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I’d be interested in knowing what you think the role of the Bible is, then. Why did God have it written, preserving it so carefully, declaring it to be inspired and so on?

Is it a list of guidelines? Some interesting history? A framework of suggestions for the Magisterium to improve upon?

Or the Word of God?

If it is the Word of God, then, no man including the Pope gets to add to it or cancel any out.

If it’s not the Word of God, then, what is it?

I’d be interested in knowing what you think the role of the Bible is, then. Why did God have it written, preserving it so carefully, declaring it to be inspired and so on? Is it a list of guidelines? Some interesting history? A framework of suggestions for the Magisterium to improve upon? Or the Word of God? If it is the Word of God, then, no man including the Pope gets to add to it or cancel any out. If it’s not the Word of God, then, what is it?

I believe it is the written word of God. The Old Testament was written over many centuries, and for various reasons (giving the law, history, prophecy, prayers, etc.) It has always required designated interpreters, from Old Testament times forward.

The New Testament part of it was written over many decades after Jesus built his Church. In fact, it was written after he ascended into heaven, and it was written by his Church.

Jesus built his Church for a reason. Part of the reason was to write the New Testament (over time), part to interpret and apply it. (The Traditions of the Church started long before the New Testament was finished being written, reflecting precisely the way Jesus designed and built his Church.)

You can look at the Bible as a rule book. In football, if you had the current rule book, but no refs to interpret and apply the rules in the rule book, you would end up with complete chaos on the field.

In the religious world, if you remove the refs (the Church) you will end up with chaos, like the 34,000-plus denominations we now have, all seeing the "rule book" quite differently.

Fortunately, the refs Jesus picked (his Church) are not as bad at interpreting and applying the rule book as football refs often are, because, as Jesus promised, the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church (singular) that he built.