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What Is the Magisterium and Why Do We Need It?
Catholic Exchange ^ | July 26, 2006 | Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D

Posted on 07/27/2006 12:06:07 PM PDT by NYer

All Christians can agree on this, that the Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired word, and ought to govern the faith and life of the Christian community. What’s in accord with Scripture is good. What contradicts Scripture must be rejected.

Opposition in the Name of Fidelity

The Protestant reformers, inspired with zeal for God’s word, went one step further. Under the banner of “sola scriptura” they proclaimed the Bible as the only infallible authority for Christians. That meant that both Tradition and Church authority could be opposed in the name of fidelity to Scripture.

Funny thing, however: from the outset of the Reformation, the movement that agreed on the supreme authority of the Bible disagreed bitterly on what the Bible said. The Protestant church was divided from the beginning. Nearly 500 years later, we see thousands of competing churches claiming the same Bible and sola scriptura heritage.

That’s because the Bible is a collection of written documents. And one of the truths about all written documents, even if they happen to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, is that they can be interpreted differently by different people.

Someone Has to Have the Last Word

The founding fathers of America knew this. That’s why in addition to providing a Constitution for the United States, they set up a court system to serve as the ongoing, living authority to interpret and apply that written document. If the country was to maintain its unity, someone in every generation would have to be entrusted with the authority to determine what was in accord with the Constitution and what was not. In the USA, that’s the responsibility of the Supreme Court.

We can also see this operating in organized sports. Every sport has a rule book. But in baseball for example, bitter arguments arise as to whether a ball is fair or foul, and whether a runner is safe or out. Umpires therefore are an absolute necessity in every game, so that someone has the final say on how the rules are interpreted and applied.

The Lord Jesus Christ is certainly no less wise than the Founding Fathers of the US government and the commissioner of baseball. In establishing His Church, He did not Himself write anything, except in sand (Jn 8:8). Instead, He established the college of the Apostles, gathered around Peter, as a living teaching authority, entrusted with passing on and teaching all that they’d received from Jesus. They did this through oral instruction and eventually some writings. Through the laying on of hands, which we know as the sacrament of Holy Orders, the Apostles in turn entrusted their teaching authority to their successors, called bishops, and imparted to them the same charism of truth that they’d received from the Holy Spirit (CCC 861-862).

Speaking with the Authority of Christ

These successors discerned which of the many Christian books and letters bearing names of Apostles actually were authentic and deserved to be regarded as sacred Scripture. Thanks to them, the phoney gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene are not read every Sunday in our churches. They also passed on and interpreted apostolic traditions that were not written down in the New Testament books, like the practice of meeting for weekly worship on Sunday, the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, rather than Saturday, which was the Jewish Sabbath. Finally, they were the ones responsible to authoritatively interpret and apply the sacred Scriptures amidst dispute and controversy, such as the fourth-century controversy over the divinity of Christ.

This teaching role of the successors of the Apostles, gathered around the successor of Peter, is called the "Magisterium,” which simply comes from the Latin word for teaching office. The Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God coming to us through Scripture and Tradition. Instead, the Magisterium is clearly under its authority — it is the servant of the Word. Its role is to faithfully safeguard the truth about God and His plan for our lives which came to full expression in the teaching and saving work of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. It is not to add to God’s revelation or to subtract from it, only to faithfully interpret and apply it (CCC 85-86).

The Magisterium is supposed to function much like the Supreme Court at its best, or like a good umpire. But there are a few very big differences. Neither the Constitution of the United States nor the official baseball rulebook are documents inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible, on the other hand, is. Neither the Supreme Court nor the World Series’ umpires have received a promise of special divine assistance. But the successors of the Apostles have. Speaking to Apostles, Jesus said “he who hears you, hears Me” (Lk 10:16). The Magisterium speaks with the authority of Christ, guided and empowered by the Spirit of Truth.

So ultimately there is no opposition between the Bible and the Magisterium of the Church. In fact they are so interdependent that the New Testament itself calls the Church “the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (I Tm 3:15). Biblical authority and Church authority — you can’t have one without the other.




TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Ecumenism; General Discusssion; History; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: benedictxvi; bible; catholic; curia; holysee; magisterium; pontiff; pope; scripture; solascriptura; vatican
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To: RobbyS
Our Lord and St. Paul are speaking against the tradition of the Pharisees, and Paul specifically against the notion that non-Jews must accept the law.

Absolutely incorrect! The church at Colossae consisted of newly converted, previously pagan, Greeks. They had no inkling of God's holy days, festivals and Sabbaths prior to their conversion. Paul is instructing them in the observance of the ordinances....."Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath Day."

Why in the world would Paul waste his time explaining something to these folks if he then wanted them to ignore it?

Explain Matthew 28:1 to me.

41 posted on 07/27/2006 8:35:43 PM PDT by Diego1618
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To: FJ290

Now that's got to be the funniest thing I've seen on this forum in a very long time. Good for you, FJ290!


42 posted on 07/27/2006 8:39:02 PM PDT by Diego1618
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To: dollars_for_dogma
Ok. Compare John 6:53-57 with 1 Corinthians 11:27-30

Sure, you can do that...But you can't stop there...You have to look in the context of those verses you state...

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

So the wafer and wine you eat/drink at your church gives life to the world??? Is that the salvation Jesus offered???

And compare

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Are you saying you no longer hunger or thirst??? That's the context...

Here's some more context...

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Have you ever seen Jesus??? Do you see Jesus when your priest turns that little cookie into Jesus??? It says here all you have to do is look at Jesus and believe on him and you'll be raised up in the last day...You don't have to eat the cracker...What a contradiction is this???

But you take one or two verses, totally ignore the context and build a Religion and a Magisterium on it...

and then report back with what you believe you have read.

I know what I read...And I know what you didn't read...

Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

Interesting verse...But what Jesus DID NOT SAY is; This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as manna, but what He said was not as your fathers eat...>p>

Jesus is the spiritual manna...

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

If you wanna see more, let me know...

43 posted on 07/27/2006 8:39:26 PM PDT by Iscool
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To: Iscool
If you wanna see more, let me know...

Well, ya', a little more....

you skipped over all of John 6:53-57...

and completely ignored 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

But I have faith that you can persevere.
44 posted on 07/27/2006 8:49:32 PM PDT by dollars_for_dogma
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To: Diego1618

1) Obviously he was referring to Jewish customs. You think the Greeks knew nothing about the Jews? 2) At dawn on the day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalem and the other Mary came near to contemplate the tomb. So?


45 posted on 07/27/2006 8:52:44 PM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: Conservative til I die

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.


46 posted on 07/27/2006 8:59:45 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Iscool
It says here all you have to do is look at Jesus and believe on him and you'll be raised up in the last day...

You don't have to eat the cracker...

What a contradiction is this???


Well the above indicates a public school education, but I can still work with that...

John 6:53-57 says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."....

"For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed..."

Usually, bible christians consider the bible to be literal...

except, of course, when considering John 6:53-57....

only here do we find that common words such as "eat",

"drink", "flesh" and "blood" lose their ordinary meaning.
47 posted on 07/27/2006 9:20:17 PM PDT by dollars_for_dogma
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To: dollars_for_dogma

***Let's see if you can get "the plain language of" John 6:53-57 right...***

"I am the true vine"

Yep in plain language... Jesus is a plant.


48 posted on 07/27/2006 9:28:15 PM PDT by alamo boy (I left my heart in San Antonio)
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To: dollars_for_dogma
Let's see if you can get "the plain language of" John 6:53-57 right...

John 6:53-57 How's that?

Matthew 26:26-29

Mark 14:22-25

Luke 22:17-20

I don't really understand what your point here is....but, it is obvious the Passover symbolism is being changed from that of a slaughtered lamb, in the temple, on the 14th of Nisan to that of our Saviour being sacrificed for us in its stead. The bread and the wine, being symbolic, as his body and his blood.

