No. The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone, the Magisterium. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. The task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of St. Peter, the first among Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome.
The Magisterium is in no way superior to the Tradition and Scripture that form Word of God, but is its servant and its defender. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit.
"You seem to post an AWFUL lot of early church fathers explanations of what the Scriptures REALLY mean."
It was those same Early Church Fathers, some of whom formed the early Magisterium, faithfully passed along the Word for generations before there was a Bible. Among these were persons who were either direct eye witnesses of Christ's earthly mission or were students of those who were. It was their interpretations and recollections, guided by the Holy Spirit, that produced the Creeds that formed the standard for the writings that would later be affirmed by other Early Church Fathers as being inspired and inerrant, in other words, the Canon of the Bible that you rely on today. While their individual writings may not have been inerrant, but they are inspired and a legitimate perspective for the interpretation of Scripture. I do find it interesting that you deny the ability to faithfully and inerrantly interpret Scripture to these while maintaining that you yourself can do so.
“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” - Luke 10:16
Peace be with you
Thank you for such a well written explanation of the Magisterium.
This is the usual Catholic bashing thread which started out with the title:
“Guidelines on Hatred and the Religion Forum”
ROTFLMAO as the usual suspects opine on that which they should know since Catholics have been on here forever telling them the truth about our church and our beliefs. 8-)
Every single day I thank God that He led me to His Church. The First Church of Christ~the Catholic Church.
Happily Catholic since Easter Vigil 2008
God Bless Pope Benedict XVI.
I love my German shepherd!
Well!
That surely settles it for me!!
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.