Examine the different perspectives of the Protestant and Catholic traditions on the relative
authority of the Bible and the Church [10]
Catholics believe that the Church and the Bible hold equal authority. They are both inextricably
linked (cannot be separated), because Christianity is dynamic. This means that the Church can
correctly interpret and reinterpret Scripture, as long as they embrace the “rule of faith”. This
rule allows the Magisterium to change the Bible’s message to align with new scientific or
societal movements; one example of this is the Big Bang Theory being accepted by modern
catholics. The work of the Holy Spirit is active today and was present when Scripture was
written (“consigned to writing under the Holy Spirit”), leading Catholics to believe that the
Church gets its authority from the Bible. Moreover, the Magisterium gains this equal authority
because it is derived from Jesus and his Apostles. The 12 Apostles were told to “make disciples
of all nations”; this teaching of the Gospel continued through Apostlic succession, which
means that the Pope today has the teaching authority from Jesus to re-interpret the Bible. This
dynamic tradition therefore places Jesus as the ‘rock’ on which the Church is built upon, giving
a “living teaching office of the Church '', as mentioned in Dei Verbum. To Catholics, the Church
has preserved and developed the teaching of Jesus and his apostles, being guided by the Holy
Spirit still active on Earth.
In contrast to Catholics, Protestants refer to Sola Scriptura; the Bible alone has authority.
Protestants argue that all religious sources are subservient to Scripture because humans do
not have the right to tamper with the Bible. Luther, a prominent leader in the Protestant
Reformation, argues that if doing so, they are becoming a teacher of the Holy Spirit, and so the
Church cannot hold the same Divine authority without undermining the authority of God
Himself. Moreover, Luther defends the idea that Christians “must adhere solely to the Word of
God”. This means that, since scripture led to the creation of the Church, the Church cannot
determine scripture (even if the Pope was “an angel from Heaven”). Instead, a “royal priesthood”
is upheld; in Peter’s letter, he mentions “you are a chosen race”. This personal pronoun can be
interpreted to mean humanity as a whole, therefore considering anyone baptised a Priest. As a
result, this argues entirely against the Catholic authoritative hierarchy. If we stand equal under
God, ordained priests are considered unnecessary and not required as an intermediary,
because God alone should “be your guide”.
authority of the Bible and the Church [10]
Catholics believe that the Church and the Bible hold equal authority. They are both inextricably
linked (cannot be separated), because Christianity is dynamic. This means that the Church can
correctly interpret and reinterpret Scripture, as long as they embrace the “rule of faith”. This
rule allows the Magisterium to change the Bible’s message to align with new scientific or
societal movements; one example of this is the Big Bang Theory being accepted by modern
catholics. The work of the Holy Spirit is active today and was present when Scripture was
written (“consigned to writing under the Holy Spirit”), leading Catholics to believe that the
Church gets its authority from the Bible. Moreover, the Magisterium gains this equal authority
because it is derived from Jesus and his Apostles. The 12 Apostles were told to “make disciples
of all nations”; this teaching of the Gospel continued through Apostlic succession, which
means that the Pope today has the teaching authority from Jesus to re-interpret the Bible. This
dynamic tradition therefore places Jesus as the ‘rock’ on which the Church is built upon, giving
a “living teaching office of the Church '', as mentioned in Dei Verbum. To Catholics, the Church
has preserved and developed the teaching of Jesus and his apostles, being guided by the Holy
Spirit still active on Earth.
In contrast to Catholics, Protestants refer to Sola Scriptura; the Bible alone has authority.
Protestants argue that all religious sources are subservient to Scripture because humans do
not have the right to tamper with the Bible. Luther, a prominent leader in the Protestant
Reformation, argues that if doing so, they are becoming a teacher of the Holy Spirit, and so the
Church cannot hold the same Divine authority without undermining the authority of God
Himself. Moreover, Luther defends the idea that Christians “must adhere solely to the Word of
God”. This means that, since scripture led to the creation of the Church, the Church cannot
determine scripture (even if the Pope was “an angel from Heaven”). Instead, a “royal priesthood”
is upheld; in Peter’s letter, he mentions “you are a chosen race”. This personal pronoun can be
interpreted to mean humanity as a whole, therefore considering anyone baptised a Priest. As a
result, this argues entirely against the Catholic authoritative hierarchy. If we stand equal under
God, ordained priests are considered unnecessary and not required as an intermediary,
because God alone should “be your guide”.