The Apostle Paul clarifies it further in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 where he says Christ is our new Passover and let us continue to keep the feast....which he and the Apostles did. In fact they continued to keep the Passover until it was finally outlawed by the Roman Church/State in the fourth century.

Our Saviour was crucified at about 3:00 p.m. on the 14th of Nisan as the lambs were being slaughtered in the temple. It was the Day of preparation and this was the Sabbath I spoke of in an earlier post that is mentioned in Mark 16:1. Your Magesterium is confused about that because they think that the Sabbath is the weekly Sabbath and hence the incorrect story to all of you folks.

Here is some information on the early Fathers still celebrating Passover well into the second century. As you can see it is the Roman Church that has it all wrong. I'm sure they had a magesterium of sorts then also.

49 posted on 07/27/2006 9:29:18 PM PDT by Diego1618
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To: dollars_for_dogma

***Usually, bible christians consider the bible to be literal...***

Nah, we realize that the authors use figurative language at times. We accept a figure when it is intended and do not force when when not intended. Context helps determine intent.

We call it normal interpretation.

BTW, my tagline: "I left my heart in San Antonio" the word heart is intended figuratively, otherwise typing this would be difficult.

See how it works?


50 posted on 07/27/2006 9:32:27 PM PDT by alamo boy (I left my heart in San Antonio)
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To: RobbyS
At dawn on the day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came near to contemplate the tomb. So?

The point is ......they did not come at dawn. The came "Late on Sabbath" and found the tomb empty!.....on the Sabbath! While they were there (sunset Sabbath) the new day began and it was called the first day of the week. In that time zone, at that time of year it would have been about 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.....our time.

Matthew 28:1 Verse 6 says "HE is risen"....past tense!

51 posted on 07/27/2006 9:41:48 PM PDT by Diego1618
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To: alamo boy
***Usually, bible christians consider the bible to be literal...***

Nah, we realize that the authors use figurative language at times. We accept a figure when it is intended and do not force when when not intended. Context helps determine intent. We call it normal interpretation.

See how it works?


Well, I think I do...so when it fits the protestant perspective it's literal; but when it doesn't fit the protestant perspective one must finesse and massage what would normally be clear scriptural meaning?

BTW, my tagline: "I left my heart in San Antonio" the word heart is intended figuratively, otherwise typing this would be difficult.

I follow you on the contextual meaning of "heart"....

but let's get back to John 6:53-57...what about the words "flesh", "blood", "eat" and "drink"...

taking context into consideration, what would be the "normal interpretation?"
52 posted on 07/27/2006 10:28:38 PM PDT by dollars_for_dogma
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To: Diego1618
Dawn is an interesting word in the Greek. It is "Epiphosko" and indeed, one of the uses of this word is the day becoming light. In this particular verse in Luke 24 it means something else. The only other place in scripture where you will find the word "Epiphosko" is Luke 23:54 and the Sabbath was drawing on (beginning).

So, you see, the dawning of the first day of the week means the beginning of the first day of the week....not early morning sunrise. The Hebrews began their days at sunset. Epiphosko meant sundown in Luke and John even clarifies it further by saying it was dark.

Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of Greek, but I did decide to look up your citation to Luke 23:54, and found the reference to "drawing on" that you speak of. Strong's dictionary lists the word Epiphosko as such:

"A form of G2017; to begin to grow light: - begin to dawn, X draw on."

and for convenience, 2017 is:

"A form of G2014; to illuminate (figuratively): - give light."

This says to me that the word refers to the time as it is transitioning from dark to light, namely, what we consider to be dawn. This would be early in the morning on the first day of the week, as a plain reading of the text suggests.

It must certainly be from the plain reading and not solely from the Catholic Magisterium, because the last time I checked, the vast majority of Protestants worship on Sunday for the same reason that Catholics do. Why should I (or anyone else) agree with your novel rendering when neither the Strong's dictionary (well respected among Protestants) nor the vast majority of nearly 2000 years of Christians (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant) agree with you?

You seem to want to have it both ways. You say that something is literal where the plain reading suits you, and you say that it is either figurative or means something that isn't plain where the plain reading doesn't suit you.

