Is the veneration of created objects such as images, statues, and relics a biblical practice? Can we trace it back to the Apostles? Do Catholics worship images, statues, and relics? In today's episode, the inaugural installment of our series defending the veneration of sacred objects and artwork in worship, we delve into Catholic teaching on the veneration of images by examining primary sources, including the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

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On the inaugural episode of the Philanthropos Media podcast, Jack is joined by Fr. Peyton Plessala and Ryan D. to discuss the contrast between the political philosophy of liberalism and Christianity by critiquing the "father of liberalism" and the most influential figure in America's founding, the English Protestant philosopher John Locke (c. 1632-1704).

Check out Fr. Peyton's podcast Epiphany.

Buy "Why Liberalism Failed" by Patrick Deneen

Read John Locke's "Two Treatises on Government"

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Who are the "brothers of the Lord" mentioned in Matthew 13:55? In today's video, Nico joins the podcast again to show that the "brothers" of Jesus were not actually his biological siblings.

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Join the WIT team as we explore the biblical roots of baptizing infants, grounded in the connection between Baptism being the New Circumcision of the New Covenant. Get your exegetical hats on: we're going deep!

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In this episode of the pod, Jack and Nico discuss significant biblical passages on baptism to show that the "reformed" doctrine that baptism is "just a symbol of salvation already received through faith" is not found in Scripture. Instead, a careful textual analysis of the New Testament's baptismal references reveals that baptism SAVES us by truly washing away our sins and giving the gift of the Holy Spirit. You won't want to miss this in-depth dive!

Follow the Podcast Instagram page: @WhatIsTruthPod
Check out Nico's TikTok @TheArmchairExegete

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Today, on this SHORTER episode of the show, Nico lays out the cumulative case for why Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant according to Scripture. This episode was originally made for the WIT Instagram @WhatIsTruthPod and Nico's TikTok @TheArmchairExegete as two separate posts. It was later combined into a full-length version for our Podcast youtube channel @PhilanthroposMedia. If you would like to experience this video with VISUALS of the concepts mentioned and Scripture verses in their full glory, go to any of those social media sites and SHARE this beautiful, bite-sized, and *biblical* witness to the Mother of God's role in our faith as Christians.

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Don't Statues of Saints violate the "2nd Commandment" against GRAVEN IMAGES? How can Catholics justify BOWING and OFFERING INCENSE to the statues/icons of saints? Shouldn't all glory go to GOD and not SAINTS? Aren't these IDOLS?

Today on the Pod, the Armchair Exegete (Nico) fleshes out the biblical theology behind making images/statues/icons of saints and giving forms of honor to them. Surprisingly, the answer is deeply rooted in Israel's use of images in Temple Worship and the consequences of theosis ('becoming more like God') that enables a saint in Heaven to become a reflection of God that can be honored liturgically in a way that glorifies God. Hope you enjoy!

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What are saints? Should we pray to them? Do they have a role to play with our prayers? Does praying to saints violate the 1st Commandment? Can we honor the saints? Isn't Jesus the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5)?

In this standalone special episode of What Is Truth, Nico's breaks down some the KEY places in the Bible that support the doctrine that we can and should pray to and honor the holy saints (and that THE SAINTS can and do pray for us in HEAVEN)! Armed with Scripture, you can drop kick all the bad arguments against the saints that are floating around social media these days.

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Bible Verses Discussed:

Praying to the Saints / Saints Praying for us in Heaven:

Revelations 8:3-4 Angels mediating our prayers with God
Revelation 5:8 Angels + Humans in Heaven mediate our prayers with Jesus
Sirach 48:1-14 Sacred Author of Sirach prays to St. Elijah the Prophet and speaks of his mediating role before God and intercessory role to "restore" the tribes of Jacob.
Matthew 27:46-49
The crowds at Jesus' crucifixion think Christ is "calling on" the Prophet Saint Elijah to "rescue" Him.
2 Maccabees 15:12-14 High Priest Saint Onias and the Prophet Saint Jeremiah seen in a vision praying and interceding for Israel and Jerusalem from Heaven.
Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus speaks to (and Peter, James, and John commune with) Prophets Saint Moses and Saint Elijah on Mt. Tabor from earth.
Matthew 22:23-33 Saints Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not "dead" but alive to God.
Luke 16:19-31 Jesus teaches a parable set in the afterlife to his disciples featuring a character who prays to St. Abraham to be released to have his punishment reduced.

Jesus the Mediator between God and Man Compatible with Approaching Saints:

1 Timothy 2:5 Jesus is the one mediator between God and man who gave Himself as a ransom for all, therefore we must be intercessors with our prayers.
Hebrews 12:22-24 Jesus the "mediator" is placed alongside many the other entities (including the saints) to whom a believer "approaches" when they come to salvation.

Honoring the Saints with Bowing/Prostrating and/or Giving Incense [It's Not Worship]:

Ruth 2:10
1 Kings 1:15-16
1 Kings 1:23
1 Kings 2:19-20
2 Kings 2:15
2 Kings 4:36-37
1 Chronicles 29:20
Daniel 2:46

What is done to the Saints flows back to God:

Matthew 25:40 "What you did for the least of these, you did it to me."
Acts 9:3-5 "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."
1 Corinthians 12: 26-27 "...if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. "

The power of the Saints in Heaven:

2 Peter 1:1-4 The Saints are "partakers of the divine nature."
1 Corinthians 2:9 "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor it entered the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him."
1 John 3:1-2 "... what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

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