John Henry Cardinal Newman to be beatified

CNA ^ | April 23, 2008

[AnAmericanMother]

But the Word of God itself supports the traditions of men. I've quoted you St. Paul on that very point. You can't just ignore 2nd Thessalonians!

And, although it troubles you, the traditions of men (the early bishops of the church) established the Word of God as it now exists in the form we call "the Bible". We most firmly believe that they were led by the Holy Spirit, but men they were, nevertheless.

I'm sorry that it makes you uncomfortable, but it's an irrefutable historical fact that the two are intertwined.

To consider which traditions to accept requires very careful examination, sober thought, and the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Men can easily be led astray, as we have seen in the Episcopal Church, to thinking that almost anything, including their personal desire or political correctness, is the "promptings of the Holy Spirit". But that may be true also in Biblical interpretation. Remember what St. Peter said in 2nd Peter 2:16 about those who wrest Scripture unto their own destruction. He wouldn't have cautioned against it unless misinterpretation were possible -- hence, again, fallible men come into the equation.

It introduces an element of uncertainty, true. But there it is, and you cannot ignore portions of the Bible, just because they make you unhappy. It's the portions that make us unhappy that we should pay the closest attention to -- it's too easy to ignore those chapters and verses in the Bible with which we, personally, disagree. Heaven knows I am guilty of that myself!

[deuteronlmy232]

I ignore no Scripture that is used in context.

[AnAmericanMother]

2nd Thessalonians 2:15 in context:

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

St. Paul is being very plain. The Greek is equally plain: that the Christian faith as transmitted by St. Paul is taught not only through epistolhV but also through logou, and the absence of the modifier suggests not only "our" (his) but others.

St. Peter is also very plain, in context, in 2nd Peter 3:16:

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Showing that Scripture may be misinterpreted by the amaqeiV (those who are not learned - the word has as its root the verb for "learn" or "be instructed" - you may recognize its resemblance to "mathematics") and asthriktoi (those who are not steadfast) - the same word appears in verse 17, and that good man John Bunyan translated it as "standfast".

[deuteronlmy232]

I have no problem with the Scripture but how do you get it justify Roman Catholicism as being the vehicle by which Christ moves, using only Scripture and not commentary?

[AnAmericanMother]

By showing that Scripture recognizes the existence of an informed and unwritten Tradition established by the apostles themselves; and that Scripture recognizes the need for a "learned" and "steadfast" interpreter so that men are not led astray.

There is only one learned and steadfast interpreter that dates back at the latest to men who themselves knew the apostles and were taught directly by them.

[AnAmericanMother]

I hasten to add that Catholicism is not the only vehicle by which Christ moves - 'the Spirit bloweth where it listeth.' But it is the most consistent and reliable interpreter of Scripture.