Catholics accused of not knowing the Bible

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Catholics are frequently accused of not knowing the Bible. That’s a valid point, I think. Many Catholics don’t know the Bible as well as they should. Some don’t know it at all.

I’ve found, though, that non-Catholics often don’t know the Bible any better. They know the verses they use to support their beliefs, but that’s as far as it goes. They often don’t know any more about the Bible. In fact, they often don’t know the quotes they use–they don’t know or don’t understand the context. These verses are used as soundbites.

I’m Catholic and could know the Bible a lot better than I do.

What about you? What religion are you? Do you think you know the Bible as well as you could?
 
Well, for one thing, we Catholics don’t believe in the false teaching of “sola scriptura”(bible alone). Even the Bible does not say everything that is true must come from the Bible. There are two forms of the Word of God: Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

We as Catholics have an authority, just like all Christians, but it’s not the ourselves over the Bible. It’s the pope and the magisterium. They are infallible, incapable of error when teaching the Word of God.

It is not important to know the Bible word for word. The Church guides us with the truth, which better helps us understand the bible. Just look at all those interpretations outside the Church! They think they have it right!
 
" Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."
St. Jerome -5th century
 
Do not forget that the Mass is soaked in scripture from beginning to end:

Greeting

Priest: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:13)
People: And also with you.

Liturgy of the Word

Penitential Rite

All: I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault. (Jas. 5:16) In my thoughts and in my words, (Rom. 12:16) In what I have done and what I have failed to do; (Jas 3:6) and I ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angel and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. (1 Thess 5:25)
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. (1 John 1:9)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
All: Lord have mercy. (Tb 8:4) Christ have mercy. (1 Tim 1:2) Lord have mercy.

Gloria

All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. (Luke 2:14)
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, (Rev 19:6)
we worship you, (Rev. 22:9) we give you thanks, (Eph. 5:20)
we praise you for your glory. (Rev 7:12)
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, (2 John 3)
Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us; (John 1:29)
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. (Rom 8:34)
For you alone are the Holy One, (Luke 4:34)
You alone are Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:32)
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. (John 14:26)

Profession of Faith

All: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, (Gen 14:19) of all that is seen and unseen. (Col 1:16) We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, (Luke 1:35) eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. (Heb 1:3) Through him all things were made. (John 1:2-3) For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: (John 3:13) by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, (Matt 1:18) and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, (John 19:16) he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4) He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51) and is seated at the right hand of the Father. (Col 3:1) He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1) and his kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:33) We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, (Acts 2:17) who proceeds from the Father and the Son. (John 14:16) With the Father and Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. (1 Peter 1:10-11) We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. (Rom 12:5) We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38) We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. (Rom 6:5) Amen

Liturgy of the Eucharist
[The gifts are brought to the altar. These include the bread and wine and the offering collected from the people.] (Malachi 3:10)

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. (Eccl. 3:13) It will become for us the bread of life. (John 6:35)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink. (Luke 22:17-18)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. (Heb. 12:28)
People: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our sake and the good of all his Church. (Ps 50:23)
 
And…

Eucharistic Prayers

Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord Our God. (Col 3:17)
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. (Col 1:3)

Preface Acclamation

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. (Is 6:3) Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:9-10)

Eucharistic prayer

[There are four of these, based on ancient prayers of the Church. Eucharistic Prayer Two follows as an example:]

Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. (2 Macc. 14:36) Let your spirit come upon these gifts (water and wine) to make them holy, so that they may become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before he was given up to death, (Phil 2:8) a death he freely accepted, (John 10:17-18) he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this is memory of me. (Mark 14:22-25) Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory. (Heb 2:14-15)

Priest: In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. (John 6:51) We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor.10:17) Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with our Pope and our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again: bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. (2 Macc 12:45-46) Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory though your Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:4-5) Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.

All: Amen. (Rom 11:36)

Communion Rite

The Lord’s Prayer:

All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matt 6:9-13)
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. (John 17:15)
All: For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles; I leave you peace, my peace I give to you. (John 14:27) Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always! (John 20:19)
People: And also with you!

[The priest then directs the people to exchange a sign, such as a handshake or a kiss, or a word of God’s peace to one another.]

