2 Peter 1:20: First of all, you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation. (cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16).
21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.
Amen!
21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.
You know, I cite those verses all the time...as a justification why we need to understand the Scripture in light of the Magesterium.
In fact, there are those who cite the fallout from not following those verses as the reason for the proliferation of Protestant denominations (each new denomination being founded based upon a slightly different private interpretation).
And, no, I'm not trying to inflame anybody by saying that. But if you think about it...
Matthew 2:23: "And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'"
Matthew 23: 1-3: "Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.'"
Catholics believe that the tradition found in the Bible also includes an oral component. The reference in Matthew 2:23--"He shall be called a Nazarene"--cannot be found in the Old Testament, yet it was passed down by the prophets. Thus, a prophecy, which is considered God's Word was passed down orally rather than by Scripture.
Likewise, Matthew 23:2-3: Jesus teaches that the scribes and Pharisees have a legitimate, binding authority, based on Moses' seat, which phrase (or idea) cannot be found anywhere in the Old Testament. It is found in (the originally oral) Mishna, where a sort of teaching succession from Moses on down is taught. Thus, apostolic succession, whereby the Catholic Church, in its priests and bishops and popes, claims to be merely the custodian of an inherited apostolic Tradition, is also prefigured by Jewish oral tradition, as approved (at least partially) by Jesus himself.
(see page 44 and following for further examples).
from, "The Catholic Verses, Dave Armstrong, Sophia Institute Press, Manchester, NH. 2004, pg. 43-45ff.