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The Five Solae of the

IX. The Authority of Rome

Date: July 27, 2013 Sola: Sola Scriptura Aim: To understand the Roman Church’s view of Biblical authority.

A. Introduction The appearance of Martin Luther before the Diet of Worms in 1521 was one of the most dramatic moments in history. Luther took a bold stand against the authorities by asserting the truths of the . The extraordinary part of Luther’s argument was how he defended his writings. Luther argued that Scripture alone and not or councils had the exclusive power to bind the conscience of the Christian. Absolute authority rests in Scripture alone. The question of authority in matters of faith sparked great debate during the Protestant Reformation. “The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the speaking in the Scripture.” (WCF I.10).

B. The Reformation Debate on Authority The Reformation began with Martin Luther posting the 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517 seeking an academic debate regarding the sale of . Luther’s Theses were spread throughout Germany by the printing press. Luther attacked the idea that the had authority over a treasury of from which he could dispense the righteous merit of past . Luther’s theses were rejected and condemned by the Roman . Frederick the Elector of Saxony protected Luther from the Holy Roman Emperor and the church officials. Luther was seeking to have a theological discussion regarding the theses he had posted and not cause division in the church. Luther secured an opportunity for theological discussion at Augsburg in 1518 with the prestigious scholar Cardinal Cajetan. Cajetan quoted from a fourteenth century papal affirming a treasury of merit. Luther responding by pointing out that Cajetan had misquoted the encyclical. The debate revealed Luther had questions regarding the final authority of papal . Luther debated at Leipzig in 1519 with John Eck who was considered on of the greatest scholars of the time. Eck showed how Luther was endorsing some of the articles of John Hus that were condemned at the Council of Constance (1414-18). It was clear that Luther was guilty of questioning the decisions of church councils.

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“I assert that a council has sometimes erred and may sometimes err, nor has a council authority to establish new articles of faith. A council cannot make divine right out of that which is by nature not divine right. Councils have contradicted each other.” (Martin Luther). Luther argued Scripture was the final authority for faith and practice and pope or councils cannot devise new doctrine. The Diet of Worms was summoned in 1521 to resolve the growing theological dispute. Luther refused to recant his writings and teachings before the Emperor, cardinals, bishops, and legates of Rome. “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.” (Martin Luther). Only God can bind the conscience absolutely. Churches, people, and creeds are only binding on the Christian in as much as they reflect the accuracy of Scripture.

C. The Reformation Debate on Interpretation of Scripture The extent of Scripture’s authority was an important question in the sixteenth century, and it still is today. The debate over scriptural authority led to questions surrounding how to interpret Scripture. The Roman Catholic Church asserted its exclusive right to interpret the to the laity. The Protestant Reformers argued the Holy Spirit anoints each individual believer with the freedom to interpret Scripture responsibly and accurately. “The Holy, Ecumenical and General lawfully assembled in the Holy Ghost, the same three legates of the presiding, keeps this constantly in view, namely, that the purity of may be preserved in the Church after the errors have been removed. This Gospel of old promised through the prophets in the Holy Scripture our Lord Christ the Son of God promulgated first with His own mouth and then commanded to be preached by His apostles to every creature as the source at once of all saving truth and rules of conduct. It also clearly perceives that these truths and rules are contained in the written books and in the unwritten traditions which received by the apostles from the mouth of Christ Himself or from the apostles themselves the Holy Ghost dictating have come down to us transmitted as it were from hand to hand.” (The Fourth Session, The Council of Trent – 1546). Great debate has surrounded this statement from the Council of Trent regarding the relationship between church traditions and Scripture. Does Scripture have greater authority or the same authority as the traditions of the church? Earlier drafts of the Council of Trent stated the truths of the Gospel are found partly in Scripture and partly in tradition. There was debate within the Council itself regarding the final wording. The Roman Catholic Church has emphasized the equal authority of Scripture and tradition since the Council of Trent. Protestants emphasized the Spirit-led power of individuals to privately interpret Scripture. “Furthermore, to check unbridled spirits, it (the Council) decrees that no one relying on his own judgment shall in matters of faith and morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine, distorting the Holy Scriptures in accordance with His own conceptions presume to interpret them contrary to that sense which Holy Mother Church to whom it belongs to judge

