I am no theologian, but know that Saint Pauls letters are part of the New Testament, therefore part of the Bible. Hence, they are divinely inspired, i.e. Holy Writ, and we, as Catholics are obligated to believe in them and heed their contents.I was wondering what authority St Paul’s letters carry in the Church. Are they considered inspired in the way the gospels are? He was a great theologian but was not the 'Pope" so to speak and so is not guaranteed infallibility. Does his letters have the same or more authority as our modern day bishops when they write to their local churches?
All books in the Bible are considered equal.I was wondering what authority St Paul’s letters carry in the Church. Are they considered inspired in the way the gospels are?
The letters were included in the Bible canon by Church council, and the canon approved by the Pope…Hence the canon is infallibly correct.He was a great theologian but was not the 'Pope" so to speak and so is not guaranteed infallibility.
This is not an easily answered question. It kind of depends on that the Bishop is writing.Does his letters have the same or more authority as our modern day bishops when they write to their local churches?
…you are speaking of two distict issues: Scriptures and Church Doctrine… Scriptures are Inspired by God:I was wondering what authority St Paul’s letters carry in the Church. Are they considered inspired in the way the gospels are? He was a great theologian but was not the 'Pope" so to speak and so is not guaranteed infallibility. Does his letters have the same or more authority as our modern day bishops when they write to their local churches?
10 This salvation was the subject of the search and investigation of the prophets who spoke of the grace you were to receive, 11 searching out the time and circumstances for which the Spirit of Christ, bearing witness in them, was revealing the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow them. 12 It was revealed to them that it was for your sake and not their own that they were acting as servants delivering the message which has now been announced to you by those who preached to you the gospel through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things. (1 St. Peter 1:10-12)
Scriptures are the Inspired Words of God… therefore it is God Himself that gives them Authority…20 At the same time, we must recognise that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy is never a matter for the individual. 21 For no prophecy ever came from human initiative. When people spoke for God it was the Holy Spirit that moved them. (2 St. Peter 1:20-21)
17 Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. 18 So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ 20 Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to say to anyone that he was the Christ. (St. Matthew 16:17-20)
'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (St. Matthew 18:18)
19 Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’ (St. Matthew 28:19-20)
12 I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come. 14 He will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine. 15 Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine. (St. John 16:12-15)
…as we read through Acts and the rest of the New Testament Writings we come to understand that the other Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, is in deed guiding the Church… so it is not surprising to find Peter (the first Pope, as you’ve mentioned) speaking ex cathedra:19 Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 20 He did the same with the cup after supper, and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you. (St. Luke 22:19-20)
…as for the Authority of the Church vs. Scriptures, here’s what Sacred Writings have to say:14 So then, my dear friends, while you are waiting, do your best to live blameless and unsullied lives so that he will find you at peace. 15 Think of our Lord’s patience as your opportunity to be saved; our brother Paul, who is so dear to us, told you this when he wrote to you with the wisdom that he was given. 16 He makes this point too in his letters as a whole wherever he touches on these things. In all his letters there are of course some passages which are hard to understand, and these are the ones that uneducated and unbalanced people distort, in the same way as they distort the rest of scripture–to their own destruction. (2 St. Peter 3:14-16)
…as you can see we are not speaking of competing or conflicting interests… the Word of God, which is Truth, is revealed to man and Christ’s Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, have the task to make it known… upholding and supporting God’s Truth: Christ Jesus, the Word Incarnate!but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know how people ought to behave in God’s household – that is, in the Church of the living God, pillar and support of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)