Issuu

Mary of Nazareth The Mother of the Son of God (Christotokos)

Mary of Nazareth Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The Annunciation Luke

1:26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy

one to be born will be called b the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.” 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulﬁlled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary visits Elizabeth Luke

1:39-45,

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and

greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was ﬁlled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulﬁll his promises to her!”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Mary’s Song Luke

1:46-54

“My soul gloriﬁes the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has ﬁlled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

The Wedding Feast at Cana in Galilee John

2:1-12

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

The Carpenter’s Son Rejected Matthew

53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had ﬁnished these parables, he departed thence. 54And when he was come into his

own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Mary at the Cross John

19:25-27

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved (John) standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Mary in the Upper Room Acts

1:12-14

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Who is Jesus’ Mother? Matthew 12:46-50 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He

replied

him,

“Who

mother,

and

who

are

brothers?”

Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Who is Jesus’ Mother? Mark 3:31-35 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who

are

mother

and

brothers?”

asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Who is Jesus’ Mother? Luke 8:19-21 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Who is Jesus’ Mother? Luke 11:27-28 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Who is Jesus’ Mother? Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Hail Mary Full of Grace?

The Hail Mary Prayer Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Defending Catholicism “In Luke 1:28. Gabriel says to Mary (First Part) "Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.... “Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee, blessed are you among woman and blest is the fruit of your womb. Second part which is manmade : asking us for the Mother of God to pray for us now during this journey on earth and at the hour of our death, when the devil has one last chance to get your soul. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen Please don't say the prayer of the Hail Mary, isn't in scripture.”

The Rebuttal The original Greek does not translate to "Hail" as in "All Praise". or Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with you. The word is Chairos "χαίρω" means "rejoice", not "Hail" The angel was telling her to "Rejoice, and be delighted (because) the Lord was with her, NOT that she was venerated by the angel. We are NOT to venerate Mary.

The Annunciation Text in the Catholic and King James Bibles Luke

(Douay-Rheims)

…And the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

Luke 1 (KJV) …And the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

The problem with both the Protestant King James Version and the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bibles is that they relied on the Latin Vulgate which was a translation of the Greek into Latin and THEN into English. vs directly from Ancient Greek *the source language, into English.

Consulting the Source Manuscripts The original Greek of Luke 1:27-28 (CS-340) is actually: 27 πρὸς παρθένον ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυὶδ καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάμ. 28"καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν·χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ." Which actually translates to: 27 "To (πρὸς) the virgin (παρθένον) espoused (ἐμνηστευμένην) man (ἀνδρὶ) of (ᾧ) name (ὄνομα) Joseph (Ἰωσὴφ) from the (ἐξ) house (οἴκου) David (Δαυὶδ) and (καὶ) the (τὸ) name (ὄνομα) was (τῆς) of the virgin (παρθένου) Mary (Μαριάμ) 28 "And (καὶ), entered/came (εἰσελθὼν) to (πρὸς) her (αὐτὴν) said/saying (εἶπεν) "Rejoice (χαῖρε), be delighted (κεχαριτωμένη), the (ὁ) Lord (κύριος) is with (μετὰ) thou (σοῦ)." The actual scripture does not at all say "Hail Mary, full of Grace... it says "Rejoice and be delighted… Taken together in modern English, these verses ACTUALLY render: 27 To the virgin engaged (to the) man named Joseph from the house of David whose name is Mary, 28 (the angel) and came to her saying "Rejoice, and be delighted, because God is with you."

Translation Errors So for Luke 1:28 The Original Greek says: "καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν·χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ." which means: "and came to her saying "Rejoice, and be delighted, because God is with you." BUT The Latin Vulgate renders the verse: "et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit have gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus" which means: "and the angel went in to her and said, "Have full grace! The Lord is with you, blessed are you among women" And the 1611 Anglican English King James Version says: "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." AND The 1899 Catholic English Douay-Rheims Bible says: "And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."

What it REALLY says In Summary

The ACTUAL TEXT

The Bible itself never says Hail Mary. or Venerated Mary, or Favored Mary, or Honored Mary. Nor does it say that she is full of grace. Additional meanings inﬂuenced by the erroneous teaching of the church at that time wormed their way into the translations altering the actual writings of Luke.

