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nlb
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| Joined: | Thu Aug 30th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
| First Name: | nolongerbaptist | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Baptist (no longer) |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 02:37 pm |
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Hi,
I am "no longer Baptist", and this is my first post here. I don't exactly know what I am anymore, or where I'm going to end up, but I am focusing my studies mostly on Catholic and Orthodox issues. I have a bazillion questions. 
One verse that seems to be popular in Catholic books and websites I've been reading is 2 Pet 2:10 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation", the point being made (I think) is that scripture is not meant to be interpreted on one's own, unauthoritatively. Although I'm coming to see the benefits of that position (i.e. nobody can disagree on interpretation like us Protestants  , and we have no way of authoritatively knowing who is correct), it seems to me that's not exactly what that passage is talking about. At face value, it's talking about prophecy and is explained further in the next verse "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" - in other words, OT prophecies were not just the prophets own private words, but were in fact from God. I'm having trouble accepting stretching this particular passage to talking about the necessity of a single authoritative interpreter of scripture. But maybe that's must my own private interpretation?
Any feedback appreciated.
nlb
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nlb
Member
| Joined: | Thu Aug 30th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
| First Name: | nolongerbaptist | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Baptist (no longer) |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 03:54 pm |
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Sorry, the correct verse is 2 Pet 1:20. 
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japhy
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| Joined: | Thu Apr 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | Princeton, New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 185 |
| First Name: | Jeff (you can call me "japhy" | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic (Latin Rite) |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 04:26 pm |
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nlb wrote: Hi,
I am "no longer Baptist", and this is my first post here. I don't exactly know what I am anymore, or where I'm going to end up, but I am focusing my studies mostly on Catholic and Orthodox issues. I have a bazillion questions.
One verse that seems to be popular in Catholic books and websites I've been reading is 2 Pet 2:10 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation", the point being made (I think) is that scripture is not meant to be interpreted on one's own, unauthoritatively. Although I'm coming to see the benefits of that position (i.e. nobody can disagree on interpretation like us Protestants , and we have no way of authoritatively knowing who is correct), it seems to me that's not exactly what that passage is talking about. At face value, it's talking about prophecy and is explained further in the next verse "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" - in other words, OT prophecies were not just the prophets own private words, but were in fact from God. I'm having trouble accepting stretching this particular passage to talking about the necessity of a single authoritative interpreter of scripture. But maybe that's must my own private interpretation?
Any feedback appreciated.
nlb
I think it implies both senses: first, the the prophecies recorded in Scripture were received from God and were not "manhandled" (no pun intended!) or altered in their delivery, but second, that the matter of understanding those prophecies -- since they are the very word of God (revelation) recorded for us -- is not to be done lightly!
The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was not able to interpret Isaiah 53; he required Philip to teach him. The disciples on the road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24) needed Jesus himself to open the Scriptures unto them, which Jesus did for the Apostles afterwards (cf. Luke 24:44ff).
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[Mary said,] "Do whatever he tells you." - John 2:5
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5350 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 08:06 pm |
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nlb wrote: I am "no longer Baptist", and this is my first post here.
Let me welcome you to the Coming Home Network. We're happy you chose to join us, and we'll do our best to walk with you on your faith journey wherever it might happen to lead. Feel free to ask all the questions you want, and we'll do our best to answer them honestly and without any pressure. One day, when you're ready, we hope you'll feel comfortable enough with us to share your faith story.
Once again, welcome to CHN. We're glad to have you here with us.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1389 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 08:40 pm |
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| Hi Nlb, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing your comments and ideas. I read your scripture passage, and then went back to 2 Pet: 16-21. "We had been eyewitnesses of His majesty" "We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain" "We possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place" "No prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." To me, this was written by St. Peter, the first bishop of Rome, as instruction to listen to the apostles and heed their words and interpretations, not to go off on our own.
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mg57
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tolland County, Connecticut USA |
| Posts: | 180 |
| First Name: | mg57 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Infant Baptised Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 10:51 pm |
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nlb -
If I understood you correctly, to answer, prophecy came forth through the Jews / Jewish religion, and was authoritative until the time / reign of Christ. As alluded to here on this thread, Jesus ( the only one qualified to appoint someone, to create the transition) makes a point of this as He passes on the "Keys" of authority to Peter ( see Isaiah 22:21-25, Matt 16:19).
For more, a good resource is :
Jesus, Peter & The Keys, ( Butler, Dahlgren, Hess) Queenship Publishing Co. 1996.
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jumpdog
Member
| Joined: | Fri Dec 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Charlotte, North Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 27 |
| First Name: | | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Oct 10th, 2007 05:33 pm |
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nlb,
Check out 2 Pet 3:16. Peter talks about those who read Paul's letters and misunderstand the meaning. He refers to them as "ignorant and unstable". I have seen "ignorant" translated as "unschooled" also. This would imply that Peter was talking about those who do not know the proper context and interpretation. Also implied is the idea that they (the Church) knew the proper interpretation which points to a knowledge base (tradition) which is not found in Scripture (instructions passed on by "word or mouth" 2 Thess 2:15) but is necessary for scripture to have any true meaning. In addition, Peter implies that they are the teaching authority (magisterium).
These are the three things which compose the "Deposit of Faith": Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium. You will encounter these concepts often in Catholic teachings-- I have seen them described as the "3-legged stool" upon which the Church rests. Each compliment the other-- no one leg is more important than the other. All 3 work together to spread the entire Gospel.
I also see an underlying philosophical problem/dilema for you: obedience to and trust of authority. Since the Baptists have taught that you are your own authority when it comes to interpretation, submitting yourself to another authority will be uncomfortable. You are used to "filtering" everyone else's interpretation based on your own interpretations. One need only count the number of protestant denominations in order to prove that individual interpretation of Scripture does not lead to the truth-- it only divides the Mystical Body of Christ into what exists today, and I think that Satan is very happy with that!
Once you realize that the Catholic Church is, has been, and will forever be the one true Church that Jesus founded, then you will start to trust the authority of Church teachings.
So, read, read, read-- especially the Early Church Fathers! Also attend Mass-- there you will encounter Jesus in the Eucharist-- the "source, summit, and center" of the Catholic Church. Once you see the Mass for yourself and read the Church Fathers' account of the Mass, you will see that "unbroken line of authority" of which we speak about often.
Once you allow yourself to abide in the authority of the Church, you will encounter a peace which you have never known in your life. Oh, if I could only open my heart to you so that you could see for yourself!! You will no longer need to "figure it all out". No more worrying about what to believe and what not to believe. All that you need to know is already apart of the Deposit of Faith. It's there for the taking-- you need only submit yourself to the fullness of the truth.
Be patient-- finding the truth is like constructing a jigsaw puzzle... one piece at a time! Also be warned-- there are wolves in sheeps clothing even in the Catholic Church. When in doubt, there is nothing like the Catechism and a pious/reverent priest to guide you. BTW, guys like Cajunrick and David Emery are valuable resources who are very familiar with Church teachings.
Jumpdog
Last edited on Wed Oct 10th, 2007 05:35 pm by jumpdog
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