In my opinion,
the difference between the way that Catholics understand Scripture and Protestants interpret Scripture runs much deeper than the idea of a difference in the "interpretation of words".
Correct me if you think I'm wrong, but when a Protestant looks at Scripture, he seeks to discover in the Scripture something which he has not heretofore understood. This is why so many of them object that one must not approach Scripture with what they call, "presuppositions."
It is not the same for a Catholic. We do not delve into Scripture to discover something which we do not know. That is why so many Catholics by pass Scripture altogether and go directly to Church Doctrine. We know that the Church has already read the Scripture and has neatly explained to us all the things which Scripture says are "hard to be understood" (2 Pet 3:16).
When a Catholic reads Scripture,
first of all, he prays. We don't simply read Scripture. We pray Scripture.
second of all, he confirms the knowledge of the Word of God which he has already learned from the Church.
When I read Scripture, whether it be in the Douay or in the King James, I know that it means what the Catholic Church teaches. Take the word conversion or metanoia for instance.
Acts 26:20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Acts 26:20
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
20 But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.
To do penance is to do works worthy of repentance. Someone who is truly penitent, someone who is truly repentant, will want to make amends for that which he regrets doing. That is the Catholic Teaching concerning metanoia or turning to God with deep sorrow for our sins. And that is the underlying understanding that I bring to my reading of Scripture.
I've been talking with Protestants for about twenty years now. And I have come to believe, that a devout Catholic who never opens the Bible understands the Word of God better than even the best Protestant preacher who has gone to the best Protestant seminaries.
Sincerely,
De Maria
the difference between the way that Catholics understand Scripture and Protestants interpret Scripture runs much deeper than the idea of a difference in the "interpretation of words".
Correct me if you think I'm wrong, but when a Protestant looks at Scripture, he seeks to discover in the Scripture something which he has not heretofore understood. This is why so many of them object that one must not approach Scripture with what they call, "presuppositions."
It is not the same for a Catholic. We do not delve into Scripture to discover something which we do not know. That is why so many Catholics by pass Scripture altogether and go directly to Church Doctrine. We know that the Church has already read the Scripture and has neatly explained to us all the things which Scripture says are "hard to be understood" (2 Pet 3:16).
When a Catholic reads Scripture,
first of all, he prays. We don't simply read Scripture. We pray Scripture.
second of all, he confirms the knowledge of the Word of God which he has already learned from the Church.
When I read Scripture, whether it be in the Douay or in the King James, I know that it means what the Catholic Church teaches. Take the word conversion or metanoia for instance.
Acts 26:20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Acts 26:20
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
20 But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.
To do penance is to do works worthy of repentance. Someone who is truly penitent, someone who is truly repentant, will want to make amends for that which he regrets doing. That is the Catholic Teaching concerning metanoia or turning to God with deep sorrow for our sins. And that is the underlying understanding that I bring to my reading of Scripture.
I've been talking with Protestants for about twenty years now. And I have come to believe, that a devout Catholic who never opens the Bible understands the Word of God better than even the best Protestant preacher who has gone to the best Protestant seminaries.
Sincerely,
De Maria
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