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To: Dr. Eckleburg

***The clergy teaches sound doctrine and leads in worship; it does not interpret the Scriptures or bequeath the gift of the Holy Spirit.***

How can you formulate or teach sound doctrine if you do not interpret Scripture?

***14
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
15
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you,
16
speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.
17
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.

Even Peter cautioned us all to not misinterpret Paul - that misinterpretation is as common now as it was then, if not more common. But what is stability? How should we proceed?

The Catechism says:

The Second Vatican Council indicates three criteria for interpreting Scripture in accordance with the Spirit who inspired it.78

112 1. Be especially attentive “to the content and unity of the whole Scripture”. Different as the books which compose it may be, Scripture is a unity by reason of the unity of God’s plan, of which Christ Jesus is the center and heart, open since his Passover.79

The phrase “heart of Christ” can refer to Sacred Scripture, which makes known his heart, closed before the Passion, as the Scripture was obscure. But the Scripture has been opened since the Passion; since those who from then on have understood it, consider and discern in what way the prophecies must be interpreted.80

113 2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (”. . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church”81).

114 3. Be attentive to the analogy of faith.82 By “analogy of faith” we mean the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation.

Yes. Scripture is one entity. It is an attempt at writing down what Jesus instructed us. It needs to be interpreted through the Church. When we try to read Scripture on our own, we are as lost as those that Peter addressed, and as lost as the eunuch attempting to read Scripture on his own.


3,883 posted on 03/11/2008 6:57:39 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr; HarleyD; wmfights; Forest Keeper; Gamecock; Alex Murphy; Manfred the Wonder Dawg; ...
Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church's heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God's Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture

That paragraph is highlighted for anyone who thinks the reformation has ended.

By the grace of God, men have been given God's actual word, Jesus Christ, made known to us in the God-breathed Scriptures handed down from believer to believer whose understanding is illuminated by the Holy Spirit, not the magisterium.

Scripture is the church's rule of faith.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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." -- 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Every Christian led by the Holy Spirit has the ability and privilege to understand Scripture. Likewise, Scripture is the only infallible interpreter of Scripture.

"These (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." -- Acts 17:11

No one has the right, not even the church, to go beyond Scripture.

"And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." -- 1 Corinthians 4:6

God has entrusted His word to all believers.

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." -- Jude 1:3

The Holy Spirit is the authoritative teacher of the church, not the magisterium or the bishop of Rome.

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." -- John 16:13-14


"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." -- 1 John 2:27

Scripture is the word of God.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." -- 2 Peter 1:20-21


"...the Scripture cannot be broken." -- John 10:35

Tradition is the word of men.

"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." -- Mark 7:7-9

Why did God use the written word over the vain imaginings of men? Because we are conceptual beings, above the sentient animals, who are able to think and reason and understand concepts and ideas. Therefore our faith is based, not on trinkets we can hold, or icons we can see, or flesh and blood we can taste, but on the words of God which are given meaning to our new heart and our renewed mind by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are spiritual beings, not carnal. We understand Christ's sacrifice for us. We know Christ's redemption of us. We believe Christ is God made flesh to redress the sins of our flesh.

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." -- 1 Corinthians 3:17

Christ did not die to chain us again to men and works and bureaucracies and the law. He died to set us free.

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." -- 2 Peter 2:19


"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." -- Galatians 5:1

How are we to know we are free by the atoning death of Christ on the cross?

By reading the words of God which, by the grace of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, are received into our grateful minds and hearts so that we can really and truly understand our salvation has been accomplished by Jesus Christ alone.

"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" -- John 17:14-20


3,888 posted on 03/11/2008 10:50:48 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: MarkBsnr; HarleyD; wmfights; Forest Keeper; Gamecock; Alex Murphy; Manfred the Wonder Dawg; ...
It (Scripture) is an attempt at writing down what Jesus instructed us. It needs to be interpreted through the Church. When we try to read Scripture on our own, we are as lost as those that Peter addressed, and as lost as the eunuch attempting to read Scripture on his own.

An "attempt?"

You are "lost" when you "try to read Scripture on your own?"

You tell us to read the church fathers which are able to be understood without too much difficulty.

But God's word is too cryptic for us believers?!?

Frankly, I find the Scriptures easier to read and understand than most of the church fathers.

Mark, have more faith in God's ability to renew your mind to the truth. It's just not that difficult to grasp.

"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36

3,891 posted on 03/11/2008 11:19:31 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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