Changes

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 [[Saint Paul]] claims that he and the apostles entrusted by God with "the ministry of reconciliation" are [[ambassador]]s standing in the place of Jesus Christ, as if God himself was speaking through them. See [http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-20.htm multiple versions of 2 Corinthians 5:20].

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 [[Saint Paul]] claims that he and the apostles entrusted by God with "the ministry of reconciliation" are [[ambassador]]s standing in the place of Jesus Christ, as if God himself was speaking through them. See [http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-20.htm multiple versions of 2 Corinthians 5:20].

According to the [[tradition]] of [[apostolic succession]], and according to the official doctrine of [[Petrine Primacy|papal primacy]], the Bishop of Rome, the Patriarch of the West, the Pope occupies the office of the Apostle Peter as chief ambassador of God, like Saint Paul, "in the place of Christ". This has been denounced by [[Protestantism|Protestants]] since [[Martin Luther]] as an outrageous [[blasphemy]] of the [[Antichrist]] of [[Satan]] in direct opposition to the clear teaching of the Bible.<ref>[http://www.7thdaynotsunday.org.nz/PDFs/Luther%20on%20Antichrist.pdf Martin Luther's Views on the Antichrist, Dennis Pettibone, Southern Adventist University. ''Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 18/1 (Spring 2007): 81–100.'' (7thdaynotsunday.org.nz) pdf]</ref>

According to the [[tradition]] of [[apostolic succession]], and according to the official doctrine of [[Petrine Primacy|papal primacy]], the Bishop of Rome, the Patriarch of the West, the Pope occupies the office of the Apostle Peter as chief ambassador of God, like Saint Paul, "in the place of Christ". This has been denounced by [[Protestantism|Protestants]] since [[Martin Luther]] as an outrageous [[blasphemy]] of the [[Antichrist]] of [[Satan]] in direct opposition to the clear teaching of the Bible.<ref>[http://www.7thdaynotsunday.org.nz/PDFs/Luther%20on%20Antichrist.pdf Martin Luther's Views on the Antichrist, Dennis Pettibone, Southern Adventist University. ''Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 18/1 (Spring 2007): 81–100.'' (7thdaynotsunday.org.nz) pdf]</ref> <ref>[http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/luther/againstexecrablebull.html ''Against the Execrable Bull of the Antichrist'' (excerpt) Martin Luther's Reply to the Papal Bull of Leo X. Source: Roland H. Bainton, ''Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther'' (Hendrickson Classic, 1950)(pp. 153-155) (law2.umkc.edu)]</ref>

Catholic apologists argue that the widespread belief that Popes claim to be God on Earth is based on a [[strategy]] of [[defamation]] using [[misrepresentation]] and [[quoting out of context]], as part of an ongoing campaign of [[polemic]]al arguments against the [[Catholic Church]]. A famous list of "''proof texts''" current since the late 19th and early 20 centuries has been reproduced in full and in part in print and online. The sources of the quotations have been carefully researched and debunked as either misquotes, distortions, or entirely fictitious fabrications from sources that never existed.<ref>See also [[''The Two Babylons'']] by Alexander Hislop, and [[Foxe's Book of Martyrs]].</ref> Catholic apologists claim that those who do not know the facts but believe the list to be true and promote it as being truthful are not necessarily [[Lie|liars]] but are involved in spreading a [[falsehood]] based on [[specious reasoning]], [[Cherry picking|cherry-picking]] and [[confirmation bias]], and possibly [[invincible ignorance]].

Catholic apologists argue that the widespread belief that Popes claim to be God on Earth is based on a [[strategy]] of [[defamation]] using [[misrepresentation]] and [[quoting out of context]], as part of an ongoing campaign of [[polemic]]al arguments against the [[Catholic Church]]. A famous list of "''proof texts''" current since the late 19th and early 20 centuries has been reproduced in full and in part in print and online. The sources of the quotations have been carefully researched and debunked as either misquotes, distortions, or entirely fictitious fabrications from sources that never existed.<ref>See also [[''The Two Babylons'']] by Alexander Hislop, and [[Foxe's Book of Martyrs]].</ref> Catholic apologists claim that those who do not know the facts but believe the list to be true and promote it as being truthful are not necessarily [[Lie|liars]] but are involved in spreading a [[falsehood]] based on [[specious reasoning]], [[Cherry picking|cherry-picking]] and [[confirmation bias]], and possibly [[invincible ignorance]].