Why don't Catholics quote Scripture?

[Nathan_Wagar]

Perhaps because Catholics tend to believe in context, and so “quoting Scripture” would involved a lengthy cross-section of entire passages involving the Old and the New. It’s easier just to pop the Bible open.

Also, in my experience, Catholics tend to speak in language rich with Biblical allusion, rather than cited individual verses. This is a tendency that can be seen in the Fathers as well, or even St Paul, who’s epistles are often chunks of 7 psalms strung together into a passage.

 

[JRKH]

Perhaps because Catholics tend to believe in context, and so “quoting Scripture” would involved a lengthy cross-section of entire passages involving the Old and the New. It’s easier just to pop the Bible open.

This is a good point - Jesus, we believe, was alluding to an entire Scriptural passage when He cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me”. This single reference to an opening line would have brought to the mind of the Jews listening, not just a single verse or two but the entire psalm that began with this line.

Also, in my experience, Catholics tend to speak in language rich with Biblical allusion, rather than cited individual verses. This is a tendency that can be seen in the Fathers as well, or even St Paul, who’s epistles are often chunks of 7 psalms strung together into a passage.

Agreed. I know that for myself I can often call to mind various biblical passages but would have little idea of where to go and find them quickly. Catholics are generally not trained in the "Ch.Vs. methodology either in Catechesis or in the homilies at mass.

Peace
James

 

[SurlyMermaid]

My Catholic buddies quote Scripture often.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve been looking through this forum and have seen many questions asked. However, the answers almost always come from the catechism and not Scripture. I’m just curious: why is this?

look at the catechism
look at the foonotes at least half of which are scripture citations
look at the long list of scripture citations in the appendix, several pages, listed by book of the bible
look at the rest of the footnotes, which are from various church documents
look at the footnotes of those documents, many if not most of which also come from scripture
look at the text of all the prayers of the Mass. almost every word comes from scripture.
listen in on our parish CCD and adult education classes, the catechists will be quoting scripture right and left, but not as stand alone arguments for anything. You will notice they then lead the students to find the relevant scripture, look at its context, intended audience, and other relevant factors to interpret its meaning and relevance to the lesson topic.

Unless you personally know most or all CAtholics and regularly hear them in conversation on theological topics you are in no position to declare “Catholics don’t quote scripture”.

 

[Lisa44]

Catechisms come and go, but the bible is here to stay.

 

[TimothyH]

I agree that everyone should read Scripture. As Saint Jerome said, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” However, we must must remember that Scripture by itself is not the final authority. The First Book of Timothy 3:15 says “…the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The Catholic Church is the authority. When we read Scripture it must be with the guildance of the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, which is presented to us in the Caechism. Reading Scripture without the guildance of the Catholic Church is at the heart of why there are 40,000+ Protestant denominations.

Ran

Yet 99.99999% of Catholics don’t read scripture regularly, with our without the guidance of the Church.

I fully understand that we must always read scripture in the context of the Church, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from scripture by reading the words on the page. There isn’t someone from the Church standing by to make sure out intepretation is correct. There is much to be learned from reading the word of God. Monks do it for two hours every day, in the privacy of their own little cells, with no one looking over their shoulder.

Catholics need to be readers of God’s word, and we are not. Most Catholics who complain about liturgical abuses can’t even find Leviticus in the Bible or tell you how many books of the Bible John wrote.

When we stand before Jesus and claim ignorance, he is going to ask us why we had a Bible in our house collecting dust.

-Tim-

 

[Zenkai]

Unless you personally know most or all CAtholics and regularly hear them in conversation on theological topics you are in no position to declare “Catholics don’t quote scripture”.

As I said, I’ve been reading MANY, MANY threads and rarely has Scripture quoted. So, I do have the right to ask this question.

 

[puzzleannie]

Yet 99.99999% of Catholics don’t read scripture regularly, with our without the guidance of the Church. ​

and you know this is true because . . .
where do folks on this forum come up with omniscient knowledge of what ALL or MOST Catholics do or don’t do?

 

[puzzleannie]

As I said, I’ve been reading MANY, MANY threads and rarely has Scripture quoted. So, I do have the right to ask this question.

many threads about what? not every topic is an apologetics topic, not every forum is an apologetics forum
when a question is asked about Catholic teaching you will find, if there is enough action on that thread, quotes from scripture as well as church documents, canon law, early fathers, whatever is relevant. Written scripture is NOT the only source for Divine Revelation.

if the question is about canon law, church discipline or similar area, you will find the church document that is relevant, because it is a matter not always directly dealt with in scripture, although you may also find some scripture citations.

