Interpretations of the Bible Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the Catholic interpretation of the Bible?
Catholics believe that the Bible was inspired by God, meaning that the Holy Spirit guided human authors to convey God’s message.
How do Catholics view the authorship of the Bible?
Catholics believe that God is the author of sacred scripture, but He did not dictate the Bible word for word.
Why do Catholics believe the Bible has authority?
Catholics believe the Bible has authority because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit and contains the teachings of Jesus.
What does 2 Timothy 3:16 state about scripture?
2 Timothy 3:16 emphasizes that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
What is the role of the Church in interpreting the Bible?
The Church helps explain how the Bible’s teachings apply to contemporary life, acknowledging that human authors wrote as people of their time.
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about scripture?
The Catechism states that God is the author of sacred scripture, affirming its divine inspiration.
What are divergent interpretations of the authority of the Bible?
Christians interpret the Bible in different ways, as seen in the Creation story.
What do Fundamentalists believe about the Bible?
Fundamentalists believe the Bible came directly from God and is literally God’s own words. They see it as literally true, believing events like the 6 days of creation and the worldwide flood literally happened.
What is a quote that reflects the Fundamentalist perspective?
My point, once again, is not that those ancient people told literal stories and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically and we are now dumb enough to take them literally. - Jehn Dominic Cresson
How do Liberals interpret the Bible?
Liberals see much of the Bible as human words but recognize teachings that inspire reflection, viewing the Bible as a book about God.
What does it mean when Liberals say the Bible is ‘inspired’ by God?
They often mean it is inspired in the same way a great artist or musician may be inspired, without direct intervention by anyone else.
What did Pope Benedict XVI urge people to do regarding the Bible?
He urged people to become familiar with the Bible and to have it at hand as a compass pointing out the road to follow.
Can Catholics agree with liberals and fundamentalists?
Yes, Catholics can agree with liberals and fundamentalists depending on which parts of the Bible are being read.
What is the Catholic Church’s stance on evolution and the creation story in Genesis?
The Pope accepts evolution as true and acknowledges that the creation story in Genesis has truths but may not be literally true. However, Catholics are allowed to believe it is literally true.
What do Catholics believe about the Gospels?
Catholics believe that the Gospels are literally true.
What do Catholics believe Jesus meant when he said ‘This is my body’?
Catholics believe that is literally what he said and meant.
How do many Protestants view the Bible?
Many Protestants use the Bible to guide their everyday lives and consider it to be the only moral authority needed to lead a Christian life.
Why do Protestants argue that no mediator is required to understand God’s message?
They argue that the Bible is the direct word of God, allowing individuals to find out what God asks of them by reading it for themselves.
What is the belief of Protestants regarding the interpretation of the Bible?
Protestants believe that each person should pray and reflect to find out the messages of the Bible for themselves, without accepting one group’s authority to interpret it.
What do Catholics believe about the Bible?
Catholics believe the Bible is inspired by God but not the only moral authority needed to lead a Christian life.
Why do Catholics believe the Bible is not the only moral authority?
They believe that not all of God/Jesus’ teachings were written down in the Bible.
What is apostolic tradition?
Apostolic tradition refers to oral teachings passed on from the Apostles to the current Pope and Bishops.
What role does the Magisterium play according to the Catechism?
The Magisterium has an important role in interpreting the messages of the Bible for the modern world.
Why is the context of the Bible important?
Although the Bible is the word of God, it was written by people living two thousand years ago, so interpretation is needed for modern relevance.
