Why does God allow the Bible to be so "unclear" at times?

[Balaco]

“Unclear” may not be the best word to use in the title, but I didn’t really know how to condense my thoughts.

I know Christians/Catholics don’t consider the Bible to have any contradictions, and regardless of whether this is true, why does God allow to Bible to seem like it could have contradictions? Why does God allow the Bible to be left up to so many interpretations that there’s multiple denominations of the Christian faith?

If the Bible is to be the infallible Word of God, why didn’t God make it clearer?

 

[boomerang]

You have just posed a very good argument against “sola scriptura” and at the same time have demonstrated the need for Sacred Tradition and a Magisterium to interpret the Bible for us. The Bible does indeed seem to have contradictions. Without Sacred Tradition and the Church, interpreting the Bible becomes anyone’s guess.

 

[dshix]

“Unclear” may not be the best word to use in the title, but I didn’t really know how to condense my thoughts.

I know Christians/Catholics don’t consider the Bible to have any contradictions, and regardless of whether this is true, why does God allow to Bible to seem like it could have contradictions? Why does God allow the Bible to be left up to so many interpretations that there’s multiple denominations of the Christian faith?

If the Bible is to be the infallible Word of God, why didn’t God make it clearer?

**boomerang **above makes a very good observation. This question you have asked encapsulates one of the reasons why we don’t rely on Scripture for understanding all of God’s Divine Law.

God’s Divine Law is taught by the Church, which uses both Scripture and Sacred Tradition to infallibly teach it.
Without the Church to interpret scripture, we are lost. Unable to determine the true doctrine, we would fall away into thousands of broken fragments – much like the Protestants have done in the last few hundred years.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Why does God allow the Bible to be left up to so many interpretations that there’s multiple denominations of the Christian faith?

He didn’t. Christ left us one Church, not many. The “multiple denominations” are caused by human weakness.

If the Bible is to be the infallible Word of God, why didn’t God make it clearer?

The human authors of the books of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit, but had different perspectives and fields of knowledge. “Sola Scriptura” is a grave error.

It is important to remember that Christ left us not with a book, but with a Church. A Magisterium, a teaching authority, exists, since Pentecost, to resolve disputes.

 

[MaryT777]

You have just posed a very good argument against “sola scriptura” and at the same time have demonstrated the need for Sacred Tradition and a Magisterium to interpret the Bible for us. The Bible does indeed seem to have contradictions. Without Sacred Tradition and the Church, interpreting the Bible becomes anyone’s guess.

Amen.

1 Timothy 3:15

15
But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I for one am glad he gave us at Church to correctly interpret the Bible instead of every man being on his own

 

[Reuben_J]

“Unclear” may not be the best word to use in the title, but I didn’t really know how to condense my thoughts.

I know Christians/Catholics don’t consider the Bible to have any contradictions, and regardless of whether this is true, why does God allow to Bible to seem like it could have contradictions? Why does God allow the Bible to be left up to so many interpretations that there’s multiple denominations of the Christian faith?

If the Bible is to be the infallible Word of God, why didn’t God make it clearer?

A few facts here - the Bible came after the Church. In other word, the Church came up with the Bible, which is the inspired word of God.

For the most part, the Bible is rather clear, understood clearly by the Church that recognized it as the word of God. Controversial verses today, like the position of Peter in Mt 16, or the Real Presence of the Eucharist In John 6, etc., are not so controversial and the meaning was settled from the beginning.

Newly formed branches of Christianity that decided to do away with the Sacraments or chose to be outside of Peter’s jurisdiction, understandably would try to justify their new positions and thus interpret the Bible to suit them.

There are some minor seemingly contradictions but which are already explained. The Bible us an ancient scripture, it is possible some words were lost in their interpretation due to their changing understanding as the centuries passed on.

In the Catholic Church which kept the traditional belief and understanding, the difficulties that may be found in the Bible is not a problem.

 

[mikekle]

It is important to remember that Christ left us not with a book, but with a Church. A Magisterium, a teaching authority, exists, since Pentecost, to resolve disputes.

Well, WE know and believe that, but the fact remains there are umpteen other denominations, who all believe they are correct. Why has the Holy Spirit not intervened in some way to show all these folks the truth or at least how they are wrong?

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

Maybe it really is clear, but we just haven’t evolved to the point where we can fully grasp it.

I mean, we are monumentally dumb in comparison to God. I think we take it for granted how much He has to break things down for us.

 

[fhansen]

“Unclear” may not be the best word to use in the title, but I didn’t really know how to condense my thoughts.

I know Christians/Catholics don’t consider the Bible to have any contradictions, and regardless of whether this is true, why does God allow to Bible to seem like it could have contradictions? Why does God allow the Bible to be left up to so many interpretations that there’s multiple denominations of the Christian faith?

If the Bible is to be the infallible Word of God, why didn’t God make it clearer?

The purpose of the bible is not to serve as some sort of catechism or theological treatise that clearly defines and explains the faith. In any case that’s always been the role of the Church, which Christ established for that very purpose. The Church held and proclaimed the faith before a word of the New Testament was written.

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

Well, WE know and believe that, but the fact remains there are umpteen other denominations, who all believe they are correct. Why has the Holy Spirit not intervened in some way to show all these folks the truth or at least how they are wrong?

God continually sends His little ones - maybe you and me - to nudge their fellow church members big and small a bit nearer the truth whether in practice or in subscribed statement.

There are some whose talk is ahead of their walk, and vice versa.

Scriptures are like bullet points, needing expanding on. A lot of true tradition has even been accepted by some Protestants (though they are shy to admit it )