A 40-Point-by-Point Disputation Opposed to the Heretical Eisegesis of Papal Supremacy But in Support of the Scriptural Meaning and Application of the Exposition of Judges 2:10 and the Reformed Teaching of the Sole Supremacy of the Inerrant Scriptures in Exegetical Approbation of Doctrinal Succession in Place of Papal Succession

Dr. Mike Petillo

"A Mere Reformation Disputation"

  "All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel."  (Judges 2:10 NASB).

The Spirit breathes upon the Word,
And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford
A sanctifying light.
A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic, like the sun:
It gives a light to ev'ry age;
It gives, but borrows none.
The Hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat:
His truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.
Let everlasting thanks be thine
For such a bright display
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heav'nly day.
My soul rejoices to pursue
The steps of him I love.
Till glory break upon my view
In brighter worlds above.  (TH, 258).

1.  We are called to study the inerrant Word (Ps 19:7) and to be well-approved of God as a workmen unashamed of God's divine truth in rightly interpreting Scripture in light of Scripture (2 Tim 2:15; 2 Tim 3:16-17).

2.  The written Word alone is a preserved Holy Book (Ps 40:11) that is supernaturally set apart by God which was by His cosmic superintendence as the only collection of divine books that is God-breathed.  It is the indestructible book.  It will continue from generation to generation regardless of the perishing fathers of each generation. Therefore the perpetuity (or clearness) of  the written Word is passed down to generation to generation through the furtherance of sound doctrine apart of papal succession (1 Tim 1:10).  We are called to sound doctrine apart from anything that is contrary to the solidarity of the written Scriptures.

3.   The people of the Old Testament physically died without the fulfillment of Messiah, but the written Word always promised them supernatural hope alone in the Suffering Messiah (Is 53ff).  The extraordinary amount of death in OT days clearly indicated the spiritual consequence of sin from Adam's fall and cosmic judgement, but also their desperate spiritual need for the God-Messiah alone to suffer redemptively in their place as bankrupt transgressors.  Jesus conquered and destroyed death by dying on the Cross and the sting of death has no power. 

4.  Human beings will die but the Word of God will never die, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12 NASB). 

5.  The Savior and Creator Jesus Christ declared that "...heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away" (Mt 24:34 NASB).  The written Word is forever.  If the Word is forever, it is trustworthy.   If it is trustworthy, it is believable.  

6.  Sound doctrine is communicated in the supernatural perpetuity of the written Word that we must keep to honor God (1 Tim 4:6).  Luther said that a seven year-old could understand the Scriptures.  In other words, the Bible is abundantly clear for us to comprehend its doctrine because we also have the real illumination by God's Spirit in understanding the meaning of Scripture.  I suggest to you that without the presence of the Spirit there would be manifold more misinterpretations concerning the divine written Word.

7.  1 Timothy 6:3 refers to the Christian to advocate sound words or sound doctrine but not a different doctrine of the gospel.  The Bible does not call us to follow a certain apostle or mere man because they were but mere sinners but we find Christ in His written Word alone (Num 24:4) not a long-line of mere men (1 Cor 1:12ff; 1 Cor 3:4).

8.  2 Timothy 4:3 refers to a day that sinners will not endure sound doctrine.  The OT has examples of men following doctrines of demons like the teaching of wrongdoing by Balaam, but the NT also refers to lawless men like Judas Iscariot in the NT Gospels and Diotrephes in 3 Jn.  I suggest to you that by nature men are seeking that which is not of God because there is no good in them (Rom 3ff).  Sinners do not tend toward the truth of God (as Rome declares in RCC 2467) because by nature they serve the father of lies (Jn 8:44).  

9.  The Bible teaches that succession of sinful people is not reliable, because men are liars by nature (see Rom 3:4).  Sinners are not perfect regarding the sins of the body, but the Word of God is perfect (Ps 19:7).  It does not mean a sinner cannot tell the truth unto a civil goodness (devoid of the matchless unified imputed righteousness of Christ alone in Phil 3:9), but that God is supernaturally hiding the glad tidings of the gospel by His invisible Hand from the wise and intelligent of this fallen world; for He reveals it unto His chosen babes that He choose unto cosmic mercy by His choice alone not of human works in any way whatsoever (see Mt 11ff; Rom 9:11, 16).

10.  The Bible teaches that doctrinal succession (not papal succession) is found in the efficacious written Word to proclaim those things which are fit for sound doctrine (Tit 2:1).  The written Word is supernaturally trustworthy so that the man of God in Christ may both exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict (Tit 1:9).

11.  For example, Rome denies the written Word in RCC 862, "Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office, which the apostles received, of shepherding the Church, a charge destined to be exercised without interruption by the sacred order of bishops." Hence the Church teaches that "the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ."