DSB p. 41 09-Jun-13 The Five Solae of the Reformation the true sense in interpretations has held or holds or even contrary to the unanimous teaching of the Fathers even though such interpretations should never at any time be published. And those who act contrary to this shall be known by the ordinaries and punished in accordance with the penalties prescribed by the law.” The Protestant emphasis on the private interpretation of Scripture never sought to justify distorting Scripture according to one’s will. The right of interpretation comes with the responsibility of accuracy. Many use the freedom to privately interpret Scripture as a for subjectivism today. Scriptural texts contain one meaning yet many applications. The Roman Catholic Church claims the exclusive right to interpret the meaning of Scriptural texts. The Church argues that Scripture needs to be interpreted according to the tradition. The Church also claims that Scripture received its authority in the first place from the Church itself. The Reformers spoke of the Analogy of Faith regarding the authority of Scripture. Sacred Scripture is interpreted by Scripture itself. The Analogy of Faith assumes the unity and coherency of the Sacred Scriptures. Scripture does not contradict itself and both the church and individuals should look to the Holy Spirit or author of Scripture to interpret the text itself.

D. The Bible • The Roman Catholic church has a high view of Scripture; it is authoritative and “dictated” by God

• The Roman Catholic church includes the Apocryphal books as canonical and deserving equal veneration with the other books of the Old and New Testaments o Apokrupha = “hidden things” o Apocryphal books are not in the Hebrew OT canon, but are included in the Greek LXX; they are not quoted or accepted by Jesus Christ or NT writers o The nature of the is history, allegory, fable, fiction, etc. and contain errors o Some Apocryphal books deny their inspiration; e.g., prologue to Ecclesiasticus,; 1 Macc. 4:46, 9:27; 2 Macc. 2:53, 15:38. o Cardinal Cajetan in 1532 approved the Hebrew canon without the Apocrypha, but some bishops appealed to it in the Council of Trent, hence its inclusion . Defense of the doctrine of in 2 Macc. 12:39-45 (but idolatry is a and deserving of , not purgatory, which is supposed to be only for venial sins)

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• The Roman Catholic church claims that the Scripture received its authority in the first place from the Church itself through the early councils of the Church which assembled and authorized the canon o However, the canon was written, completed, and accepted centuries before the early church councils o Furthermore, the early church councils did not “determine” Scripture; they merely recognized and “received” what was already clearly Scripture

• The Roman Catholic church argues that Scripture needs to be interpreted according to the traditions of the church

• The authoritative of the Scriptures is the Vulgate (“common”, translated by around 400 AD o The Vulgate contains many translation errors confirmed by modern scholarship o The Vulgate is held to be infallible – reaffirmed by the Vatican Council of 1870 o Roman Catholic in the vernacular are based on the Vulgate and are thus a translation of a translation o Roman Catholic Bibles contain notes (like Protestant Bibles) explaining the text

• The Roman Catholic church has had a history of hiding or keeping the Word of God away from people o Use of the Latin Vulgate instead of in the vernacular o Forbids private interpretation; instead rely on official interpretation of the church o This policy locks up the glory of God, the word of God, and the sacraments of God

E. Tradition • Alongside of the Bible, the Roman Catholic church upholds tradition as a source of authority

• Modernism denies the supernatural and takes away from the Bible; but Roman Catholic traditions add to the Bible

• There is an “unwritten word” of Christ and the apostles, handed down as oral tradition from generation to generation by word of mouth

• Extrabiblical sources of authority include the Apocrypha, church councils, writings of the , papal encyclicals and pronouncements, etc.

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• Traditions are the inventions of men and as such are not infallible; many of the church fathers and early traditions contradict one another o Augustine – Retractions: At the end of his life, Augustine revisited his works in chronological order, discussing what he would have said differently. Retractions gives insight into the theological development of Augustine. o Examples of contradictions in church tradition . Early return of Christ – refuted by & Augustine . Against images/for images . Free reading of Scripture/restricted use of Scripture . Controversy around “The Great” and his comments against the title “Universal Bishop” (referring to the papacy); later popes adopted this title

• Three sources of tradition o Divine – alleged to be taught by Christ o Apostolic – taught by apostles o Ecclesiastiae – council pronouncements/papal decrees . Ex (“From the chair”) pronouncements by the pope – the Holy Spirit helps pope proclaim what belongs to original inspiration

