Not in scripture: everyone goes to heaven?

Not in Scripture

Universalism is the heretical belief that all are eventually saved. This is not just the hope that everyone will be saved, but that they ARE saved. Nor should this be confused with redemption, which was purchased with our Lord’s blood on the cross. Christ died for all, every person without exception, but sadly not every person accepts His offer, His gift, His sacrifice for their salvation. Loving us as He does, He has granted us free will and does not force us to accept Him.

If universalism were true, you are saved regardless how you live your life. Salvation is in no way contingent on faith. Were a person an unrepentant mass murdering, torturing, Satan worshiper – heaven still awaits them.

Universalists conflate God’s will that all are saved and the merits of His Son with individual salvation. Holy scripture speaks frequently of the reality of hell and the many who choose to go there by rejecting God’s grace. Let’s see what it would look like if universalism were true. Not in scripture are words shown in strike through. Words shown in bold actually are in scripture.

The narrow gate.

Enter through any the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to eternal life destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that also leads to life. And those who find it are few.

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough so they will be let in. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, “Lord, open the door for us.” He will say to you in reply, “I do not know where you are from but welcome friend.” And you will say, “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.” Then he will say to you, “all are welcome I do not know where [you] are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!

And there will be universal joy wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves among them cast out.

On discipleship.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven and the one who does not.

The witness of the prophets.

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the Israelites were like the sand of the sea, all only a remnant will be saved; for decisively and quickly will the Lord will welcome all mankind execute sentence upon the earth.”

As foretold in Psalms.

The LORD is revealed in his unconditional mercy making judgments: by the deeds they do or fail to do, all are saved the wicked are trapped.

Reproach to the unrepentant.

Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.'”

“For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

“Just kidding.”

The rich man and Lazarus.

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and also from that place from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

The above verses scratch only the surface of this topic. There are far too many to include them all here. The bottom line: hell is real and those who consign themselves there do so forever.


The specific word of God notwithstanding, sometimes folks read Holy Scripture as if certain words and phrases have been removed – or as if others have been added. I am here to help!

I call this series not in scripture. These are Bible quotes with a twist: words and phrases not actually present are shown with strike-through. Scripture simply does not say that! Conversely, words that are actually in scripture (but sometimes overlooked) are shown in bold.

Not in scripture: Holy Scripture vs. Church

Not in Scripture

Catholics believe our Lord founded His Church, unlike any other organization — both the invisible (the Mystical Body of Christ) and the quite visible. The visible Church infallibly proclaims His unchanging Word and offers His sacraments until the end of time. He gave us no book from which to know truth, only His Church.

When, by who and under what authority then was the canon of the Holy Bible determined? It was definitively and infallibly declared around AD 400 by the Catholic Church (as she had been known for 300 years at that point) by the authority given to Her by our Lord. The canon of Holy Scripture (the Bible) is the fruit of Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium. St. Jerome’s original translation from that time remains the official canon for the Catholic Church today. Unchanged always, in word and interpretation.

Creating the canon of Holy Scripture was not a terminal act of the Church. She did not cease to exist at that point or suddenly become prone to errors of faith and morals. Jesus explicitly promised otherwise. Let’s take a look at what the Bible itself says and does not say. Not in scripture are words shown in strike through. Words shown in bold actually are in scripture.

Institution of the Church

And so I say to you, I have built my invisible church not upon any man, but upon my word alone as known individually to you through the spirit you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. For I hold the keys to the kingdom. Whatever I alone bind are bound in heaven; and whatever I alone loose are loosed in heaven. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Resolving Disagreements

“If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that “every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” If he refuses to listen to them, discern together the word, respecting how each is guided by the Holy Spirit to receive it differently. tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

Authority of the Church

Amen, I say to you, when I have departed to the Father, authority to bind in heaven is mine alone whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and too shall the authority to loose remain with me alone whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As I have been sent by the Father. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Your sins are forgiven. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Be wary of any who speak in my name for the truth is not in them. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Through scripture alone one belongs to God, while anyone who does not belong hears also the voice of men speaking in his name. We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

The Pillar and Foundation of Truth

I am writing you about these matters, although I hope to visit you soon. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, known to you alone by the scripture which reveals the living God to you individually which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

Paul’s Farewell Warning

Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has descended appointed you overseers, in which you tend the word of God the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.

The above verses only touch on this topic. There is much, much more. An excellent resource is ScriptureCatholic.com. They provide many detailed citations.


The specific word of God notwithstanding, sometimes folks read Holy Scripture as if certain words and phrases have been removed – or as if others have been added. I am here to help!

I call this series not in scripture. These are Bible quotes with a twist: words and phrases not actually present are shown with strike-through. Scripture simply does not say that! Conversely, words that are actually in scripture (but sometimes overlooked) are shown in bold.

