The Bible Alone

Does the student know better than the teacher?

Catholic or?

Like many other Catholics in recent times who selectively dismiss the teaching authority of the Church, I know first hand this mindset and its common root. Although now reconfirmed in my faith, for many years I was a Catholic with “Protestant” ideologies, distant from the authority of the Church. Not a Protestant in the communal sense as formally belonging to or attending an established congregation; I was baptized and raised Catholic and didn’t know much about Protestantism back then other than some fundamental disbelief's they possessed. I was Protestant in the sense that Protestantism was conceived. As scripture tells us; “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.” (2 Timothy CH4; v3-4)

Each Catholic who selectively chooses what doctrines he or she will and will not abide by possesses that seed that sprouted into Protestantism four centuries ago and its subsequent thousands upon thousands of splintered systems of beliefs today.
The fundamental difference between my adopting my own beliefs and formal Protestantism is I didn’t endeavor to establish my own congregation, instilling upon others my personal beliefs and disbelief's as some founders have done since the inception of Protestantism.

Each non-Catholic Christian system of beliefs is founded upon someone’s personal opinions, just as I raised my own personal opinions to the level of the “student knowing better than the teacher” in matters of Faith and God. Had I not chosen to research Scripture and Christianity in depth, I realize today I could have eventually found a system of beliefs within Protestantism that coincided with my own opinions. But does “faith shopping” or selective choosing of Church teachings reflect true faith and trust in the Word of God? Regardless of what may be convenient, no, it does not.

There are some who argue their choices are righteous due to their reliance on the “primacy of conscience”, but that in itself is a misconceived and abused use of what constitutes a well formed or good conscience in the first place. Primacy of conscience is established upon a well formed and informed conscience. A decision to disregard Scripture or Church doctrine, or declining to seek clarification and guidance in matters of faith and morality where such guidance through the Church is available reflects an ill-informed or “erroneous conscience”, usually adopted to support a decision for what is less difficult to abide by; again we refer to 2 Timothy Chapter 4 above. Jesus also said; "I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot (being halfheartedly committed to the faith is nauseating to Christ). I wish you were either cold or hot. 16 so, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. CH3; vs15-16)

We must ask ourselves, why are there so many Christian denominations today each claiming to possess the true meaning in Scripture yet each with differences in beliefs? Why have those systems of beliefs been so predisposed to periodic changes in what they present as Christ’s intended teachings, while the Catholic Church remains so unyielding in its teachings?

First, because Protestantism removed the Holy Bible, officially referred to as the Latin Vulgate, from its source, the faith of which it’s texts were written and compiled within, the Catholic Church. The "Protestant reformers" rejected the authority of the Catholic Church as its teacher, believing they could better understand the teachings and intended meaning of Christ personally through Scripture alone, removing content and altering some (not all) of it's interpretations to better coincide with what they could accept in faith. Although today some "liberal" Catholics do not generally go to this extreme, one can sadly see the basis of the same mindset for selective obedience or disregard. But what does Scripture tell us? “Moreover, we (the teaching Church) possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God. (2 Peter CH1; 19-21).

Secondly, the Catholic Church remains unyielding in matters of Christ’s teachings simply because it IS the teaching Body of Christ founded and commissioned by Him and of which He remains the High Priest until the consummation of the world. His message is truth and truth does not change. It is the Word of God and His word is not flexible to suit society’s conveniences or liberalism regardless of how unpopular that may be.

None of this is meant to demean Protestants by any means but to reflect the parallel between Protestants and Catholics who selectively choose what they will or will not abide by with respect to the teaching authority of the Church. The majority of non-Catholic Christians today know only what they have been taught in their own system of beliefs. On the other hand, Catholics can not claim the fullness of the teachings of Christ was not available to them or the sources not provided them to grow deeper in faith and a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The resources have always been there for those who seek that relationship.

