To Whom Shall We Go? The Biblical Case for the Catholic Church

Liesl Schiavone reviews Thomas J. Nash’s informative book, a powerful and comprehensive tool for Catholic apologetics and those seeking. 

To Whom Shall We Go? The Biblical Case for the Catholic Church

by Thomas Nash

Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing

In this informative and inspired book To Whom Shall We Go: A Biblical Case for the Catholic Church, Thomas J Nash gives a comprehensive and logical defense for the tenets of the Catholic faith found in Scripture. He begins with the foundational virtue of hope that, although the Church has suffered division and confusion through the years, it was established by the one true God and “the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” 

Imperfection does not disqualify the called 

Nash offers a calm and collected acknowledgment of the flawed nature of the men God chooses for His salvific mission, that the errors of Abraham, Moses, and Jacob in the Old Testament ensure us that imperfection does not disqualify those that the Lord chooses. He discusses the profound gift of Scripture, its inspired nature, and the realization that the Canon could not have been realized without the divine role of Sacred Tradition.

He points out the problems with the "sola scriptura" argument of the Protestant Reformation and the specific scriptural arguments that point toward the necessity of the Magisterium and development of doctrine. Nash cites St. Paul in the book of Timothy proclaiming the “Church of the living God” as “the pillar and bulwark of truth,” and St. Philips conversation with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8 where the deacon guides and instructs the faithful.  

Hitting the issues head on   

Nash leaves no scriptural text unturned when diving into major theological questions, giving a compelling argument that faith and works go hand in hand as a loving response to the gift of salvation and the roll of our own free will. He discusses all the major contending theologies, detailing the views of John Calvin and Martin Luther, and where their teaching fell short.   

Nash's chapter on the Eucharist is comprehensive and clear, as Scripture itself proves to be. Most importantly, Nash takes time to explain the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, a necessary foundation to our understanding of Jesus’ ultimate gift, the once and for all sacrifice that lives today in tabernacles all over the world. He again clearly lays out the views of dissenting theologians and refutes their claims with clarity in scripture. Impressively, Nash does not miss the opportunity to truly explain what it means that Jesus is the sacrificial lamb of the New Covenant. He highlights each scriptural parallel from Passover to the Last Supper and clarifies the long-forgotten necessity to “eat” the flesh of the lamb. This, coupled with his masterful explanation of the Bread of Life discourse in John Chapter 6, leaves a compelling and complete argument for the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.   

Nash continues with masterful explanations of the Church Militant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Triumphant. He explains the collaborative nature of the Church triumphant, of the Saints in heaven on whom we can call to pray for us, and as collaborators they contribute to the Church as one body, the same body that comes together, from heaven to earth, at the table of the Lord in Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The author does a wonderful job of encouraging readers to live a sacramental life and discusses the foundation of each of the sacraments found in Holy Scripture.   

Nash closes with acknowledgement of some of the historical controversial arguments against Catholicism with clarity and wisdom. He also clearly defines that battle at hand and those who would like to see the Church of God broken, bruised, and destroyed. In order to win a battle, you must know your enemy, and Nash does a compelling job of pointing out the ways that Satan seeks to destroy. He encourages those reading to keep their eyes on Jesus and to work for unity through the reintroduction of the world through the true teachings of the Catholic Church. 

A must read 

This book is an amazing read for any Catholic or inquiring Christian. Nash lays out his arguments with so many references and context in a way that clarifies 2000 years of theological misinterpretation and/or confusion. The organization of the text seemed occasionally scattered within a given subject. Knowing the concerns and misunderstandings many non-Catholics have with Mary, I would have liked the book to have included a little more Marian theology (or direct the reader where they could go), but overall this book is an important addition to any library and should be essential reading for all RCIA programs. 

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Copyright 2024 Liesl Schiavone
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