12.  The Bible says that Jesus Christ alone is the First of the Apostles or Chief of the Apostles (Heb 3:1) not St. Peter who denied the truth of the gospel (see Gal 2ff).  He later spoke of the free mercy of God through the hope of Jesus' resurrection; His words were superintended by God and he preached faith in the sole righteousness of Christ alone (2 Pet 1:1).  He preached that the meaning of God's Word was not of sinners (like his error in Galatians 2 in adding a sinners' merit to Christ alone) but the ultimate superintendence of God (see 2 Pet 1:20). We see that Peter read Paul's letters and referred to them as Scripture (2 Pet 3:16), but he says sinners interpret it to their own destruction.  That is, Scripture should determine our walk, but handling the Scriptures with dirty hands (mischievous intent) causes the supremacy of sin over the author's intended meaning of the written Word.  St. Paul also approved of St. Peter's apostleship to the Jews (see Gal 2:8); thus Peter's writings were approved of God (see 1 and 2 Peter), because the meaning of Scripture belongs to God alone in light of Scripture with Scripture in the harmonious solidarity (see Gen. 40:8).  I am stressing that the meaning of God's written Word does not come from a long-line of ungodly men or alleged papal succession (that developed centuries later and not with the apostles of the written Word), but the supremacy of that which is God-breathed over any church leader, organization, church father, particular churches, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, councils and popes.  The Bible honors Christ but men honor themselves through a mishandling of God's Word that leads to destruction through original sin and actual transgressions.

13.  The Apostle John does not say that successors of St. Peter will take the place of the apostles but that the Word is the place to find the "spirit of truth" and "the spirit of error" for he says, "We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 Jn 4:6 NASB). 

14.   2 John 1:4 refers to God's people walking in the truth.  That is, to walk in the ultimate commandment of the Truth in the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5).  The commandment comes from the preserved Word of God, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (Jn 3:36 NASB).

15.  RCC 883 refers to absolute supremacy of the succession of Roman bishops only under papal authority.  May God grant the overthrow of papal supremacy so that more souls may be shown the way of Christ more accurately through the worthless instrument of second causes, doing but our duty (Lk 17:10) in sold-out evangelism for Jesus Christ alone (Mt 28ff) but that the ultimate glory may go to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit alone.  The Bible says that the divine Words of Jesus Christ will not pass away (Lk 21:33).  The written Word tells us not to imitate that which is evil like preeminence in ecclesiastical leadership (3 Jn 11).  A false teacher like Diotrephes would not accept those of the apostolic gospel.  Here God gives us a glimpse of a man who set himself above the written Word of the apostles.  This kind of leadership condemns the apostolic gospel is evil.  Leaders may interpret the written Word but they are not above it.

16.  How does the alleged pope give the alleged successors of Rome supreme authority when it can be legitimately challenged in early church history among the church fathers and in the written Word?  For have you not read that even St. Peter refers to Christ as the sole Rock (1 Pet 2:8) like St. Paul (Rom 9:33)?  I suggest to you that this is the apostolic interpretation of Mt 16.  That is, the apostles interpret Scripture in light of Scripture.  

17.  RCC 896 refers to allegiance to Rome, but the Bible proclaims allegiance to King Jesus Christ alone (Acts 5:29).

18.  RCC 939 speaks of guidance, leadership and direction under papal supremacy, but we are called to obey that form of doctrine that was delivered onto us (see Rom. 6:17) from that which is God-Breathed in the supremacy of all of the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16-17; Lk 24:27).

19.  If papal supremacy or primacy is rejected, some ask "how do you know what you know?"  This is a question of epistemology (the study of knowing).   If you want to know God's truth, where do you suppose you would find it?  Would you find it among ungodly men that contradict themselves without the sole supremacy of the written Word, or the prophets, apostles and the Psalms in His holy Word?  God's Spirit says through the Apostle John that we are able to know that we have eternal life if you have trusted Christ (1 Jn 5:13).  How can you be sure if you have trusted Christ?  Have you not read that the Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God (see Rom 8:16)?

20.  Rome says she decides what is and what is not the meaning of the written Word (see Trent, Session 4, "Decree Concerning the Edition, and the Use, of the Sacred Books").  The Bible does not support the supremacy of Rome over the Scriptures, because it calls every sinner to an objective interpretation of the author's intended meaning through searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) and no one is above another (Rom 14:5), but sola scriptura does not abolish the ruling eldership (it is a subordinate authority to the supreme supernatural integrity of God's written Word alone as that final authority of all religious and spiritual controversy).  We are called to examine everything closely and hold fast to that which is good (1 Thess 5:21).

