I will reference 3 verses to this question.
1) Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17
Just the fact that we are using the scriptures to tell us where we can find truth is an affirmation of this reference, Your word is truth.
2) Jesus said to him, ” I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
Jesus is the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. Sent by the Father for the redemption of mankind. He is 100% God and 100% man. Well wait a minute, Jesus being 100% God and 100% man is not in the Bible (we’ll get to this in a minute). We are told in scripture that Jesus was born of a virgin, her name was Mary and she was engaged to a man named Joseph. She was told by the angel,“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1:35
So scripture states that God’s word is truth. Jesus is God’s Son and He is truth. This leads us to our third reference.
3) But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. 1 Tim. 3:15
The church is “the pillar and foundation of truth.” I had never read that verse before! I can’t tell you how many times I had read 1 Timothy and had never seen that verse! What could this mean? Well we need to step back, turn to Matthew.
And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 16:18-19
The church has been given authority by Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself, the Truth Himself.
Here are a few examples of the Church’s authority:
A.D. 49-50: The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) combated the heresy that Gentile converts had to observe the Mosaic Law completely.
A.D. 196: The Easter controversy, which day to celebrate the Resurrection, Sunday ,or linking it with the Jewish Passover regardless of the day of the week.
A.D. 325: Council of Nicaea; responds to numerous heresies, condemned Arianism which claimed Jesus Christ was a created being and not God by nature. Developed the Nicene Creed- a clear definition of the Trinity.
A.D. 367+: The Canon of the New Testament slowly collected and confirmed. Books recognized as authoritative by the Council of Carthage.
A.D. 381: Council of Constantinople 1 finalizes the Nicene Creed and condemns heresies concerning the Holy Spirit.
A.D. 431: Council of Ephesus condemns Nestorianism which taught that there were two distinct Persons in Jesus Christ and Mary was the mother of the human part only, therefore, some of Jesus’ actions were human and some divine. (Remember reference #2). Condemned Pelagianism which claimed man could attain salvation by works. The Council defines Mary, Jesus’ mother, as Theotokos,“bearer of God” to show that Jesus has one nature that is fully human and fully divine.
So Jesus, through God the Father and the Power of the Holy Spirit, guides the Church in teaching and authority. The Church was led by the Holy Spirit in the development of the dogma (doctrine) of the Incarnation, of the Holy Trinity and, the Holy Spirit even led the Church, in gathering the collection of letters and gospels that make up the New Testament.
Let us ponder one last thought: If Jesus is the fullness of Deity (Col.1:19), why would the Church He founded, be devoid of the fullness of truth?
Amen.
a word on The Word 
I also share your opinion , and seek truth ,do you know that over 600 years before JESUS was sacrificed, the Arch of the Covernment was hidden 6 meters below his cross, and when he died from a broken heart ,GOD split the bedrock opening a crack ,so when the roman guard speared his spleen his blood and water poord out down the cross into the crack ,then down the 6 meters and then rested apon the Arch/mercy seat ,where it remains to this day?
You think the Church is a human institution? Jesus said that He would build His Church upon the rock of Peter, so clearly it isn’t merely a human institution, but a human and Divine institution.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.
Those who beleive the Catholic church is the only church are as errogant as the Pharises and they helped crusify Christ. The church refers to all beleivers not a physical stucture. Julie
To put your trust in any human institution is truly a dangerous, wreckless act considering how we pervert everything good we get our hands on. The Word of God is what He has given us to reveal Himself to us, teach us how to worship Him, love Him and others. No institution will do that with pure motives. We search for churches that seek to teach the truth as honestly and unencumbered by human interpretations as possible, but ultimately we are each, as individuals, responsible for our own relationship with our Father and Savior and our quest for truth “The truth does set us free”. .The church is a body of people who, together, struggle daily against the world to know God more deeply and serve Him better.
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father accept through me”
God has made it clear that we can do NOTHING to deserve His favor- which is a truly beautiful concept to me and one that I cherish because I couldn’t make the grade to get in.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, lest any man boast.”
This simple idea, also, places God in His rightful position- sovereign over all things, even my salvation.
Thanks for giving us opportunities to think through important things.
AMEN, CARLOS!
Sorry Buddy but that is not what the Bible Teaches… One God, One Church, One Truth…. Not Many Churches…
AMEN, KADIUS!
Why is so important that Catholics teach that they were the first church. It is impractical to state much less waste the time and effort to prove.
The first church did not call itself a name but rather went by the place where it was located. From those humble and missed placed beginnings we have had many “Churches” arrive and many go.
Furthermore, the practices of the Catholic Church, its structure and deeds are preached against by the very elect Saints themselves, one of which considered himself least among men. It is structured very much like those who were preached against, the Pharisees and Sadducees are a lesson to be learned from for all days.
The first church was a people gathered in agreeance with the Saviour himself, his teachings and those who followed him. The fact is any denomination that’s states that are the only ones going to heaven should be looked at in a highly suspect manner. For even the very elect have lost their way and now tremble day and night. God calls for all to be Holy, those are the ones He is sending his Son to return for.
Rebekah – If you happen to read this, remember this, it is by faith we are saved, by faith along with works we remain saved and by grace if we fail, we can be forgiven. No middle man, no priest of any kind, save the High Priest, which is Christ has the ability to forgive you of the sin we commit against God. You must do so, on your own, and you do not have to box yourself up to do so. He listens all the time, 24/7/365!