53 posted on 07/27/2006 10:38:55 PM PDT by GCC Catholic
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To: Diego1618
The bread and the wine, being symbolic, as his body and his blood.

The bread and the wine, being symbolic?

In John 6:53-59 the Lord says to his followers to "eat my flesh and drink my blood" again and again...

...in John 6:60 the disciples grumble "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (symbolic?)

....John 6:61 Jesus says, "Do you take offense at this?" (symbolism?)

John 6:65 Jesus says, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." (symbolism?)

John 6:66...After this many of His disciples drew back and no longer went about with him (because he was speaking symbolically?).

When one is losing their audience (over mere symbolism), why is there no attempt by our Lord to reassure His disciples he was speaking symbolically?

Then there is 1 Corinthians 11:27-30...

"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord."

"For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks damnation upon himself."

Eternal damnation for profaning a symbolic 'body and blood'?
54 posted on 07/27/2006 10:51:41 PM PDT by dollars_for_dogma
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To: dollars_for_dogma

*** Well, I think I do...so when it fits the protestant perspective it's literal; but when it doesn't fit the protestant perspective one must finesse and massage what would normally be clear scriptural meaning?***

Well, I think I do...so when it fits the Catholic perspective it's literal; but when it doesn't fit the Catholic perspective one must finesse and massage what would normally be clear scriptural meaning?

volley.return.

***but let's get back to John 6:53-57...what about the words "flesh", "blood", "eat" and "drink"...***

Did Jesus walk out of the room with teeth marks on his body, hunks of flesh missing? Was his volume of blood less before and after the meal...

The meal that was a memorial of the Passover. The meal in which all the components were a symbolic picture of His person and works?

Yep context is important.

volley.return.


55 posted on 07/28/2006 5:02:33 AM PDT by alamo boy (I left my heart in San Antonio)
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To: Iscool
In conclusion, I'd say the answer lies in the rest of the scripture...And I'd also says it's pretty conclusive that Jesus Christ is the 'ground' (the Chief Cornerstone, the Foundation,) of the church

LOL! The CHURCH IS Christ physically manifested in the world today. You can't separate Christ from the Church, since the Church IS the Body of Christ! Thus, as you say, the rest of Scripture tell us that the Church ALSO is the pillar and ground of truth

How about: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" says Christ.

Regards

56 posted on 07/28/2006 5:44:07 AM PDT by jo kus (There is nothing colder than a Christian who doesn't care for the salvation of others - St.Crysostom)
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To: jo kus
LOL! The CHURCH IS Christ physically manifested in the world today

I at least try to use scripture to back up what I say...

You can't separate Christ from the Church, since the Church IS the Body of Christ!

I thought you said the little wafer and the cup of wine was the body of Christ...

Thus, as you say, the rest of Scripture tell us that the Church ALSO is the pillar and ground of truth

Surely you can back that up with Scripture...

How about: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" says Christ.

LOL...Apparently you are saying that since Jesus made the above statement, your chuch can make the same claim for itself...

Ha...So the Catholic church says, (Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him,) I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Now that's a hoot...

We all know you can snatch a few verses out of the bible and twist the context enough that you could convince some people that what you say is accurate...

LOL...You can prove anything with the bible...

57 posted on 07/28/2006 7:01:56 AM PDT by Iscool
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To: alamo boy
***but let's get back to John 6:53-57...***

Did Jesus walk out of the room with teeth marks on his body, hunks of flesh missing? Was his volume of blood less before and after the meal...

Yep context is important.


...as well as is Biblical Authority, otherwise, lacking adult supervision, one may arrive at the above personal interpretation of scripture.
58 posted on 07/28/2006 7:27:34 AM PDT by dollars_for_dogma
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To: Religion Moderator
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

Thank you. This has been along time coming.

59 posted on 07/28/2006 8:00:39 AM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: NYer

I thought everyone was blessed with a magic sternum. :-)


60 posted on 07/28/2006 8:01:50 AM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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