Scriptural support for Treasury of Merit?

[HomeschoolDad]

Is the Catholic doctrine of the Treasury of Merit found anywhere in Scripture? Is it hinted at? What verses, if any, can be used to support the concept?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that all doctrine has to be spelled out in Scripture, to be worthy of our belief, but this particular doctrine seems to bump up against the rumble strips, as it were, of having no basis in Scripture at all. If that is the case, I’d like to know.

 

[BartholomewB]

Try this: about one-third of the way down, the paragraph beginning, “This doctrine of the Church simply echoes Scripture and Tradition.”

http://newadvent.com/cathen/10202b.htm

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Try this: about one-third of the way down, the paragraph beginning, “This doctrine of the Church simply echoes Scripture and Tradition.”

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Merit

This is an excellent article, but it is far too densely written for modern sensibilities. It is from a time (1911) when people actually had something called an “attention span”.

I have wondered “well, if everyone in the world were to try to obtain a plenary indulgence, could the Treasury of Merit ever run out?”. Apparently not:

Christian faith teaches us that the Incarnate Son of God by His death on the cross has in our stead fully satisfied God’s anger at our sins, and thereby effected a reconciliation between the world and its Creator. Not, however, as though nothing were now left to be done by man, or as though he were now restored to the state of original innocence, whether he wills it or not; on the contrary, God and Christ demand of him that he make the fruits of the Sacrifice of the Cross his own by personal exertion and co-operation with grace, by justifying faith and the reception of baptism. It is a defined article of the Catholic Faith that man before, in, and after justification derives his whole capability of meriting and satisfying, as well as his actual merits and satisfactions, solely from the INFINITE treasure of merits which Christ gained for us on the Cross (cf. Council of Trent, Sess. VI, cap. xvi; Sess. XIV, cap. viii). – emphasis mine

Good to know, and not totally incompatible with the Protestant assertion that “Jesus did it all” on the cross.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Colossians 1:24-25 is the usual Scriptural support for this, where Paul says:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God,

 

[Gorgias]

This is an excellent article, but it is far too densely written for modern sensibilities. It is from a time (1911) when people actually had something called an “attention span”.

Pardon? I quit reading after “far too densely”…

could the Treasury of Merit ever run out?

Infinite merit!!!

 

[benedictinehopeful]

Matthew 6:19-20

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

This is an excellent article, but it is far too densely written for modern sensibilities. It is from a time (1911) when people actually had something called an “attention span”.

Pardon? I quit reading after “far too densely”…

I’m infected with it too. Case in point: from time to time, I try to watch PBS NewsHour, because we are told that it is more thoughtful, more in-depth than the 22-minute commercial network TV newscasts with their soundbites and rapid-fire delivery. Well, try is the word here. It is like the spinach of TV news — “watch this, it’s good for you”. So I sit down and try to watch it. After a couple of minutes, I just throw up my hands and say “it’s no use, this is too slow, too dense, I just can’t do it”. The CBC newscast The National is much the same way. (I get Canadian television through an online streaming subscription service.) Quality journalism, no doubt about it, but I’m just too CNN-ized, too Fox-News-ized. That is entirely on me.

CBS News 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning are sui generis. They just have something about them that I can’t quite put my finger on. If I were trying to impress European visitors with the best of American TV journalism, this is what I’d show them.

 

[stoplooklisten]

According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, 11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. 15 But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

New American Bible. (2011). (Revised Edition, 1 Co 3:10–15). Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands his hearers to “lay up treasure in heaven”.

In 2 Peter 1:11, there is mention of an abundantly or richly supplied entrance into the eternal kingdom of our LORD.

Now, my scripture allusions refer perhaps to the storing up of treasure or merit. Just now, I needed to look up the meaning of “treasury of merit”. So, I think that applies to sense in which one person’s merit can be applied on another behalf. Yes, I agree with @Tis_Bearself that Colossians 1:24-25 is the usual Scriptural support for this. In the magisterium of Saint Pope JPII the Great, the concept of redemptive suffering was covered in Salivfici doloris.
Link: Salvifici doloris - Wikipedia

 

[Cathoholic]

HomeschoolDad . . .

Is the Catholic doctrine of the Treasury of Merit found anywhere in Scripture? Is it hinted at? What verses, if any, can be used to support the concept?

I think the best way to approach this HomeschoolDad, is to realize the catechetical principles on this subject.

There are merits accrued in and with Jesus Christ.
And He in us.
They are a grace.

Here are some teachings of God at work in us. (Hope this helps.)

.

CCC 1997 Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ,
the Head of his Body. As an “adopted son” he can henceforth call God “Father,”
in union with the only Son.
He receives the life of the Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church.

ROMANS 6:3-5 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

2nd PETER 1:2-4 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature .

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling; 13
for God is at work in you ,
both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2nd CORINTHIANS 6:1 1 Working together with him ,
then, we entreat you
not to accept the grace of God in vain.

1/2 . . .

 

[Cathoholic]

2/2 . . .

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

GALATIANS 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me ; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far
more abundantly than all that we ask or think ,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

HEBREWS 13:20a, 21 20 “Now may the God of peace . . . . 21 equip you with
everything good that you may do His will, working in you
that which is pleasing in His sight
through Jesus Christ ;
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1st THESSALONIANS 2:13 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

COLOSSIANS 1:24 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh
I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions
for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

ROMANS 8:15-17 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but
you have received the spirit of sonship.
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is
the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
provided we suffer with him
in order that we may also be glorified with him.

 

[po18guy]

Tobit 12:8-9
Prayer, fasting, and alms, said he, here is better treasure to lay up than any store of gold. Almsgiving is death’s avoiding, is guilt’s atoning, is the winning of mercy and of life eternal

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving:

1. Death’s avoiding
2. Guilt’s atoning
3. Winning of mercy and life eternal

The words of an Archangel.

And who else spoke of the merits associated with fasting, prayer and almsgiving?

Matthew 6:1-18
“Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:
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 debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The “reform” had no clothes.

1. Father Who
2. Sees in secret:
3. Fasting
4. Prayer
5. Almsgiving
6. Will reward you.

16th century European opinions contradicted by scripture. Many will say, “But the Book of Tobit is not inspired!”

That, my brother, is strictly their problem. Let them ponder that.