Posted on 07/27/2006 12:06:07 PM PDT by NYer
All Christians can agree on this, that the Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired word, and ought to govern the faith and life of the Christian community. What’s in accord with Scripture is good. What contradicts Scripture must be rejected.
Opposition in the Name of Fidelity Someone Has to Have the Last Word Speaking with the Authority of Christ
The Protestant reformers, inspired with zeal for God’s word, went one step further. Under the banner of “sola scriptura” they proclaimed the Bible as the only infallible authority for Christians. That meant that both Tradition and Church authority could be opposed in the name of fidelity to Scripture.
Funny thing, however: from the outset of the Reformation, the movement that agreed on the supreme authority of the Bible disagreed bitterly on what the Bible said. The Protestant church was divided from the beginning. Nearly 500 years later, we see thousands of competing churches claiming the same Bible and sola scriptura heritage.
That’s because the Bible is a collection of written documents. And one of the truths about all written documents, even if they happen to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, is that they can be interpreted differently by different people.
The founding fathers of America knew this. That’s why in addition to providing a Constitution for the United States, they set up a court system to serve as the ongoing, living authority to interpret and apply that written document. If the country was to maintain its unity, someone in every generation would have to be entrusted with the authority to determine what was in accord with the Constitution and what was not. In the USA, that’s the responsibility of the Supreme Court.
We can also see this operating in organized sports. Every sport has a rule book. But in baseball for example, bitter arguments arise as to whether a ball is fair or foul, and whether a runner is safe or out. Umpires therefore are an absolute necessity in every game, so that someone has the final say on how the rules are interpreted and applied.
The Lord Jesus Christ is certainly no less wise than the Founding Fathers of the US government and the commissioner of baseball. In establishing His Church, He did not Himself write anything, except in sand (Jn 8:8). Instead, He established the college of the Apostles, gathered around Peter, as a living teaching authority, entrusted with passing on and teaching all that they’d received from Jesus. They did this through oral instruction and eventually some writings. Through the laying on of hands, which we know as the sacrament of Holy Orders, the Apostles in turn entrusted their teaching authority to their successors, called bishops, and imparted to them the same charism of truth that they’d received from the Holy Spirit (CCC 861-862).
These successors discerned which of the many Christian books and letters bearing names of Apostles actually were authentic and deserved to be regarded as sacred Scripture. Thanks to them, the phoney gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene are not read every Sunday in our churches. They also passed on and interpreted apostolic traditions that were not written down in the New Testament books, like the practice of meeting for weekly worship on Sunday, the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, rather than Saturday, which was the Jewish Sabbath. Finally, they were the ones responsible to authoritatively interpret and apply the sacred Scriptures amidst dispute and controversy, such as the fourth-century controversy over the divinity of Christ.
This teaching role of the successors of the Apostles, gathered around the successor of Peter, is called the "Magisterium,” which simply comes from the Latin word for teaching office. The Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God coming to us through Scripture and Tradition. Instead, the Magisterium is clearly under its authority — it is the servant of the Word. Its role is to faithfully safeguard the truth about God and His plan for our lives which came to full expression in the teaching and saving work of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. It is not to add to God’s revelation or to subtract from it, only to faithfully interpret and apply it (CCC 85-86).
The Magisterium is supposed to function much like the Supreme Court at its best, or like a good umpire. But there are a few very big differences. Neither the Constitution of the United States nor the official baseball rulebook are documents inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible, on the other hand, is. Neither the Supreme Court nor the World Series’ umpires have received a promise of special divine assistance. But the successors of the Apostles have. Speaking to Apostles, Jesus said “he who hears you, hears Me” (Lk 10:16). The Magisterium speaks with the authority of Christ, guided and empowered by the Spirit of Truth.
So ultimately there is no opposition between the Bible and the Magisterium of the Church. In fact they are so interdependent that the New Testament itself calls the Church “the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (I Tm 3:15). Biblical authority and Church authority — you can’t have one without the other.
Good article.
It is used the same way in Matthew 28:1 as it is in Luke 23:54. This usage denotes a day beginning as in Luke, the High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread is "drawing on". In Matthew, it is the first day of the week "drawing on." In both cases.....and these are the only times this word is used in scripture, the time of the day is sunset.