ORGINAL GREEK

And this is consistent with the message of Christ, that ONLY God is to be hailed/venerated, and only God is good/full of Grace. May the TRUE Word of God illuminate this discussion. Saying a Hail Mary prayer has no basis in scripture and certainly has no penitential power to absolve the soul from sin.

<<χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.>>

Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions"

"Rejoice, and be delighted, because God is with you."

πρὸς παρθένον ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυὶδ καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάμ. "καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν·

ENGLISH To the virgin engaged (to the) man named Joseph from the house of David whose name is Mary, (the angel) and came to her saying

After the Bible

Did Mary Follow John to Ephesus? Mary

Ephesus?

According to a tradition recorded by Irenaeus and Eusebius of Caesarea, John later came to Ephesus where he worked and finally died; it is assumed that he brought with him his adopted mother. These faint hints provided the basis for the early belief that Mary also lived in Ephesus with John. Secondly, Bar-Hebraeus, a Jacobite bishop writing in the 13th century, related that St. John took Mary with him to Patmos First of all, there is no mention of this fact in the Bible. There are only much later pieces of written evidence, and there are no archaeological finds to confirm this claim. The earliest mention of the possibility that St. Mary resided in Ephesus can be traced to the synodal letter of the Council of Ephesus that took place in 431. This letter mentions "the city of the Ephesians, where John the Theologian and the Virgin Mother of God St. Mary [lived and are buried]". Another line of argument in favour of Ephesus as the place where St. Mary lived is the existence of the Church of St. Mary in Ephesus. It was the first Christian temple devoted to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Additional arguments brought during the debate over the authenticity of the House of the Virgin Mary are the choice of Ephesus as the venue of the Council of Ephesus. It was convened in 431 to resolve the dispute concerning the determination of the unification of human and divine nature in Jesus Christ and the title of Mary as the Mother of God.

Did Mary Follow John to Ephesus? Mary of Ephesus? Currently, the restored house serves as a chapel. Every August the 15th a solemn mass is held there to celebrate the ascension of Mary.

Typically, the chapel is crowded by vast numbers of tourists who visit Meryemana while on their way to or from Ephesus. The place is under the care of the Franciscan order.

The Council of Ephesus in 431 (wikipedia Mary

“Theotokos”

“Christokos”

Nestorius emphasized the dual natures of Christ, trying to find a middle ground between those who emphasized the fact that in Christ God had been born as a man, and who insisted on calling the Virgin Mary Theotokos (Greek: Θεοτόκος, "God-bearer"), and those that rejected that title because God as an eternal being could not have been born. Nestorius suggested the title Christotokos (Χριστοτόκος, "Christ-bearer"), but this proposal did not gain acceptance on either side. Nestorius tried to answer a question considered unsolved: "How can Jesus Christ, being part man, not be partially a sinner as well, since man is by definition a sinner since the Fall?" To solve that he taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus gave birth to the incarnate Christ, not the divine Logos who existed before Mary and indeed before time itself. The Logos occupied the part of the human soul (the part of man that was stained by the Fall). But wouldn't the absence of a human soul make Jesus less human? Nestorius rejected this proposition, answering that, because the human soul was based on the archetype of the Logos, only to become polluted by the Fall, Jesus was "more" human for having the Logos and not "less". Consequently, Nestorius argued that the Virgin Mary should be called Christotokos, Greek for "Carrier of Christ", and not Theotokos, Greek for "Carrier of God"

The Council of Ephesus in 431 (wikipedia Consubstantial

Not?

