We have already established that the Holy Church has the sole right to interpret the Bible, not only because it received it (i.e. it was composed within it and for the purpose of its edification), and established and confirmed its canon, but because it is the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 20, 27; Ephesians 2:16, 4:12; Colossians 3:15), that is, the fullness, that is, the accomplishment and completion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In addition to this constant, we see that the Baptists have exceeded the truth by believing that each individual has the freedom to \u201cinterpret the Bible,\u201d provided that his interpretation is \u201cin accordance with the whole teaching of the Bible,\u201d and \u201cthe revelation of God in Christ\u201d (Herschel Hobbes, The Doctrine and Message of the Baptists, p. 17). This belief, in fact, does not clearly tell the truth. For there is a fundamental difference between each believer living with the divine Word, that is, reading it daily and regularly, and understanding it in accordance with \u201cthe tradition of the Church and the teaching of the Fathers in their writings\u201d (Council of Trullo, Canon 19), and striving, throughout his life, to obey its revelation, so that he may, with God\u2019s help, imitate God the Word (Ephesians 3:14-21), and between each individual having the right to interpret it, alone, provided that his interpretation is in accordance with the teachings that they say, and claim that they are \u201cthe teachings of the Bible\u201d!<\/p>\n
The essence of this error is that the Baptists have departed from and against the Church. The Bible is the book of the Church. It is impossible to understand its saving message correctly except on the basis of merging with it and drawing from its source, heritage and experience. God has given the Church, alone, the power to explain the appropriate meaning that leads to the glorification of God the Father. Departing from and against the Church exposes the message to the reader\u2019s interpretation according to his own whims. If the readers of the saving message are multiple, its interpretation will inevitably be multiple (2 Peter 3:16).<\/p>\n
The Holy Bible was not addressed by its writers to scattered individuals, but to Christians gathered together by the Spirit of God, forming them together into one body, and giving each one his own gift. This is because the body of Christ is formed by many gifts, and not all members are one member (1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:3-9; Ephesians 4:11-13). This means that there were those who were commissioned by the Holy Spirit, in the community, to interpret what was written. This is confirmed by the Apostle, who says: \u201cBut know first of all that no prophecy of Scripture is interpreted by man on his own. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but was moved by the Holy Spirit to speak from God\u201d (2 Peter 1:20-21; see also: Acts 20:28).<\/p>\n
Interpretation is not given by the Spirit to every individual in the community; it is not the only gift in the community. The association with the structure and the acceptance of the meaning, as explained by those who have been given the gift of interpretation, are those that belong exclusively to the members of the community. And if the Baptists say, \u201cThe Gospel is foolishness unless the Holy Spirit interprets it\u201d (Finley M. Graham, Systematic Theology, p. 16), they do not mean what God intended in the course of history. For the simple reason that they neglect the Church and her living tradition, distort the multiplicity of gifts, and establish the individual as the basis for experience and interpretation. This is the core of the individualism that dwarfs the community and its saving mission. The individual, however distinguished in knowledge and righteousness, cannot diminish the community. If the Holy Spirit interprets the Word of God, and this is correct, appropriate, and true (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:11, 12), then He interprets it to those He has commissioned to interpret, and directs it to the community meeting in the realm of the life of fellowship, and His goal is for the Church to always, and in every place, be \u201cthe pillar and cornerstone of the truth\u201d (1 Timothy 3:15).<\/p>\n
What greatly disturbs the Baptists is that the sacred tradition reveals that the Spirit of God first gave the bishop, and whoever delegates him, the gift of interpreting the Holy Scriptures. \u201cI charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, his appearing and his kingdom, that you preach the word of God, insisting on it in season and out of season, rebuking, admonishing, patiently teaching\u201d (2 Timothy 4:1-2; see also 1 Timothy 4:12-16; Titus 2:15). This is clearly evident in our service of bishop\u2019s ordination, where the Bible is placed open above his head. What this means is that the Church indicates the centrality of the bishop, who was appointed leader of the congregation, because his thought and convictions are derived from the \u201cmind of Christ,\u201d and that he is, consequently, able to explain the word in the light of the Church\u2019s tradition. Of course, Baptists can respond to this by saying that history has proven the deviation of many bishops and priests. This is true. But it is also true that the Church has linked the bishop to the heritage of his Church. And whoever deviates is the one who neglects his \u201cfirst love\u201d and speaks from outside the community, that is, he who neglects the living heritage and interprets the word according to his own whims. It is not hidden from anyone who understands that the deviation of some of the community\u2019s leaders, throughout history, did not invalidate the main rule in the life, experience, and doctrinal teaching of the Church, which is: \u201cthe apostolic succession given by the ordination of bishops.\u201d<\/p>\n
This does not mean that bishops and priests alone have the authority to interpret the Word (Revelation 2:7, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 29), but that every interpretation must be in accordance with what was inspired by the Spirit of God who appointed the bishops, \u201cto watch over the church of God which he obtained with his own blood\u201d (Acts 20:28).<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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