Interpreting God's Word

[Ayodhya Nath Bhat]

Interpreting God's Word

Are Catholics able to interpret God's Word for themselves?

"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." Pg. 30, #100

Can only the pope and the leadership of the Catholic church properly interpret God's Word? Let's go to the Bible and see how God feels about this teaching. When Paul and Silas preached in Berea, the people:

"... received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11

In other words, they interpreted the Scriptures for themselves with the help of the Holy Spirit.

"And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" Mark 12:24  

Why did Jesus chastise the Sadducees for not knowing the Scriptures if it was impossible for them to interpret them?

And why did Peter, Catholicism's first " pope," declare the following?

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Peter 1:20

Why does Paul instruct us to study the Bible if we can't interpret it?

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Jesus admonished the Jews to:

"Search the scriptures..." John 5:39

Why would He do that, if He knew they couldn't interpret them?

Who does the interpreting?

The Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit, not a group of men, will interpret Scripture for God's children and will help them to understand all things:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." John 16:13
 

The Apostle Paul recognized that the Holy Spirit was the One who taught him:

"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:13
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:12
 

Why are Christians commanded to memorize the Scriptures if they can' t understand them?

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11
"Keep my commandments, and live... write them upon the table of thine heart." Proverbs 7:2-3
 

A warning

The following verses of Scripture should alarm anyone who believes they need a church to interpret the Bible for them:

"These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie , and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1 John 2:26-27  

Could God's position be any plainer?

Conclusion

Why is the Catholic church so determined to interpret the Scriptures for you? Is it because they want to control you and keep you in bondage to Catholicism?

Are they afraid that if you read the Scriptures for yourself, you might discover that Catholic doctrines are contrary to God's Word?

Do you really believe that all non-Catholics are groping around in spiritual blindness, needing the Catholic church to interpret the Bible for them?

You must settle these things in your own mind, but your most important decision is:

"Who will interpret Scripture for you... the Holy Spirit of God or the Roman Catholic church?"  

Your answer to that question will determine who you will obey and eventually where you will spend eternity:

"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. " Psalm 119:97-99

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[tklein1014]

This has already been discussed in other threads.  Go back, read the Catholic position with an open mind, and defend your postion.

Tina

[Rev. Eric]

Hello Ayodhya,

I agree with Tina - this material was covered in the earlier topic "Why Follow the Bible?" but you have, so far, refused to continue the discussion.

Who will interpret Scripture for you... the Holy Spirit of God or the Roman Catholic church?

Obviously, by "Roman Catholic Church" you are referring to the pope and the bishops in union with him, who make up the Magesterium.  The pope and the bishops are Christian people.  So you are suggesting that the Holy Spirit will interpret scripture for you and Christians in general, but not for the pope and the bishops.  So what makes you think the pope and the bishops are excluded from the assistence of the Holy Spirit?  You admitted that the Holy Spirit helps all Christians to interpret Scripture.  After all you quoted John 14:16,  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (Although Jesus was only speaking to the apostles when He said this, so I could argue that the guidance He was speaking of here is for the leaders of His Church).

So basically what you are saying here is that the Holy Spirit guides all Christians in interpreting Scripture EXCEPT for the cases in which certain Catholics interpret Scripture that you disagree with.

The Holy Spirit helps everyone interpret Scripture, but other forces are at work as well.  In addition to the Holy Spirit, we may interpret Scripture based upon our own expectations, our past experiences and so forth.  Therefore, no one can say that he or she has a guarantee of unerring interpretation of Scripture except for the Magesterium.  This guarantee protects the doctrines of God against the many abuses of personal interpretation of Scripture.

So I invite you to return to the discussion on "Why Follow the Bible?" and defend your position against what the Community Catholics have said concerning personal interpretation of Scripture.  You have not done that in this new topic of yours.  You have totally ignored the problems we brought up earlier about contradicting interpretations.  

All this new post of yours basically says is that your personal interpretation of Scripture is that everyone must rely upon personal interpretation of Scripture. I'm sorry, I don't really find that a compelling argument.

Furthermore, I would like to invite you to share some more of your own interpretations, as follows:  The Southern Baptist Convention declared in June of 2000 that women should not be pastors, and this was based upon the convention members' personal interpretation of 1Cor 14:34-35, 1Tim 2:11-12, 3:1-2.  But many other Protestant groups have claimed that their interpretations of this Scripture does not prohibit them from having women pastors.  The Holy Spirit is Truth and Truth cannot contradict itself!  That means that it is impossible for both these interpretations to be correct.  Therefore, using the material that you have been posting which supports personal interpretation of Scripture, I invite you to tell us whether or not the Holy Spirit wants women pastors in Protestant churches.

If you would rather pick a different topic, such as divorce, then I invite you to do the same.

A Final Point Concerning the Great Irony (that I have perceived):
Over and over in your posts Ayodhya, you have rejected or ignored the Catholic Church's interpretations of Scripture to back up certain Catholic teachings.  In addition to this, you present your own intepretations as if they correct ones (and you condemn those who do not accept your interpretations).  As a matter-of-fact, in this new topic you started, you even suggested that Catholics are damned if they do not accept your interpretations:

Your answer to that question will determine who you will obey and eventually where you will spend eternity.

 What makes your interpretations correct while the interpretations of Catholics incorrect?  With what authority do you bring that gives you the power to present your interpretations as the gospel truth while ours are not?  

And so in light of all this, I perceive the "Great Irony":
In the past you have readily rejected papal infallibilty, and yet you act as if you are infallible.  
And if I am wrong, then by all means, correct me.

God bless,
-Rev. Eric

[DavidFilmer]

If Ayodhya plans to cut-and-paste the works of others, the least he could do is attribute it. He plagerized this content from the book, "Understanding Roman Catholicism," copyright 1995 by Rick Jones, and posted (with permission) on Jack Chick's website (Jack Chick is a professional anti-Catholic):

http://www.chick.com/reading/books/160/160_30.asp