For Catholics at the least, the knowledge of the origin and lineage of the Holy Bible and rational thought should quickly dispel any notion that the Bible and the teachings of the Catholic Church are separate of each other. The same knowledge should also dispel any question as to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. Yet many Catholics and most non-Catholic Christians have no idea of the origin of the Holy Bible; without knowing the source and heritage of the Bible, one can not fully appreciate its message.

Now, of course there are areas within the Bible that are written in literal style and can speak to us on a personal level but when our perceived message falls in opposition to the Word of Scripture in its entirety, the message is not from Scripture, but from our own notions. These then become myths. The fullness of Christ’s teachings require the authentic teacher, the source of the Bible, the Church Jesus Himself established and commissioned to Preach His Word so that all man may be saved. It is in the totality of Scripture that the true teachings of Christ are presented fully and correctly.

But what about those who are baptized Catholics yet disregard the authority of the Church claiming, “All one needs is to follow the Bible… “if I don’t see a teaching or doctrine of the Church in the Bible I don’t have to abide by it”. Does the student really know better than the teacher? This notion in itself opposes Scripture as we will soon see. The teachings in Scripture are not always written literally; On the contrary. The majority of what we know from Scripture is recognized through indirect stories or parables, descriptive events or messages teaching us how we are to live in the love of God and that there will be consequences for our choices. Purgatory with references of prayer for the souls for instance, is not a word literally used in the Holy Bible but rather a descriptive name the Church has assigned to that course of purification spoken of many times throughout Scripture, for nothing impure can enter heaven (Rev CH21; v27). It is the process after human death where one faces judgment and the soul undergoes expiation to remove all temporal punishment due to mortal sin once duly forgiven (Heb CH9; v27), (1 Corinthians CH3; v13-15), (2 Mac 12; v43-46). So, because the word “Purgatory” is not literally written does that mean it does not exist? Such would be a foolish conclusion to assume. (note: for those who question the true canon of Scripture or the texts erroneously removed from the Holy Bible by the Protestant Reformers, refer to The "Authority to answer the question" of Canon or read the entire article on The Canon Question.

Again I repeat the question; does the student really know better than the teacher? Let us see:

Do any of the Old Testament or New Testament texts within the Bible tell us what the Holy Bible should contain? No! No where in the Bible is there anything that refers to its self or what it should contain. There are references to Scripture but those references are made to the Old Testament Scripture and not the Holy Bible which later included the New Testament Teachings of Christ. The Holy Bible did not exist until the fourth century nor were its texts recorded with the intention of later forming a “Holy Bible”; they were written independently to various audiences under distinct circumstances and in different locations. The fact that they are living texts and relevant to every society and person that has existed over the last 2000 years is evident to their being the Inspired Word of God. There is nothing that has ever occurred on a personal level or in society in general where Scripture has lacked relevancy in its offer of guidance. But when a person’s self interpretation conflicts with another verse or passage elsewhere in scripture, their interpretation is flawed. Scripture does not conflict with itself.

Do the Gospel texts tell us they in themselves are the complete Teachings of Jesus Christ and the only source necessary to obey? No! In fact, the Gospel refers to texts that were never recovered, and that are not present in the content of the Bible (1 Cor CH5; v9),(Col CH4; v16), yet they remain part of Catholic Church teaching through Apostolic Tradition; that divine revelation is fully contained in the Church’s Deposit of Faith (Body of teaching), which is comprised of both written Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

Scripture tells us there was more than what could ever have been written (John CH20; v30), (John CH21 v25). It tells us we are to stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we were taught either by preaching or written texts (Colossians CH2; v4-7), (2 Thessalonians CH2; v15), (1 Corinthians CH11; v2), (1 Corinthians CH14; v40),. It also tells us there was more to be revealed but that such revelation would be made over time through the Holy Spirit who would guide and teach His Church all truth always (John CH16; v12-14).

