Why is there not a single Protestant Understanding of the Bible?

[PRmerger]

The point remains, some of you may need the CC to interpret the Bible for you, and thats ok, but gee I do believe we have a brain and the Gift of the Holy Ghost too.

What would you say to someone who reads the Scriptures, Luv, and comes to the conclusion that Jesus is not God.

Do you think that’s ok?

She says that she read the Bible from cover to cover, and doesn’t need a Church to tell her what it means, and she thinks that it says quite clearly that Jesus is NOT God.

 

[PRmerger]

How much more can the CC teach someone, at some point one needs to develope their own personal relationship with their saviour and Lord.

And this is quite Catholic of you to say, Luv! The ONLY reason you know that you can develop a personal relationship with Jesus is courtesy of the Catholic Church.

And the ONLY reason you know that Jesus is your savior and Lord is courtesy of the Catholic Church.

Cant expect or should you even want the CC to tell you what to think or believe if you are adults.

So if your husband tells you that he has read the Bible and now believes that Mary is a goddess, what say you to that?

 

[Luvtosew]

What would you say to someone who reads the Scriptures, Luv, and comes to the conclusion that Jesus is not God.

Do you think that’s ok?

She says that she read the Bible from cover to cover, and doesn’t need a Church to tell her what it means, and she thinks that it says quite clearly that Jesus is NOT God.

You could probably help her with that.

and I would suggest she get some more bible study. but we all had the basic understanding so she needs it also,

but atlas there are many new Catholics here that don’t understand the Trinity also even after their cathechism,

 

[Luvtosew]

And this is quite Catholic of you to say, Luv! The ONLY reason you know that you can develop a personal relationship with Jesus is courtesy of the Catholic Church.

And the ONLY reason you know that Jesus is your savior and Lord is courtesy of the Catholic Church.

Just the basics PR, Jesus died on the cross for our sins,

So if your husband tells you that he has read the Bible and now believes that Mary is a goddess, what say you to that?

Actually my husband comes from a Catholic family also of which none of his 7 sibblings go to Church, his grandma taught at a catholic school and one aunt was a nun.
He knows the basic, he has learned more from me which I learned from studying and he won’t have anything to do with the Church, the only thing he says about his cathechism is the Nuns were mean,
we talk alot about God and read devotionals and I tell him bible stories.

 

[PRmerger]

You could probably help her with that.

and I would suggest she get some more bible study. but we all had the basic understanding so she needs it also,

but atlas there are many new Catholics here that don’t understand the Trinity also even after their cathechism,

Ah. So you’re saying that there IS a wrong way to interpret the Bible, yes?

 

[PRmerger]

Actually my husband comes from a Catholic family also of which none of his 7 sibblings go to Church, his grandma taught at a catholic school and one aunt was a nun.
He knows the basic, he has learned more from me which I learned from studying and he won’t have anything to do with the Church, the only thing he says about his cathechism is the Nuns were mean,
we talk alot about God and read devotionals and I tell him bible stories.

How did I know you were going to go to the “My husband would never say anything like that!” course.

The example wasn’t about your husband. It could have been anyone.

The point is, what do you say to someone who interprets the Bible in his own way–apart from the way the Church does?

On the one hand you’re saying that you don’t need the Church to tell you something.

On the other hand you’re saying (but you don’t realize it or won’t admit it) that there is a correct way to interpret. Namely (in this case) that you can’t say that Mary is a goddess.

 

[rinnie]

Hey I love you all, but your making my point for me.

Yes the CC did teach me a bit about God and a lot about the CC(you know the sacraments, prayer and Mass) so well at least by the time I graduated high school, I knew the 10 commandments, God seen everything we did, and I knew how to go to confession and attend Mass, and a bit who Jesus was. I knew mortal sins and all about hell, limbo and purgatory,
But I never really knew God or had any relationship with him. Maybe yous had more teaching than I did, don’t know, but jjust talking to my friend the other day and she went to Catholic school throught 12th grade and a Catholic college and she never knew the host was the flesh of Jesus either , but well they don’t call us cafeteria Catholics for nothing, probably it should be called not well taught Catholics.

The point remains, some of you may need the CC to interpret the Bible for you, and thats ok, but gee I do believe we have a brain and the Gift of the Holy Ghost too.

How much more can the CC teach someone, at some point one needs to develope their own personal relationship with their saviour and Lord. Cant expect or should you even want the CC to tell you what to think or believe if you are adults.

Now see this is what I CAN NOT understand for the life of me. This business of not knowing God nor having a relationship with him.

How can you deny the relationship you had with God when you were Catholic when you got up, and received the Living Christ in your heart and in your soul through the Eucharist. How in the world can you get more of an intimate relationship then that??

And also you are claiming the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach and interpret scripture, If the Holy Spirit is teaching you, then why would it teach the Church something different?? God promised us in the bible (please look it up its real important) that he would send the Advocate the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth to the Church on the day of Pentecost.

Now here is where it gets real interesting. You claim a brain, then answer me this, since you seem to believe your brain is so much powerful then ours, and actually according to the scripture the Apostles also.

