Posted on 04/13/2013 2:54:16 PM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic faith is not centered simply on a book -- the Bible -- but on Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, Pope Francis said.
"The sacred Scriptures are a written testimony to the divine Word," which came before the Bible and exceeds it, the pope said April 12 during a meeting with members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, an international body of scholars that advises the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Commission members met at the Vatican April 9-12 to conclude work on a document about inspiration and truth in the Bible, which is likely to be published in the coming months.
Archbishop Gerhard Muller, prefect of the doctrinal congregation and president of the commission, told the pope the aim was to help people interpret the Scriptures "in accordance with the nature" of the Bible itself. The focus on "inspiration," he said, was an attempt to explain the divine origin of the Bible and the focus on "truth" was an attempt to describe what the Bible says "about God and his plan for salvation."
The archbishop said the commission recognized that when the church describes the Scriptures as being divinely inspired and true certain "challenges come from the Bible itself," including when passages seem to contradict scientific or historical evidence.
Another challenge, he said, is posed by "the violence in some passages" that seems to contradict basic Christian teaching and even phrases the Bible attributes directly to Jesus.
The point of the document, he said, is to help Catholics "overcome both fundamentalism and skepticism."
Pope Francis said the themes of biblical inspiration and truth are important not only for individual believers, "but for the whole church because its life and mission are based on the Word of God, who animates theology and inspires all of Christian existence."
Interpreting the Bible in an honest and authentic way means respecting its nature and recognizing its purpose, the pope said.
"The texts inspired by God were entrusted to the community of believers, the church of Christ, to increase the faith and guide the life of charity," he said. It is only with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and with full respect for the tradition and teaching of the church that the Scriptures' true meaning can be understood.
There’s no missing facts when it comes to “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto ALL good works.” 2Tim. 3:16,17
You see, God sez there’s no missing facts when it comes to the church’s operating manual.
The other stuff compiled by people through the years is non-essential data (subject to error) as far as he is concerned.
“It is only with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and with full respect for the tradition and teaching of the church that the Scriptures’ true meaning can be understood.”
People who deny this have never enjoyed the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
My regrets to those who fancy themselves capable of understanding scripture correctly all by themselves, but YOPIO just doesn’t get it.
Second I don't see anyone pointing a gun to your head to force you to post or comment.
You choose to make your responses all on your own. You have no one to blame but yourself when we slap you down.
ROFLMAO this is from the boy that is making the claim that Jesus was actually crucified earlier than good Friday based on one verse taken out of context. Wow you have got some serious cojones.
Thank you. A much more polite response than I wanted to make.
“You showed no scriptural evidence for your case, but I needed to?”
Sure. You say there’s biblical justification for your position that Mary died. Show me.
“That has no bearing on the doctrines of the Lord, so I don’t occupy much times worrying about it.”
So you’re conceding the point then that we can obtain reliable knowledge about the Gospel and the authors outside of scripture? This is an important contention.
“Chapter and verse please.”
You say Mary was a sinner. I’m going to need Chapter and verse on that. As for Mary as the second eve. Genesis 3:15.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
“Mary KNEW her ‘low estate’, and after her giving birth, offered the gifts required by the Law for her cleansing.”
My soul rejoices in God my saviour. Indeed - her saviour was Christ who saved her from sinning. It all comes back to what does ‘full of Grace’ mean? Does someone who is full of Grace sin?
“God the Father IS the father of the Christ, and is therefore able to pass along his sinlessness to his Son.”
Through his divine nature, yes. Are you arguing that Christ is not truly the son of Mary? Christ has a sinless divine and sinless human nature.
“Paul put this way: “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. That’s grace; unmerited favor.”
That’s not full of grace. The only one that term is every applied in scripture - is Mary.
“He inheritted her mortal qualities: hunger, thirst, grew weary, and died. God raised him up, not Mary.”
If he were not truly Mary’s son, then the Incarnation is a lie.
“The Bible has the complete record of the DOCTRINES of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything else that just may be true historically is non essential for the salvation of the soul.”
One can be saved even without knowledge of Jesus, so this doesn’t really advance your case.
After reading through comments made by non-catholics to this and other threads, one gets the impression that Catholics must be truly ignorant of scripture if they don't read the Bible.
We catholics, on the other hand, are amazed at such a notion. Our daily lives are filled with prayer and scripture. The Catholic Church encourages its people to begin and end their day with the Prayers of the Faithful, also known as the Divine Office. For the edification of our non-catholic friends in the forum, here is a sampling of today's prayers for Monday morning.
