Is the Catholic doctrine of intercession of the saints biblical?

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that believers living on earth may ask the saints—those living in heaven—to pray to God on their behalf. Catholics liken this type of intercession to Christians on earth praying for one another. Yet there is no verse in the Bible that instructs believers to petition the saints, nor is there any example of a person doing it in Scripture. In contrast, the Bible directs Christians to pray to God alone through Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).

Catholic teaching holds that believers in heaven are aware of what is happening on earth. A verse cited in support of this view is Hebrews 12:1, which reads, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” A better interpretation is that the verse refers to the examples of faith left by believers of past generations. They are “witnesses” in that their legacy encourages and inspires those still living. The verse does not imply that believers in heaven are aware of events happening on earth.

Another passage the Catholic Church cites in support of the intercession of the saints is John’s vision of the throne room of God: “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8). The counterargument notes that the prayers mentioned in this verse are described as belonging to the saints—not directed to them. Also, elsewhere in Revelation, the word saints refers to believers still living on earth (e.g., Revelation 13:7; 14:12).

The Catholic idea that the living should ask saints in heaven to pray for them is said to be comparable to Christians on earth praying for one another. The Catholic Church appeals to James 5:16 to support this view: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Catholic theologians argue that, since the saints are righteous before God, their prayers must have great influence. While it’s true that believers in heaven are righteous, the verse does not instruct the living to ask them for prayer. The Bible consistently directs Christians to pray directly to God through Jesus Christ, who “always lives to intercede” for His people (Hebrews 7:25).

Christians should pray for one another. First Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people” (see also Colossians 3:4 and Hebrews 1 3:18). The New Testament gives many examples of believers praying for others, asking God to help, heal, or strengthen them (e.g., James 5:16; Galatians 6:2). Such intercession demonstrates love and care among Christians.

Other verses suggest that believers in heaven no longer play an active role in the church on earth. For example, Revelation 14:13 indicates that believers find rest from their earthly labor once they enter heaven: “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’” Likewise, when Paul reflected on dying and being with Jesus, he longed for that union, but he also lamented leaving the Philippians behind, since he would no longer be able to help their “progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:25).

Christians can debate how aware believers in heaven are of events on earth, but the Bible itself provides no support for the Catholic doctrine of the intercession of the saints. Yes, we should pray for one another, yet the Bible’s instructions always concern believers on earth praying for other living believers. And the Bible plainly teaches that prayer is to be directed to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit.