The TRUTH behind Iglesia ni Cristo's quoting Romans 16:16?

The only way the Iglesia ni Manalo could say their registration name was "scriptural" is found in Romans 16:16 (in all translations) and Acts 20:28 ONLY in Lamsa Translations. (see this sample posted by a member of this cult). 

Both verses were willfully distorted by Mr. George Lamsa (Acts 20:28) and by the Iglesia ni Cristo (Romans 16:16) see photos below!

(Read also my earlier post Alin ang Iglesiang Binabati ng lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo?)

Scriptural?

Whose translations are they using? Catholics and Protestants churches-- churches INC consider to be "APOSTATES".

Yes, you heard me right. They couldn't help themselves but RELY ONLY in Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible!!!

Why?

It's because their cult has NO BIBLE SCHOLARS so far!!!!

Bible DISTORTERs? Yes they have in full!

So let's talk about ROMANS 16:16.

Before you may be consider believing in their twisted stories to be true, let us look CLOSELY on what’s ACTUALLY written in ROMANS 16:16 and by reading this we all hope and pray that those who were led astray by these “wolves in sheep’s clothing” DISTORTING the Scriptures to DECEIVE many may be strengthened in their faith and knowledge and eventually may become soldiers of the FAITH defending the only CHURCH of JESUS—the “PILLAR and BULWARK of TRUTH” (1 Tim 3:15; Jude 3 as quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church ¶ 171,) and become aggressive sowers of TRUTH.

Let us examine what is really written in ROMANS 16:16

PROTESTANT VERSIONS Here are various Bible translations by different Protestant groups and sects (though some translations deviated from the original script of the Scriptures): New International Version (©1984) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. New Living Translation (©2007) Greet each other in Christian love. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings. English Standard Version (©2001) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. New American Standard Bible (©1995) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. International Standard Version (©2008) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of the Messiah greet you. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. King James Bible Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. American King James Version Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. American Standard Version Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. Bible in Basic English Give one another a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send their love to you. Douay-Rheims Bible Salute one another with an holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. Darby Bible Translation Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the assemblies of Christ salute you. English Revised Version Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. Webster's Bible Translation Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. Weymouth New Testament Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the Churches of Christ send greetings to you. Here is our CATHOLIC VERSIONS New American Bible (NAB) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible Salute one another with an holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. The New Jerusalem Bible Greet each other with the holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send their greetings. New Advent Salute one another with an holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. Bible in Greek ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἁγίῳ. ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι πᾶσαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Bible in Latin Vulgate Salutate invicem in osculo sancto. Salutant vos omnes ecclesiæ Christi. Here is the common TAGALOG VERSION of Romans 16:16 The only way that they can prove their registered name to be "scriptural" is to quote the Tagalog version of the Bible, because in English, that word "Iglesia ni Cristo" won't be heard. Mangagbatian kayo ng banal na halik. Binabati kayo ng lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo.

"Greet one another with a (the) holy kiss."

In keeping with the tradition of the CHURCH, Catholic bishops and patriarchs when meeting in the CHURCH of ROME actually greet one another with a "holy kiss."  This tradition has been passed on from generation to generation that today the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is still practicing it.

On the other hand the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines founded by Felix Manalo and registered it as a "Corporation Sole" obediently followed NONE of these traditions being said in Romans 16:16.  That's because they DO NOT have any HISTORICAL LINK to the First Century CHURCH of JESUS.  Although they love to quote this passage but NONE of their PAID ministers ever practice this apostolic tradition specifically mentioned in one of their favorite Bible verses.

Now, let's expose one of the many LIES they're teaching in their church. Here's the rest of the verse 16 of Romans 16:

"All the churches of  Christ greet you." [Binabati kayo ng lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo.

Now let's take the last sentence in Romans 16:16 (in Tagalog: Binabati kayo ng lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo.").

"Binabati KAYO ng LAHAT ng mga iglesia ni Cristo." (emphasis mine)

Don't be deceived.  When an INC Minister tries to prove to you that their (registered) name is somehow "scriptural" they will not read to you the Bible in English.

Part of their DECEIVING tactics is to read to you the TAGALOG version with much EMPHASIS on the 'iGLESIA NI CRISTO" and completely disregard the rest of Romans 16:16 such as ALL the churches of Christ (LAHAT ng mga iglesia ni Cristo) or the pronoun "greet YOU (KAYO)".

Now, let us open our eyes-- and let's not allow ourselves from being deceived by their Ministers twisted Holy Scriptures we all revere.  Because by just only listening you can be MISLED just as how they deceived many ignorant Catholics now becoming extremely anti-CATHOLICS.

Let us READ again the same verse using our own sense of seeing and SEE what's really in Romans 16:16.

Don't be tricked.  The main subject is not the words "iglesia ni Cristo"!

 "All the churches of  Christ greet you." [Binabati kayo ng lahat ng mga iglesia ni Cristo.]

The MAIN SUBJECT is the pronoun YOU (or KAYO)!  The "YOU" there in Romans 16:16 is NOT the "iglesia ni Cristo" founded in the Philippines but the  CHURCH of ROME and that ALL (not some, not few, not several) the churches of Christ are delighted and happy to SEND ALL THEIR GREETINGS to this ONE particular church-- the CHURCH of ROME!

See, the PRIMACY of the CHURCH in ROME is very evident in Romans 16:16 not the iglesia ni Cristo registered church.  Ninakaw lang nila ang Roma 16:16 pero hindi sila ang binabanggit doon kundi ang Iglesia natin sa ROMA-- tayong mga Katoliko!

