Overview
Father Mike Schmitz explains the Catholic understanding of divine revelation, emphasizing that the Church relies not only on the Bible but also on sacred tradition and the Magisterium for teaching and authority.
The Role of the Bible in Catholicism
- The Bible is considered the inerrant and reliable Word of God by Catholics.
- Catholics believe the Bible is a significant source of divine revelation but not the only one.
- Dei Verbum, a Vatican II document, outlines the Catholic teaching on divine revelation.
Sources of Divine Revelation
- Divine revelation comes from three sources: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church).
- The Magisterium refers to the Church’s official teaching office.
Necessity of Tradition and Magisterium
- From the beginning, Christianity relied on both scripture and tradition, guided by the Church’s teaching authority.
- Key doctrines, such as the Trinity, are not explicitly stated in the Bible but were clarified through tradition and the Magisterium.
- Ongoing questions arise that the Bible does not directly address, requiring interpretation through tradition and Church authority.
The Authority behind the Bible’s Canon
- All Christians, knowingly or not, rely on the Catholic Church’s authority and tradition for the Bible’s contents.
- Protestant Bibles were separated from the Catholic canon by removing seven books in the 1500s, a decision originally made by Church councils.
- The decision on what constitutes scripture was made by the Magisterium, reinforcing reliance on Church authority.
Critique of "Sola Scriptura"
- Martin Luther’s principle of "Sola Scriptura" (scripture alone) lacks explicit biblical support.
- Passages often cited for Sola Scriptura, such as 2 Timothy 3, refer mainly to the Old Testament, not the entire Bible.
- 1 Timothy 3 calls the Church "the pillar and foundation of truth," not scripture itself.
- St. Paul also urges Christians to hold fast to both written and oral tradition (2 Thessalonians).
Conclusion
- Catholics view Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium as complementary gifts from God.
- These three sources guide believers in understanding God, growing in faith, and following Christ more closely.