Breaking of the Bread

All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. (John 1:29)

Communion

Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper. (Rev. 19:9)
People: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. (Matt 8:8)
[Communion is distributed to the faithful at the altar by the priest and lay ministers.] Dismissal Priest: Blessed be the name of the Lord. Now and forever. (Dan 2:20) May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:51) Go in peace (Luke 7:50) to love and serve the Lord. (2 Chr 35:3)

[During the blessing the people make the Sign of the Cross, the traditional sign of the baptized and a public sign of their belief in the power of God.]

People: Thanks be to God. (2 Cor 9:15)
 
At least they are catholics. what a joy. “faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.”
 
They know the verses they use to support their beliefs, but that’s as far as it goes. They often don’t know any more about the Bible. In fact, they often don’t know the quotes they use–they don’t know or don’t understand the context. These verses are used as soundbites.

Good point, Kalt. As I have said elsewhere, they know their proof-texts to use in playing Bash the Catholic, but if you were to ask them what the next verse says, invariably you get blank looks.
 
Maybe true. I think, one reason, is that we Catholics are content in listening at the readings, homilies,and sermons during Mass. The same picture, I imagine, before the Reformation. People could become religious even without reading much of the bible. Faith, humility, and obedience is sufficient.

It is different now, with volumetric production of the bible and thousands of non-catholic denominations, each one trying to claim to have the correct interpretation, a true church, they tend to become very aggressive in convincing away innocent and bible-(name removed by moderator)roficient Catholics to become one of them, because we look like we really are- ignorants!

With so many false teachers and preachers nowadays, it is a MUST for us, Catholics, to read and learn the bible BUT base upon the teachings of the Church and its catechism. We don’t want to follow their method or way of privately interpreting the bible, else we self-destruct and become stumbling blocks to our own brethrens.
Be angry, and sin not… Give not place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27 :mad: + :signofcross:
 
thirdn6…I felt a really saddness that you think…We don’t want to follow their method or way of privately interpreting the bible, else we self-destruct and become stumbling blocks to our own brethrens.

How do you explain John 14 -17?

Could the answer be found in 1 Corinthians chp 2?

You are correct when you say we must take heed of the teaching of the Church for outside of Jesus there is no Church… why not?..because Jesus is the Church…👍
 
kalt said:
Catholics are frequently accused of not knowing the Bible. That’s a valid point, I think. Many Catholics don’t know the Bible as well as they should. Some don’t know it at all.

I’ve found, though, that non-Catholics often don’t know the Bible any better. They know the verses they use to support their beliefs, but that’s as far as it goes. They often don’t know any more about the Bible. In fact, they often don’t know the quotes they use–they don’t know or don’t understand the context. These verses are used as soundbites.

I’m Catholic and could know the Bible a lot better than I do.

What about you? What religion are you? Do you think you know the Bible as well as you could?
Click to expand...
Sorry to say this but Catholics know their bible better than non-Catholic Christians. The Catholic church has guarded it and defended it all through the ages, and preserved it from error and destruction; that she has ever held it in highest veneration and esteem, and has grounded her doctrines upon it; that she alone has the right to call it her book; that she alone pocesses the true bible and the whole bible, and that copies of the Scriptures existing outside her are pale, are partly incorrect and partly defective.
If they were Catholics, they (Protestants) would love God’s holy Word more and more; they would understand it better; they would also adore the Divine Providence that took such a wise and sure means of preserving and perpetuating it; and they would profoundly admire the Catholic church for her ceaseless vigilance, untiring zeal, and unswerving fidelity to the commission entrusted to her by Almighty God.

The church came before the bible to all you "bible alone " people out there. Read 1 Tim. 3:15.
 
Righteousone said:
Sorry to say this but Catholics know their bible better than non-Catholic Christians. The Catholic church has guarded it and defended it all through the ages, and preserved it from error and destruction; that she has ever held it in highest veneration and esteem, and has grounded her doctrines upon it; that she alone has the right to call it her book; that she alone pocesses the true bible and the whole bible, and that copies of the Scriptures existing outside her are pale, are partly incorrect and partly defective.
If they were Catholics, they (Protestants) would love God’s holy Word more and more; they would understand it better; they would also adore the Divine Providence that took such a wise and sure means of preserving and perpetuating it; and they would profoundly admire the Catholic church for her ceaseless vigilance, untiring zeal, and unswerving fidelity to the commission entrusted to her by Almighty God.