Nestorius believed that no union between the human and divine was possible. If such a union of human and divine occurred, Nestorius believed that Christ could not truly be consubstantial with God and consubstantial with us because he would grow, mature, suffer and die (which Nestorius argued God cannot do) and also would possess the power of God that would separate him from being equal to humans. "The Twelve Anathemas of Saint Cyril." In these anathemas, Cyril excommunicated anyone who followed the teachings of Nestorius. For example, "Anyone who dares to deny the Holy Virgin the title Theotokos is Anathema!" Nestorius however, still would not repent. On 19 November, Nestorius, anticipating the ultimatum which was about to be delivered, convinced Emperor Theodosius II to summon a general council through which Nestorius hoped to convict Cyril of heresy and thereby vindicate his own teachings. Theodosius issued a Sacra calling for the metropolitan bishops to assemble in the city of Ephesus. The Council denounced Nestorius' teaching as erroneous and decreed that Jesus was one person (hypostasis), and not two separate persons, yet possessing both a human and divine nature. The Virgin Mary was to be called Theotokos, a Greek word that means "God-bearer" (the one who gave birth to God). The Council declared it "unlawful for any man to bring forward, or to write, or to compose a different (ἑτέραν) Faith as a rival to that established by the holy Fathers assembled with the Holy Ghost in Nicæa"

Looking Back on the Council of Ephesus Mary

NOT

Theotokos

The term "Mother of God" is misleading and suggests that Mary is the origin of Godhead, giving her the role of a Mother Goddess which gives rise to the heresy that Mary is the Co-Mediatrix of Grace when the Bible declares only ONE MEDIATOR between GOD and MAN and that is the MAN Christ Jesus.

Points of Consideration (jw) ●

Mary never claimed that she was the mother of God. The Bible explains that she gave birth to “the Son of God,” not God himself.—

●

Jesus Christ never said that Mary was God’s mother or that she was worthy of special devotion. In fact, he corrected a woman who gave special attention to Mary’s happy role as his mother, saying: “No, rather, happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!”

●

The terms “Mother of God” and “Theotokos” (God-bearer) are not found in the Bible.

●

The expression “Queen of Heaven” in the Bible refers, not to Mary, but to a false goddess worshipped by apostate Israelites.(Ishtar)

●

Early Christians did not worship Mary, nor did they give her any special honor. One historian states that early Christians “would have rejected cults and probably feared that undue attention to Mary might evoke a suspicion of goddess worship.

●

The Bible says that God has always existed. (Psalm 90:1, 2; Isaiah 40:28) Since he had no beginning, he cannot have a mother. Furthermore, Mary could not have held God in her womb; the Bible makes clear that even the heavens cannot contain him.

The Cult of Mary

Mother of Heresies 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY,

BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Catholicism is known also as a “Mystery” religion in that it teaches 20 “mysteries” of the MARIAN rosary in four categories as core doctrines ●

5 Glorious mysteries

●

5 Luminous Mysteries

●

5 Sorrowful Mysteries

●

5 Joyful Mysteries

They also teach their central mystery doctrine of the “Holy Trinity” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_(personiﬁcation)

4 Marian Dogmas LET’S JUST CALL THEM LIES ●

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY ○

●

Mary died and was buried in Ephesus

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ○

Mary was in the Upper Room and needed the Holy Spirit just like everyone else.

●

MARY’S DIVINE MOTHERHOOD ○

Mary birthed Jesus of Nazareth

○

Mary is NOT the “Mother of God”

PERPETUAL VIRGINITY ○

Mary and Joseph had 4 sons, and several daughters after Jesus was born.

Assumption of Mary? Catholics Believe that Mary did not die, but that she was assumed bodily into heaven. Some also say she died, but was not buried but her body was taken to heaven like Moses. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which the Church celebrates every year on August 15. Simply put, the dogma of the Assumption states that at the end of her life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken, body and soul, into Heaven. HOWEVER On the cross, Jesus entrusted Mary’s to the care of the Apostle John as recorded in his gospel (John 19:26-27). Mary was with John, the rest of the apostles, and Jesus’ brothers in Jerusalem at the upper room and received the Holy Spirit along with the rest of them. Traditional history tells us that John eventually left Jerusalem, likely before the Jewish Revolt and Siege of Jerusalem, and made their way to Ephesus. There they lived until Mary’s death (in 41AD per Hippolytus) and burial of natural causes. In later years, John was arrested and imprisoned on the island of Patmos just off the shore of Modern Turkey where he died having written his contributions to our Bible. He makes no mention of her assumption to heaven in his works even those written after her death. Gravesites exist for her in Ephesus and Jerusalem, the former being most likely.

