What is the pillar and bulwark of truth… the Bible, One’s Private Interpretation, the Church? If Sacred Scriptures tell us that something upholds and is the foundation of truth, how can it be fallible?
Reply It would be of great assistance to me if I knew that you were or are not a RC.
Differernt parts of the bible as you so rightly indicate have different levels of "authority (in a human, not Godly sense.)
I will weigh it with specifics, but we need to establish a foundation for a reasonable dialog. Thus I will began with an infallible teaching, that has been clearly understood from the earliest of times within the RCC. (Yes there are disenters today.)
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13* Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14* And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16* Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17* And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18* And I tell you, you are Peter, * and on this rock * I will build my church, and the powers of death * shall not prevail against it. 19* "]I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven
, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
“I”, “you”, “my” and “church” are all singular…
Jesus, a Jew Himself, was speaking to fellow Jews.
In O.T. bibical times, Jewish cites were commonly walled and fortified, and they did have a "main gate, and it did have a "key’.
So why is this important? Because the terms “to loose” and or to “bind,” were factually legealestic Rabbitic terms that committed the power (all the power necessary) to govern.
Jesus, who we recall is God, selected these very words carefully, knowing full well that the people to whom He was speaking would clearly understand what He was telling them.
Historically, each fortified city had a “King”, which is the role assumed by Jesus in the story ("Hail King of the Jew’s) and a Primeminister, who was the “key holder” and the one who made all decessions reguards everyday running of the Kingdom. What the PM said, was done, period. What the PM forbid, was by law forbidden.The Primeminister, chosen by the King God) is Peter. And it is from this understanding that we proceed. When Christ gave Peter the “keys” he was turning over COMPLETE governance of His "Kingdom- His Bride, His Church (singular.) As evidence of this I make two brief points. History shows that this was understood and accepted in the early Church. Second: after Christ Resurection, Jesus stayed with His ELEVEN (Judas is now dead) Apostles, yet Jesus never replaced Judas, Peter did, after the Assumption of Jesus.
So, Peter and subsiquent Popes are the PM"s of our day. With total and complete authority to rule and govern the Church and the bible, and they answer only to God. Amen? Amen! Only the RCC can interpert the bible properly!
From this base I will give brief reply to your well thought questions. Also, when I answer “self” I am implying that the passage is clear enough to have a common understanding. I was a bit surprised that you din’t have one from John Chapter six.
In the following Bible quotes, please tell us if these refer to the Bible, your interpretation of the Bible, or to the Church?
“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16).
Infallible teaching of the RCC
“
f he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. self interpetTruly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:15-18). Infallible RCC
“I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11:2). self interpet
“[W]hen 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” Self interpet (1 Thess. 2:13).
“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thess. 2:15).RCC interpetion
“
f I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). RCC interpet
Thanks for the “Q”
God Bless
Pat Miron
Marian Catechist
First it must be established that the Scriptures are inspired-inerrant before we can determine if it should be the sole and ultimate rule of faith. If this cannot be established then any book or human could take its place.
And you are correct Also. 
. :yyeess:
