Posted on 05/05/2011 9:38:04 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While Catholics believe the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it is true, one cannot take individual biblical quotes or passages and say each one is literally true, Pope Benedict XVI said.
“It is possible to perceive the sacred Scriptures as the word of God” only by looking at the Bible as a whole, “a totality in which the individual elements enlighten each other and open the way to understanding,” the Pope wrote in a message to the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
“It is not possible to apply the criterion of inspiration or of absolute truth in a mechanical way, extrapolating a single phrase or expression,” the Pope wrote in the message released May 5 at the Vatican.
The commission of biblical scholars, an advisory body to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met at the Vatican May 2-6 to continue discussions about “Inspiration and Truth in the Bible.”
In his message, the Pope said clearer explanations about the Catholic position on the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible were important because some people seem to treat the Scriptures simply as literature, while others believe that each line was dictated by the Holy Spirit and is literally true.
Neither position is Catholic, the Pope said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
Who says the Bible says it is categorically wrong to bow to someone?
read:
You see this here -- a lot of not only bowing but even prostrating (which the priests in the pic you posting were prostrating to Jesus Christ)
in Revelation 22:8, it explicitly says that John "fell down to worship at the feet of the angel." The angel rebuked him telling him to "Worship God!" -- the angel was objecting to WORSHIP not the BOWING
Secondly the article says what? “It is possible to perceive the Sacred Scriptures as the word of God” only by looking at the Bible as a whole, “a totality in which the individual elements enlighten each other and open the way to understanding,It is not possible to apply the criterion of inspiration or of absolute truth in a mechanical way, extrapolating a single phrase or expression,”
What exactly do you object in that? You think it's wrong to read the Bible as a whole?
maybe if you read the Bible as a whole you'd see the bowing I referred to in the posts above. have you read the Bible?
No I didn't. First of all, I don't buy that notion that those who are prostrate before the Pope are worshiping Jesus Christ. Those are new priests, right? They are prostrate before the Pope and the church's authority, either tacitly or implicitly.
Second of all, no one ever answered the question of why the Pope does not correct people on the spot who call him "Holy Father" when it is clear the Bible says not do that.
Revelation 15:4 "For thou alone are holy."
secondly, here is a cardinal stooping to kiss Benedict's ring -- Benedict's a short enough guy.
Oh, so that's it? Were John Paul II and all the other Pope's who encouraged the bowing before them and the ring kissing also of small stature, and that is why this practiced?
Please.
Here we go again. Let's come down to brass tax. The Pope and the Catholic church have set themselves up to be the arbiters of what is truth, what scripture is true, how it true, and how people can be saved from Hell. There are two basic reasons for this:
1. The church will lose power and authority if everyone can become their own "priest" by seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through faith
2. The church would have to admit the errors it has committed over hundreds of years, and still commits to this very day
This is similar to the tone of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) who state that
The fact is that the (Presbyterian) Church, while affirming with one voice the creation of all things visible and invisible by the triune God, has not come to a unity of position on the matter of the nature and length of the days, as she has with regard to such doctrines as the Trinity and the Person of Christ. This indicates that the Westminster divines were correct in their affirmation that “all things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all. . .” (WCF I, 7).And the OPC
The OPC, as a denomination, has no statement or decision regarding the length of the days of creation. Though General Assembly denied the appeal of a ruling elder who taught the animal ancestry of Adam (determining that such teaching was contrary to the Westminster Confession of Faith), it has thus far had no judicial case with regard to the length of the days of creation, and therefore has rendered no ruling on the matter. OPC ministers and elders are divided on the issue. Those who hold to literal 24-hour days appeal to the words "in the space of" in Shorter Catechism question 9 ("The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good"). On the other hand, those who hold to the day-age theory or framework hypothesis argue that the biblical text is inconclusive as to the length of the days, and the phrase "in the space of" is not determinative. The OPC is a confessional church, and therefore the Confession, Larger and Shorter Catechisms must always be the standard by which to determine an officer's orthodoxy. Unless it is determined by a judicial ruling that our doctrinal standards teach a particular position, there must be latitude in this area.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor William Dembski’s book, The End of Christianity (B&H Academic), argued that the universe is billions of years old—rather than thousands, as young-earth creations contend—and that God brought death, decay and natural disasters to earth long before Adam and Eve sinnedThere is no definitive statement by Catholics or Presbyterians or BAptists.
Go and object to them too if you want.
Or better yet, go and object to the ECUSA, etc. who has come out saying that they outright disbelieve in this and they think Genesis is a fable.
And then when someone from the Vatican, or the Pope, wakes up on the left side of the bed on a Tuesday next month, there will be another "definitive ruling" on this, that, or something else concerning scripture.
And round and round we go......
It is much easier, and it is God's will, that we follow His Word.
