Dear Parishioners,
Bible Study is a critical element in the faith formation of Catholics. Despite what others may say about our Church it was the Catholic Church exercising its Apostolic authority that determined what is and is not Scripture. Christ left a Church to teach, govern and sanctify in His name until the end of time. To reject that authority is to reject Christ and His Gospel. We Catholics accept the Bible as an authority in matters of faith because it is God’s inspired Word.
Scripture tells us that Christ left a Church with divine authority to govern in His name (Matthew 16:13-20, 18:18; Luke 10:16). Christ promised that this Church would last until the end of time (Matthew 16:18, 28: 19-20; John 14:16). The Bible also tells us that Sacred Tradition is to be followed alongside Sacred Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6) and nowhere does it tell us that the Bible alone is the authority in matters of faith. This is why Bible Study in the Catholic tradition is important in helping one come to the truth.
The Bible tells us that we need more than just the Bible alone. The Bible confirms that not everything Jesus said and did is recorded in Scripture (John 21:25) and that we must also hold fast to oral tradition, the preached Word of God (1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Peter 1:25). In 2 Peter 3:15-16, we are warned that Sacred Scripture can be very difficult to interpret, which strongly implies the need for an authoritative interpreter. Finally, 1 Timothy 3:15 reassures us that the Church is “the pillar and foundation of truth,” that we need the authority of the Church to tell us what belongs in the Bible.
Any written document meant to play a crucial role in determining how people live must have a living, continuing authority to guard, guarantee, and officially interpret it. Otherwise, chaos reigns as everyone interprets the document according to their personal whim.
The Founding Fathers of this country put together a magnificent document to be authoritative in determining how this country would be governed: the U.S. Constitution. They also established a living, continuing authority to guard, guarantee, and officially interpret the Constitution: the Supreme Court.
The Founding Fathers knew without a living authority the Constitution would lead to endless divisions as every one acted as their own interpreter. God certainly has more wisdom than the founders of this country. God would never have left a written document to be the only rule of faith without a living authority to guard and officially interpret it.
The splintering of Christianity into over 35,000 denominations is the direct fruit of the Bible-“alone” doctrine. This idea does not come from God and was unheard of for 1500 years before the Reformation.
Bible Study is important for Catholics in a Catholic setting where the truth of the Scriptures can be discovered. If you, or someone you know, are involved in a Bible Study not sponsored by the Catholic Church or you would like to enter into the study of our Scrip-tures………..
You are invited to a
Catholic Bible Study
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