Now go back and read the scripture after the death of Jesus he came back, and then promised the Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now why did the Apostles run and hide and not proclaim news UNTIl the day of Pentecost. They had a brain did they not?

 

[Luvtosew]

How did I know you were going to go to the “My husband would never say anything like that!” course.

The example wasn’t about your husband. It could have been anyone.

The point is, what do you say to someone who interprets the Bible in his own way–apart from the way the Church does?

On the one hand you’re saying that you don’t need the Church to tell you something.

On the other hand you’re saying (but you don’t realize it or won’t admit it) that there is a correct way to interpret. Namely (in this case) that you can’t say that Mary is a goddess.

“My husband would never say anything like that!”

I didn’t say that, oh should of let me know it wasn’t suppose to be about my husband, as he is the only husband I have so I just assumed you were talking aobut him.

PR: the CC interprets the Bible to justify the CC, don’t you think because I do, hey listened to Scott Hahns (hope he is doing well) audios and well got to tell you ,it blew me away, everything is about the Mass and communion. even Revelation, now I have heard other catholic apologists talk about Revelation and well it wasn’t about the Mass.

so well, I listen to both sides and decipher on my own at this time.

at what age do you think children should start the Bible.

 

[PRmerger]

“My husband would never say anything like that!”

I didn’t say that, oh should of let me know it wasn’t suppose to be about my husband, as he is the only husband I have so I just assumed you were talking aobut him.

So it’s not about your husband–we’re agreed on this.

The point is that you agree that you can’t just read the Bible and come to any interpretation, right?

Just because someone reads the Bible doesn’t mean she can come to ANY conclusions.

PR: the CC interprets the Bible to justify the CC, don’t you think because I do, hey listened to Scott Hahns (hope he is doing well) audios and well got to tell you ,it blew me away, everything is about the Mass and communion. even Revelation, now I have heard other catholic apologists talk about Revelation and well it wasn’t about the Mass.

Yes, there are many ways Catholics can understand Revelation.

at what age do you think children should start the Bible.

3 seems to be a good age.

 

[Luvtosew]

“3 seems to be a good age”

ok, you just said that one doesn’t need the CC to read the bible, I agree one should start as young as possible. if they can read at 3 and can even comprehend , which I doubt, as I don’t think most 8 year olds can understand the Real Presence, probably why they never bothered explaining it, maybe they do now tell one they are eating the flesh of Jesus.
But I know the CC wants to indocrinate as early as possible the sacrements.

 

[PRmerger]

But I know the CC wants to indocrinate as early as possible the sacrements.

Be careful, Luv. Your words could be taken to show great contempt for Catholicism, which is not allowed on the CAFs. People may be banned or suspended for contempt for Catholicism. “Indoctrinate” is a highly provocative, negative word, don’t you think?

 

[PRmerger]

ok, you just said that one doesn’t need the CC to read the bible,

Absolutely I NEVER said that one doesn’t need the CC to read the Bible.

You would not have the Bible were it not for the Catholic Church.

Thus it is IMPOSSIBLE to read the Bible without the Catholic Church.

I agree one should start as young as possible. if they can read at 3 and can even comprehend ,

My girls heard the usual Bible stories at bedtime and understood them quite well. Even at age 3.

which I doubt, as I don’t think most 8 year olds can understand the Real Presence, probably why they never bothered explaining it, maybe they do now tell one they are eating the flesh of Jesus.

As a mother who has gone through First Communion with 4 children I can tell you that they do indeed teach the Real Presence to 8 year olds.

Whether they can comprehend it fully is irrelevant.

No one comprehends the Trinity fully either–do you think then that it should not be taught that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

 

[Luvtosew]

**As a mother who has gone through First Communion with 4 children I can tell you that they do indeed teach the Real Presence to 8 year olds.

Whether they can comprehend it fully is irrelevant**

Oh well maybe some teach it now, and maybe some don’t.

yes well I’m sure you will explain more fully to them or they are probably older now.

but why does the Church say one needs to accept the Real Presence as the flesh of Christ and a sin not to believe it and take it anyway, and since 8 year olds can’t comprehend (most) they must be sinning.
why teach someone something until they can comprehend it?

reading a story and being told a story are two different things. It was not like you were readinging to them from the bible right.

 

[PRmerger]

“3 seems to be a good age”

ok, you just said that one doesn’t need the CC to read the bible, I agree one should start as young as possible. if they can read at 3 and can even comprehend , which I doubt, as I don’t think most 8 year olds can understand the Real Presence, probably why they never bothered explaining it, maybe they do now tell one they are eating the flesh of Jesus.
But I know the CC wants to indocrinate as early as possible the sacrements.

Incidentally, I am heartened to see that you have made a link between the sacraments and the bible!

Some people leave the Catholic Church because they think that the sacraments can’t be found there.

So it’s good that you see that relationship.

 

[PRmerger]

why teach someone something until they can comprehend it?

Because it’s true.

And it’s not that hard a concept to understand, really.

If they can believe that they can fly in an airplane, but not really understand it, then they can surely believe that Jesus is the Bread of Life.

