J
jcrichton
Guest
I think that you are trying much too hard to connect the dots…Hi yes, but Catholics don’t have Protestant exegetical methods.
What is the purpose of the Gospels? Are they profitable for doctrine etc.? Yes. However, what is their main purpose? Their purpose is to reach the audience of the day with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the Gospel of John, it tells us what it’s purpose is. Does it say that it’s purpose is to form doctrine for those who already believe? No, it says there were “many other things…” but “these were written” that you may believe. Who is it saying “that you may believe” to? Is it saying this to apostles and members of the Church who already believe? No, it is saying “that you may believe” to the people of the day (primarily Greek/Roman/pagans). So, of course it would use terminology and parables that they could relate to and the early Church did as well (e.g. in prayers at mass).
It was a charity and mercy (for pagans). The Jewish apostles were already mature in their understanding of GodIt was Peter who recognized the Christ, not a pagan.
I point once again to the record of Jesus telling the non-Jewish woman that the Jews know who they worship. Another clue along the road for us.
God Bless
Let’s take the Good News… the Kingdom is here!
This is the knowledge that must be brought out to the whole world. Yet, receiving the Knowledge does not make one mature in the Faith–if it were so the Body of Christ (the Church) would not exist in such awful state of schism since Christ Commandment is that His Followers both Love one another and Be One in Him as He is One with the Father (no not JW’s or other non-Catholic interpretation of Love and Unity).
Then there’s Christ’s prayer to the Father that He Keep His Followers Safe–Jesus has already announced that in Cephas/Kephas He will institute His Church and includes all future Believers with the Apostles as He prays for Protection. Revelations are not just for the 1st century Jews and Gentiles but for all.
Doctrine unfolds as the Church emerges, as does Church hierarchy, right from the text Inspired by the Holy Spirit! The Apostolic Teaching (known as Oral and Written Tradition) begins to form the Doctrine of the Church, Worship practice, and Apologetics (as error, ignorance, and heresy creep in).
If the Good News were meant to reach only those of the days in which they were Inspired then we would have no need for the Written Tradition and Oral Tradition, along with Apostolic Succession, would be fully irrelevant–ditto with the Church, since, according to your argument, those who would hear the Gospel would automatically become mature Believers.
I remember a few different instances when I had to argue against the understanding that we had no need for the “Church” since Scriptures state that “they will be Taught by God,” and “I will put my Spirit in them… no need for anyone to Teach his kin…” (paraphrased).
Just in simple exegesis: throw away the New Testament 'cause the prophecy relates to hundreds of years prior to Christ making Christ and everything Christian superfluous.
Clearly that is not the case!
Yet, if we work it hard enough in connecting the dots thusly we would have derailed Faith and Salvation as we would have removed God’s Purpose and Mean for the grandiose exchange of man’s ways and self-sufficiency!
I say again, your confusion is with terms–such as the various translations that are trying so hard to connect the dots that they have Jesus reading from “the bible,” Peter wanting to build “huts,” and people seeking corrections of errors because of “outdated” “understanding” and “morals.” Somehow God’s choice of Revelation (time and place) as well as His Method (how, who, why) were flawed. They argue about knowledge and understanding reasoning from a finite scope and ignoring that the issue has been well cemented: ‘were you there when I (YHWH) Created?’ ‘Did I (YHWH) need your counsel?’
Maran atha!
Angel