In Wikipedia the reasons for recognizing the Primacy of the Church of Rome is stated:

"The biblical, dogmatic, theological and juridical foundation of the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff is in the Church of Christ the charisma of the munus petrinum in which is based apostolic authority of the Bishop of Rome as Vicar of Christ and Successor of the Prince of the Apostles (haereditas Petri). It is the munus petrinum who founded the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff as Successor of the Prince of the Apostles (Primus Apostolus) and Vicar of Christ (Vicarius Christi). In the teachings of the Catholic Church, the primacy of the Roman Pontiff is the apostolic authority (auctoritas) of the Successor of Peter as the Bishop of the Church of Rome (Ecclesia Romana) over the several churches. The Church of Rome, for his particular charisma, holds the presidency of the love (prokathēmenē tēs agapēs) (Ignatius of Antioch). The same concept is expressed by Irenaeus of Lyon when he speaks about the "propter potiorem principalitatem". It is also termed "papal primacy", "primacy of Peter", or "Roman primacy"; one might encounter "Peter in primacy over the universal Church," "primacy of Successor of Peter" (Successor Petri), , "Petrine Theory", Petrinity (Petrinitas) and other related expressions."

This kind of exortations can NEVER be found in any other letters of St. Paul. The SENDING of greetings of ALL the churches of Christ to the CHURCH in ROME is ONLY found in ROMANS 16:16.

Please also take note that the Letter of St. Paul is addressed to ROMANS not Filipinos!!!

Now, if Romans 16:16 is saying that ALL the churches of Christ SEND their GREETINGS to the CHURCH of ROME, why is it that this Iglesia ni Cristo founded by Felix Manalo, also claiming to be the "Church of Christ" is adamant and reluctant to SEND its greetings to the CHURCH of ROME?

Here is a PROOF that all the churches of Christ is sending their greetings to the CHURCH of ROME! (all green colors have direct greetings to the CHURCH in ROME).

Source: Wikipedia

(See Wikipedia details here)

As you can see in the map, the only countries that do not recognize the CHURCH of ROME are the countries of Mauritani, Western Sahara and Somalia in the African Continent; Saudi Arabia and Oman in the Middle East; Afghanistan, China, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Myanmar (Bhurma), Laos, Vietnam and North Korea in Asia.

The latest countries that have greetings with the CHURCH of ROME are the newly independent Montenegro (2006), the United Arab Emirates (2007), Botswana (2008), the Russian Federation (2009), and Malaysia (2011). "Relations of a special nature" had previously been in place with Russia similar to those that continue to exist with the Palestinian Liberation Organization according to Wikipedia.  (Please refer here for the list of Catholic Diocese present in the whole world.)

Does it mean, the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines are just only quoting Romans 16:16 for the sake of that name "iglesia ni Cristo" but TOTALLY do NOT believe on what St. Paul said?

If not then why they're quoting Romans 16:16?  Why they have to BLATANTLY DISREGARD the whole MESSAGE of TRUTH in that verse? God gave each of us the knowledge and power to ASK questions: Ask their ministers why they are not sending their greetings to the CHURCH in ROME? And why they are not GREETING one another with a HOLY KISS?

This is a church who says they are "biblical" and yet completely distorts valuable meaning of St. Paul's letter to the Church of ROME-- Romans 16:16 is just a pity.

And here are some revealing TRUTHS extracted from their OFFICIAL MAGAZINE called PASUGO:

All other newly founded churches that are claiming to be "churches of Christ are FAKES! says PASUGO Mayo 1968, p. 7:

“Ang tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo ay iisa lamang, ito ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo. Kung mayroon mang nagsisibangon ngayong mga Iglesia at sasabihing sila man ay INK rin ang mga ito ay hindi tunay kundi huwad lamang!"

According to their registration, the Iglesia ni Cristo was founded by Felix Manalo and NOT Christ says PASUGO Agosto-Setyembre 1964, p. 5

“Kailan napatala sa Pamahalaan o narehistro ang INK sa Pilipinas? Noong Hulyo 27, 1914. Tunay nga na sinasabi sa rehistro na si Kapatid na F. Manalo ang nagtatag ng INK."

And lastly (but not the least), the CHURCH of ROME is CHRIST's ONLY founded CHURCH from the very beginning says PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46:

“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo."

Did the ORIGINAL CHURCH of CHRIST vanished?

No it DID NOT says PASUGO Hunyo 1940, p. 27:

"Papaano ang pag-aalaga at pag-iingat sa pananampalataya? Wala tayong dapat gawin kundi manatili sa mga aral ng Dios na ating napag-aralan. Ito ang ginawa ng unang Iglesia. Sila'y nanatiling matibay sa aral ng mga Apostol. Ganito rin ang dapat nating gawin."

And another in PASUGO Mayo 1968, p. 5:

"Ano ang katangian ng maging Tupa ni Cristo? Sa Juan 10:28 ay ganito ang sabi: 'At sila'y binigyan ko ng walang hanggang buhay, at kailanma'y hindi sila malilipol, at hindi aagawin ng sinuman sa aking kamay'. Isang dakilang kapalaran ang maging Tupa o Tauhan ni Cristo sapagkat sila'y binibigyan niya ng walang hanggang buhay at hindi sila malilipol kailan man."

(Read more at Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa INK-1914)

Therefore, ROMANS 16:16 does NOT refer to Iglesia ni Cristo founded by Manalo in the Philippines but it's ALL about all the churches of Jesus Christ around the world GREETING the CHURCH of ROME.

So please stop deceiving yourselves.  Believe in the Bible-- the whole of the Bible and be wise enough to doubt preachers who CHOP-CHOP selective Bible verses to form a new meaning.  They are called the DECEIVERS of the Word!

God bless the CHURCH!