Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Reformation Day – and What Led Me To Back to Catholicism
The Catholic Thing ^ | 10/28/11 | Francis J. Beckwith

Posted on 10/28/2011 6:59:29 AM PDT by markomalley

October 31 is only three days away. For Protestants, it is Reformation Day, the date in 1517 on which Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to that famous door in Wittenberg, Germany. Since I returned to the Catholic Church in April 2007, each year the commemoration has become a time of reflection about my own journey and the puzzles that led me back to the Church of my youth.

One of those puzzles was the relationship between the Church, Tradition, and the canon of Scripture. As a Protestant, I claimed to reject the normative role that Tradition plays in the development of Christian doctrine. But at times I seemed to rely on it. For example, on the content of the biblical canon – whether the Old Testament includes the deuterocanonical books (or “Apocrypha”), as the Catholic Church holds and Protestantism rejects. I would appeal to the exclusion of these books as canonical by the Jewish Council of Jamnia (A.D. 90-100) as well as doubts about those books raised by St. Jerome, translator of the Latin Vulgate, and a few other Church Fathers.

My reasoning, however, was extra-biblical. For it appealed to an authoritative leadership that has the power to recognize and certify books as canonical that were subsequently recognized as such by certain Fathers embedded in a tradition that, as a Protestant, I thought more authoritative than the tradition that certified what has come to be known as the Catholic canon. This latter tradition, rejected by Protestants, includes St. Augustine as well as the Council of Hippo (A.D. 393), the Third Council of Carthage (A.D. 397), the Fourth Council of Carthage (A.D. 419), and the Council of Florence (A.D. 1441).

But if, according to my Protestant self, a Jewish council and a few Church Fathers are the grounds on which I am justified in saying what is the proper scope of the Old Testament canon, then what of New Testament canonicity? So, ironically, given my Protestant understanding of ecclesiology, then the sort of authority and tradition that apparently provided me warrant to exclude the deuterocanonical books from Scripture – binding magisterial authority with historical continuity – is missing from the Church during the development of New Testament canonicity.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, maintains that this magisterial authority was in fact present in the early Church and thus gave its leadership the power to recognize and fix the New Testament canon. So, ironically, the Protestant case for a deuterocanonical-absent Old Testament canon depends on Catholic intuitions about a tradition of magisterial authority.

This led to two other tensions. First, in defense of the Protestant Old Testament canon, I argued, as noted above, that although some of the Church’s leading theologians and several regional councils accepted what is known today as the Catholic canon, others disagreed and embraced what is known today as the Protestant canon. It soon became clear to me that this did not help my case, since by employing this argumentative strategy, I conceded the central point of Catholicism: the Church is logically prior to the Scriptures. That is, if the Church, until the Council of Florence’s ecumenical declaration in 1441, can live with a certain degree of ambiguity about the content of the Old Testament canon, that means that sola scriptura was never a fundamental principle of authentic Christianity.

After all, if Scripture alone applies to the Bible as a whole, then we cannot know to which particular collection of books this principle applies until the Bible’s content is settled. Thus, to concede an officially unsettled canon for Christianity’s first fifteen centuries seems to make the Catholic argument that sola scriptura was a sixteenth-century invention and, therefore, not an essential Christian doctrine.

Second, because the list of canonical books is itself not found in Scripture – as one can find the Ten Commandments or the names of Christ’s apostles – any such list, whether Protestant or Catholic, would be an item of extra-biblical theological knowledge. Take, for example, a portion of the revised and expanded Evangelical Theological Society statement of faith suggested (and eventually rejected by the membership) by two ETS members following my return to the Catholic Church. It states that, “this written word of God consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments and is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behavior.”

But the belief that the Bible consists only of sixty-six books is not a claim of Scripture, since one cannot find the list in it, but a claim about Scripture as a whole. That is, the whole has a property – i.e., “consisting of sixty-six books,” – that is not found in any of the parts. In other words, if the sixty-six books are the supreme authority on matters of belief, and the number of books is a belief, and one cannot find that belief in any of the books, then the belief that Scripture consists of sixty-six particular books is an extra-biblical belief, an item of theological knowledge that is prima facie non-biblical.

For the Catholic, this is not a problem, since the Bible is the book of the Church, and thus there is an organic unity between the fixing of the canon and the development of doctrine and Christian practice.

Although I am forever indebted to my Evangelical brethren for instilling and nurturing in me a deep love of Scripture, it was that love that eventually led me to the Church that had the authority to distinguish Scripture from other things.


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: romancatholic
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 2,621-2,6402,641-2,6602,661-2,680 ... 3,681-3,685 next last
To: TexConfederate1861; CynicalBear; boatbums; smvoice; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; ...
Even with that difference, we are still two parts of the Catholic faith, delivered to us, and sealed with the blood of the martyrs.

Count me in for being part of the body of Christ, IN Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

Oh.... is that too hateful?

2,641 posted on 11/17/2011 8:49:48 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2603 | View Replies]

To: boatbums; CynicalBear

I’m looking forward to having a body that doesn’t consider food a personal assault.


