so imminently dangerous to souls" Pope Pius VII encyclical letter of 1816 addressed to the primate of Poland.{Gathered from Dave Hunt,  A Woman Rides the Beast pg.328}
These attacks did not stop in the 20th century either.
   "On may 27, 1923, protestant bibles were burned in Rome, 'In honor of the virgin'; nine years later, in 1932, during Ireland's Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Protestant gospels were publicly burned; almost a decade later, in 1940, Franco had more than 100,000 protestant Bibles destroyed and ground to pulp or burned.  On Dec. 4, 1949 all protestant Bibles by order of the mayor of Toribio Cauca Columbia. In May 1950 The Bibles of the protestant chapels in the district of the La aguardo Casonare, again in Columbia, were ceremonially burned."  Dave Hunt A woman rides the beast

Lack of common language Bibles
 Under the papal rule of Western World the Bible was relegated to the Vulgate whether or not(usually not) people could understand the Latin text. To print the Bible in the common language was seen as a direct threat to Papal Authority as soul interpretor and the authority of the church.  Today, the catholic church encourages multiple translations and dogmatic liberalism in order to preserve authority from the opposite extreme.

Roman Catholics pioneer textual criticism
Richard Simon: "Biblical scholar from 1662 to 1678 he was a member of the french oratory. Hi Histoire Critcque du Vieux Testament (1678), arguing from the existence of duplicate accounts of the same incident and variations of style, denied that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch. He is generally regarded as the founder of Old Testament criticism".Elizabeth A. Livingstone, ed The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the christian church (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977), 476.
John Mabillon) A benedictine monk who stirred up controversy by putting certain Roman Catholic documents in doubt in his book "Latin Paleography in official documents" Ironically, another Benedictine priest Father Bernard de Montefaucon went and applied his critical method exposing rome and then applied it on the Textus Receptus in his book Paleographic Gracea. Putting the Bible on trial for the crimes of the Catholic church! https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Jean_Mabillon

Jean Astruc)(Sauves, Auvergne, March 19, 1684 - Paris, May 5, 1766) was a professor of medicine at Montpellier and Paris, who wrote the first great treatise on syphilis and venereal diseases, and also, with a small anonymously published book, played a fundamental part in the origins of critical textual analysis of works of scripture. Astruc was the first to demonstrate — using the techniques of textual analysis that were commonplace in studying the secular classics — the theory that Genesis was composed based on several sources or manuscript traditions, an approach that is called the documentary hypothesis.http://www.thefullwiki.org/Jean_Astruc

Johann adam mohlar:"The first Catholic theologian to apply a critical-historical analysis to the development of doctrine, Moehlar is important as both the theologian and as a german historian."https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.bing.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1960&context=open_access_etds

The catholic counter-reformation was in full effect at this time.  It was an obvious agenda that Biblical Authority must be undermined, if not destroyed, in hopes of destroying protestant authority And restoring the authority of the Holy Roman Empire.

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Westcort and Hort's affinity for Catholicism



Carlo Martini
" Carlo Maria Martini was born 15 February 1927 in Orbassano in the Province of Turin, Piedmont, to Leonardo, an engineer, and Olga (née Maggia) Martini. He was baptised on the following 22 February. He was educated at Istituto Sociale, a school run by Jesuits in Turin. He entered the Society of Jesus on 25 September 1944 and was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Maurilio Fossati on 13 July 1952.^[4] Martini completed his studies in philosophy at the Jesuits' House of Studies in Gallarate, in the province of Milan, and theology at the faculty of theology in Chieri.
In 1958, Martini was awarded his doctorate in fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, with a thesis exploring the problems of the Resurrection accounts. After some years of teaching at the faculty of Chieri, he returned to Rome and earned another doctorate in Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, graduating summa cum laude, with a thesis on a group of codices of the Gospel of Luke."
"For years many "progressive" Catholics harboured hopes that he himself might eventually ascend the papacy, but when John Paul II died, most commentators believed that his election was unlikely, given his liberal reputation and apparent frailty" Wakin, Daniel J. (18 April 2005). "Cardinals Gather Today in Secret to Elect the Next Pope". New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Maria_Martini#cite_note-6

As mentioned elsewhere, Carlo Martini is a Roman Catholic Cardinal.   He has the largest diocese of all the Cardinals.  In Catholicism cardinals are considered to be princes among the empire of the pope. It is obvious that Martini must therefore hold strictly to the church's teachings.  In his dealings with the translation of the NIV Bible, it is obvious that translating a Bible which allows for his interpretation  is going to have a bias from Him in favor of Catholicism.