• Most of the prominent doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic church are derived from tradition, not Scripture: e.g., purgatory, the priesthood, the mass, , for the dead, indulgences, penance, worship of the Mary, iconography, relics, holy water, beads, celibacy of priests and , the papacy itself o Purgatory: verses used to support the Catholic doctrine of purgatory include: Mt. 3:11; 1 Cor. 3:15; Jude 22-23; 1 Pe. 3:18-20; and especially 2 Macc. 12:39- 45 o Veneration of Mary . – born without : Pope Pius IX 1854 . Perpetual virginity; no other children . Impeccability . Assumption bodily into heaven and named the : Pope Pius XII 1950 . “Mother of God” () – 451 . Given the power, place, and glory of Christ . Object of worship - Ave Maria . Viewed as another mediator – “through Mary to Christ” . Latria – worship due to God alone . Dulia – veneration given to saints

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. Hyperdulia – special veneration reserved for Mary as the most exalted of human beings (actually, when it comes to Mary in the RC church, they “hyper-venerate”!) . Mary serves as a model for Roman Catholic women (and for RC church to control – meek, mild, and submissive) . Our Lady of Guadalupe – 1531; regarded in a 1738 sermon as the best representation of the Immaculate Conception; Pope Pius XII declared her in 1945 the “Queen of Mexico and Empress of the Americas”

Hail Mary Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee Blessed art though among women, and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death. Amen

The first half comes from Lk. 1:28, 42 and was in use before 1050AD The second half (petition) added around the Council of Trent

• Since the Council of Trent (1546), the Roman Catholic church has emphasized the equal authority of Scripture and tradition

F. The Roman Catholic Church • The Roman Catholic church is in effect the highest authority, since it determines what tradition is and how the Bible is to be interpreted

• Since 1870, the infallibility of the pope has been official doctrine; however, this belief has been present centuries before, even before the time of Luther and the Reformation

• The final seat of authority is not the Bible alone, but the Bible plus the traditions as interpreted by the Roman Catholic church; in essence, the pope holds the final seat of authority as the head of the Roman Catholic church

G. The Council of Trent – Fourth Session (1546) • Bible and Tradition: The sacred and holy, ecumenical, and general Synod of Trent,―lawfully assembled in the Holy Ghost, the Same three legates of the Apostolic See presiding therein,―keeping this always in view, that, errors being removed, the purity itself of the Gospel be preserved in the Church; which (Gospel), before promised through the prophets in the holy Scriptures, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, first promulgated with His own mouth, and then commanded to be preached by His Apostles

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to every creature, as the fountain of all, both saving truth, and moral discipline; and seeing clearly that this truth and discipline are contained in the written books, and the unwritten traditions which, received by the Apostles from the mouth of Christ himself, or from the Apostles themselves, the Holy Ghost dictating, have come down even unto us, transmitted as it were from hand to hand; (the Synod) following the examples of the orthodox Fathers, receives and venerates with an equal affection of piety, and reverence, all the books both of the Old and of the ―seeing that one God is the author of both―as also the said traditions, as well those appertaining to faith as to morals, as having been dictated, either by Christ's own word of mouth, or by the Holy Ghost, and preserved in the Catholic Church by a continuous succession.

• Apocrypha: [List of canonical books, including the Apocrypha] … But if any one receive not, as sacred and canonical, the said books entire with all their parts, as they have been used to be read in the Catholic Church, and as they are contained in the vulgate edition; and knowingly and deliberately contemn the traditions aforesaid; let him be anathema.

• Vulgate: Moreover, the same sacred and holy Synod,―considering that no small utility may accrue to the Church of God, if it be made known which out of all the Latin editions, now in circulation, of the sacred books, is to be held as authentic,―ordains and declares, that the said old and vulgate edition, which, by the lengthened usage of so many years, has been approved of in the Church, be, in public lectures, disputations, sermons and expositions, held as authentic; and that no one is to dare, or presume to reject it under any pretext whatever.

• Authority of Church: Furthermore, in order to restrain petulant spirits, It decrees, that no one, relying on his own skill, shall,―in matters of faith, and of morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine,―wresting the sacred Scripture to his own senses, presume to interpret the said sacred Scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church,--whose it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy Scriptures,--hath held and doth hold; or even contrary to the unanimous consent of the Fathers; even though such interpretations were never (intended) to be at any time published. Contraveners shall be made known by their Ordinaries, and be punished with the penalties by law established.

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