Most Protestants struggle to understand Catholic and Orthodox doctrines around Mary, images, icons, and saints. Explore whether such practices are grounded in the New Testament and the faith of the early church.
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In this free course, David Bercot examines several doctrines and historical claims that often divide Protestants from Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, and similar churches. The lessons ask whether teachings about Mary, apostolic succession, icons, incense, prayers to saints, papal authority, and the seven ecumenical councils are found in the New Testament and in the earliest Christian writings.
Bercot repeatedly frames the issue around the apostolic faith as something once delivered, then compares later church claims with Scripture and selected early Christian sources. The course moves from specific devotional doctrines, such as beliefs about Mary and prayer to saints, to larger institutional claims, such as succession, Rome’s authority, and Eastern Orthodox appeals to the councils.
It is designed to help students understand the arguments behind these claims and to evaluate them historically and biblically.
This lesson examines what Bercot says the New Testament and early Christian writings teach about Mary. It addresses doctrines such as Mary’s sinlessness, perpetual virginity, prayer to Mary, co-mediatrix language, and the title Queen of Heaven.
This lesson defines the doctrine of apostolic succession as Bercot is addressing it, then tests it against the New Testament. It discusses appointment language, bishops and presbyters, Paul’s apostleship, and the lack of a recorded chain of ordination.
This lesson turns from the New Testament to early Christian writings. Bercot discusses Ignatius, First Clement, and Irenaeus, arguing that they support the passing on of apostolic teaching rather than a later doctrine of succession through ordination.
This lesson addresses images, icons, incense in worship, and prayers to saints. Bercot compares these practices with early Christian evidence, archaeological examples, and developments he associates with the period after Constantine.
This lesson examines the Roman Catholic claim that the bishop of Rome is the successor of Peter with special authority. Bercot discusses Matthew 16, Peter’s role among the apostles, Peter’s connection to Rome, and later claims about papal authority.
This lesson critiques the Eastern Orthodox appeal to the seven ecumenical councils. Bercot discusses imperial involvement, the changing character of the visible church, and the fact that different Christian traditions recognize different numbers of councils.
This item is listed as a course survey. No transcript was supplied, so its contents cannot be summarized from the provided material.
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