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Folks, this thread is the reason Christ gave us a Church with the authority to interpret and teach Scripture. Each post here is an authoritative take on the meaning of Scripture... and nearly all are at odds. By what right and authority do you settle such disputes? Dumb question... you don't. You simply make a new church to follow your particular view of Scripture. No one could convincingly argue that this is unity of faith, as Christ prayed for us.

I pray for the day you all come home to your Mother.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."

Folks, this thread is the reason Christ gave us a Church with the authority to interpret and teach Scripture.

So, I can try to understand scripture for myself and risk being wrong or I can accept the Roman interpretation and not run any risk of being wrong but rather have complete assurance of being wrong. I'll take my chances where I at least have a chance.