Miracles and Idolatry

In 1 Thessalonians St. Paul writes that the Gospel came to the Thessalonians through Paul not only in word, but "also in power." Some scholars have said that this is likely a testament to the fact that Paul performed miracles to act as a motive of credibility for Paul's preaching. The conversion of the pagans didn't just come through Paul saying, "The scriptures have been fulfilled," but through Paul performing miracles.
Check out this video with Dr. Brant Pitre on miracles and the idolatry that the Thessalonians turned from after their conversion.
To learn more about this reading from Paul, and the connection between the readings at Mass, subscribe today to The Mass Readings Explained:
catholicproduc...
For more Bible studies by Dr. Pitre, visit:
catholicproduc...
Images used:
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
unsplash.com/p...
unsplash.com/p...

[@sunilpereira4683]

love to listen to here

[@jerispencer8551]

Lord, may You demonstrate Your supernatural Reality through Your children to open the eyes and ears of all those You have chosen. May we obey Your Holy Spirit within us to live in faith, hope and love. Amen. 💛🙏🙏🙏💛

[@CARS63]

What a cliffhanger 😳.... 😊Thank you, Dr. Pitre. I hope you have a beautiful Sunday 🙏

[@idangnasagac7983]

Thank you very much Dr Brant Pitre,,, GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY BE WITH US ALWAYS!,, 🙏❤️🙏

[@christophermalli9983]

Thank you . You have taught me quit a lot.

[@reemsuekar8112]

Miracles happen everyday, we need to put on Jesus glasses. For example, sleeping is a death, waking up a resurrection, that’s a Miracle, man dies and rises daily with Christ. thanks Dr Brant.

[@reemsuekar8112]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKHHeIewh72ebJY

[@user-fb2jb3gz1d]

WHAT Where's the rest? As Catholics, who always get scolded for "idolatry", why would you cut off the video on such an important part Can you please make a part 2 and finish what you started?

[@arnoldmaglalang5522]

If Catholics being accused of idolatry then we can ask them which idol god are they talking about?

[@user-fb2jb3gz1d]

@@arnoldmaglalang5522 I hadn't thought of that. That's a good response

[@paxvobiscum9859]

The video was cut short?

[@bang5146]

$14/month for a complete access to truth

[@fieldsofomagh]

No need to leave the Lord's message unfinished.

[@marla4ever92]

Video not finished. Where is the continuation??

[@eugene-leveque]

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗚♰𝗕𝗨 𝗮𝗹𝗹. 🙏🏻🕯💕🇻🇦

[@arnoldmaglalang5522]

Paul was also asked to preach in Rome after Peter and Paul performed miracles using aprons and hankerchief to cast out evil spirits

[@titaniumsteel9114]