Compare the scripture to the dictionary.
It must certainly be from the plain reading and not solely from the Catholic Magisterium, because the last time I checked, the vast majority of Protestants worship on Sunday for the same reason that Catholics do.
You are correct...both Catholics and Protestants are deceived on this issue.....as in most others.
You just have to ask yourself.....why does the Greek say Late on Sabbath?
Now your getting it! Check the title of this thread "What is the Magesterium and WHY DO WE NEED IT?"
You've answered the question.
Regards
You've answered the question.
You are even trying to twist my reply...
If your Magesterium with it's infinite wisdom told you that your church was 'the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by your church', you'd be smart to ditch the Magesterium...
***...as well as is Biblical Authority, otherwise, lacking adult supervision, one may arrive at the above personal interpretation of scripture***
Well, since I am an adult and a believer priest I will stand before God on my understanding of his word. I'll let others use the papal decoder ring.
But the context was a memorial meal (passover) and He instituted a memorial meal. So, I say He left the room without looking like disciples went phirana on Him... chomping on His bod and vampiring His blood.
That's not a very nice way to debate the issue. Tell you what, you go ahead and have your grape juice and crackers memory meal, I'll take the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
You responded :You are even trying to twist my reply...
Not at all. You said that anyone can twist the meaning of the Bible. God, who desires that all men come to the knowledge of God, has established a teaching authority to guard the deposit of faith BECAUSE people can twist the meaning of the Scriptures... This teaching authority delves into the Word of God (written and oral) to respond to current situations that enable men to do God's Will. For example, the Magesterium allows us to take a proper stance on cloning, or stem-cell research. Naturally, we don't find any concordance listing these topics. But with an authorized teaching group in place, one duly-appointed by Christ Himself, we can rest assured that we are doing the Will of God.
Those without this Magesterium rely on their own intellect. I suppose you might stumble on the correct stance on certain issues by following one of the thousands of denominations of Protestantism. Good luck. I don't place so much confidence in myself.
Regards
***...and so, regarding John 6:53-57, we have the "word" according to Alamo Boy.***
Yep me and Zwingli and Paul
"do this in memory of Me"
***...and so, regarding John 6:53-57, we have the "word" according to Alamo Boy.***
Yep me and Zwingli and Paul
"do this in memory of Me"
I'm thinkin' you're the one that needs the luck...Bible commands YOU to study...It commands YOU to search the scriptures...It tells YOU to prove all things...
I don't know how many denominations there are...But I do see many denominations going with Female leaders, and Queer leaders...I see some speaking in 'tongues'...I see some trying to follow the Sabbath...And the one thing these all have in common is they don't believe the bible...
Of course you and they will say it's a matter of interpretation but that's not it at all...It's a matter of belief...
Ha...Your bible must be about a page and a half thick...
***St. Paul, the Apostle, would hold to the Catholic Church and Tradition in regards to John 6:53-57.***
I know that's what the papal decoder ring says about Paul. I'll let Paul speak for himself.
"do this in memory of Me"
"Christ our Passover has been sacrificed." (1 Cor 5:7 undecoded version)
Passover = past event (sacrifice), memorialized regularly with a meal
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins
Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you
Nehemiah 8:8 And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Acts 8:30-31 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
1 Corinthians 11:2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
I suspect dollars_for_dogma uses the unabridged version of scripture, which is a few books thicker than the bible you use.
All that would throw around the thousands of denominations charge need to check this out http://www.ntrmin.org/30000denominations.htm and this http://www.ntrmin.org/30000denominations.htm before the charge is used again.
It does, but not outside of the Church! Where does Paul tell Timothy or anyone else, to go and read Scriptures and teach what YOU think it means??? He makes it clear that HE received a body of teaching that was meant to be passed down to subsequent generations - since it was the truth.
Of course you and they will say it's a matter of interpretation but that's not it at all...It's a matter of belief...
People believe their interpretation is correct. Just like you. I will rely on what was handed down by Paul and the others.
Regards
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