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Interpreting God's Word for Yourself
Are Catholics able to interpret God's Word for themselves?
| "The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically
has been entrusted solely to the magisterium of the Church,
that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with
him." Pg. 30, #100 |
Can only the pope and the leadership of the
Catholic church properly interpret God's Word? Let's go to the Bible and
see how God feels about this teaching. When Paul and Silas preached in
Berea, the people:
| "... received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so." Acts 17:11 |
In other words, they interpreted the Scriptures for themselves with
the help of the Holy Spirit.
| "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore
err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power
of God?" Mark 12:24 |
Why did Jesus chastise the Sadducees for not knowing the Scriptures
if it was impossible for them to interpret them?
And why did Peter, Catholicism's first " pope," declare the
following?
| "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation."
2 Peter 1:20 |
Why does Paul instruct us to study the Bible if we can't interpret
it?
| "Study to show yourself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15 |
Jesus admonished the Jews to:
| "Search the scriptures..."
John 5:39 |
Why would He do that, if He knew they couldn't interpret them?
Who does the Interpreting?
The Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit, not a group of men, will
interpret Scripture for God's children and will help them to understand
all things:
| "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,
he will guide you into all truth..." John
16:13 |
The Apostle Paul recognized that the Holy Spirit was the One who
taught him:
| "Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost
teaches; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:13 "Now we have received, not
the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:12 |
Why are Christians commanded to memorize the Scriptures if they can'
t understand them?
| "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee." Psalm 119:11 "Keep my commandments, and
live... write them upon the table of your heart." Proverbs
7:2-3 |
A Solemn Warning
The following verses of Scripture should alarm anyone who believes
they need a church to interpret the Bible for them:
| "These things have I written unto you concerning them
that seduce you. But the anointing
which ye have received of him abideth in you, and
ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is
truth, and is no lie , and even as it hath taught you, ye
shall abide in him." 1 John 2:26-27 |
Could God's position be any plainer?
Conclusion
Why is the Catholic church so determined to interpret the Scriptures
for you? Is it because they want to control you and keep you in bondage
to Catholicism?
Are they afraid that if you read the Scriptures for yourself, you
might discover that Catholic doctrines are contrary to God's Word?
Do you really believe that all non-Catholics are groping around in
spiritual blindness, needing the Catholic church to interpret the Bible
for them?
You must settle these things in your own mind, but your most
important decision is:
| "Who will interpret Scripture for you... the Holy Spirit
of God or the Roman Catholic church?" |
Your answer to that question will determine who you will obey and
eventually where you will spend eternity:
| "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine
enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more
understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are
my meditation. " Psalm 119:97-99 |
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