Who has authority to interpret the Bible? Who has the final say - the Bible or the Church?
The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him. (1 John 2:27 HCSB)
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Transmission of Divine Revelation Part 1 Section 1 Chapter 2 Article 2, 100
The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.
Who should you believe, the Bible or the Roman Catholic Church? Let us examine some of the other verses in the Bible.
Jesus had given the authority to all disciples.
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)
He had promised that the Holy Spirit as the Counselor/Helper/Comforter/Advocate will guide.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. (John 14:16-18 HCSB)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - the Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26 HCSB)
When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father - the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father - He will testify about Me. (John 15:26 HCSB)
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. (John 16:13 HCSB)
The apostles confirmed this.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 ESV)
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. (1 John 2:20 ESV)
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie - just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:27 ESV)
Those who examine the Scriptures were considered more noble.
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11 ESV)
Just as we eat our food daily for nourish, we read the Bible daily for spiritual nourishment.
But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4 HCSB)
The Bible is the living word of God and has the power to convict.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 HCSB)
But the natural man cannot accept it.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)
No comments:
Post a Comment