Verses Catholics are not free to interpret

[BAChristian]

A long time ago Jeff posted a link to verses that Catholics must believe as interpreted by the Church... can someone post that again?

 

[SecretOfFatima]

humm... Maybe someone else remembers what post you referring to...

if not, them some of the links on this site may help you
http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/download/

 

[Skripper]

Scripture Passages Definitively Interpreted by the Church​

Many people think the Church has an official "party line" about every sentence in the Bible. In fact, only a handful of passages have been definitively interpreted. The Church does interpret many passages in Scripture to guide her teaching. Other passages are used as the starting point and support of doctrine or moral teaching, but only these few have been "defined" in the strict sense of the word. Even in these few cases the Church is only defending traditional doctrine and morals.

It is important to realize that the parameters set by the definitions are all negative, that is, they point out what cannot be denied about the meaning of a passage but do not limit how much more the passage can be interpreted to say. In other words, the Church condemns denials of a specific interpretation of the text, without condemning meanings over and above but not contradictory to it.

All of the following passages were definitively interpreted by the Church at the Council of Trent, for each has to do with justification or the sacraments, issues that divided Catholics and Protestants.

1. John 3:5 "Unless a man is born of water an the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."
The Church condemned the denial that the words of Jesus mean that real (natural) water must be used for a valid baptism. At the time, the Anabaptists contended that water baptism was unnecessary because the mention of water was merely a metaphor. Other symbolic meanings in addition to the literal sense of real water can be found in the text, perhaps, but none are acceptable that deny the need for real water at baptism.

2. Luke 22:19 and
3. I Corinthians 11:24-- "Taking the bread, he gave thanks, broke it and gave it to
them, saying 'This is my body given for you: do this in remembrance of me."
The Church condemned the interpretation of these passages that denied that Jesus, in commanding his apostles to "Do this in memory of me" after instituting the Eucharist, conferred priestly ordination on them and their successors enabling them to offer His body and blood. More could be understood by the command to do this in remembrance, but that much could not be denied or contradicted by other interpretations.

4. John 20:22-23-- "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are
forgiven; whose sins you do not forgive, they are not forgiven," and

5. Matthew 18:18-- "Whatever things you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The Church condemned the denial that in these two passages Jesus conferred a
power exclusively on the apostles authorizing them and their successors in the priestly office to forgive sins in God's name, and condemned the proposal that everyone could forgive sins in this sense.

6. Romans 5:12-- "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned..."
The Church condemned the denial of original sin to which all mankind is subject
and which baptism remits, citing this passage to be understood in that sense.

7. James 6:14-- "Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord."
Definitively interpreting these passages, the Church condemned the denial that the sacrament of the anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ and promulgated by the apostles against those who deemed it a human invention of the later Church.

* In addition, the decree of Vatican I about Christ establishing Peter as head of the Church - which cites Mt 16:16 and John 1:42 - is a defined doctrine, even though the phrasing about the use and interpretation of the scripture cited is more implicit than explicit, by comparison with the above Scripture passages.

 

[BillH]

A long time ago Jeff posted a link to verses that Catholics must believe as interpreted by the Church... can someone post that again?

/me waves at BAChristian

Haven't seen you around here much lately.

faerieeva says hi too.

 

[Skripper]

Woody,

Hey, buddy. Sorry I didn't take the time to say "hello" earlier. I was leaving for Mass and only barely had time to post what I did. Soooo . . . hello! Good to see you, old friend!

Regarding what I posted. I think it's what you're looking for. Also, please note the caveat: "It is important to realize that the parameters set by the definitions are all negative, that is, they point out what cannot be denied about the meaning of a passage but do not limit how much more the passage can be interpreted to say. In other words, the Church condemns denials of a specific interpretation of the text, without condemning meanings over and above but not contradictory to it."

So it's not that Catholics aren't free to interpret these verses (per se). It's more accurate to say we are not free to interpret them in a way that would deny what the Church is saying. Slight but important distinction.

 

[geocajun]

It is important to realize that the parameters set by the definitions are all negative, that is, they point out what cannot be denied about the meaning of a passage but do not limit how much more the passage can be interpreted to say. In other words, the Church condemns denials of a specific interpretation of the text, without condemning meanings over and above but not contradictory to it.

^^ very important point.


Welcome back BA

 

[Miss Shelby]

Regarding what I posted. I think it's what you're looking for. Also, please note the caveat: "It is important to realize that the parameters set by the definitions are all negative, that is, they point out what cannot be denied about the meaning of a passage but do not limit how much more the passage can be interpreted to say. In other words, the Church condemns denials of a specific interpretation of the text, without condemning meanings over and above but not contradictory to it."

So it's not that Catholics aren't free to interpret these verses (per se). It's more accurate to say we are not free to interpret them in a way that would deny what the Church is saying. Slight but important distinction.

Example! Example! We need an example!

Pretty please.

 

[BAChristian]

Woody,

Hey, buddy. Sorry I didn't take the time to say "hello" earlier. I was leaving for Mass and only barely had time to post what I did. Soooo . . . hello! Good to see you, old friend!

Regarding what I posted. I think it's what you're looking for. Also, please note the caveat: "It is important to realize that the parameters set by the definitions are all negative, that is, they point out what cannot be denied about the meaning of a passage but do not limit how much more the passage can be interpreted to say. In other words, the Church condemns denials of a specific interpretation of the text, without condemning meanings over and above but not contradictory to it."

So it's not that Catholics aren't free to interpret these verses (per se). It's more accurate to say we are not free to interpret them in a way that would deny what the Church is saying. Slight but important distinction.

hey thanks bud for the welcome, and thanks for the heads up... I'll make sure I point that out to my friend...

Hope all is well... it's been awhile.

 

[nyj]

Who let this BAChristian yahoo back?

Hmph.

 

[Skripper]

Example! Example! We need an example!

Pretty please.

Examples are actually included above.

For example, with John 3:5, the Church condemens any interpretation which would deny that real water must be used for a valid baptism. There are examples with the others as well.

 

[Skripper]

hey thanks bud for the welcome, and thanks for the heads up... I'll make sure I point that out to my friend...

Hope all is well... it's been awhile.

All's well in the midwest. How are things on the left coast?

 

[BAChristian]

All's well in the midwest. How are things on the left coast?

Very good actually. I'm going to be a Daddy again... My wife is expecting...

 

[geocajun]

Very good actually. I'm going to be a Daddy again... My wife is expecting...

cool man, mine too
how many is that for you now?

 

[The Princess Bride]

Got answer elseware. NVM

 

[BAChristian]

cool man, mine too
how many is that for you now?

#2

 

[geocajun]

#2

awesome

 

[Skripper]

Very good actually. I'm going to be a Daddy again... My wife is expecting...

Congrats to you and the wife!

 

[Avatar]

Very good actually. I'm going to be a Daddy again... My wife is expecting...

Congratulations!