The Church! According to the Bible Itself, the Church is the "pillar of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), not the Bible. Is private interpretation of the Bible condoned in the Bible Itself? No, it is not (2 Peter 1:20). Was individual interpretation of Scripture practiced by the early Christians or the Jews? Again, "NO" (Acts 8:29-35). The assertion that individuals can correctly interpret Scripture is false.
Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible? No. The word "truth" is used several times in the New Testament. However, the plural version of the word "truth" never appears in Scripture. Therefore, there can only be one Truth.
When it comes to interpreting Scripture, individual non-Catholic Christians claim the same infallibility as the Papacy. If one were to put two persons of the "same" non-Catholic Christian denomination (i.e., two Presybterians, two Lutherans, two Baptists, etc.) in separate rooms with a Bible and a notepad and ask them to write down their "interpretation" of the Bible, passage for passage, shouldn't they then produce the exact same interpretation? If guided by the Holy Spirit as Scripture states, the answer should be "Yes." But would that really happen? History has shown that the answer is "No." Now, in the case of Catholics, the Church which Christ founded and is with forever (Matthew 28:20) interprets the Bible, as guided by the Holy Spirit, (Mark 13:11) for the "sheep" (the faithful). The Church (not individuals) interpret Scripture. In Catholicism, Scripture is there for meditation, prayer and inspiration, not for individual interpretation to formulate doctrine or dogma.
HaHaHa...Catholicism throws away bible doctrine and invents its own...
Again, keep things in context. Read all of 1 Timothy 3 so you will understand why Paul is writing to the church.
Is private interpretation of the Bible condoned in the Bible Itself? No, it is not (2 Peter 1:20).
Read on to the next verse for a complete understanding of this. You might also want to check with the Bereans on this issue..."Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." Acts 17:11 NASB
Peter also had this to say about the word....
2like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation 1 Peter 2:2 NASB
Was individual interpretation of Scripture practiced by the early Christians or the Jews? Again, "NO" (Acts 8:29-35).
We will note the Ethiopian was not Jew or Christian. However, Philip was and he was moved by the Spirit to explain Isaiah to the man. He used, gasp, the scriptures, the written word, to explain how the man could have salvation through Christ.
This is not a case of forbidding someone to read the word to try and understand it. It is an example of helping someone come to Christ using the word.
The assertion that individuals can correctly interpret Scripture is false.
Guess that part about the Holy Spirit being our Helper doesn't apply in reading the word......
I understand why the rcc doesn't want their members to read the text if your understanding of the text is an example of the level of understanding of a catholic.
If you read the Bible, how do you know what it means unless there is a priest or bishop there to explain it to you?
BTW....you're making your own interpretation of Scripture, weak as it is, just by posting these verses.