Compiling the various writings of Scripture into one convenient, easily accessed document, while an admirable endeavor indeed, does not equate to the Roman Catholic church *writing* the Bible.
The entirety of the OT was recognized as Scripture long before the RCC came along. Jesus Himself quoted from it and referred to it as Scripture.
The Catholic church can make NO claim whatsoever of the authorship of the majority of the Bible.
And the argument that the Catholic church uses that it claims that all the writers of the NT were Catholics, therefore the Catholic church *wrote* the Bible is just ludicrous. Maybe Catholics can be duped into believing that line of *reasoning* (for lack of a better term) but not anyone who can think for themselves. Claiming that the writers of Scripture were by default Catholics is only a tactic used to justify the Catholic church's power grab and put its claimed authority in spiritual matters beyond contention.
Since there is precious little in the NT that even begins to resemble what the Catholic church is today and has been for most of history, that claim is empty. The Catholic church needs to massively twist precious few verses of Scripture to support itself, something which should be an immediate red flag to the veracity of their claims.
The writers of the NT made no claim to Catholicism or any allegiance to any denomination. And no one can legitimately claim ownership of them as their own after the fact.
***The Catholic church can make NO claim whatsoever of the authorship of the majority of the Bible.***
Oh but that doesn’t stop them from trying, now does it?
INDEED.
WELL PUT.
THX.
“Since there is precious little in the NT that even begins to resemble what the Catholic church is today and has been for most of history, that claim is empty.”
The same could be said of the Greek Orthodox Church. What resemblance to the simple and understandable message of the Gospels can be found there?
I have said much on this already, with the main point being that it is not historical linkage that is the determining factor for essential authenticity, but manifest faith in the Biblical gospel. The apostles persuaded souls by “manifestation of the truth,” and so must we, in dependence upon God to confirm His word. But when one infallibly defines that they are assuredly infallible according to their infallibly defined formula, implicit assent of faith is required, and nothing need be verified. Even the father’s basically must submit to this, as even non -unanimous consent of them can be defined as being unanimous:
http://www.christiantruth.com/articles/ray4intro.html
http://www.equip.org/articles/apostolic-tradition
Other pertinent issues:
http://www.christiantruth.com/articles/livingtradition.html
http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2010/06/violent-tendency-of-western.html
http://www.christiantruth.com/articles/forgeries.html
The organization that established canon and compiled, published and defended the Bible was Catholic in the truest definition of the word. All who later split from this body forfeited their claim to a Catholic identity. Those who remained faithful are still in Communion with the original Catholics.
But it was a decision of the Church (in part later neglected by Luther) to incorporate certain books into the Christian Bible. Further, the Church interpreted the Old Testament in the light of Christ. A Christian now reads the Old Testament with the eye of the Church, -- just talk to anyone Jewish and see how far you get agreeing on anything.
Claiming that the writers of Scripture were by default Catholics is only a tactic used to justify the Catholic church's power grab
That is not the claim though. Giordano Bruno was Catholic; Luther was Catholic for most of their lives. Just being a "default Catholic" does not guarantee anything. The Church as a whole -- not merely the four Evangelists and other authors, -- did the arduous work of selecting these particular writings from many other writings. It was done in council based on the criteria of canonicity established by the Church. Further, the teaching of the Church then and now is in complete harmony with the New Testament, whereas the teachings of every sect from the Arians to the Protestants contradicts the scripture in the major points of their doctrines. That is because the New Testament came from the bosom of the Church; it reflects her very essence.