Carlo martini was a high ranking member of the Jesuit order.
"Finally, though not initially formed for the purpose, they aimed to stop Protestantism from spreading and to preserve communion with Rome and the successor of Peter. The zeal of the Jesuits overcame the drift toward Protestantism in Poland-Lithuania and southern Germany." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus
  Even sanitized by Wikipedia, it is obvious that the Jesuit philosophy is in strict opposition to Protestantism.  Why did evangelicals allow someone dedicated to their destruction to have the ability to control the transmission of their Bibles?

B. Catholic Bibles

The Catholic Bible has always had problems in that it is based off of the wrong canon, wrong manuscripts, but also the wrong translators.  I have argued the canon and manuscript issues in other places, but I want to elaborate this point about the translators.

Catholic Bibles are printed by Catholic men.  This means that these men will translate the Bible according to the will of the Vatican and Pope and not necessarily according  to the truth.  These men all disobey the gospel by trying to work their way to heaven.  Therefore, these men are not born again and this can have an affect on their fidelity to translation.

The Bibles of the Catholic Church have a very awkward  place in the history of the Church.  Many times Catholics would ban not only Protestant Bibles but Catholic Bibles as well!

"'And instead  of blushing at such unpriestly conduct, you seem to be proud  of it.' angrily replied  the bishop.

"I do not understand, my lord, why a priest of Christ could blush for distributing the Word of God among his people; as I am bound  to preach that Holy Word,  it is not only my right hut my duty to give it to them.  I am fully persuaded that there is no preaching so efficacious and powerful as the preaching of our God Himself; when speaking to us His Holy  Book  '

'This  is sheer Protestantism. Mr. Chiniquy, this is sheer Protestantism, 'he answered angrily.

'My dear Bishop. 'I answered calmly, 'if we give the Bible to the people and invite them to read and meditate on it as Protestantism, our holy Pope Pius the Vl  was a good Protestant, (or in his letter to Martini, which is probably in the first pages of the beautiful Bible I see on your lordship's table. he not only blesses him for having translated that Holy  Book into Italian. but invites the people to read it.'

The bishop. assuming an air of supreme contempt, replied: ·Your answer shows your complete ignorance on the subject on which you speak so boldly. If you were a little better  informed on that grave subject,  you would  know that the translation by Martini, which the Pope advised the Italian  people to read, formed a work of twenty-three big volumes in folio, which, of course, nobody, except very rich and  idle people could read. Not one in ten thousand Italians have the means of purchasing such a voluminous work; and not one in twenty thousand have the time or the will to pursue such a mass of endless commentaries. The Pope would never  have given  such an advice to read a Bible.  As the one you distribute so impudently.'" Charles Chiniquy  "Fifty Years in the church of Rome"    Chapter 55                  

This dialogue is-from the 1800's in a Chicago 'Catholic diocese between a priest and his

bishop. The priest was being barred from distributing the catholic Bible to Catholics.  It gives us the true Spirit of the Catholic Church as it relates to it's Bible.  Catholicism  has it's own rule and order. It prefers not to be challenged even by a bible of it's own canon and translation.  Catholics typically understand their faith in terms of tradition and worship. The Bible can get in the way of that authority and if it does then it must submit to the Church.


NRSV

The New Revised Standard Version followed in the footsteps of it's predecessor  in an openly liberal and Catholic direction soon liberal protestants and Catholic  pews would be filled with this translation. It would soon be as popular if not more being translated with the Apocrypha.

"These categories do not express value judgments about  the books in question: to call a hook non-canonical is not to say that it is necessarily unimportant or worthless. It is simply to say that it does not belong  in the Christian Bible. "

''Esther itself  exists in a short form in the Hebrew Bible, but in Greek, Latin, Slavonic  it appears in a longer form  with additional incidents, speeches, and prayers.  Protestant Apocryphas usually print simply the parts that are additional under the heading 'Additions to Esther' But these make no sense on their own, so the NRSV has translated the Greek  Esther in full." John Barton "The  Nature and Formation of the Biblical Canon '' New Revised Standard Version:The Access Bible

     This is an obvious example of liberal  bias destroying all understanding of the Bible and inspiration. Barton first claims that the canon  is not a value judgment.  But it is a value judgment. Either this book is inspired  by God or it is not.  Now this may not be a secular judgment. The book may be accurate, a literary masterpiece and a best seller etc.  Howeve-5o simply qualify this as the "Christian Bible" is to argue  that this is not universally God's word.  NRSV Editors previously bragged about translating both the Catholic and  Eastern Orthodox canons alongside the Protestant Canon.  It is obvious that this group has no concern  over what the true canon of scripture is.  This argument proves that there is no distinction of what is and is not inspired in their eyes.

C. Protestant Bibles affected by Catholicism

RSV

The Revised Standard  Version was of the first protestant  New Translations to be marketed to the Catholic community.  It soon included the Apocrypha.