We are the church, the body of believers and we are also the first and only true church, no specific name, no Vatican required.
Kadius – KDS Chronicles
Thank you, Tony.
good article thank you
Rebekah, thanks for your comment and expressing your heart.
I was not brought up in the Catholic Church, and I, like you, set out on my “quest for truth” about 5 years ago now.
I started in Judaism, from which Christianity came. I noticed so many similarities between the Jewish faith and Catholicism that I felt it must be investigated.
You said;” History is one thing….the word of God is another thing altogether. If there is one thing that you can regard as truth, without the corruption or influence of man, it’s the Bible. (I hope you would all agree!)”
I used to think that the two were separate, history and the word of God. But the Bible didn’t just fall out of the sky, God wrote it through men, for men and their salvation. He had men distinguish between the true and the false writings of the day (through the guidance of the Holy Spirit) to encourage us in ” faith and good works.” God has always, always worked through history, through mankind to reach mankind.
In the Old Covenant, He used Israel to proclaim His truth, in the New Covenant, He uses the (Catholic) Church. At least that’s where it started, being that the Catholic Church is the Apostolic Church,” Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,” Eph. 2:20.
You said;” Now I don’t have a problem with the (very) early Church, but I am currently struggling accepting the Catholic Church of today.” I think I know where you’re coming from on this one,(that the corruption of the Church, has made her impure?). We as human beings have this great ability to take what God gives us and really screw it up don’t we!? As I struggled with that, I found myself arguing with God about ME being Stronger than HIM. That we could so corrupt “His Church” to where we couldn’t use it any more, was a direct insult to His Power and Sovereignty.
Just a couple of things to think about. I’ll be praying for you and praying the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your life. Thank you so much for visiting, and please come back any time. You will always be welcome here.
Tim
I found this interesting as I am on a personal quest for truth. I’m 20 years old, the youngest of nine children, and have lived my life in a Catholic home, with parents who have completely devoted their lives to Jesus, AND the Church.
Throughout my teenage years I did not maintain the strong faith I had as a child, but I have recently come to accept and recognize that I need Jesus. (as well as everyone else!)
On the other hand…..I do not feel the same way about the Church.
History is one thing….the word of God is another thing altogether. If there is one thing that you can regard as truth, without the corruption or influence of man, it’s the Bible. (I hope you would all agree!)
Now I don’t have a problem with the (very) early Church, but I am currently struggling accepting the Catholic Church of today. Even with the Catechism as my primary source, the few verses from the Bible provided as evidence to support doctrine appear to me to be taken out of context, and leave me completely unsatisfied.
I’ve had a few discussions with my parents, and I plan on meeting with a priest at my parish to discuss some of my questions, but if any of you here had any ideas, or sources for me to check out, it would be greatly appreciated.
Right now I’m 99% sure that I cannot remain a part of the Catholic Church (much to my parents dismay.)
You can contact me at rebie_3@hotmail.com.
In Christ,
Rebekah
It’s a matter of being joined to the same Head, I think.
Is this one of those examples of “great minds thinking alike”? 🙂
That’s great!
Amen! I agree, and it’s funny you mentioned that, “[Catholicism] is NOT an either/or, but a both/and.” – I’d just posted the exact same kind of comment as a reply in my blog:
“The thing I keep discovering over and over again is that, by the virtue of being “Catholic” – meaning, “according to the whole” – truth is rarely either/or, but both or something else altogether transcendant. This doesn’t mean that the law of non-contradiction is ignored (a common mistake made by the let’s-all-be-inclusive-and-happy people), but because we are created to seek the truth and goodness, we almost inevitably latch onto some aspects of the truth (even though we may mix it with falsehoods).”
It’s not just the written word, but the oral: “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God” (I Thessalonians 2:13). This is because the Word is not a writing or even spoken words, but Christ himself; and the Church is chosen means of His presence – His Body – which He ordained from the beginning of time to be the light of the world, the city set on the hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).
Praise God for His revelation of Truth through the Church. Christ is the wise man who built His house on the rock (Luke 6:48); 2000 years of floods have not shaken it – “for it had been well built” – and the Gates of hell will not stand against it (Matthew 16:18). Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, Amen.
The great thing about the Catholic faith is that it is NOT an either/or, but a both/and. We do not deny the Bible, but instead of Bible only, the Bible works WITH the Church’s Magisterium (the teaching office).
Then some will say,” Well, I don’t follow a magisterium!” But everyone does, that is, everyone who sits in a pew on Sunday, and listens to a sermon. The pastor speaks from “his” magisterium, according to “his tradition”.
In the Catholic faith, everything started with Jesus, through Peter and the Apostles, not Luther and the reformers.
I read your post on this topic, and it was fantastic! Thanks for your input here.
But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. 1 Tim. 3:15
I’ve been contemplating this one a lot lately… As a Protestant, I would have assumed that the pillar and foundation of truth was the Bible… I love this passage and what is says to us as believers.
Yes. You are correct Jeff. It was a misreading on my notes, and therefore the mistake was made. It will be corrected pronto!
This is good. But the Council of Constantinople in 381 was called to clear up controversies surrounding the Holy Spirit, not Christ. Thus the phrases, “…the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, and with the Father and Son he is worshiped and glorified; he has spoken through the prophets.”