Posted on 12/18/2014 5:00:17 PM PST by Salvation
Why Don’t Catholics Read the Bible?
by Dwight Longenecker
The independent Evangelical church I went to as a boy gave me a fantastic amount of Bible knowledge. There were Bible drills in Sunday School classes, Bible memory contests and Bible quizzes, not to mention a complete grounding in all the Bible stories—illustrated with those wonderful flannelgraph figures. As I got older I listened to long Bible sermons, went to home Bible studies, youth Bible camps and a Bible holiday club. I ended up going to a Christian University where Bible study was part of our everyday schedule.
Our Christian home wasn’t particularly anti-Catholic, but some of our preachers were, and the general impression I got was that Catholics not only didn’t read the Bible, but that they weren’t allowed to. They didn’t go to church with their big black Bibles under their arm. They didn’t have long Bible sermons or home study groups or youth Bible camps. How could Catholics believe the Bible if they didn’t read it and study it like we did?
Its true that many Evangelicals know their Bible upside down and backwards, and compared to them Catholics sometimes seem ignorant of the Bible. But that's only an appearance.
The truth is simply that Catholics and Evangelicals use the Bible in different ways and therefore have different kinds of Bible knowledge. Evangelicals use the Bible as a source book for doctrine and right moral teaching, and that's good. 2 Timothy 3.16 says the Scriptures are 'useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.' Evangelicals also use the Bible for personal devotions and inspiration. This too is Biblical. Psalm 119.27 says, 'Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then will I meditate on your wonders.'
Ordinary Catholics might not be so adept at quoting chapter and verse, but they do know and use Scripture regularly. Its just that they use it in a different way. For a Catholic, Scripture is not so much a book to be studied as a book to worship with. (Ps. 119.7) For Catholics the Bible is almost always used in the context of worship. Did you know that a survey was done to check the amount of Scripture used in the Catholic Mass? The Catholic service was almost 30% Scripture. When the same writer checked his local Bible-based Evangelical church he was surprised to find the total amount of Scripture read took just 3% of the service.
When Catholics go to mass they hear a reading from the Old Testament, they say or sing one of the Psalms, then they listen to a reading from the epistles, then a gospel reading. The whole structure fits together so the communion service if focused on Christ in the gospels. Catholics follow a three year cycle of Scripture reading so a Catholic who goes to church faithfully will--over the three years--hear almost all of the Bible read. Furthermore, the responses, and the words of the communion service are almost all from Scripture. So a church-going Catholic does know and use Scripture--its just that he uses it primarily for meditation and worship (Ps.119.48)--not for personal information and instruction.
And when you think about it, isn't this actually the way Scripture is meant to be used? The Jews recite the Old Testament law in their worship daily. The psalms were the hymn book of the Jews. In the New Testament church they read the letters of the apostles, recited the psalms and used portions of Scripture to praise and worship God just as Catholics do today.(Eph.5.19) We know from the records of the early church that Scripture was used primarily for worship, and only secondarily for study.
Of course, like Evangelicals, Catholics also use the Scripture to determine doctrine and moral principles--its just that the Catholic lay person or pastor doesn't do so on his own. As Paul gave Timothy the apostolic authority to 'rightly divide the word of truth' (2 Timothy 2.15), so Catholics believe their bishops have inherited the authority of the apostles to teach doctrinal and moral truth faithfully. They base this on Paul’s clear instructions to Timothy, ‘the things you have heard me say …entrust to reliable men so that they man in turn teach others.’ (2 Timothy 2.1-2) Therefore, it is the bishops—living, praying and working in a direct line from the apostles-- who use the Bible to determine Christian doctrine and moral principles. That Catholic doctrine and moral teaching is biblically-based is easy to see. Try reading any official Catholic teaching documents and you will find they are--and always have been--permeated and upheld with Scripture.