Not in scripture: on abortion

Not in Scripture

Catholics believe human life begins at conception. At that time, a new human being is created with his or her unique DNA. Regardless of circumstances, even very tragic circumstances, choosing to terminate that life is murder in God’s eyes. This is the well-documented belief of the Church from the time of Jesus onward.

The Holy Bible itself recognizes human life commencing not at birth, but in the womb in both the Old and New Testaments. As usual, it takes significant and creative effort to explain this away. Let’s try anyway! Not in scripture are words shown in strike through. Words shown in bold actually are in scripture.

When was I “formed”?

Thus says the LORD who made you, your help, who formed you from birth the womb: Do not fear, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

The word of the LORD came to me: Before I formed you as a child in the womb I knew you, before you could speak were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

When did I become a child of God?

You formed my inmost being; you knit my fetal material me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. My bones are not hidden from you, When my biological components I was being made in secret, fashioned in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw pre-human cells me unformed; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be.

What was that in the wombs of Mary and Elizabeth?

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the product of conception infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the cellular fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the future mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the non-human life infant in my womb leaped for joy.”


Also in Biblical Times…

What were the first medical ethics?

I will provide neither give any deadly drug, having been asked for it, and nor will I guide the same advice. Similarly, I will readily not give an abortifacient pessary to a woman. In purity and in holiness I will maintain my life and my art.

Hippocrates circa 400 BC
The original Hippocratic Oath

What does the first Christian catechism say?

You shall not kill that which is born, but until then your right to choose is sacred.

You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born.

Didache, Chapter 2 (as early as 65 AD)

What was Christian thinking in the time of the Apostles?

A woman’s body is her own, but thou shalt not terminate a child after it is born.

Thou shalt not slay the child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shalt thou destroy it after it is born.

Letter of Barnabas 19, 74 AD

Church Fathers

Now we allow that life does not begins with conception because we contend that the soul also begins at birth from conception; life taking its commencement at the same moment and place that the soul does.

Tertullian, 210 AD (Apology 27)

Some, when they find themselves with child through their sin, use drugs to procure abortion, and when, as often happens, they die with their offspring, they enter the lower world laden with the guilt not only of adultery against Christ but otherwise innocent of killing also of suicide and child murder.”

St. Jerome, 396 AD (Letters 22:13)

The above quotes only touch on this topic. There is much more. One excellent resource of scriptural references is Priests For Life. Some good articles on the teaching of the early Church on abortion are here, here and here.


The specific word of God notwithstanding, sometimes folks read Holy Scripture as if certain words and phrases have been removed – or as if others have been added. I am here to help!

I call this series not in scripture. These are Bible quotes with a twist: words and phrases not actually present are shown with strike-through. Scripture simply does not say that! Conversely, words that are actually in scripture (but sometimes overlooked) are shown in bold.

Not in scripture: about real presence

Not in Scripture

Catholics believe in the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. Bread and wine literally become the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. This is the well-documented belief of the Church from the time of Jesus onward.

The Holy Bible itself is also quite clear, requiring something akin to a Herculean effort to explain away. Let’s try anyway! Not in scripture are words shown in strike through. Words shown in bold actually are in scripture.

Bread as a Metaphor?

When Jesus became aware of this he said, “You of great faith, you concluded among yourselves that it is because you have no bread. You understand, and need not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and the many wicker baskets you took up. Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and the many baskets you took up. You comprehend that I was speaking only of the ordinary, of simple bread. I had no other point.

When Jesus became aware of this he said, “You of little faith, why do you conclude among yourselves that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand, and do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many wicker baskets you took up? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread?

Speaking very, very clearly – or just rhetorical flourishes?

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am like the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this recalls is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the symbolic living bread that came down from heaven; whoever accepts me eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give represents is my flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you metaphorically eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink wine in his memory his blood, you do not have life within you. Of these things I speak in remembrance, for the law of Moses forbids you to actually drink blood. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who is sent by feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? Be not afraid. I am not speaking literally but figuratively. What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who misinterpreted my words do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would be confused not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

Jesus knew of the confusion his words had caused and said “I speak to you by analogy, not that you must literally eat my body and drink my blood. That would be cannibalism. Stay with me. As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.

When time was running out, did Jesus speak in puzzles?

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this represents is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this represents is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.

Bringing judgment upon yourself for eating ordinary bread?

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the false remembrance body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the symbolic meaning body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

The above verses only touch on this topic. There is much, much more. An excellent resource is ScriptureCatholic.com. They provide many citations.


The specific word of God notwithstanding, sometimes folks read Holy Scripture as if certain words and phrases have been removed – or as if others have been added. I am here to help!

I call this series not in scripture. These are Bible quotes with a twist: words and phrases not actually present are shown with strike-through. Scripture simply does not say that! Conversely, words that are actually in scripture (but sometimes overlooked) are shown in bold.

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