Debated Verses · 61 interactive labs
Debated Verses
Interactive labs on the Bible passages most often raised in Catholic–Protestant conversations. Let the text speak, then see how the whole of Scripture fits together.
- Read the passageA short RSV-CE excerpt, with a link to the full chapter.
- Choose a readingPick the interpretation that best fits what the text actually says.
- Test itWeigh your choice against the verses on the other side of the debate.
Scripture, Tradition & Church Authority
The passages raised most often about the Bible alone, apostolic tradition, and the Church’s authority to teach.
Focused labs 3 labs
One question at a time
6versesScripture Is Inspired — Is It the Only Authority?6 debated passages on Scripture, apostolic Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church.6versesThe Apostolic Deposit: Heard, Received, Entrusted6 debated passages on Scripture, apostolic Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church.7versesThe Church and Binding Teaching Authority7 debated passages on Scripture, apostolic Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church.
The Real Presence
Is the Eucharist truly Christ’s Body and Blood, or a symbol? Work through John 6, the Last Supper, Paul, and the Old Testament background.
The biblical case 5 labs
What the texts say about Christ’s Body and Blood
7versesJohn 6: My Flesh Is Food IndeedSeven core John 6 passages on Christ’s flesh and blood as life-giving food and drink.7versesThis Is My Body: The Institution NarrativesSeven passages on “This is my body,” covenant blood, remembrance, and the metaphor objection.7versesPaul on Communion in the Body and BloodSeven Pauline passages on communion, altar participation, the Lord’s table, proclamation, and discerning the body.7versesPassover, Manna, and Eucharistic TypologySeven passages connecting the Eucharist with Passover, manna, the Lamb of God, and Melchizedek.7versesThe Mass and the One Sacrifice of ChristSeven passages on the Eucharistic sacrifice, Christian altar, memorial, and Christ’s single once-for-all offering.
The objections 2 labs
Passages read as symbol or figure of speech
7versesBreaking Bread and Figurative LanguageSeven passages testing the meaning of breaking bread, visible presence, faith without sight, and figurative language.AaJohn 6: Faith, Spirit, and the Meaning of EatingSeven central objections and interpretive hinges in John 6, including faith, John 6:63, unbelief, and the Greek eating language.
Peter & the Papacy
Did Christ give Peter a unique role among the apostles? Test the Gospel texts, Peter’s place in Acts, and the main objections.
The biblical case 4 labs
Peter’s role in the Gospels and Acts
7versesPeter, the Rock, and the KeysSeven central passages on Peter’s confession, the rock, the keys of the kingdom, Isaiah 22, and the authority to bind and loose.7versesPeter’s Unique CommissionSeven passages on Christ’s personal commission to Peter, his place among the Twelve, and the difference between primacy and personal perfection.7versesPeter in the Wider Apostolic PatternSeven additional Petrine passages on representative confession, Resurrection prominence, Spirit-led witness, missionary leadership, accountability, and differentiated apostolic missions.7versesPeter Leads the Apostolic ChurchSeven passages tracing Peter’s prominent role from the Resurrection through Pentecost, healing, judgment, Samaria, and the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles.
The objections 3 labs
Christ the foundation, Acts 15, and the other apostles
7versesDoes Peter Replace Christ?Seven passages on Christ as foundation, cornerstone, and head; Peter as a living stone and fellow elder; and the servant character of ecclesial primacy.7versesActs 15 and the Question of Who LeadsSeven debated passages on Peter, James, Paul, and the Jerusalem Church, including the central Acts 15 battleground.7versesPeter’s Primacy and the Authority of All the ApostlesSeven passages showing the real authority of the whole apostolic college and testing whether shared authority excludes Peter’s primacy.
Mary
Mother of God, Immaculate Conception, perpetual virginity, Assumption, and her place in God’s plan, tested against the passages raised in debate.
Who Mary is 4 labs
The Marian doctrines
7versesMary, Mother of God: What Does Scripture Say?Seven debated passages on mary, mother of god: what does scripture say?.7versesImmaculate Conception: Full of Grace?Seven debated passages on immaculate conception: full of grace?.7versesPerpetual Virginity: Until, Firstborn, and the Brothers of JesusSeven debated passages on perpetual virginity: until, firstborn, and the brothers of jesus.7versesAssumption: The Ark and the Woman in HeavenSeven debated passages on assumption: the ark and the woman in heaven.
Mary’s role 4 labs
Typology, honor, and intercession
7versesMary in the Biblical Story: New Eve, Ark, and MotherSeven debated passages on mary in the biblical story: new eve, ark, and mother.7versesQueenship, Veneration, and WorshipSeven debated passages on queenship, veneration, and worship.7versesOne Mediator: Can Mary Intercede?Seven debated passages on one mediator: can mary intercede?.7versesAdditional Marian Battlegrounds: Discipleship, Intercession, and TypologySeven debated passages on additional marian battlegrounds: discipleship, intercession, and typology.
Purgatory
Final purification, prayer for the dead, and the holiness of heaven, weighed against the objection that the Cross leaves nothing to purify.
The biblical case 4 labs
Purification, the age to come, and prayer for the dead
7versesPurifying Fire and the Holiness of HeavenSeven passages on purifying fire, perfected souls, and the requirement that nothing unclean enter heaven.7versesForgiveness in the Age to Come and the Need for HolinessSeven passages on forgiveness, temporary debt imagery, holiness, justification, and purification after death.7versesPrayer for the Dead, Judgment, and the CanonSeven central passages on prayer for the dead, judgment after death, the Catholic canon, and immediate communion with Christ.7versesThe Intermediate State: With Christ, Yet Awaiting FulfillmentSeven passages on the conscious intermediate state between bodily death and the final resurrection.