FIRST PRAYER
O great Mystery,
you manifested yourself in the flesh,
died and were raised to be proclaimed to the nations.
The world has believed in you who were raised in glory.
Help us to know you through reason and faith,
to keep your commandments with fidelity and love,
to hope with confidence in the resurrection of life
and in the coming of the kingdom of your glory,
where we shall praise you, forever.
Amen.
Psalm 33, followed by a Second Prayer.
NUHRO (HYMN OF LIGHT)
The Light of the just and joy of the upright is Christ Jesus our Lord,
Begotten of the Father he manifested himself to us.
He came to rescue us from darkness and to fill us with the radiance of his light.
Day is dawning upon us; the power of darkness is fading away.
From the true light then arises for us the light which illumines our darkened eyes.
Dreatures lying in darkness from ancient times, are clothed in light.
The dead arise from the dust and sing because theyhave a Savior.
He brings salvation and grants us life.
He ascends to his Father on high.
He will return in glorious splendor and shed his light on those gazing upon him.
Our king comes in majestic glory.
Let us light our lamps and go forth to meet him.
Let us find our joy in him, for he has found joy in us.
He will indeed rejoice us with his marvelous light.
Let us glorify the majesty of the Son and give thanks to the Almighty Father, who
in an outpouring of love, sent him to us, to fill us with hope and salvation.
When he manifests himself, the saints awaiting him in weariness
and sorrow, will go forth to meet him with lighted lamps.
The angels and guardians of heaven will rejoice in the glory of the
just and upright people of earth:
Together, crowned with victory, they will sing hymns and psalms
Stand up, then and be ready.
Give thanks to our King and Savior, who will come in great glory
to gladden us with his marvelous light in his kingdom.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
This is followed by a Third Prayer after which come the Morning Psalms: Psalm 148, Psalm 149:1-6, Psalm 150, Psalm 117
Next we have a series of prayers filled with praise, glory and honor to the Son. We recall the Prophets through whom God spoke of the Son to our ancestors. We rejoice in this day that the Lord has made. We conclude these prayers with one addressed to Christ our Lord: "we adore you who conquered death with life and gave us the hope of resurrection ...".
READINGS follow: 1 Peter 2:28-25, Luke 24:44-49, Exodus 11:1-10 and Acts 12:1-25
Morning prayers conclude with the Great Doxology: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and joy-filled hope to all ... This is followed by a Concluding Prayer:
O God, you are before all ages and exist from age to age;
you are resplendent and glorified in unsearchable light;
through your word, you bring forth light and give us a new day;
accept our praise and answer our prayer.
Send us your abundant blessings, through the mercy of your Christ.
To him, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be glory, honor and power,
now and forever.
Amen
This evening, a similar grouping of prayers, psalms and readings are said, including AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. Not once this morning did I open a Bible! I have several bibles and occasionally will read from the scriptures. However, the above Prayers of the Faithful, serve as a map to guide me through this day and end it with great peace and joy.
Dear non-catholic friends,
For the edification of us catholics, it would be informative and most appreciated if some of you could respond with an example of your daily prayers and readings. Perhaps we can better dialogue on the use of a Bible in daily life. Pax et Bonum
I know that many Catholics don’t read the Bible.. (or at least didn’t until recently), from my friends who are Catholic. Some of them say they have “sneaked” into Bible study at other churches.
I have one Catholic friend who says that she doesn’t consider herself a Christian- but a Catholic.. and she worries sometimes when she hears people talking about the Bible, because she was told to not read it, because she wouldn’t understand it.
I feel bad for people who do not read the Bible for themselves- because it is the power to save.
And I am sure you know that, after spending time there...right?
So, if you indeed stop and look up those verses and read them, and contemplate them- and you do that everyday, than that is GREAT and I hope that you will encourage others to do the same!
And to answer your questions, I spend a great deal of time in the Old Testament. I have been on that learning path for about 3 years now. Today, I am in the book of Joshua again. I will listen to the Bible, while I work- then I will read it as the day goes on. I will read something OT, then NT, then some psalms on occasion (Don’t usually spend too much time there). I don’t often have a written plan, as I go where the spirit leads. I read the Bible 2-3-4-5 times a day and always for a few mins before bed. Just opening to where ever and reading what is in front of me.