The church came before the bible to all you "bible alone " people out there. Read 1 Tim. 3:15.
Click to expand...
You shouldn’t feel sorry for saying this.

I think he was speaking of present day catholics – and he is probably right.
 
Why does everyone say this? We have bible study every Tuesday night and it’s packed. This is simply not so and there is no possible way to prove it.
 
Many Catholics may not know the Bible, but they do follow the teachings of the Church which Christ instituted and the Church that safeguards the morals and teachings which haven’t changed over the millenia.

Whilst many protestants read the Bible, they come upon some bit that confuses them, and then they decide it’s not in line with what their church teaches and goes jumping from church to church or worse, creates their own random one, and the saga continues.

End result? 30,000 + denominations.
 
I doubt that anyone can really say he “knows the bible”. I am a Catholic who has been studying the bible in earnest daily for the last 12 years and I feel that I have barely scratched the surface.

It helps a great deal to read the bible through the lens of the Catholic faith, but even a lifetime is not enough to really “know” the bible because it communicates on so many different levels. Every time I read it, I see something I didn’t see before, because every time I read it I am a different person than I was the last time I read it. Real scripture works that way.

God bless,
Paul
 
kalt said:
Catholics are frequently accused of not knowing the Bible. That’s a valid point, I think. Many Catholics don’t know the Bible as well as they should. Some don’t know it at all.

I’ve found, though, that non-Catholics often don’t know the Bible any better.
Click to expand...

**All too true - it is possible to have a very high view of the Bible, while having a very slight knowledge of it. Plenty of People in the UK are ignorant of the Bible too; nor is this new - Dorothy Sayers remarked on it over 60 years ago. But none of this is a justification (!) for Catholic ignorance of it. **​

So I think you are sadly right 😦
They know the verses they use to support their beliefs, but that’s as far as it goes. They often don’t know any more about the Bible. In fact, they often don’t know the quotes they use–they don’t know or don’t understand the context. These verses are used as soundbites.

I’m Catholic and could know the Bible a lot better than I do.

What about you? What religion are you? Do you think you know the Bible as well as you could?
Click to expand...

**Same here :o I will never know it as well I could. I can’t imagine life without it: yet Christians in the persecuted Church very often have to do without it. It makes ****one realise (however feebly) just how great a privilege it is to have easy access to it. Life is never going to be long enough to appreciate & understand & explore it fully: it really is inexhaustible. **​

 
My mother is 78 yrs old. She cannot read or write. She comes from a long line of Roman Catholics. Yet she can quote scripture and understand the holy spirit, know who the saints are, know who the pope is, understand what is Catholic church teaching and what is not. Now why do you think this long life living Catholic is able to do this without reading a bible?

The answer is very simple really;, She does not read the word of God, she consumes the Word of God made flesh, she hears the Word of God at every Mass,These many years God’s word is made manifest in her, because her faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God, and then Consume the Word of God made flesh. That’s not all, she prays the Gospels, in every Rosary. My mother may not be able to read, but she makes up for it in her Christian walk of faith, never doubting God in anything, she accepts only God’s will, know one else, including my fathers.

So for my mom, I dont think one would want to contest her faith for not being able to read the bible. She is always giving testimonies of her faith in Jesus and Jesus blessed Mother Virgin Mary. Let us not forget that God has written his laws in our hearts. We are called not to read, but to love God with all our hearts, mind, soul and strength…It was for these little ones the humble, simple people of God; why God has sent his Holy Spirit to teach, and reveal himself to the humble hearted.