Authority and Hierarchy of the Church

Scripture tells us Jesus founded His Church upon the apostles with the office of Peter as its central authority on earth (see Church Hierarchy in Scripture). He commissioned Peter with the power of the keys, the authority to loose and bind in all matters of teaching faith and morality of which would be bound in heaven as on earth (Mat CH15; v15-19).

Scripture tells us Jesus gave His Church the power to forgive or retain sin, hence the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation (John CH20; v22-23). It tells us He Himself remains the High Priest, the Head of His Church (Ephesians CH5; v23).

It tells us that as His teaching authority, He commissioned the apostles to go forth and teach all nations (Mat CH28; v19). But does the Bible tell us these twelve men whose names are provided were the only true authorities of the Church we were to abide by? No!

It is very clear the establishment of the hierarchy of the teaching body of the Church did not stop with the apostles. Aside from numerous others also elected to the teaching body of the Church, we see for example the seventy two Jesus sent out ahead of Him to preach His Word in various locations. Jesus said to the seventy two; “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent Me." (Luke CH10; 16). He specifically said these words to those men, but if Scripture alone is all we have to go by, who then were these seventy-two that Jesus said we must abide by? What are their names? What did they teach and where are their gospel texts in Scripture? The fact is there are no texts from these seventy two and they are not identified by name, yet failing to abide by their teachings is defiance, rejection to Jesus and our Heavenly Father and self condemnation.

Scripture makes it clear it is not who they were that is important but rather that through the authority Jesus bestowed upon His Church they too became part of the teaching body of the Church and shared in that authority. The same is true throughout the life of the Church for all those who received their authority through Apostolic Succession beginning with and established by the Apostles and transferred through the laying of hands or the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Without that succession there is no authority transferred in accordance with the Holy Spirit as Scripture dictates .

Are we to abide by the authority of the Church? Absolutely! Scripture tells us to; “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account” (Heb. 13:17). “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me” (John CH13; v20).

Scripture also tells us His Church is of one body and one Spirit (Holy Spirit); as we are called in one hope of our calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians CH4; v4). And most profoundly Scripture tells us by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we all are to speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms among us; but that we be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment (1 Corinthians CH1; v10).

The Covenant With His Church
Jesus made a covenant with His Church and in that covenant he vested His own authority and declared:

That The gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mat CH16; v18)

That the Holy Spirit would guide His Church in all truth (John CH16; v12)

That He would be with His Church all days and that it would remain until the consummation of the World (Mat CH28; v20)

That despite the fact there would be those who would at times be corrupt both within and outside of His Church, we are to persevere in our faith (Acts CH20; v28-29), (Mat CH24; v4-13), (Colossians CH1; v23).
And that all things in Heaven and on Earth (including His own Church of which He remains the High Priest always) would be reconciled by Jesus and through Jesus (colossians CH1; v20).
No man or woman could reconcile or establish or reestablish His Church, for only He would have the authority of His Heavenly Father to reconcile His Church to Himself.

Regardless of whether a person is an ill-informed or misguided Catholic or a person of a Protestant born faith, the misconception that Scripture in general is all one needs to obey is clearly misconceived and in fact defiant of Scripture itself. The Bible dispels any validity to separation or division from the Church, formation of separate congregations and rejection of the teaching authority of the Church (1 Corinthians CH1; v9-10), (Ephesians CH4; v1-5), (2 Thessalonians CH3; 6), (Philippians CH4; v9), (1 Thessalonians CH2; v13), (2 Timothy CH2; v1-2), (2 Peter CH3; v13-17).

One must remember that the Church was not established from the content of the Holy Bible, but the Bible was introduced by the Catholic Church in the Teaching of the Catholic Faith. Conclusively, the teachings presented by the Catholic Church are in fact the Teachings of Jesus Christ presented through His commissioned Church and all doctrine and dogma thrive as valid under the authority given the Church by the commission and covenant of Jesus Christ. To suggest otherwise would be to suggest Christ breached His own Covenant.