What Is Sacred Scripture?
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Theological Reflection, Divorced from the Incarnational Nature of the Christian Faith, Invalidates the Bible
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies ISSN: (Online) 2072-8050, (Print) 0259-9422 Page 1 of 10 Original Research Theological reflection, divorced from the incarnational nature of the Christian faith, invalidates the Bible Author: This article draws its inspiration from the famous excerpt of the 5th century Father and 1 Jennifer Slater Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, Jerome, who firmly claims in his Commentary on Affiliation: Isaiah (Nn 1.2: CCL 73, 1–3) that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. By this exhortation 1Department of Philosophy, he urged Christians to recognise the serious necessity to study the Word of God as it is not Practical and Systematic an optional luxury to be used and interpreted with tawdriness. The secret of this renowned Theology, College of Human biblical scholar was to adhere to a fundamental criterion, namely, to interpret the Holy Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Scriptures in harmony with the Roman Catholic Church’s magisterium, and thus no person is at liberty to interpret the scriptures alone and slip into self-righteous error. Jerome believed Corresponding author: that the authentic interpretation of Scripture is harmonious with the faith of the (Catholic) Jennifer Slater, Church and when ‘correctly attuned’, only then the reader is authorised to understand [email protected] Sacred Scripture. Scripture is the foundation of theological truth and this article endeavours Dates: to disclose that when the bible is not perceived as an inexhaustible source of inspiration and Received: 29 Apr. 2020 guidance, it is left open for distasteful interpretations and becomes a recipe for scripture Accepted: 02 Oct. -
The Role of Tradition
The Role of Tradition Most of our separated brethren believe that all that is needed for faith is conveyed in the Bible. This is the principle of sola scriptura (only scripture) while the Catholic teaching is "Scripture and Tradition." What does Tradition encompass? Paul teaches us that we are to hold to what is given us by Scripture and what is conveyed orally (1 Cor 11:23). This oral teaching is Tradition. The Catholic faith makes a distinction between Traditions (capital T) which are based on the teaching of apostolic times and thus can not be changed and those traditions (small t) which can be changed by the church. Examples of Traditions are: prayers for the dead, the perpetual virginity of Mary, the celebration of Sunday as the Lords' day, and the Blessed Trinity. Many of these Traditions are summed up in the early creeds such as the Apostles Creed. The (capital T) Traditions are also referred to by the Church as "Sacred Tradition." The other (small t) traditions are such practices as: priestly celibacy, specified days of fasting and/or abstinence, and kneeling and standing in Church. As time goes on, these traditions may be changed or revised as necessary for the Church to respond to God through the language, culture, problems and opportunities of our day. The Gospels tell us that Jesus was sometimes dragged into arguments between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The main difference between these two groups was that the Sadducees restricted their beliefs and rules to what was explicitly written in the Torah while the Pharisees included the wisdom of the ages (Tradition). -
The Catholic Faith Divine Revelation
The Catholic Faith Divine Revelation Knowing God Faith is a gift from God that allows us to believe in him and all that he has revealed. We can know God from creation. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ five proofs of knowing the existence of God by reason. First Mover: Anything moved is moved by another. There cannot be an infinite series of movers. So there must be a first mover. First Cause: Anything caused is caused by another. There cannot be an infinite series of causes. So there must be a first cause. Necessary Being: Not everything is contingent. So there is a necessary being upon which other beings depend for their existence. Greatest Being: Whatever is great to any degree gets its greatness from that which is the greatest. So there is a greatest being, which is the source of all greatness. Intelligent Designer: Whatever acts for an end must be directed by an intelligent being. So the world must have an intelligent designer. It is not contrary to the faith to accept the theory of evolution, so long as we understand that God is our Creator, man is the highest level of creation, and man’s soul is created only by God. Man – Made in God’s Image Man is composed of a body and a soul. Man’s soul is rational. The intellect is a power of the rational soul. Man is created in God’s image. All men are created equal in dignity. Man is called to relationship and stewardship. Revelation God has revealed himself out of love for man. -
Gabriel Moran's Book Is a Tour De Force of Practical Theology. Beginning