Images and Statues, Relics & Holy Water I. Images and Statues Deut. 4:15 - from this verse, Protestants say that since we saw “no form” of the Lord, we should not make graven images of Him. Deut. 4:16 - of course, in early history Israel was forbidden to make images of God because God didn’t yet reveal himself visibly “in the form of any figure.” Deut. 4:17-19 - hence, had the Israelites depicted God not yet revealed, they might be tempted to worship Him in the form of a beast, bird, reptile or fish, which was a common error of the times. Exodus 3:2-3; Dan 7:9; Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Acts 2:3- later on, however, we see that God did reveal himself in visible form (as a dove, fire, etc). Deut. 5:8 - God’s commandment “thou shall not make a graven image” is entirely connected to the worship of false gods. God does not prohibit images to be used in worship, but He prohibits the images themselves to be worshiped. Exodus 25:18-22; 26:1,31 - for example, God commands the making of the image of a golden cherubim. This heavenly image, of course, is not worshiped by the Israelites. Instead, the image disposes their minds to the supernatural and draws them to God. Num. 21:8-9 - God also commands the making of the bronze serpent. The image of the bronze serpent is not an idol to be worshiped, but an article that lifts the mind to the supernatural. I Kings 6:23-36; 7:27-39; 8:6-67 - Solomon’s temple contains statues of cherubim and images of cherubim, oxen and lions. God did not condemn these images that were used in worship. 2 Kings 18:4 - it was only when the people began to worship the statue did they incur God’s wrath, and the king destroyed it. The command prohibiting the use of graven images deals exclusively with the false worship of those images. 1 Chron. 28:18-19 - David gives Solomon the plan for the altar made of refined gold with a golden cherubim images. These images were used in the Jews’ most solemn place of worship. 2 Chron. 3:7-14 - the house was lined with gold with elaborate cherubim carved in wood and overlaid with gold. Ezek. 41:15 - Ezekiel describes graven images in the temple consisting of carved likenesses of cherubim. These are similar to the images of the angels and saints in many Catholic churches. Col. 1:15 - the only image of God that Catholics worship is Jesus Christ, who is the “image” (Greek “eikon”) of the invisible God. II. Relics Mark 15:43; John 19:38 - Joseph of Arimathea sought Christ’s dead body instead of leaving it with the Romans. Joseph gave veneration to our Lord’s body. Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1 - the women came to further anoint Christ’s body even though it had been sealed in the tomb. John 19:39 - Nicodemus donated over one hundred pounds of spices to wrap in Jesus’ grave clothes. This is also veneration of our Lord’s body. Matt. 9:21; Mark 5:28 - the woman with the hemorrhage just sought the hem of Christ’s cloak and was cured. This shows that God uses physical things to effect the supernatural. Acts 19:11-12 - Paul’s handkerchiefs healed the sick and those with unclean spirits. This is another example of physical things effecting physical and spiritual cures. Acts 5:15 - Peter’s shadow healed the sick. This proves that relics of the saints have supernatural healing power, and this belief has been a part of Catholic tradition for 2,000 years. Rev. 6:9 - the souls of the martyrs are seen beneath the heavenly altar. Their bones are often placed beneath altars in Catholic churches around the world. 2 Kings 13:21 - Elisha’s bones bring a man back to life. The saints’ bones are often kept beneath the altars of Catholic churches and have brought about supernatural cures throughout the Christian age. Rom. 13:7; Phil. 2:25-29; Heb. 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:7 - we are taught to honor the people of God and in 1 Cor. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:1-2; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:7; Heb. 6:12; Heb. 13:7; James 5:10-11 - we are reminded to imitate them. Keeping relics of the saints serves both to honor and imitate their heroic faith in Christ (just as keeping articles of deceased loved ones helps us honor and imitate them). III. Holy Water Ex. 29:4; Lev. 8:6 - Aaron and his sons were washed in holy water in their consecration to the priesthood. Thus, we see the use of holy water during the beginning of salvation history. Ex. 30:18-19 - the Lord requires Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet in holy water before they offered sacrifices to Him. The Church uses holy water for various purposes, and holy water fonts are generally located at the entrance of Catholic churches to be used before the sacrifice of Christ is offered to the Father. Num. 5:17 - here again, the priest uses holy water. God uses natural matter to convey the supernatural, just as God who is Spirit became flesh in Christ Jesus. Num. 8:7 - the Lord says to “sprinkle them with the water of remission.” The Lord uses water, a physical property, to convey His supernatural property of grace. 1 Kings 7:38-39 - in King Solomon’s temple, there were ten large basins of holy water. Holy water has always been used in the context of worship. John 9:6-7 - Jesus uses clay and spittle to heal the blind man’s eyes, and ordered him to wash in the pool of Siloam to effect the cure. Jesus did not need to use spittle, clay and water, but He does to demonstrate that God uses the material things He created to give graces and heal us. John 13:4-10 - the Lord uses water to wash the apostles’ feet to prepare them for their sacramental priesthood. John 19:34 - water and blood flowed from Jesus’ pierced side on the Cross. The Church uses holy water as a symbol of our Lord’s life giving water that flowed from His sacred Heart, and as the property which brings about the power of Jesus Christ Himself, in baptism, the Eucharist, and other sacred rites of the Church.

[@stephenler3850]

Oh Dear ....what happen to the part about idolatry ?

[@brianmelville520]

22MAR2024. Amen

[@w.maximilliandejohnsonbour725]

Idolatry >>> Greek ( eidolon ) originally meant "image" or "fantasy." By the time of the Septuagint the term was used for images of gods. "Idolatry" is literally "image worship." To grasp the character of image worship in biblical literature one must first realize that the Bible describes the worship of all "strange gods" as idolatry, or the worship of "wood and stone." In addition, one must distinguish the biblical polemics against these gods from the opposition to the use of certain images in the service of Yahweh. At times the use of these images is equated with the service of other gods. It should also be borne in mind that there is no necessary connection between aniconism (opposition to images) and monotheism. On the one hand, a monotheistic religion, Roman Catholicism for example, can make use of images. On the other hand, there is evidence of aniconism in polytheistic religions among Israel's neighbors in biblical times (Mettinger). More about this at this website >>>

[@tonyhayes9827]

Maybe in the past miracles converted people and maybe they would today or maybe they wouldn't. Either way God doesn't seem to want to perform them anymore. Yes I know you have to seek God and believe in Him first but the Greeks weren't seeking and they certainly weren't believing but miracles were performed for them anyway. It's a mystery to me but I leave it in God's hands as always.

