Sources of Wisdom and Authority Flashcards
(9 cards)
What do Conservative Christians believe about the bible?
Evangelical Protestants - Most EP believe that the bible is the inspired word of God, but at the same time the human authors were allowed to express their own personalities in the writing. They use the example of Mattiew’s gospel mainly addressing a jewish audience, whereas Luke wrote to spread message of Jesus to Gentiles.
Many believe the text of the bible is litterialy true - they believe the story of creation is scientifically accurate in all of it’s details
Catholescism - Bible is inspired by God, but isn’t only the source of divine truth.
Apostolic Tradition is the tradtionion that stems from Jesus’s apostles when Jesus commanded them to preach the gospel to all men, with the teachings they had received form Jesus and Holy Spirit, and in writing by Apostles.
The AT was continued in the Apostolic Succession where the apostles appointed bishops to be their successors. This established a continuous line of succession that would last until end of time.
The Apostles and their close companions wrote or influenced the New Testament.
The early Church (guided by bishops in apostolic succession) decided which books were inspired and should be included in the Bible (the canon).
So Catholics believe the Church (not just individuals) has the authority to recognize and interpret Scripture—because it comes directly from the Apostles through this succession.
What do Neo Orthodox Christians believe about the Bible?
Neo-orthodox Christians do not believe the Bible is inerrant or infallible in a literal, historical, or scientific sense.
They believe since the bible was written by humans, it contains human error - God’s revelations are hidden behind human language which can be confusing.
Karl Barth believed the bible isn’t the word of God, instead it contains the word of God. He also claimed other religions are humanity’s attempt to reach God however Christianity is God’s attempt to reach humanity. - Therefore God doesn’t reveal himself through words of the bible but instead through Jesus.
Neo Orthodox Christian’s hold the traditional Christian value that by reading the bible, we become aware that we are sinners in need of forgiveness - meaning the bible holds power.
Barth is teaching that through scripture, Christian’s can become closer to understanding God and his teachings
What do Liberalist Christians believe about the Bible?
These Christians reject any idea that the bible is litterialy the inspired word of God.
Process Theology - Breaks down claims in the bible and science. Such as “God isn’t the creator, he exists with the physical universe, meaning he is in the universe and the universe is in God. The problem of eivl is also a popular approach.
They believe the bible is an entirely human document. It is inspired only in the sense that it contains passages that people might find uplifting.
What do Catholic Christians believe about the Bible?
The Bible was written by human authors inspired by God.
God is the primary author, but He worked through human writers, using their personalities, cultures, and historical settings.
This is called divine inspiration, not dictation—so it’s not like God whispered word-for-word into someone’s ear.
The Bible is true, but not always in a literal, modern-historical or scientific sense.
What is the Protestant view on the authority of the church and their traditions?
They rely on the doctrine of sola scripture (scripture alone).
Protestants believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
The Church’s role is to teach, interpret, and live out what is revealed in Scripture, but it must always do so in submission to the Bible.
Bible = Supreme Authority
Church = Servant of the Word
What is the Catholic view on the authority of the church and their traditions?
The Bible is divinely inspired and contains the Word of God.
It is authoritative and central to the Catholic faith and life.
However, Catholics believe that the Bible does not interpret itself—it must be understood within the living Tradition of the Church.
The Catholic Church sees Apelstolic Tradition as equally authoritative as Scripture because both come from the same divine source—Jesus Christ.
Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium form a single sacred deposit of the Word of God:
Scripture and Tradition are both sources of divine revelation.
The Magisterium is the interpreter of that revelation.
What are different views on authority of Jesus?
Jesus’s authority as GOd’s authority - Gospels in particular back this up, “All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me” Mattiew (after Jesus’s ressurection.
He than says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …. baptising them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit”, explaining Jesus’s authority as that of the son.
Son of God: During Jesus’s baptism, a voice is heard from. haven saying “Thou art my beloved son, with thee I am pleased”.
After the transfiguration (Jesus becomes radiant in glory), GOd’s voice from heaven says “This is my beloved son, listen to him”. this statement is seen as God affirming Jesus’ identity.this statement is seen as God affirming Jesus’ identity.
Son of Man - “foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nexts; but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head”. - ope to the same human hardships as us
Who would believe Jesus’s authority as only human and why?
Those who hold a liberal approach - They interpret the term “Son of God” as someone close to god, as the word is given to others int he ild testimony which represent God’s authority. Therefore, son of God is used to express the idea that Jesus was close to God as a spiritual leader, but he isn’t God.
Unitarianism - They have a deistic understnading of God: that once creation was complete, God ceased to act within the created order.
Some Unitarians believe Jesus became God’s son by adoption, meaning at hs baptism God adopted Jesus as his son, which gave him special status.
How do Christian’s respond to Jesus’s teachings?
Those who accept Jesus’s authority as God’s authority - What Jesus says is what God requires them to do. Such as the passage from Mattiew’s gospel where Jesus lays out strict rules. However, these expectations of being perfect are a challenge to human behaviour, some believe Jesus seems to be telling people to go against human nature (fighting back).
Pacifists are an example of someone accepting J’s authority as GOd’s as they accept his teaching of love your enemies. Howeverr, not all are pacifists as Christinas point to other moments in the bible such as in Luke where Jesus allowed conflict.
Accepting Jesus’s authority as only human: Jesus’s teachings of telling us to be perfect are impossible demands, as to carry it out, christians would need GOd’s qualities, so why would Jesus as this? Some Christians argue Jesus is using a hyperbole to exaggerate the effect.
