How to understand the New Testament

The best way to understand the New Testament

Is the way which is taught by the Catholic Church. In the context of the Traditions of Jesus Christ according to the teachings of the Church.

Protestants object that this way of understanding Scripture presupposes what the Scripture is saying. They claim we, Catholics, come to Scripture with a preformed understanding of what Scripture teaches.

That is precisely correct. You see, the Catholic Church wrote the Scriptures from the Traditions which Jesus Christ deposited with Her. The Catholic Church teaches the Word of God.

Protestants discover the meaning of the Word everytime they read Scripture. Frequently, they contradict each other and even themselves. Why? Because they don't know what they are reading.

You see, faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God:
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 13:7
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

1 Corinthians 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

You see, Scripture assumes that we learn our faith from our preachers and from our ceremonies. And Scripture also assumes that we receive the GRACE to live out our faith in the Sacraments.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to hismercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

So, the best way to understand Scripture is by the Catholic method.

Protestants, because they reject Tradition and deny the authority of the Church, must discover what Scripture means everytime they read it. Therefore, they rely a great deal upon the immediate context of the text.

Protestants, however, don't follow their own advice. They come into the Scriptures with their own set of presuppositions. For instance, let us look at an example of a text which is frequently used to support the man made concept of Scripture alone. 2 Tim 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Now, lets examine the immediate context.

All Scripture 

First of all, the text says nothing about Scripture ALONE. The word used to describe Scripture is ALL. What's the difference? Well, to say that "all Scripture is inspired of God" is Catholic Teaching. The Church teaches that Scripture is the Word of God and without error. But Scripture itself teaches that the men are God breathed (John 20:22; 2 Pet 1:21). So, Scripture does not say that Scripture ALONE is God breathed.

Doctrine, reproof and instruction 

NEXT, and more importantly, this verse itself (2 Tim 3:16) exists within a certain context. It is in the midst of an explanation on how to teach and what to use in so teaching. So, when Scripture is mentioned, it is mentioned as a tool for doctrine, reproof and instruction. In other words, as a teaching tool.

Profitable

Protestants make much ado about the word "profitable" in the verse. They interpret it as "necessary". But that is not the case. Profitable means useful. St. Paul does not say that using the Bible is absolutely necessary.

TO SUMMARIZE, the immediate context of the verse is not about Scripture alone. It is about instruction.

The rest of 2 Tim 

The fact is that the entire book of 2 Timothy is about instruction. Let us take a short tour of 2 Timothy.

Chapter 1:
¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, ²To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord....
⁶Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
⁷For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
⁸Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;....
¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
¹¹Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
¹³Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
¹⁴That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.....

Chapter 2¹Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.....
¹⁴Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
¹⁵Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
¹⁶But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.....

²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will....

Chapter 3

....10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

(This is a reference to grandmother Lois and mother Eunice and himself)


15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

(He knows the Scriptures from a child NOT because he read them but because they were explained to him by Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice).

16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Chapter 41I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;....

And so the entire context of 2 Tim is about teaching the Word of God. This is completely in line with the Catholic doctrine of Magisterium or Teaching Church.

In summary then, the best way to understand Scripture is the Catholic method. And a very good way to reprove anyone who claims to find a doctrine which does not conform to Catholic teaching is to review the context. If a doctrine contradicts Catholic Teaching, it will also contradict Scripture.

Sincerely,

De Maria