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Life's biggest questions,
answered by the Bible.

The Pope, Part 2

What does the Bible say about the Pope, celibacy, and calling leaders “father”? Discover how Scripture contrasts with Catholic traditions.

The Pope, Part 2

August 29, 2025
Can someone else forgive sins? What about other common religious teachings? Let's dive into the Bible and see what it actually says.
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There's a bunch of things I've always struggled to kind of get my head around when you're looking at the role of Pope and the teachings of some of the world's most popular, just massive, religions.

Like, in Matthew 23 verse 9, God says “Do not call anyone on earth your father, for one, is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Now God’s not talking about our physical dads, but referring to a religious leader as father. Apparently He's got a big problem with that, and in some religions that happens all the time. But what about in Paul's first letter to Timothy, where forbidding to marry is referenced as a doctrine of demons?

Again, one particular religion certainly encourages their church leadership to take a vow of celibacy and discourages marriage. But, back to the Pope, where does God say in the Bible to put a guy in place of the role of Jesus Christ, or to put someone in a position to mediate between us and God, or someone to forgive our sins who isn't God and who also has sin?

Jesus Christ’s sacrifice paid the penalty for our sins, and opened the door granting access to our Father in heaven. Peace was made between us and God the Father. The physical veil was literally torn in two, breaking down that middle wall of separation, and through Christ we have access by one Spirit to the Father.

In Colossians chapter 1, God describes how it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and how we who were once alienated and enemies of God, now have this awesome access to our Father, but only if we continue in the faith. We’re meant to stay locked in rock solid, right? Holding fast to God's teachings. It was God the Father's greatest desire to share all things with us.

And once we're finally given access to Him somehow someone else is trying to come in between us. We can't replace this access to God by going to another human being and hoping they take care of it for us. And it definitely doesn't say to go and ask forgiveness from a man who somehow sits in the place of God.

The Bible doesn’t say that! Our sins are against God, and only He can grant forgiveness. There are many elements of Catholic church teachings like praying to saints, Sunday worship, holidays like Easter and Christmas, that don't match what the Bible actually says. Jesus and the apostles kept the Sabbath day and Biblical Holy Days. Peter was married. And Jesus warned in Matthew chapter 24 that many would come in His name, using His name, saying they were the Christ and would deceive many.

Does the Pope use the name of Jesus Christ in an attempt to serve in His place? Has our Father in heaven given that authority to someone besides His only begotten Son? That is a bold claim.  Definitely something to study; definitely something to think about.

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