And if they can believe that God made everything (you do think that an 8 year old can understand this, right, Luv?), then it’s not too hard to understand that God can transform the Bread into Himself, no?

reading a story and being told a story are two different things. It was not like you were readinging to them from the bible right.

I read to them from the Bible.

 

[JonNC]

The point is not the claiming of Sacred Tradition, but the authority to interpret. Every Christian church that practices the sacrament of baptism in the name of the trinity has inherited something incredible from the Church fathers. While this does not ensure that other doctrines will be resolved in unanimity, it gives a grounding point for common beliefs. For example, all of the “denominations” (if they could be called that), that you listed all have 7 sacraments, believe in some sort of Petrine primacy (though the extent is called into question), don’t believe in sola fide or sola scriptura, etc.
What you’re saying is like people trying to get from New York to London. Some try to swim, some take a rowboat (and a few friends), some take a motorboat and some take planes. All those who claim Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture could be likened to taking the plane. If, while during the flight there, three of the four passengers jumped out the plane each at different times, it doesn’t make the plane any less proper of a mode of transportation.

Perhaps not. But not knowing who actually did the jumping makes things difficult.

Jon

 

[Newsy]

**As a mother who has gone through First Communion with 4 children I can tell you that they do indeed teach the Real Presence to 8 year olds.

Whether they can comprehend it fully is irrelevant**

Oh well maybe some teach it now, and maybe some don’t.

yes well I’m sure you will explain more fully to them or they are probably older now.

but why does the Church say one needs to accept the Real Presence as the flesh of Christ and a sin not to believe it and take it anyway, and since 8 year olds can’t comprehend (most) they must be sinning.
why teach someone something until they can comprehend it?

reading a story and being told a story are two different things. It was not like you were readinging to them from the bible right.

I am very sorry that you were so poorly taught. Do you think that a foundational truth like the Real Presence wasn’t mentioned or wasn’t understood? I ask because many people, when they aren’t interested or focused, seem to lose their grasp of the conversation. This leads to “they never told me that”, later on. On the other hand, I am sure there were some very poor teachers in some areas.

BTW, we teach kids younger than 8 about the Real Presence because it is true. Even if they don’t fully comprehend the details of the Real Presence, they understand the idea.

As for “why teach them something until they can comprehend it”, that is easy. Do you think we should teach toddlers that the stove is hot? Yes, for their safety and well being. Is it for their own good, even if they have never been burned so they can’t comprehend it? Yes.

You mentioned page 154 in the Baltimore Catechism, it can only be discouraging Bible reading if you are trying to twist the phrases and read them with that pretext. If you want to continue accusing the CC of discouraging Scripture reading, you will need to provide a reference. Personal stories and general trends do not prove the argument.

 

[CopticChristian]

You could probably help her with that.

and I would suggest she get some more bible study. but we all had the basic understanding so she needs it also,

**but atlas there are many new Catholics here that don’t understand the Trinity also even after their cathechism,/**QUOTE]

Sew,

I have been Catholic all of my life. I don’t understand the Trinity???

 

[Luvtosew]

I am very sorry that you were so poorly taught. Do you think that a foundational truth like the Real Presence wasn’t mentioned or wasn’t understood? I ask because many people, when they aren’t interested or focused, seem to lose their grasp of the conversation. This leads to “they never told me that”, later on. On the other hand, I am sure there were some very poor teachers in some areas.

BTW, we teach kids younger than 8 about the Real Presence because it is true. Even if they don’t fully comprehend the details of the Real Presence, they understand the idea.

As for “why teach them something until they can comprehend it”, that is easy. Do you think we should teach toddlers that the stove is hot? Yes, for their safety and well being. Is it for their own good, even if they have never been burned so they can’t comprehend it? Yes.

You mentioned page 154 in the Baltimore Catechism, it can only be discouraging Bible reading if you are trying to twist the phrases and read them with that pretext. If you want to continue accusing the CC of discouraging Scripture reading, you will need to provide a reference. Personal stories and general trends do not prove the argument.

Newsy
If you read the Baltimore Cathechism you will not see mention of flesh for the host. We werre taught by Nuns, no they did not teach flesh. No misunderstanding there. More a Real Presence in the spiritual sense. No confusion.

, Don’t talk about what you don’t know , the scriptures were always frowned upon being read by lay person by the Church till after the advent of Vatican II, and even today they will interpret it for you as you won’t understaqnd. I showed enough proff, if you need more search the net , better yet talk to older Catholics, or I hate to say it but most Catholics don’t crack open a bible even today, unfortuanately.

 

[Luvtosew]

Luvtosew;8893839:

You could probably help her with that.

and I would suggest she get some more bible study. but we all had the basic understanding so she needs it also,

but atlas there are many new Catholics here that don’t understand the Trinity also even after their cathechism,/

QUOTE]

Sew,

I have been Catholic all of my life. I don’t understand the Trinity???

Coptic, You don’t know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 3 distinct persons in one?
surely don’t feel bad if you don’t as I’m sure its not your fault.