Please link the threads where you expected to find scripture support, and did not.

as with the Catechism, as I said before, when someone here cites a Church document, go back to that document in its original and look at the sources–half of them will be scriptural, so when I cite that document I am including the scriptural support for my position, and in a much more cohesive, understandable and usable explanation then if I just listed a number of verses without explanation, context, connection to the topic at hand.

 

[bz5]

**Yet 99.99999% of Catholics don’t read scripture regularly, with our without the guidance of the Church. **

I fully understand that we must always read scripture in the context of the Church, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from scripture by reading the words on the page. There isn’t someone from the Church standing by to make sure out intepretation is correct. There is much to be learned from reading the word of God. **Monks do it for two hours every day, in the privacy of their own little cells, with no one looking over their shoulder. **

Catholics need to be readers of God’s word, and we are not. Most Catholics who complain about liturgical abuses can’t even find Leviticus in the Bible or tell you how many books of the Bible John wrote.

When we stand before Jesus and claim ignorance, he is going to ask us why we had a Bible in our house collecting dust.

-Tim-

Surely the monks alone make up more than .00001% of the church?

But seriously, if your parish doesn’t already have ongoing Bible studies, offer to start one. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable, kind leader could make such a differece in lives. You could remind them of what St. Jerome taught us - to be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ. You could inform participants of the indulgences attached to reading the Bible or read quotes from popes exhortng the practice, etc…

 

[Nate13]

Surely the monks alone make up more than .00001% of the church?

But seriously, if your parish doesn’t already have ongoing Bible studies, offer to start one. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable, kind leader could make such a differece in lives. You could remind them of what St. Jerome taught us - to be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ. You could inform participants of the indulgences attached to reading the Bible or read quotes from popes exhortng the practice, etc…

Nah its more fun to join the Protestant bible studies and give them a taste of Catholic interpretations of scripture

 

[TimothyH]

and you know this is true because . . .

…I have facilitated or hosted many Bible studies in my home, most recently the 24 week “Bible Timeline” by Jeff Cavins/Great Adventure, and am currently in week 10 of a 24 week study of Matthew. At least half of the people who come to the studies have to purchase a bible because they don’t own one.

…I am one of the coordinators for the committed adorers for perpetual adoration. When a parishoner donated 12 Bibles for the chapel, several committed adorers commented on how nice the new Bibles were, that they had never read the Bible before, and how nice it was to do so regularly when they adore in the early hours of the morning.

…when a friend asked me to say grace at thanksgiving dinner, I asked for a Bible. He ran upstairs and brought down a paperback NAB which had never been used, never opened. I asked if he had an RSV or other translation because the quote I wanted to use (Phillipians 4:12) is wierd in the NAB, and he told me that it is all he has.

…when I quote scripture to Catholics - people I see in Mass every Sunday, people who are my friends - their eyes glass over and the conversation ends. They nod their head up and down and say, “Oh… yea… uh-huh” and then their eyes fall to the floor. You can tell that they are intimidated. Some even say, “You know, I should really start reading the Bible” and similar things. People come to me and ask me things about the Bible. “Hey, there’s Tim. He knows the Bible. Hey Tim, where in the Bible does it say about confession?”

Puzzleannie, please don’t take my comment as pertaining to you specifically. Please don’t. Many of us read and study scripture regularly. I learned to have a great love of God’s word from Evangelicals. My heart burns when I read the word of God. I’m sure you understand what I mean. We are here on CAF because we love Jesus. But the truth is that, at least where I live, the majority of Catholics can’t navigate the Bible. They don’t know where to find Leviticus or Ruth or 2 John. They can’t point to Mary’s Queenship in Revelation 12 or the Bathsheba’s forshadowing of Mary as Queen in 2 Kings. They can’t find “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.”

OK, so I’ll change my comment to “My observation is that many Catholics where I live” dont’ read scripture regularly. That is probably better, not an exaggeration. But many, many Catholics simply don’t read the Bible. The number of posts on this thread where people defent not reading scripture is testimony to the fact that Catholics, to a large extent, simply don’t open the Bible daily. The bible isn’t part of the fabric of their lives.