Immaculate Conception Was Mary without sin (Immaculate)? No. Catholics believe that when Mary conceived Jesus she was sinless, and exempt from their dogma of Original Sin.

Mary was not without sin. Romans 3:23 teaches that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, and there is nothing in the Bible to suggest that Mary was an exception to this rule.

HOWEVER Mary refers to God as her Savior (1:47). Scripture is clear that only sinners need a Savior. Thus Mary is acknowledging her own need for God’s grace and salvation. Mary is not a dispenser of grace to others, but a recipient of it herself. Mary was with the 120 in the upper room waiting to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:14) If she was immaculate and sinless already, what need would she have had for sanctification? She heard the message Peter preached in Acts 2:38. While we can safely assume that Mary was a godly woman to have found favor with the Almighty for the honor of bringing the Messiah into this world, she was nevertheless a Jew under the Law and needed to join the New Covenant like all other followers of Christ. Jesus was the only human without sin. (2 Cor 5:21, 1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 1:19)

The apostle John wrote, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8–10). The “we” in this passage includes Mary, the mother of Jesus. To claim Mary is without sin is an example of “deceit.” Catholics dogmatized the notion of Mary being immaculate as late as 1854.

Divine Motherhood? Was Mary the “MOTHER OF GOD”? No. Catholics Believe Mary's divine motherhood was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Various names are used to describe Mary's role as mother of Jesus. She is called "Mother of God" which translates the more accurately stated greek term "Theotokos" or "Birthgiver of God." The title of Mother of God with which the Catholic Church honors Mary, is not only the source of incomparable greatness in her, it is also a potent means to ground us firmly in the possession of the true Faith, and to bring us to a more perfect knowledge of God.

The BIBLE teaches us that God is eternal, without origin, and without parentage. God is a Spirit without flesh and blood. The LOGOS existed with God prior to his becoming flesh and dwelling with us as the Son. Mary is the mother of the MAN Jesus but not of the ONE eternal God who dwelt within Him. Mortal cannot generate the eternal. It is blasphemy to assert that a human can birth a God. This concept is a vestige of Mithraism also implying multiple gods.

Perpetual Virginity? Declared so by Roman Catholics 553 AD at the 5th Council at Constantinople

MARY HAD FOUR MORE SONS AND AT LEAST TWO DAUGHTERS WITH JOSEPH AFTER JESUS’ BIRTH! Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. Galatians 1:9 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Our Lady of Fatima? FALSE PROPHETS - DEMONIC AND ACCURSED Catholics believe the story of the Our Lady of Fátima miracle begins on May 13, 1917. Three peasant children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia were tending to their family's sheep. The children under 10 years old were blessed with the presence of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. In Portugal, she is also known as Fátima. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 2 Thess 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, Mark 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. Matthew 24:4-5 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. MARY IS DEAD - THIS IS THE WORK OF A DEMON

Praying the Rosary Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Luke 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea RATHER, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. PRAYING TO MARY - THE SIN OF “WITCHCRAFT” (GAL 5:20-21) MARY IS DEAD - SHE CANNOT HEAR YOU (LUKE 16:26) YOU CANNOT PRAY THE DEAD OUT OF HELL.(HEBREWS 9:27)

Co-Mediatrix of Grace? Catholics believe that Mary is a co-mediator with Christ in the salvation of humanity.

ONLY ONE MEDIATOR - NO CO-MEDIATOR 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

IT IS CHRIST ALONE WHO SAVES, NOT CHRIST PLUS MARY Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

GOD ALONE RECONCILES US TO HIMSELF BY HIS SON 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

MARY WAS A RECIPIENT OF GRACE - IN THE UPPER ROOM Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Worship of Mary ONLY ONE MEDIATOR - NO CO-MEDIATOR 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; GOD ALONE RECONCILES US TO HIMSELF BY HIS SON 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Mary was not even recognized in Scripture as a leader in the early Church. Peter is the one who stood up, addressed the crowd, and preached in Acts 1, not Mary.