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Who says the Bible says it is categorically wrong to bow to someone?
read:
You see this here -- a lot of not only bowing but even prostrating (which the priests in the pic you posting were prostrating to Jesus Christ)
in Revelation 22:8, it explicitly says that John "fell down to worship at the feet of the angel." The angel rebuked him telling him to "Worship God!" -- the angel was objecting to WORSHIP not the BOWING
you make so many errors and you want to teach us?
If you got objections to not making a ruling go and scream at the Presbyterians and Baptists too
the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) who state that
The fact is that the (Presbyterian) Church, while affirming with one voice the creation of all things visible and invisible by the triune God, has not come to a unity of position on the matter of the nature and length of the days, as she has with regard to such doctrines as the Trinity and the Person of Christ. This indicates that the Westminster divines were correct in their affirmation that “all things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all. . .” (WCF I, 7).And the OPC
The OPC, as a denomination, has no statement or decision regarding the length of the days of creation. Though General Assembly denied the appeal of a ruling elder who taught the animal ancestry of Adam (determining that such teaching was contrary to the Westminster Confession of Faith), it has thus far had no judicial case with regard to the length of the days of creation, and therefore has rendered no ruling on the matter. OPC ministers and elders are divided on the issue. Those who hold to literal 24-hour days appeal to the words "in the space of" in Shorter Catechism question 9 ("The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good"). On the other hand, those who hold to the day-age theory or framework hypothesis argue that the biblical text is inconclusive as to the length of the days, and the phrase "in the space of" is not determinative. The OPC is a confessional church, and therefore the Confession, Larger and Shorter Catechisms must always be the standard by which to determine an officer's orthodoxy. Unless it is determined by a judicial ruling that our doctrinal standards teach a particular position, there must be latitude in this area.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor William Dembski’s book, The End of Christianity (B&H Academic), argued that the universe is billions of years old—rather than thousands, as young-earth creations contend—and that God brought death, decay and natural disasters to earth long before Adam and Eve sinned
I disagree that this is the reason the priests lay prostrate during their ordination, but I'll take your word for it. Let's say that is correct. I kneel before a wooden cross sometime in front of a church, and I am kneeling before God and not a piece of wood. So, OK.
Who is the guy kneeling before in the picture I posted? Looks like the Pope to me.
Do you know what Peter did when someone tried to kneel before him?
Acts 10:25-26 "As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
Explain that?
I believe in the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Incarnation, the Word of God as true, and the Resurrection.
The priests lay prostate (not "prostrate" -- that's a different thing) before JESUS CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST -- don't take my word for it, actually READ something that is not a msm or propaganda site or visit a Catholic Church.
you're just reading and making your own interpretation. It's like some savage seeing a person working on a car engine thinking he's bowing
You need to try again to understand the posted article and the Catholic position.
Do you really believe that any Scriptural passage can be ripped out of its context and must be considered true?
Please answer.
I never said we were. Stop exaggerating, and don't try to make this personal.
It is completely true that the Catholic church is constantly making these "declarations" about this and that. It has to. The "church" has set itself up as the middle man of what is true, and what is not. That is what this entire thread is about.
There are liberal Protestant churches who make ridiculous statements as well, and they are properly and loudly condemned by spirit filled Christians. The liberals who say homosexuality is just fine and dandy are but one example.
The problem is that many Catholics do not condemn these "declarations" that are hostile to, and in opposition against, the Word of God.
If you actually ever read a Bible you would already know the answer -- besides which I already told you in this same post -- do you read?
I told you in post 181:
Who says the Bible says it is categorically wrong to bow to someone?
go read the bible:
You see this here -- a lot of not only bowing but even prostrating (which the priests in the pic you posting were prostrating to Jesus Christ)
in Revelation 22:8, it explicitly says that John "fell down to worship at the feet of the angel." The angel rebuked him telling him to "Worship God!" -- the angel was objecting to WORSHIP not the BOWING
you make so many errors and you want to teach us?
Why don't you actually read the bible instead of making gaffe after gaffe? And you think we've committed errors? You don't even read the bible and make so many mistakes in interpretation not only of the Bible but of pictures, etc. sheesh
Good, at least we're on the same page with that. Thank you for affirming this. We share these same core beliefs.
Again you were wrong about the picture
Again, you were wrong about the Church that it does not make a statement -- the same as Presbyterians or Baptists, but have you said anything to them about making their minds up?
Do you have any proof for your statements? "Constantly making these declarations"?
Sheesh, it's galling dealing with folks who have read nothing, not even the Bible and yet think THEIR interpretation is the one for all to follow
“Some parts are literally true. Others are not. It’s important to be able to discern the difference.”
If even one word isn’t literally true, then it all goes out the window.
Who’s qualified to discern and decree truth?
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