I really wish it was, and hope, and will pray, that it is a part of your life. If the Bible is a part of your life, then you know what I mean, and I will pray that it becomes an even greater part of your life.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

As I said, I’ve been reading MANY, MANY threads and rarely has Scripture quoted. So, I do have the right to ask this question.

I’ll defend myself here…

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=8182084&postcount=9

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=8265985&postcount=10

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=7843810&postcount=6

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=7588754&postcount=7

We have to be people of God’s word. It has to be part of our lives. In the age of iPhones and free overnight shipping, there is no excuse.

-Tim-

 

[InDefense]

I’ve been looking through this forum and have seen many questions asked. However, the answers almost always come from the catechism and not Scripture. I’m just curious: why is this?

Because if scripture was used, the errors in the catechism would be exposed. We can’t have that, can we ?

 

[JRKH]

As I said, I’ve been reading MANY, MANY threads and rarely has Scripture quoted. So, I do have the right to ask this question.

OK - Well among the many threads…posts you have seen, how many would have benefited from a Scripture quotation.
I mean - what calls your attention to the lack?
Were the various posts somehow deficient because no chapter and verse was provided?
Did the content of the various postings fail to reflect biblical concepts or the most basic concept of Love?

I ask this in an attempt to gain a true understanding of why the lack of Scripture quotations seems troubling to you.

One last question that might help tie things together…Have teh answers you have received on this thread been helpful to your understanding?

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

Yet 99.99999% of Catholics don’t read scripture regularly, with our without the guidance of the Church.

And I bet 99.99999% of Catholics don’t regularly post on CAF either - and those who do are more likely to “Crack the Book” now and then.

PeaceJames

 

[fred_conty]

I will answer this question in a different way as I am a senior.

We were always taught from the catechism or from some catholic
educational book. The times were different. We were never encouraged
to read the holy Bible and noone felt the need to read it since we
were being taught by the church’s teaching. The bible passages were
read in Sunday’s Mass and that is about it. Now things were
peaceful at that time. Not many kids went to college. And if the
parents didn’t send their kids to catholic grade and high schools, they
had to have special permission from the pastor. The reason I mention
this is that apologetics takes a different road than regular ole time
religion. We were taught the ole time stuff and really didn’t need
apologetic knowledge using the Bible. And so a lot of Catholics
were not familiar with the Bible.

Now it is different story and a different time and a different emphasis.
And since we have massive electronic communication now, we are
no longer safe in our Catholic inner circle. And now a Catholic can
no longer just get by with a little knowledge of the faith since there
is too much that cannot be ignored that attacks our faith everyday.

Just a thought or two.

 

[mark_a]

Tim,

Many of the things you say are true of myself. Many, but not all.

…when I quote scripture to Catholics - people I see in Mass every Sunday, people who are my friends - their eyes glass over and the conversation ends. They nod their head up and down and say, “Oh… yea… uh-huh” and then their eyes fall to the floor. You can tell that they are intimidated.

-Tim-

But if you are intimidating people, maybe your approach needs some work.

 

[bz5]

I will answer this question in a different way as I am a senior.

We were always taught from the catechism or from some catholic
educational book. The times were different. We were never encouraged
to read the holy Bible and noone felt the need to read it since we
were being taught by the church’s teaching. The bible passages were
read in Sunday’s Mass and that is about it. Now things were
peaceful at that time. Not many kids went to college. And if the
parents didn’t send their kids to catholic grade and high schools, they
had to have special permission from the pastor. The reason I mention
this is that apologetics takes a different road than regular ole time
religion. We were taught the ole time stuff and really didn’t need
apologetic knowledge using the Bible. And so a lot of Catholics
were not familiar with the Bible.

Now it is different story and a different time and a different emphasis.
And since we have massive electronic communication now, we are
no longer safe in our Catholic inner circle. And now a Catholic can
no longer just get by with a little knowledge of the faith since there
is too much that cannot be ignored that attacks our faith everyday.

Just a thought or two.

Interesting, thanks for sharing. And I’ll bet that, if you’re paying attention at mass, you know the Bible better than you think - especially the Gospels! - though you might not quote it by chapter and verse with ease

 

[TimothyH]

Tim,

Many of the things you say are true of myself. Many, but not all.

But if you are intimidating people, maybe your approach needs some work.

If you live in Bob Jones country, and I live in suburban Atlanta, we both know what Evangelical Bible intimidation is like. I’m not talking about bashing people over the head with a Bible or spraying verses like a machine gun.

I’m talking about the most benign, gentle reference to scripture among close friends.

-Tim-