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DictatorCzar
Guest
Does the church make the official interpretation of the scriptures? Or can we just pray to God For the interpretation?
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DIERM
Guest
Some, but not all.
Well, not “just” if you mean instead of, but yes certainly we can and should pray to God to help us understand His Word through the help of the Holy Spirit.
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Wesrock
Guest
The Church is the authority on Biblical interpretation. It’s part of their role in preserving the scriptures and being a living church.
The Church doesn’t have a verse-by-verse interpretation, though, and it’s okay to pray before reading for assistance in understanding and interpreting. The scripture may speak to you on many levels, both generally and private.
However, if you find your personal thoughts at odd with Church teaching you should defet to the Church. Let me be clear, the Church doesn’t give interpretations “just because.” You should be able to understand why the Church has this interpretation by understanding the larger Biblical context and Christian tradition. But a Catholic should read Scripture in line with the heart and mind of the Church.
The Church doesn’t have a verse-by-verse interpretation, though, and it’s okay to pray before reading for assistance in understanding and interpreting. The scripture may speak to you on many levels, both generally and private.
However, if you find your personal thoughts at odd with Church teaching you should defet to the Church. Let me be clear, the Church doesn’t give interpretations “just because.” You should be able to understand why the Church has this interpretation by understanding the larger Biblical context and Christian tradition. But a Catholic should read Scripture in line with the heart and mind of the Church.
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De_Maria
Guest
It helps me to remember how the Bible was put together.
First thing. Jesus Christ did not write a word of Scripture. He established a Church.
Second. The Church wrote New Testament.
Third. The Church reviewed the Jewish writings and selected those which she considered inspired.
Fourth. The Church joined these together in the Bible.
Now:
113 2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (". . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church"81).
First thing. Jesus Christ did not write a word of Scripture. He established a Church.
Second. The Church wrote New Testament.
Third. The Church reviewed the Jewish writings and selected those which she considered inspired.
Fourth. The Church joined these together in the Bible.
Now:
Basically, the Scriptures are the first official Catholic interpretation of the Word of God.
Yes. But you should do so with the understanding that it is always in the context of the Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church.
113 2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (". . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church"81).
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De_Maria
Guest
The Apostles were the first Catholics.
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Wesrock
Guest
We profess that Christ established one, universal, holy, and apostolic Church through the apostles. Catholic is just derived from the Latin and Greek words for universal. We profess unbroken continuity in our Ancient Church back to the apostles. So, naturally, the Apostles were part of our Church as an institutional body of the Church on Earth.De_Maria:
I think you meant to say early church leaders canonized books of the New Testament. The authors of the New Testament are the apostles etc…
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De_Maria
Guest
Sorry, I think I got confused by the way the quotations came down in the combox.
Notice that I replied to “ReadtheBible” and said, “no”. Afterwards, I confused your
words with his.
No. The Early Church Fathers were all Catholic. Jesus Christ establishedDe_Maria:
I think you meant to say early church leaders canonized books of the New Testament.
the Catholic Church and appointed the Apostles as the foundation
of His Church. Therefore, all the Apostles were Catholic.
The first Catholics.
One, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, correct
Who are the first Catholics.
So?
The Apostles were the first Catholics. Period.
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Wesrock
Guest
I was supporting you…
po18guy
Well-known member
We can read for our own, as scripture speaks anew to each generation and culture. However, the devil waits to lead astray. How to know if you are deriving the correct info from the bible?
Well, we have classic Catholic bible commentaries and even more important: the catechism. We are given much latitude in scriptural interpretation, but our interpretation cannot oppose the magisterium of the Church.
There is much room in the sheepfold, but one you jump the fence, you are among robbers, thieves and murderers.
Well, we have classic Catholic bible commentaries and even more important: the catechism. We are given much latitude in scriptural interpretation, but our interpretation cannot oppose the magisterium of the Church.
There is much room in the sheepfold, but one you jump the fence, you are among robbers, thieves and murderers.
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De_Maria
Guest
Sorry, see explanation above.
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