"Few  American Protestants even know that a King James Version of the  Apocrypha existed because it had rarely been printed as a part of the Bible.  The RSV Apocrypha project thus seemed destined from the outset to appeal less to evangelical protestants than to ecumenically minded Catholics.
"Indeed, Catholic scholars on the other side of the Atlantic almost immediately took all interest in the RSV Apocrypha,  which would be produced by Thomas Nelson and Sons in 1957.

''The General editor of the Commentary["A Catholic commentary on Holy Scripture"], Bernard Orchard, contacted H. Peter Morrison of Nelson in 1953 about the possibility of preparing a catholic edition of the RSV.

"Morrison liked Orchard's idea and contacted Luther Weigle about the  possibility of modifying the RSV lo satisfy Catholic readers.

"Weigle agreed, so in July 1954 he and Gerald Knoff, executive secretary of the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches, met in London with officials from Nelson and a subcomittee Catholic Biblical association of Great Britain.  The Catholic scholars outlined some of the textual changes they regarded as necessary, including the substitution of 'brethren' for Jesus 'brothers' to safeguard, ironically the perpetual virginity of Mary. The total number of anticipated changes was small, and Weigle signaled the RSV committee's willingness to consider a formal list of emendations."
Here we see the RSV actually making Catholic Bibles.  The idea of Catholics dictating to "protestant" scholars what to and not translate in order to safeguard their false teachings is idiotic to start off with.  But the fact that these scholars were openly changing the word of God, so as not to offend unsaved Catholics shows their own apostasy.

1Tim 2:13 For this cause also  thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

NIV

The NIV can be thought of as the "New Evangelical" Bible.  It could also be seen as Neo­-orthodoxy's gift to conservatives. The influence of Carlo Martini can be seen in several passages.

1Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, ² as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: ³ if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
"2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:l-3 NIV

Here we see, if we look close enough, a few places with catholic bias. "Sincere milk" is no longer the word of God. Salvation is something  you grow up in as oppose to something you simply have completely.  The Lord is now a substance that you can taste. (Transubstantiation) So the emphases of Peter is no longer growing in the word of God, but instead coming closer to salvation through the sacraments. By the way "of the Word" is in the Textus Receptus and is even used NASB Alexandrine translation.  "Gracious.. is the proper translation  because the tasting is obviously referring to the "milk of the word" and not at all to eating Christ.

Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

"to be minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:16 NIV

"You see how they are seeking to portray the Apostle Paul as a priest, something he would have abhorred.  The word they try to put forth as meaning 'priestly' is not an adjective at all, but a verb, and it has nothing to do with 'priest'. This verb is used only in this verse. It is probably a derivative of, or an adaptation of ieros {2413) which means sacred and holy." Jay P.Green

 Unholy hands on the Bible Volume II  

Remember if Paul is a priest, then the Apostles are a priesthood. This new translation just happens to give way to Papal Authority.

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; a

''God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.  He did this to

demonstrate his  justice, because in his forbearance he had le(t the sins the sins committed beforehand unpunished. " Romans 3:25 NIV

Now here we see a little bit of Romanism mixed with liberal protestant theology. The Word for propitiation has been replaced by sacrifice of atonement.  Then we go from declaring righteousness to merely demonstrating  righteousness in light unpunished sin, or botched judgment.  This fits the governmental theory of the atonement, whereby  God sacrifices Christ of an example of the depth of sin.   

In the AV, we see that the sins of the past were paid for by Christ on the cross.  Yet through

the sentence structure and comma usage we see the NIV implying that the sins of the past were not paid for, henceforth "unpunished". Yet wasn't Christ punished on the cross for our sins? The AV had the vocabulary to use the word "unpunished" yet they chose not to leave us with a false impression.

The changing of the word propitiation to atonement has been condemned  by conservatives across the board. Gordon Clark refers to this dealing with a passage in first John. "an atoning sacrifice for sin is dangerously vague. All sorts of rituals can be called atoning sacrifice.  But salvation, in the Christian sense of the term, requires one very definite type of sacrifice, namely propitiation.  John is not at all so vague as the NIV. He is perfectly specific.  Christ's atoning sacrifice is a propitiation.  Its aim was to appease the wrath of an angry God; and it succeeded in doing so" First John, Trinity Foundation, Jefferson Maryland 1980l,Pg.46 )

John 1: ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
John 1:⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter^[g])."NIV
"g.John 1:42 Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock."
          Not wanting to offend the roman catholic contributers, The NIV replaces the more accurate word stone, becase Peter was not the foundation, but a small stone. they translate "peter" and in the notes they say "rock" trying not to offend the office of the papacy. Thus hiding the truth revealed in Greek.

Knowing the immensity of this subject I will cut this short. From this and other passages it is obvious to me that Roman Catholic translators and critics behind NIV translated the evangelical translation in such a way as to make it more friendly to Catholicism.
In conclusion the primary distortion of Holy Bible historically been by the Catholic church as instructed from Alexandrine theology.