21.  The pope nor anyone nor any council cannot get away from the Reformation doctrine of private interpretation.  There are ultimately two kinds of private interpretations.  That is, that which is subjective and objective.  Subjective interpretations place personal insight or tradition onto the inspired text.  Rather we ought to pursue objective interpretation.   That is, objective interpretation refers to arriving at the author's intended meaning through the perpetuity of the written Word of God's inerrant truth.

22.  A false succession of ungodly men have the characteristic of the perversion of divine grace (Gal. 1:6-8).  Is it any secret that Rome adds the Virgin Mary and the saints to win spiritual satisfaction because Christ makes it possible rather than exalting Christ alone for who someone is right with God (Gal 2:20)?

23.  False teachers love money that is the root of all evil (Lk 16:14) like the uncanny abuse of evil love of money in the recent scandals of the Vatican.  Have you not read that Jesus said by their fruits you will know them (Mt 7:20)? Click here for recent news on Vatican corruption for decades:  "Pope steps up supervision of Vatican bank amid corruption scandal"

24.  False teachers are deniers of Christ (2 Pet 2:1).  Have you not read that the gospel of Galatians through Paul the Apostle speaks of God's curse if anything is added to Christ alone (Gal 2ff)?

25.  False teachers are resistors of God's truth (2 Tim 3:8).  That is, the Council of Trent has accursed those of faith alone (Eph 2:8-9).

26.  Is it a position of Reformed Orthodoxy that the ruling eldership is perfect?  No, no!  We understand that all men are sinners, but we also do not claim that we are another Christ through sacerdotalism (salvation through the Roman priesthood alone).  Such is a view of high arrogance and self-righteousness.  It is like saying "I am the fourth member of the Godhead."  It is radical spiritual insanity that will take God's divine intervention.  We also do not exalt ourselves with high titles of Christian ministry (like His Eminence).  The sins of those of Reformed Orthodoxy believe in the all-sufficiency of the Cross alone with no additions of tradition, but is it widely know to her shame that Rome adds many things to the Cross of Jesus Christ (like the eleventh century practice of Roman indulgences that are still sold to this very day).

27.  False teachers love the teaching of fables (2 Tim 4:3-4) like Pope John Paul II's teaching that the NT does not mention the Assumption of Mary but through their equal authority of "oral tradition."  It was pronounced as dogma as late as the 20th century in 1950 AD.  That is, the biblical evidence is non-existent but the early historical evidence is also highly questionable.  Luther said we do not know what happened her.

28.  False teachers are destitute of God's truth (1 Tim 6:3-5).

29.  False teachers are bound by traditions (Mt 15:9).

30.  False teachers are spiritually unstable (1 Tim 1:6-7).

31.  False teachers are spiritually deceitful (Eph 4:14).

32.  False teachers are lustful (2 Pet 2:12-19).

33.  In the days of St. Paul there were false teachers (2 Tim 1:14-15).  The truth of God is not guarded or protected by the naked assertion of Roman authority through papal supremacy.  Rather the truth is protected by the clear testimony of Scripture.

34.  False teachers are in every age (for example 1 Tim 4:1-3).

35.  There will be false teachers at the Second Return of Jesus (2 Tim 4:3-4).

36.  Balaam from the OT was a false teacher (Rev 2:14) that many leaders imitate to this very day.  

37.  God is working out all things together for the good of His people.  That is, the Roman errors help God's people refine themselves through the apostolic meaning of Scripture.

38.  Rome cannot stop the predestinarian God of the Scriptures for He will save all of His own no matter what through the spiritual application of God's Spirit in divine regeneration by the power of God's Word without human merit (Jn 3ff; Tit 3:5) but Christ alone (see Phil 3:9; Gal 2:20).

39.  Those who do not know the Lord should not seek to know Him in anyway but through the written Word.

40.  The clearness of the written Word speaks of the works of God for Israel not personal insight or spiritual ignorance.   I suggest to you that the papal authority is a group of persons who do not know the Lord like in Judges 2.   There also serious biblical and historical doubt on their methodology of viewing papal succession.   For example, Clement of Rome never believes in a "bishop of bishops."  Rather he believed in the "equal plurality" of the ruling eldership.  Are we really to believe that he was a Papist?  He also referred to the gospel through the work of Christ alone not any additions!  He was an incognito Reformer before his time. 

By grace I'm saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Hath Scripture ever falsehood taught?
Nay; then this word must true remain:
By grace thou, too, shalt heav'n obtain.
By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
Our works and conduct have no worth.
God in his love sent our Redeemer,
Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone,
And we are saved by grace alone.
By grace! O, mark this word of promise
When thou art by thy sins oppressed,
When Satan plagues thy troubled conscience,
And when thy heart is seeking rest.
What reason cannot comprehend
God by his grace to thee doth send.
By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
So long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
What in his Word our God commands,
What our whole faith must rest upon,
Is grace alone, grace in his Son. (TH, 399).