Joshua Bennett
Catholicism holds that the Bible is the word of God, and that Holy Scripture is a primary source of revelation. The Bible is comprised of the Old and New Testaments, which are accepted as sacred and canonical in their entirety, with all their parts. Catholics also believe that Christ is the fullness and mediator, author and interpreter, purpose and center of public revelation. Divine revelation is also believed to come from Sacred Tradition, which is handed down orally and in writing, and the Magisterium, or the Teaching Office of the Church.
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Holy Scripture
For Roman Catholicism, Holy Scripture is a primary source of revelation. The Bible is considered the word of God and is venerated as such. The Old and New Testaments are seen as sacred and canonical, containing saving truth and moral teaching. The books of the Bible are believed to have been written as a result of the prompting of the Holy Spirit and are thus considered divinely inspired. This belief in the divine inspiration of Scripture is affirmed by the Vatican Council of 1870, which states that the books of the Old and New Testaments are to be "accepted as sacred and canonical in their entirety, with all their parts" and that they "contain revelation without error".
The Catholic Church recognises the importance of both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as sources of Divine Revelation. Sacred Scripture refers to the written form of Divine Revelation, while Sacred Tradition refers to the oral transmission of Divine Revelation. These two sources are closely interconnected and are believed to come from the same divine source. Sacred Tradition provides the context and interpretation of Sacred Scripture, and it is through Sacred Tradition that the New Testament books are recognised as such.
The Council of Trent expanded the canon of Scripture to include the apocryphal books of the Old Testament, considering them sacred and canonical. This decision was endorsed by the Vatican Council of 1870. However, some argue that this enlargement of the canon has implications for the source of revelation, as it introduces a relative authority to Holy Scripture.
The interpretation of Scripture is also influenced by the teaching office of the Church, which holds the power to determine Catholic doctrine and teaching. This dynamic has been criticised as limiting the absolute authority of Scripture, as it is interpreted through the lens of Roman Catholic doctrine.
In summary, Holy Scripture, or Sacred Scripture, holds a significant place in Roman Catholicism as a source of revelation. The Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is revered as the word of God and believed to be divinely inspired. The interpretation and application of Scripture are influenced by Sacred Tradition and the teaching office of the Church, which play a role in shaping Catholic doctrine and understanding of revelation.
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Sacred Tradition
> "Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter" (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
Pauline epistles are part of Sacred Scripture, and what he passed on by "word of mouth" is part of Sacred Tradition. Both are considered the inspired word of God, with the latter helping to inform the understanding of the former. Sacred Tradition can never be in conflict with Sacred Scripture, and together they form the Deposit of Faith, transmitted to successive generations through the teaching authority and interpretation of the church's Magisterium.
The Magisterium of the Catholic Church carefully examines private revelations to ensure they accord with church doctrine. This is because, according to the Church, revelations from God confirm Catholic doctrine and dogma, while false revelations can come from human or demonic sources.
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The Magisterium
The term "Magisterium" comes from the Latin word "magister", meaning teacher. In the Catholic Church, it is used to refer to the teaching authority given to the Church by Christ. This authority is vested in the Pope and the bishops teaching in union with him, who are collectively referred to as the "Magisterium". The Magisterium also refers to a particular body of teachings that have been proclaimed by this collective body.
> "All those things are to be believed with divine and Catholic faith which are contained in the Word of God, written or handed down, and which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by her ordinary and universal teaching magisterium, proposes for belief as having been divinely revealed."
The Second Vatican Council clarified that not all statements of the ordinary magisterium are infallible, but that the Church's infallibility is invested in the statements of its universal ordinary magisterium. This means that while individual bishops cannot exercise the Church's infallibility, the ordinary and universal magisterium, or the collective body of bishops teaching in union with the Pope, can.
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Apostolic Tradition
The Catholic Church holds that apostolic tradition refers to the teachings of the apostles that were passed down to the church from the very beginnings of Christianity. This includes preaching, bearing witness, institutions, worship, and inspired writings. Apostolic tradition is viewed as a special revelation of God, distinct from the written word, and is considered an authoritative supplement to Scripture.
The Bible contains several references to upholding apostolic tradition. For example, Paul tells the Corinthians, "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2). He also commands the Thessalonians, "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Thess. 2:15).
To ensure that apostolic tradition would continue even after the deaths of the apostles, Paul instructed Timothy to pass on the teachings he had received: "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2).
The Catholic Church distinguishes between Sacred Tradition and general tradition or folklore. Sacred Tradition, along with Sacred Scripture, forms the Deposit of Faith, which is transmitted to successive generations through the teaching authority and interpretation of the church's Magisterium, consisting of the bishops in union with the Pope.
While some Christian denominations, such as Lutheranism and Anglicanism, accept apostolic tradition to varying degrees, they generally place Scripture as the primary source of authority, with tradition playing a subordinate role. In Catholicism, however, the interpretation of Scripture is entrusted to the teaching office of the Church, and the absolute authority of Scripture is seen as shackled to the Roman Catholic interpretation.
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The Bible
Additionally, the Bible provides warnings and guidance for people of all epochs, as it addresses the dangers and challenges that affect the Church and humanity throughout history. It offers hope and assurance of ultimate victory through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Church carefully examines private revelations to ensure they align with Church doctrine. While private revelations can come from God, the Church distinguishes between true and false revelations, with the latter attributed to human, demonic, or natural sources like pareidolia.
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Frequently asked questions
The perfect source of revelation in Catholicism is Divine Revelation, which is made up of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium (the Teaching Office of the Church). Sacred Scripture refers to the Bible, which is the Word of God, written under the breath of the Holy Spirit. Sacred Tradition refers to the oral transmission of Divine Revelation. The Magisterium interprets and preserves Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, ensuring they are in accord with church doctrine.
The Magisterium of the Catholic Church is responsible for interpreting and preserving Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. They carefully examine private revelations to ensure they align with Catholic doctrine and are not false revelations, which may come from human or demonic sources.
Public revelation is the deposit of faith, which is fulfilled, completed, and perfected in Christ. It is the rule of faith that must be lived by all Catholics. Private revelations, on the other hand, are heavenly messages that come from God to help people live by divine revelation. They are believed to be incapable of surpassing or altering public revelation.
