I am quite certain that if the Magisterium only taught what Protestants considered biblical, all their skepticism and supposed historical questions would immediately disappear, and apostolic succession would be as believable as the angelic dispute over Moses’ corpse and the raising of Jairus’s daughter.
I’m not. In my opinion, the problem is not what the Magisterium teaches. It is what the Protestant believes. Remember, there are more than 20,000 Protestant denominations. All of them with a slight twist on what they consider biblical.
Here’s the situation as I see it. You, Wosbald and I are Catholic. We have rules for interpreting the Scriptures. So, we should come up with a pretty close interpretation, if we follow those rules.
But, if any of us conflicts with Catholic Teaching, we would immediately drop our understanding and accept the Catholic Teaching on the matter.
But not Protestants.
1. Protestants do not have one set of rules to follow to understand the Bible.
2. If a Protestants interpretation of Scripture contradicts the Church’s teaching, whatever Church that might be, they are conscience bound to deny that Church’s teaching. They are conscience bound to do precisely the opposite of what the Word of God prescribes:
1. Protestants do not have one set of rules to follow to understand the Bible.
2. If a Protestants interpretation of Scripture contradicts the Church’s teaching, whatever Church that might be, they are conscience bound to deny that Church’s teaching. They are conscience bound to do precisely the opposite of what the Word of God prescribes:
Hebrews 13:7
King James Version (KJV)
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.
King James Version (KJV)
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.
Hebrews 13:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
King James Version (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Leaning upon their own understanding is precisely what they do and they are conscience bound to do so.
For them, although it is proclaimed in Scripture, yet the bread can not be the Flesh of Christ (John 6:51). They can’t imagine it, it can’t be true.
For them, men can not forgive sins in the name of God, even though it is in Scripture (John 20:23).
For them, even though men in the Church wrote the Scriptures infallibly, neither men nor the Church can be infallible. They can’t imagine it (Matt 16:18-19; Eph 3:10).
For them, men can not forgive sins in the name of God, even though it is in Scripture (John 20:23).
For them, even though men in the Church wrote the Scriptures infallibly, neither men nor the Church can be infallible. They can’t imagine it (Matt 16:18-19; Eph 3:10).
Correct me if I’m wrong.
Sincerely,
De Maria