What I pray about, well.. mostly current events and my family. I pray for the church, and for the leaders. I spent time on my face today- praying for the Pastor being held in Iran for not denying Jesus. I will think about how Biblical that is, and like Paul, if he is evangelizing his captors. I pray throughout the day, asking Jesus to bless people, when I hear about illness or hardship. I pray for my children. I will send up thanksgiving, when something makes sense or goes right. Just sort of having an ongoing conversation with Jesus, about the things on my heart.
I will listen to worship music, and lift my hands up- right there in my kitchen, if I feel led to do that.
Just keeping my mind on Jesus and his ministry, and the people of Israel and why they did the things that they did..
So pretty much the same things you do, but without a formal plan.. (not that your plan is bad).
I do like to learn about the seasons and the Jewish festivals. So that is my framework , for the last year.
Currently, at a messianic congregation, we are talking about From Ramses to Sukkot.. (after observing Passover) and that has been an eyeopening lesson for me, on obedience and God’s will for us.
I am glad you embrace the word and read it for yourself. AND again, if all Catholics are encouraged to do that- then I like this Pope.
????
I have one Catholic friend who says that she doesn’t consider herself a Christian- but a Catholic.. and she worries sometimes when she hears people talking about the Bible, because she was told to not read it, because she wouldn’t understand it.
My mother was told the same thing in her youth, though that is was never an official injunction. You realize, of course, that private interpretation of the Bible is not condoned in the Bible Itself (2 Peter 1:20). That message may well have been misconstrued into your friend's interpretation. Catholics who attend daily mass hear 3 readings from the Bible - 1 from the OT, a Psalm, and one from the NT. Rather than selecting texts at random guided by the Holy Spirit, the church pulls these readings together based on their shared message. Freeper Salvation posts the daily Mass Readings. You may want to join her freeper list, for purposes of comparison with what you read.
Like you, it is not unusual for us catholics to lift our voices in song throughout the day as we recall hymns or chants appropriate to the liturgical season. Many Catholic Churches offer Bible Study but, not surprisingly, only those who seriously wish to learn the Bible, will show up.
From your post, I see that our daily lives are similarly paved with prayers, hymns and scripture. God bless you on your journey!
You see, my FRiend, this is precisely why Rome is in so much errant doctrinal trouble. They add to the Scriptures where there is NOTHING.
Show me where Luke died
Show me where Paul died
Show me where Peter died
Show me where John died
Show me where Timothy died
Okay, then they are all in gang with Mary as Quarterback? Please...this is not serious hermeneutics.
Show me where Paul is not an alien from Mars
Show me where David was not a transvestite
Show me where Rome was not said to be demonic
Show me where the Pope is not the antichrist
Get the idea?
If you conclude from my remarks about Rome's errors that I dwell in outer darkness, then we have little to discuss.
They think they will be heard for their many words...
My Christology is just fine. It is the Mariolatry of the RCC that is stuck in overdrive.
Reading 2 Peter 1 starting at verse 19, and continuing through verse 21, the meaning becomes completely the opposite of what you hold. In context, the message is - the Bible is completely reliable, the word of God, written by the prophets through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we would do well to pay attention to it.
The thing that makes the Bible so is the power of the Holy Spirit, not the power of a group of men.
Definitely agree. The "junk" to which I referred was the, "We interpret the Bible best...signed Rome." posting.
"Second I don't see anyone pointing a gun to your head to force you to post or comment."
Definitely agree. I do not recall asking anyone to lower a gun. But, the topic appears about once a week, "Look at us, look at us, we are the group that does it right!" Then, the anger comes out when the pornocrasy is brought up, or the mariolatry is discussed, or the errant doctrines of purgatory, indulgences, sacerdotalism are mentioned.
"You choose to make your responses all on your own. You have no one to blame but yourself when we slap you down."/i>
I don't recall being slapped in any direction. And, if you call sending pictures of cereal boxes "slapped down", it is no wonder Rome is struggling to find relevance.
But, what exactly are you contributing here?
I was just about to write something similar- that private revelation is NOT unique revelation.
All thru the story of the Bible is the idea that Those who have ears to hear...
The Lord allows us to understand, with the power of the Holy Spirit.
We can understanding nothing on our own. We need private revelation, that is not unique, but grounded IN the word.
Yep. A Catholic who simply follows daily mass will read through the entire New Testament every year, and most of the Old Testament every two years. And any version of the Liturgy of the Hours adds far more than that, including the Psalter every month (at least).
You were interested in discussion? Sure didn’t seem like it.
Perfect. And no replies... I wonder why?
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