Bible Study

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vandyke4

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Is Catholic bible study synonymous with Protestant bible study?

In other words, can I as a Catholic attend a Protestant (Lutheran) bible study group and get the same results in terms of scripture, content and interpretation?

Thanks so much.
 
I think you can, but you should be a little cautious. The Church reserves the authority to interpret Scripture. I have Catholic friends who attend non-Catholic Bible studies just to be able to work within a group and increase their understanding about general Bible info. Because they know their faith, they can weed out stuff that they know to be contrary to Church teaching. So, it depends on what kind of information you wish to gain, and the focus of the Bible study.

Peace,
Kathy
 
I wasn’t as clear as I meant to be!😊

There is a huge difference in the ‘interpretations’ when talking about the issues that divide Catholics & Protestants - Real Presence, forgiveness of sins, justification, etc. But you likely will get ok information about the meanings of the parables, teachings, etc. Keep in mind that the Catholic bible (the original) has more books than the King James, but only in the old testament.

Good luck:thumbsup:
Kathy
 
Yes and no.

I attend a “non-denominational” bible study…which generally means protestant. But, I have studied Catholicism (through Catholic Answers, EWTN and books by their hosts, other books) to know where the differences are likely to be. If it’s Lutheran, it will probably be closer, but be careful. Remember, two of the ideas that the protestants ran with are “faith alone” and “the Bible alone.” Catholicism relies on tradition as well as the Bible. There is also a difference in the Bible itself. They don’t include several books or put them in as “apocryphal”. There is also some translation differences, especially in the new testament.

Catholicism also recognizes that our actions (or “works”) DO count. Many of the protestant groups will really drive home that it is faith alone. (My study’s leader split hairs by saying faith for justification/salvation, but our actions/works at judgement time. It seems to me, this shows that faith and works are imortant!!!)

Also, within the Lutheran denomination, the Eucharist is viewed differently… all the way from it being bread AND Jesus, to symbolic. Transubstatiation (that the appearance remains bread but the eucharist is actually the body of Christ) is truly Catholic.

So, while you are not likely to face what I have (“Pray now and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior” and a definite focus on “faith alone”), there will be some differences.

Hope that helps!

Elizabeth C
 
Thanks Kathy.

This is the response I was looking for. I am currently attending a sort of bible study class with a group of folks within my Catholic parish. The question was raised by my Protestant wife, “why not attend bible study with my parents and their friends? You know them all and it might be of more comfort to you.” I suppose I related to her that I was the only man in the Catholic study group among 5 ladies in their 70’s, and it was a little uncomfortable, for lack of a better word - me in my 40’s. In any case, if I do attend the other, I will be cautious as suggested. Thanks again and God Bless,

Tony
 
Thanks again, to both Kathy and Elizabeth…!

I certainly appreciate the information about differences in faith, beliefs and interpretations. This exchange has brought a lot to the surface, things I’ll give much consideration before commiting to attendance. Fact is, I may be less comfortable with the Protestant group! They are Lutherans, but they sometimes attend Baptist and other Protestant “flavors of the week”. Kind of strange to me, and maybe all the more to contend with. I’m certainly not at the teaching or administering class as of yet with regard to the Catholic faith, even though I’ve attended Church for the Better part of 40 years. However, learning more about other faiths has only served to strengthen my own. Thanks to you both,

Tony
 
** Keep in mind that the Catholic bible (the original) has more books than the King James, but only in the old testament.**

Not true.

The full KJV does indeed have these books, in a section called Apocrypha, but it’s tricky to find a full KJV in the USA.

I won’t have a mutilated KJV in my house.
 
Cluny said:
The full KJV does indeed have these books, in a section called Apocrypha
Click to expand...
Yes, I suppose that strictly speaking, it can be said the books are there… but if they’re in their own Apocrypha section and not “mixed in” among the rest, then they’re certainly not where a Catholic might expect to find them!
 
Yes, I suppose that strictly speaking, it can be said the books are there… but if they’re in their own Apocrypha section and not “mixed in” among the rest, then they’re certainly not where a Catholic might expect to find them!

There has never been any real significance of the order of books in the Bible.

I’ve seen Russian Bibles, for example that put the Gospel of St. John and his letters in the front of the New Testament, probably because the Liturgy lectionary starts with Pascha, and the Gospel for that day is John 1.
 
Cluny said:
Yes, I suppose that strictly speaking, it can be said the books are there… but if they’re in their own Apocrypha section and not “mixed in” among the rest, then they’re certainly not where a Catholic might expect to find them!

There has never been any real significance of the order of books in the Bible.

I’ve seen Russian Bibles, for example that put the Gospel of St. John and his letters in the front of the New Testament, probably because the Liturgy lectionary starts with Pascha, and the Gospel for that day is John 1.
Click to expand...
We call the 7 books the Deuterocanonicals and recognise them as inspired writings.
Protestants call them Apocrypha and do not recognise them as inspired so there is a distinct difference. The Protestants are wrong.
 
vandyke4 said:
Is Catholic bible study synonymous with Protestant bible study?

In other words, can I as a Catholic attend a Protestant (Lutheran) bible study group and get the same results in terms of scripture, content and interpretation?

Thanks so much.
Click to expand...
You shouldn’t attend Protestant Bible studies, but considering the beliefs of many Catholics today, you’ll probably get the same results at both.
 
We call the 7 books the Deuterocanonicals and recognise them as inspired writings.
Protestants call them Apocrypha and do not recognise them as inspired so there is a distinct difference. The Protestants are wrong.

Actually, the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics have MORE than 7 books difference.
 
One of the previous posts hit on the subject of choosing a group where you know the people that are there.

That brings up my pet subject that Bible study groups should be friendly and open. I’ve been in a couple awkward groups, and it’s almost painful to be there. So, the social aspect should not be neglected.

But, part of the social aspect is being accepted. So, if you put yourself in a non-Catholic group to begin with, you should know whether you are welcome or not, and if you can speak freely or not.

I attended a friendly study group at a Christian Reformed Church for four years, but then I got “jumped” by a new member from that church who was very opinionated about having a Catholic in the group. Of course, I got jumped on the first time in 4 years that I asked a mildly pointed question about their church practice. From that moment on, I did not feel welcome.

Other Catholics had come and gone very quickly, too, when they apparently felt uncomfortable about being there. Funny thing was, half of the group was Catholic, to begin with.

There was a CRC lady there who had grown up with some stress between herself and her mom, who was a “good Catholic.”. Eventually the daughter left the Roman Catholic Church and joined the Christian Reformed Church. As she put it so well, “I was a Catholic for 24 years then I became a Christian.”

If you like a group with that kind of sarcasm in it, or if you can put up with that sort of thing, then join whatever group you want. But it may be tough to sit there in silence. And, it may hurt at times.
 
The only reason to participate in a Protestant (or liberal Catholic) Bible study is for the sake of conversion, of bringing them to the Truth. You have to know how to defend the basics of the Church (with the Bible as well as with “logic”) that may (or may not, possibly) be attacked. Sometimes it will be best to remain silent, but the goal has to be, bringing them to Him in “spirit and truth.” Study hard and pray harder.🙂
 
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