“Gabriel Moran’s book is a tour de force of practical theology. Beginning from a creative reappropriation of the meanings of ‘faith’ and ‘revelation’ as ‘believing in a revealing God,’ Moran establishes a lively and relevant theological basis for addressing problems of authority and responsibility in the Church, for identifying the distinctively Christian faith-response to divine revelation, and for questions of teaching and learning. This remarkably stimulating and thoroughly original approach to our ecclesial life today offers real guidance through the perils and pitfalls of today’s Christian believing. Written with a clarity and attractiveness that should give it a wide readership, the book charts its own distinctive course through some very well-traveled waters.” — Paul Lakeland Aloysius P. Kelley SJ Professor of Catholic Studies Director, Center for Catholic Studies Fairfield University, Connecticut “Gabriel Moran, master-teacher, teaches us anew about old topics. He has fresh, insightful things to say about the God who reveals, the humans who accept and respond to this revelation, and the community in which the revelation is mediated. When a master teacher speaks, there is always much to be learned by all who listen carefully, and that is abundantly true in this book.” — Michael G. Lawler Professor Emeritus of Catholic Theology Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska “Once again Moran has shown he is one of the most underestimated Roman Catholic intellectuals of our time. No work is more timely. No project more important. The book is the summit of his life’s work on the question of revelation. Moran’s intention here is to be deeply conservative. -
Evangelical Review of Theology Reflect the Opinions of the Authors and Reviewers and Do Not Necessarily Represent Those of the Editor Or Publisher
EVANGELICAL REVIEW OF THEOLOGY VOLUME 21 Volume 21 • Number 1 • January 1997 Evangelical Review of Theology Articles and book reviews original and selected from publications worldwide for an international readership for the purpose of discerning the obedience of faith EDITOR: BRUCE J. NICHOLLS Published by PATERNOSTER PERIODICALS for WORLD EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP Theological Commission p. 2 ISSN: 0144–8153 Vol. 21 No. 1 January–March 1997 Copyright © 1996 World Evangelical Fellowship Editor Bruce J. Nicholls Book Reviews Editor Editorial Assistant Kathleen Nicholls Committee (The Executive Committee of the WEF Theological Commission): Rolf Hille (Chairman), Bong Rin Ro, Ken Gnanakan, Pedro Arana, René Daidanso Ma Djongwé, Ward Gasque, Judith Gundry-Volf, Roger Kemp Editorial Policy The articles in the Evangelical Review of Theology reflect the opinions of the authors and reviewers and do not necessarily represent those of the Editor or Publisher. Manuscripts, reports and communications should be addressed to the Editor and sent to Union Biblical Seminary, Bihwewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, India The Editors welcome recommendations of original or published articles or book reviews that relate to forthcoming issues for inclusion in the Review. Please send clear copies of details to the above address. 2 Editorial Bernard Ramm has argued that Evangelicals must devise a new paradigm for doing theology in the Post-Enlightenment world. The issue is one of method. Gordon Lewis and Bruce Demarest have attempted this in their 3 volume Integrative Theology. Their method is to identify the problem, test alternative solutions that have been suggested in the history of Christian thought and, using a responsible hermeneutic, search the Scriptures in their progress of revelation. -
Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the Magisterium
2 SACRED SCRIPTURE, SACRED TRADITION AND THE CHURCH (C 101-141, USC Ch. 3) Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition form one Seven extra books in the Catholic Bible sacred deposit of the Word of God which is The Catholic Old Testament Canon contains seven committed to the Church… The task of authentically books not found in Protestant Bibles. These books are interpreting the Word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the Judith, Tobit, Baruch, Wisdom, Sirach and 1 & 2 living teaching office of the Church, whose Maccabees. In addition, the Catholic Bible has longer authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. versions of the books of Esther and Daniel. Catholics This teaching office is not above the Word of God sometimes call these books deuterocanonical (meaning but serves it, teaching only what has been handed “second” canon). Protestants call them apocryphal on…. with the help of the Holy Spirit: it draws from (meaning “counterfeit” or “hidden”). Why the extra this one deposit of faith everything which it presents books? Space only allows for a brief explanation. The for belief as divinely revealed. (Divine Revelation 10) Old Testament books were written in both Hebrew and Greek, the latter having the seven abovenamed books. In article one on Divine Revelation, we saw that As the gospel spread to Greek-speaking Jews and divinely revealed truth, also called the “deposit of faith” Gentiles, the Church generally used the Greek edition, is transmitted from one generation to another through also called the Septuagint. When Martin Luther, the Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. -