Nevertheless, memories are long. Some extreme Protestants like to say that the Catholic church not only forbade people to read the Bible, but they deliberately kept the Bible in Latin, chained it up in churches and even went so far as to burn popular translations of the Bible. Its true Bibles were chained in churches. Before the days of printing presses books were precious items. They were chained for security reasons—the way a phone book is secured in a phone booth—to make it available to everyone. The Catholic Church allowed translations into the vernacular from the beginning. The earliest English version of the Bible for instance, is a paraphrase version of Genesis dating from the year 670. In a few places the authorities did burn some translations of the Bible which were deliberately faulty or which carried heretical notes, but this was an attempt to preserve the purity of the scriptures, not to keep it from God’s people. Remembering that in the Middle Ages most people were illiterate, the pastors and teachers of the Catholic Church instructed the people about the biblical stories in many creative and dramatic ways—not unlike my Sunday School teacher’s use of the flannelgraph.
But in saying all this, ordinary modern Catholics could learn a few lessons from Evangelicals about Bible knowledge. We Catholics need more Bible scholars amongst our pastors. We need more resources for personal Bible reading. We need to understand the Scriptures better to see how our faith is rooted and grounded in the Bible. Our own official teachings encourage us to read, study and learn the Scriptures. Dei Verbum--a document about the God's Word from Second Vatican Council says, "...all clergy should remain in close contact with the Scriptures by means of reading and accurate study of the text...similarly the Council earnestly and expressly calls upon all the faithful...to acquire by frequent reading of holy Scripture the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ (Phil 3.8) for as St.Jerome said, "Ignorance of the Scriptures is indeed ignorance of Christ."'
Ecumenism is a two way street. If we have lessons to learn from Evangelicals, many Evangelicals could learn fresh ways of using the Scriptures from us too. Singing the psalms in worship is something Catholics can share with Evangelicals, using a lectionary helps pastors choose Biblical readings which harmonise Old Testament and New Testament, taking the congregation on a logical process through each year of worship. Finally, using chosen readings from the Old Testament, the epistles and then the gospels helps focus the worship on Jesus Christ. Using the Scriptures like this is a practical way for the whole word of God in Scripture to point to the Word of God in the flesh-- our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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Catholics and the Bible
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The bottom line argument or disagreement is that almost all Evangelicals take the Bible literally and do not have a magisterium to interpret scripture when the verses can have different meanings to different literate and intelligent readers. Even with their “literal” readings there is often no consensus among preachers what a given verse may mean. Narrow interpretations often put evangelists in conflict with apparent scientific realities.
The Catholic Church from the beginning accepted Scripture more as a divine inspired historical narrative which also revealed God’s love and relationship with mankind. It was edited from the beginning. Most of the current Bible was assembled after much debate and prayer at gatherings in the 3rd and 4th century. The writings and documents of St. Jerome and others that would have been informative were lost at Rome in the 5th century.
It has always been the position of the Catholic Church that it was founded by Jesus Christ, who promised to be with it until the end of time. It believes that its teachings and pronouncements are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those pronouncements and teachings regarding Scripture and other spiritual matters matters are believed to be free of doctrinal error. While Bible reading is not discouraged, it is felt that misinterpretations by the reader can lead to perdition and a fall from grace. For instance the misinterpretation of the “separation of the races” and slavery references which was used by many preachers to justify slavery and racism. When those readings of the Old and New Testament are read at mass, the priest’s sermon will often explain and explore the theme of the Scriptures in the context of Catholic teaching.
Detractors and critics of the Catholic Church usually rage at the human shortcomings of the clergy at all levels. Some are repelled by the use of religious imagery and symbolism. Some have fundamental doctrinal disputes. Catholics refer to them as heretics but do not excommunicate them from the mystical body of Christ. Catholic doctrine teaches that if they are well meaning, deeply and legitimately believe their tenets, do no actual harm to others, then while they are not Catholics they have experienced what the Church calls a “baptism of desire.” However with the exception of a few Protestant sects and almost no Evangelicals, most detractict Protestants do not think Catholics can be saved.