2,642 posted on 11/17/2011 8:52:11 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2611 | View Replies]

To: Jvette; CynicalBear
It is the same body, but perfected by Christ, as our souls are perfected, but we still have the same soul.

Even the soul needs to be redeemed. Unless you think our propensity to sin comes from somewhere else....

2 Corinthians 5:17 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2,643 posted on 11/17/2011 9:02:20 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2631 | View Replies]

To: Jvette

It would make little sense to resurrect our body, if we got a new one in its place.


2,644 posted on 11/17/2011 11:30:59 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2632 | View Replies]

To: D-fendr
First, is Jesus the final authority or is Holy Scripture? Second, do you acknowledge the two "Words" are not identities, i.e., not the exact same thing?

First, are you looking for a way not to believe God's Word - Jesus - is The Final Authority?

Second, lean not unto your own understanding which comes from your natural senses. God is a Supernatural God.

"For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Heb 4:12
2,645 posted on 11/18/2011 5:00:18 AM PST by presently no screen name
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2606 | View Replies]

To: Jvette
If I remember you told me that Jesus was talking to all the apostles when He said that and I showed you clearly that He was talking specifically to Peter.
2,646 posted on 11/18/2011 5:09:00 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2629 | View Replies]

To: Jvette

If you remember correctly after Jesus arose He could appear before people who knew Him and they didn’t recognize Him. He could also just appear in a room or place. There must be some difference.


2,647 posted on 11/18/2011 5:13:09 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2631 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne

Look at the post I was responding to.


2,648 posted on 11/18/2011 5:17:00 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2638 | View Replies]

To: metmom
>> That's funny. Non-Catholics are chastised for being followers of Paul instead of Christ. Now we're supposed to be followers of martyrs?<<

The irony struck me also.

2,649 posted on 11/18/2011 5:19:35 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2640 | View Replies]

To: metmom
>>I’m looking forward to having a body that doesn’t consider food a personal assault.<<

LOL I hear ya! I'll bet beans aren't called the musical fruit.

2,650 posted on 11/18/2011 5:24:26 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2642 | View Replies]

To: Natural Law; TexConfederate1861
>> Simply look through the posting histories of all associated with these threads and see whose words and actions suggest love manifest in the fruits of grace.<<

You may want to compare the words on this forum to words Jesus uses to those who don’t believe what He says.

2,651 posted on 11/18/2011 5:38:58 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2634 | View Replies]

To: CynicalBear

I did. U reoeat: No Catholic would profane Mother Teresa. But I have seen non-Catholics do it.


2,652 posted on 11/18/2011 5:48:23 AM PST by Judith Anne (For rhe sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2648 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne

Duh. I repeat...


2,653 posted on 11/18/2011 5:49:25 AM PST by Judith Anne (For rhe sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2652 | View Replies]

To: CynicalBear

Belief is an intetnal thing. No one has any way of denying or confirming what someone else believes, nor any way of judging it. Unless, of course, you consider yourself able to read hearts and minds. Taking your posts into account, you appear to have a deficiency in that area.


2,654 posted on 11/18/2011 5:52:42 AM PST by Judith Anne (For rhe sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2651 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne
>>No one has any way of denying or confirming what someone else believes, nor any way of judging it.<<

Unless they tell you or put it in writing. Duh.

2,655 posted on 11/18/2011 5:55:39 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2654 | View Replies]

To: CynicalBear

Even then, you are not God and do not know for certain what anyone believes. People can SAY they believe anything.


2,656 posted on 11/18/2011 5:59:38 AM PST by Judith Anne (For rhe sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2655 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne

So if someone tells you what they believe you have to be God to understand them?


2,657 posted on 11/18/2011 6:09:10 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2656 | View Replies]

To: CynicalBear

Look, if you’ve been told a hundred times that Catholics do not worship Mary, but according to the posts of you and your fellow “believers,” you are able to discern that we do?

So, are you the deity, able to know what someone believes? I prefer to think that it’s ignorance driving the so-called “knowledge” you claim to have. Rather than malice, of course.

I could be wrong about all of you.


2,658 posted on 11/18/2011 6:16:03 AM PST by Judith Anne (For rhe sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2657 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne
>> Look, if you’ve been told a hundred times that Catholics do not worship Mary, but according to the posts of you and your fellow “believers,” you are able to discern that we do?<<

That’s a rather easy one to answer.

Worship: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worship
-reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence
-a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
-extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem

There’s no doubt in my mind that by Webster’s definition of worship Catholics worship Mary and their so called Saints.

2,659 posted on 11/18/2011 6:29:14 AM PST by CynicalBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2658 | View Replies]

To: CynicalBear; Natural Law; D-fendr; Jvette; sayuncledave; Salvation

Okay, then you DON’T take someone’s word for what they believe, do you? You and your friends put yourselves in the position of God, able to discern what others believe, no matter what they say.

So, your post 2655 was not true. My only question is, ignorance, or malice. I tend to think the latter.


2,660 posted on 11/18/2011 6:42:50 AM PST by Judith Anne (For rhe sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2659 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 2,621-2,6402,641-2,6602,661-2,680 ... 3,681-3,685 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson