Sola Deo Gloria

Catholicism – A Brief Overview

History

The Council of Trent – December 13, 1545 – 1563 – The High watermark for Roman Catholic Doctrine Requested by Pope John Paul III, Julius III, and Pius IV
Three segments -
Segment one (1545-47) Justification, Tradition and its role in authority, The Vulgate as the official Catholic translation of the Bible, the sacramental system – physical/spiritual acts. (ie… Infant baptism – the water actually brings about a spiritual reality intent in the heart, thereby remitting the original sin of Adam from them)
Segment two (1551-52) Eucharist and Confession to a Priest
Segment three (1562-63) The Tridentine creed was formulated.
Lasted through 5 popes
Two things came about as a result of Trent
Absolute statement of Roman Catholic theology and dogma
Absolute statement that anyone who disagrees with this dogma and doctrine was to be anathematized.
Key issues –
How can I have sins forgiven?
What is my authority this consideration?
What is the relation that a Christian is to have to those around him?
All other councils of the Catholic church are extensions of this document and claim to agree completely with the issues covered and maintained herein.

Sola Scriptura

In determining what we believe we must have a rule—a place of infallible knowledge that we rely upon as our source. We believe this rule to be the scriptures that God has provided for us in the Bible. Let’s determine exactly what is meant when we make this statement by defining and understanding a few things.

I. What sola scriptura is NOT
A. It is not a claim that the Bible contains all knowledge.
1. It is not a science text book, a manual on how to repair a lawn mower, or a guide to governmental procedures.
2. To point out that there are truths outside the Bible is not objecting to sola scriptura.
B. It is not a claim that the Bible is an exhaustive catalog of all religious knowledge.
1. It is not exhaustive in detail as pointed out by John 21:25.
2. To point out that the Bible does not contain every detail of what Jesus did is not a denial that the Bible is the complete rule of faith.
C. It is not a denial of the authority of the Church to teach God’s truth.
1. I Timothy 3:15 claims the church to be “the pillar and support of the truth”. A pillar holds something else up, and in this case it is the Word of God.
2. This does not mean that the Church is the final authority on Truth.
3. The Church is subservient to the Word of God
D. It is not a denial that God’s Word has, at times, been spoken
1. This was done through the preaching of prophets and Apostles
2. The Scriptures serve as God’s final and full revelation to the Church.
E. It is not a rejection of every kind or form of tradition
1. Only stated that traditions must be God honoring and tested by the higher authority of the Bible
F. It is not a denial of the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Church.
1. II Timothy 2:17 The Holy Spirit will give us understanding in everything
2. This is inherent to the doctrine itself (meaning that it is based on the truth of the Scripture)
II. What sola scriptura IS
A. It is the sole infallible rule of faith
1. The Scriptures are God-breathed
2. Are sufficient to provide us our complete rule of faith
3. Are unchanging
B. No other revelation is needed for the Church.
1. There is no necessary belief, doctrine, or dogma absolutely required of a person for entrance to heaven that is not found in Scripture
C. There is no other infallible rule of faith outside of the Scripture.
1. No other documentation is God-breathed
D. Scripture reveals those things necessary for salvation.
1. Everything mankind needs to understand for salvation can be found in Scripture
E. All traditions are subject to the higher authority of Scripture
1. Traditions must adhere to Scripture

We will break down in future weeks the issues of the Roman Catholic stance on this issue. This is one of the core issues of disagreement between Protestantism and Catholicism. Catholics believe that Papal Authority (leadership of the Catholic church – ie… The Pope) and Scared Traditions have as much, or in most circumstances, more authority than the Scriptures. This leads Catholics to be under the revelation provided to them of man, which is fallible.

Authority

The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) claims that individual Christians have no right to go to the biblical text and draw any conclusions that are not in line with what Rome teaches.
The Council of Trent is considered to be the definitive doctrinal guidelines of the RCC (the nineteenth ecumenical council opened at Trent on 13 December, 1545, and closed there on 4 December, 1563). Its main object was the definitive determination of the doctrines of the Church in answer to the heresies of the Protestants. From a doctrinal and disciplinary point of view, it was the most important council in the history of the Roman church, fixing her distinctive faith and practice in relation to the Protestant Evangelical churches.
The Council of Trent says… Furthermore, to check unbridled spirits, it 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,[5] presume to interpret them contrary to that sense which holy mother Church, to whom it belongs to judge of their true sense and interpretation,[6] has held and holds, or even contrary to the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, even though such interpretations should never at any time be published. Those who act contrary to this shall be made known by the ordinaries and punished in accordance with the penalties prescribed by the law. (http://www.forerunner.com/chalcedon/X0020_15._Council_of_Trent.html)
The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) claims the ULTIMATE authority to the interpretation of Scripture and that those who reject or think contrary to those interpretations think and act contrary to the very will of Christ.
Later claims of the Second Vatican reiterate the church authority in the following quote from the Dei Verbum document… But the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it presents for belief as divinely revealed.
It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God’s most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls. (http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html)
Summary: The RCC’s authority then determines what we “find” in scripture and ultimately becomes the foundation upon which all else rests.
The Papacy

Catholic stance:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/8920/churchcouncils/Ecum20.htm

http://www.forerunner.com/chalcedon/X0020_15._Council_of_Trent.html

Basis:
John 21: 15-17
Here Jesus is restoring Peter who had denied Him 3 times due to great fear
Nothing in this passage even begins to suggest that the other Apostles were not likewise commissioned to feed and pastor on an equal basis as Peter
If so Paul was ignorant when commissioning the elders to do the same in Acts 20:28 – Paul does not mention Peter
Luke 22:31-32
Again Peter’s denial of the Lord is mentioned.
You must take the whole context here! Read the whole chapter, specifically vs. 24-34 in regards to Peter and the Apostles. This was the last supper and Jesus was explaining His role to them.
“and when you have turned back, strengthen you brothers” to Peter, was not placing authority, but expressing that having gone through is trial, and being restored on the other side, after being strengthened and restored by Christ, he would be able to help his brothers to be stronger.
Matthew 16:18-19
In this passage the most important message is that Jesus is revealing Himself as Christ! Here His true nature is revealed to the church. This is the theme of this passage that all interpretations must be referenced against.
This passage was not written in Aramaic (a less known language than the Greek).

Papal authority is in place to relieve the Catholic of their given responsibility to read and understand the scripture, through the Holy Spirit given to them. The Holy Spirit is given to take Christ’s place when He ascended to heaven, not Peter, not the Pope. Who is to teach Christians? The Holy Spirit! Who is to guide Christians and enlighten their minds to the truths of God? The Holy Spirit!

Roman Catholic Church vs. Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura is a term used to present our beliefs that scripture alone, God’s “breathed” words to us recorded in the Bible, is our ultimate and infallible rule of faith; no other revelation is needed for the church; there is no other infallible rule; it reveals all one needs for salvation; and all traditions or positions of authority are subject the highest authority of scripture.

The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) stands firm on the belief that no believer has within them the ability to authentically interpret the scripture by themselves, and that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church determine what is to be found in scripture.

Where then does this leave us?

Discussion Groups:
Defend the position. I believe God says that I can find all I need in scripture, by myself.

What does this really mean? What is the true crux of the issue?
You say you can find all you need – RCC says look at all the different understandings concerning (tongues, infant baptism, prophesy, end times, etc…) If the Bible is all you need, why is there so much confusion? RCC doesn’t seem to have this problem
Infallible (As defined by www.dictionary.com)
adj : incapable of failure or error; “an infallible antidote”; “an infallible memmory”; “the Catholic Church considers the Pope infallible”; “no doctor is infallible”
This is the key issue. As human beings we are able to come to incorrect conclusions and are therefore fallible. “For some reason, the argument is then placed that, if you don’t have absolute, total, and infallible certainty about all things, you have no certainty about anything. If you don’t claim to know all truth – exhaustively in every detail – you don’t know any truth at all.” * The more you think about this the more absurd it becomes. It would be like saying, “if you don’t know calculus (since calculus is a part of mathematics), you can’t add or subtract!” You can be sure that 2+2=4 even if you don’t know the first thing about calculus.
In the realm of faith then we must declare that we have a true, but limited knowledge of God. We do not even begin to know all we can know of and about God as revealed in scripture. Since we do not have an exhaustive knowledge of God, does that mean we have no knowledge of Him? Of course not! We have a true knowledge of God based on scripture, but our knowledge is limited.

As soon as we admit our fallibility the cry goes up, “Aha! See? You need an infallible authority!” Not just the RCC makes this claim, but for today, the RCC offers us the Pope.
The issue now becomes “The individual priesthood of the believer”. This refers to the idea that each and every person-man or woman, rich or poor, learned or unlearned-is responsible as a priest before God for what he or she believes. We are to open the Bible and read it for ourselves. The RCC cries, “How can this be without the interpretation of the church and the oversight of the priest?” pp.52-53
God holds us individually responsible for what we believe and why we believe it. “The Pope told me so”, nor will “My pastor told me so” cut it in the end. We are ALL called to “search the scriptures” and “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thes. 5:21)
We cannot pass this responsibility off to someone else. We can learn from others, seek the advice and teaching of others, but we cannot blame anyone else for the outcome. First, we need not expect to find absolute certainty on all things pertaining to God in this life; second, the Scriptures are a sufficient source of our knowledge of the faith.
God does not call us to exhaustive knowledge of everything and offloading this to another external authority does not release us from our personal responsibility but simply moves the error risk to a different source. (pp. 53)

* Many References and Quotes taken from; “The Roman Catholic Controversy”, Dr. James White, ISBN 1-55661-819-0