I have studied a little, but my Mothers faith will always surpass my knowledge of scripture, or any other scholar for that matter. I have witnessed her calling down heavens thunder, and praying for impossible circumstances, that have come to pass. I mean this literally. My mothers faith has inspired me to keep up the faith, and the race. Not to mention miracles in my life. Hey, mothers day is coming up:)

Peace be with you
 
hi Curious One,

Re John 14:17. I think we can understand it better if we start with verse 16," And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever." 17 " The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him: but you shall know him; because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you." DRB

Well, Jesus was talking to his Apostles about the coming of the Holy Spirit (see John 16:13) that was realised at the Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The same Holy Spirit that guides the Holy Catholic Church into all truths until the end of time.

Anyone can claim that the Holy Spirit works in him/her when he/she opens up a bible and read a verse. Anyone can claim that he/she has the correct interpretation of any verse. We can all read the same verse and each one of us can claim correct interpretation, but then oftentimes we disagree. How can that be?Why? Because there are some difficult passages in the bible that we just can’t interpret on our own! That’s the time when we need guidance from the authority! The Catholic Church. She has the revealed truth from our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim 3:15). We need to read the teachings of Christ, the teachings of the Early Church Fathers, the Magisterium, the Catechism.

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

If we are not scholarly, we can only read so much and be watchful!

We can not interpret the bible on our own and create our own belief system, our own doctrine just because we believe we are inspired by the Holy Spirit. If we do that we become heretics. And if we spread our own belief system we jeopardize even the very soul of our own brethrens.

I hope this helps. God bless.
Be angry, and sin not… Give not place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27 :mad: + :signofcross:
 
kalt said:
Catholics are frequently accused of not knowing the Bible. That’s a valid point, I think. Many Catholics don’t know the Bible as well as they should. Some don’t know it at all.

I’ve found, though, that non-Catholics often don’t know the Bible any better. They know the verses they use to support their beliefs, but that’s as far as it goes. They often don’t know any more about the Bible. In fact, they often don’t know the quotes they use–they don’t know or don’t understand the context. These verses are used as soundbites.

I’m Catholic and could know the Bible a lot better than I do.

What about you? What religion are you? Do you think you know the Bible as well as you could?
Click to expand...
This is a myth. Catholics do not know the bible compared to what? Quoting scripture does not equate to knowing scripture. If someone can show me one protestant who knows scripture I can show you a hundred Catholics who can expound it better. One way this is demonstrated, is through the thousands of books in print by Catholic authors.

Peace,
DCD
 
Gabriel_of_12 said:
My mother is 78 yrs old. She cannot read or write. She comes from a long line of Roman Catholics. Yet she can quote scripture and understand the holy spirit, know who the saints are, know who the pope is, understand what is Catholic church teaching and what is not. Now why do you think this long life living Catholic is able to do this without reading a bible?

The answer is very simple really;, She does not read the word of God, she consumes the Word of God made flesh, she hears the Word of God at every Mass,These many years God’s word is made manifest in her, because her faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God, and then Consume the Word of God made flesh. That’s not all, she prays the Gospels, in every Rosary. My mother may not be able to read, but she makes up for it in her Christian walk of faith, never doubting God in anything, she accepts only God’s will, know one else, including my fathers.

So for my mom, I dont think one would want to contest her faith for not being able to read the bible. She is always giving testimonies of her faith in Jesus and Jesus blessed Mother Virgin Mary. Let us not forget that God has written his laws in our hearts. We are called not to read, but to love God with all our hearts, mind, soul and strength…It was for these little ones the humble, simple people of God; why God has sent his Holy Spirit to teach, and reveal himself to the humble hearted.

I have studied a little, but my Mothers faith will always surpass my knowledge of scripture, or any other scholar for that matter. I have witnessed her calling down heavens thunder, and praying for impossible circumstances, that have come to pass. I mean this literally. My mothers faith has inspired me to keep up the faith, and the race. Not to mention miracles in my life. Hey, mothers day is coming up:)

Peace be with you
Click to expand...
👍
the same is true with my parents except that they couldn’t really explain the difficult ones. they brought us up the best they could and thanks God up until now we’re still on the same old Roman Catholic Faith!

But as I’ve said, we need to learn our bible and our faith still. Confusion is among us- like father Corapi says," we are fighting against principalities and powers…"
Be angry, and sin not… Give not place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27 :mad: + :signofcross:
 
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