“If you believe that the core of evangelization is the Word, then you need to make the Word front and center.”
The Word is not limited to that which is written. Sheen knew that too.
As far as I can tell, at time of your having submitted the above comment, there could not have been any "Catholic bashers" prior, for the only comments other than your own, were from two persons, one of which you addressed in comment -- and the other individual having highlighted some textual information from the article itself (in italics) and then added to that information gleaned from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.
How does the article itself "bash" (Roman) Catholics?
Do the RCC bishops who make up USCCB -- bash "Catholics"?
Wait...don't answer that last one (hehheheh)
I had 4 years of religion classes in my Catholic H.S., and never once was there any studying of the Bible. But we thoroughly covered Papal encyclicals and church traditions.
I've noticed that our girls' catechism does include "Bible Study" time now, but only once a month or something. The protestant VBSs they occasionally attend do pile it on, though.
Catholics memorize prayers. Not Bible verses.
We didn't. I can't really remember what we did.
Our Father - Luke 11:1-4
Hail Mary - Luke 1:28, 1:42-43
Glory Be (a doxology) - 1 Chron 29:11, Phil 4:20, 2 Cor 13:14
Just a few to think about.
I've heard they can be downright stubborn!
After dinner, they asked us if we wanted to play Bible Trivia. We said yeah. We started to play and we began to answer some really tough questions. Pretty soon it was obvious that we were winning hands down.
All of us were surprised that the Catholics won.
I may not be able to tell you what Chapter and Verse where something may be, but can tell you its meaning.
I am a Roman Catholic and I will testify that the most fulfillment I get from reading the Bible is to sit down and read Proverbs, Psalms and Sirach.
Post numbers please.
I attend Bible studies weekly with a local nun who founded her order. She teaches theology at the local Catholic high school and numerous Bible studies in the area. I don’t like to miss them, but she does make CDs of each class so we can make them up if we miss. She, also, has posted most books of the Bible on line, too.
I, also, use scripture for prayer. Interesting the take the author of this article has to point out that we pray a lot of scripture at each mass. I have been to protestant funeral services that barely mentioned God, let alone scripture. Yet, they criticize Catholics like this? Laughable.
I see scripture quotes around and will often look them up and read the entire chapter, just for context. Only a fool believes this silly rumor that Catholics do not read or know their Bible. Fools repeating rumors. That’s all it is.
Which translated means.....
There really is no one who has ever done that. I was just throwing it out there hoping something would stick.
So all you're left with is unsubstantiated accusations.
Doesn't your Bible have the commandment in it about not bearing false witness?
You can google the daily mass readings for the Catholics. We have daily mass and scripture readings as well as on Sundays. They are available on line and are posted here on FR daily. Open your eyes and check it out.
Hey you got in before the Catholic bashers.
Hey, you got in along side your fellow bashing Catholics!
Since I've been going to daily Mass for decades, I can say that I've heard the same three-year cycle of Bible readings many, many times and I am always inspired by them.
Jesus' words are manna from heaven.
One of my favorite readings is from Matthew 11:29-30
29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
We had that Gospel recently.
As for YOU, you are always right on the mark, pertinent and crystal clear.
Hmmm, I find myself singing the psalm that I heard on Sunday for the rest of the week. So while I may not know which chapter and verse I am singing, I remember the words. I don’t guess that matters to Protestants though, because I don’t remember which psalm it is.
Maybe this is one reason why I feel “at home” in the Lutheran church, for we have the best of both worlds.
Like Catholic worship, Scripture fills the Lutheran service: OT reading, Psalm, Epistle, Gospel, and all the liturgy which comes right out of Scripture.
At the same time, Lutheran “sola Scriptura” doctrine provides a basis for home Bible study, corporate Bible study in Sunday school, personal Bible reading, an immersion in the Scriptures as much as one would get in a Baptist or Assembly of God church.
We live by the Scripture, and we also worship by the Scripture. Soli Deo Gloria!
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