[@killianmiller6107]

In one sense, this is a very secular age. Many of us simply wouldn’t believe it if a miracle happened right before our eyes. We’d much sooner believe it was just luck or even a hallucination or something. I mean, regarding our daily miracle where the host becomes Jesus’s body and blood, soul and divinity, only 30% of US Catholics say they believe that. So in that sense, miracles actually do happen all the time, but many simply don’t believe it. Miracles still happen to this day and all throughout history; while it is unlikely that we will have those epic miracles like those in the OT, we do have instances of babies being revived by Padre Pio, and the recent beatification of Carlo Acutis involved a miracle with a Brazilian boy who’s birth defect was cured.

[@tonyhayes9827]

@@killianmiller6107 Yeah I know........but that's all hearsay. If I'm ignorant I need an apostle to walk into my life and perform a miracle right in front of my eyes not to tell me about some miraculous event that happened somewhere else. It's O.K I am feeling like one of the Pharisee's who asked Christ for a miracle and Christ refused them. And yet when John the Baptist's followers asked Jesus if He was the Messiah Jesus said Go and tell John of the miracles I have done. I just find it hard to fathom the mystery of, `believe first,' on the one hand and `believe because of the miracles you have seen,' on the other hand. There is the idea that miracles are produced for those who are already of good disposition to receive Christ and the word and I agree with this too.

[@TheNarrowGate101]

tony hayes .... you are miss reading scripture. Jesus said that to John the Baptist followers to let John know that HE WAS FULFILLING OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY that the MESSIAH would give sight to the blind, cure the leper, the deaf, and raise the dead. These would indicate to John that He was the one John was waiting for. Further more, the Bible itself says that the actual purpose of signs and wonders are FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE: 1Co_14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. Joh_6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Mar_13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. My suggestion to you is to pray for FAITH not miracles .

[@tonyhayes9827]

@@TheNarrowGate101 This is a really interesting answer and I have indeed miss-read scripture. Thank you golden arrow. I guess I was surprised when the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign and He refused them. Could a case also be made for them as non believers who should have been given signs? My thinking is they should have been believers because they knew scripture but were obstinate in their disbelief? And my other issue is why does not God perform these miracles before those people who don't believe today? Wouldn't that make missionary work easier. As I write this I also realize despite the great miracles the apostles performed (In Jesus'' name of course) they were all killed for their beliefs. And as I write this I remember the martyrs who Emperors tried to kill but who miraculously survived the first attempts on their lives. St. Haralambos comes to mind. So I guess many don't believe even in the face of miracles. Yes I know I must pray for faith and not miracles but the point of Jesus telling John was that people had faith because of the miracles Jesus performed, like the blind man of the gospels.

[@TheNarrowGate101]

tony hayes ... some people are given signs and some are not according to God’s purposes: Jeremiah 17:10 10 "I the LORD search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." In Exodus, God performed many miracles for the Israelites. They witnessed the power of God over and over again in spectacular fashion and yet they still turned away from God: Exodus 32:9 9 And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people; The Pharisees were also a stiffed necked people. They witnessed Jesus cure the blind man who spent his life at the temple as a beggar. The Pharisees would have known him well and yet they dismissed his healing as fraud. They saw and heard of all that Jesus was doing but they were filled with envy. Matthew 27:18 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. The apostles all suffered martyrdom because they were given the honor of dying like their Lord. Matthew 16:24-25 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Some saints suffered martyrdom for the same reason. Their deaths glorify God because of their love, they remained faithful to God to the point of death. God is also glorified in the lives of the saints where He miraculously saves them from death at the hands of evil men. Romans 8:28 28. And we know that to them that love God all things work together unto good: to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints. We must humble ourselves before God and Trust that He know more than we do. And remember Tony: John 20:24-29 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." God Bless You.

[@meroneadawson6847]

The Gospels is latin for Good spells

[@janecaws4070]

Good news, Good speach.

[@meroneadawson6847]

Thx

[@74soll]

Francis should watch this.