The objections 2 labs
The finished work of Christ and full forgiveness
AaThe Cross Is Finished: Does That Exclude Purgatory?Seven major objections arguing that Christ’s finished sacrifice, forgiveness, and cleansing make purgatory unnecessary.7versesGrace, Forgiveness, and Final PurificationSeven passages on grace and complete forgiveness, testing whether final purification competes with justification.
Salvation & Perseverance
Scripture gives Christians real assurance and real warnings. Work through both sets of passages and see how the Catholic reading keeps them together.
Assurance 5 labs
God is faithful and keeps his promises
7versesEternal Life in JohnEvaluate seven RSV-CE assurance passages from John on belief, eternal life, resurrection, and Christ’s saving promises.7versesChrist Keeps His OwnEvaluate seven RSV-CE assurance passages on Christ’s protection, God’s love, present life in Christ, and the security of his sheep.8versesAbiding and PreservedEvaluate eight RSV-CE assurance passages on abiding in God, present assurance of eternal life, divine protection, and perseverance.8versesGuarded and Perfected in ChristEvaluate eight RSV-CE assurance passages on Christ’s priesthood, the perfection of his sacrifice, new birth, and God’s guarding grace.7versesSealed, Strengthened, and FaithfulEvaluate seven RSV-CE assurance passages on the Spirit’s seal, God’s faithfulness, sufficient grace, and confidence in divine preservation.
Warnings 6 labs
The call to remain in Christ and persevere
7versesFruit, Abiding, and StandingEvaluate seven RSV-CE warning passages about bearing fruit, abiding in Christ, standing by faith, and the danger of falling.7versesInheritance, Faith, and ShipwreckEvaluate seven RSV-CE warning passages about inheriting the kingdom, continuing in faith, apostasy, and shipwreck of faith.7versesHebrews and the Need to PersevereEvaluate seven major RSV-CE warning passages from Hebrews on falling away, endurance, deliberate sin, holiness, and perseverance.7versesRighteousness and EnduranceEvaluate seven RSV-CE warning passages about righteousness, judgment, endurance, and the necessity of persevering in grace.7versesPeter and RevelationEvaluate seven RSV-CE warning passages from James, Peter, and Revelation on wandering, falling, repentance, and final perseverance.7versesHold Fast: Seven Direct Perseverance WarningsSeven especially direct warning passages on denial, fleshly living, inheritance, drifting, endurance, and holding fast.
Faith & Works
The passages quoted for “faith alone” and the passages on obedience, love, and judgment. Work through both, then see where Paul and James meet.
Faith 5 labs
Saved by grace, not earned
7versesBelieve and Have LifeSeven Johannine passages commonly used to argue that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.7versesSaved by Grace Through FaithSeven passages on grace, faith, belief, and justification from John, Acts, Romans, Peter, and Peter’s call to holy judgment.7versesPaul on Faith and JustificationSeven Pauline passages frequently used to defend justification by faith apart from works.7versesGrace Is Not EarnedSeven passages emphasizing grace, faith, Christ’s righteousness, and the rejection of salvation as a human achievement.7versesFaith, Assurance, and ObedienceSeven passages that place strong faith and assurance texts beside Jesus’ teaching on visible obedience and accountability.
Works 6 labs
Faith that obeys, loves, and is judged by its fruit
7versesJesus on Doing the Father’s WillSeven Gospel passages in which Jesus joins discipleship, obedience, baptism, deeds, and final judgment.7versesJudgment, Love, and ObedienceSeven passages connecting love, obedience, works, and judgment without treating works as independent of grace.7versesFaith Working Through LoveSeven passages showing the Christian life as grace-enabled faith expressed through love, obedience, perseverance, and good works.7versesZealous for Good WorksSeven passages in which apostolic teaching treats good works as necessary fruits of grace and meaningful at judgment.7versesGrace, Faith, and the Obedience of the ChristianSeven passages that sharpen the distinction between unearned justification and the grace-enabled obedience of Christian life.7versesWorks at the Final JudgmentSeven late-New-Testament passages on righteousness, love in deed, completed works, and judgment according to what a person has done.
Where Paul and James meet
Mortal & Venial Sin
Are all sins equal? Weigh the passages Scripture gives on sin that leads to death and sin that does not, then test the verses used to say every sin is the same.
The biblical case 4 labs
Scripture distinguishes the gravity of sin
7versesMortal and Venial Sin: The Biblical DistinctionSeven central passages on sin that brings death, sin that does not bring death, and the loss or restoration of spiritual life.7versesForgiveness, Culpability, and Degrees of SinSeven passages on forgiveness, slavery to sin, differing culpability, serious neglect, and distinctions in judgment.7versesSins That Exclude from the KingdomSeven passages identifying patterns of grave sin that exclude from God’s kingdom or lead to destruction.7versesGrave Sin, Apostasy, and Spiritual DeathSeven passages on unforgivable sin, deliberate apostasy, returning to corruption, and warnings of consequences worse than bodily suffering.
The objections 2 labs
Passages used to say every sin is equal
5versesDoes Scripture Flatten Every Sin?Five passages often used against distinctions of gravity, examined alongside Scripture’s explicit differences in consequence and culpability.7versesDoes One Sin Make Us Guilty of All?Seven passages often used to argue that every sin is equally condemning, examined in their biblical context.
Use these labs with a class, a Bible study, or one-on-one conversations. More topics will be added here. See also all the In Class Catechesis Tools.