CHRISTIANITY - sources of wisdom & authority Flashcards
Give 3 facts about the Bible
-made up of 66 books (protestant). 39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament.
-key source of wisdom + authority for Christians, Protestants subscribe to Sola scripture doctrine
-Old testament, prophets, stories
-New testament, Gospels, apocalyptic
-latin ‘biblia’ - the books
-written by approx 40 writers over course of 1600 yrs
-over 100mill copies printed every year
What is the difference between the Old + New Testaments
old - original Hebrew Bible sacred of the Jewish People. Tells first part of the story like Creation. Contains Christian Laws like 10 commandments, prophetic books
new - written after life & death of Jesus. 4 gospels matthew, mark, luke, john tell the story of his birth, life, death + resurrection. contain key moral teachings of Jesus, easter, christmas.
explain the meaning of St Paul’s teaching that ‘all scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness’
-scripture (everything in Bible) is the Word of God. The words have been spoken by him
-therefore seen as infallible and inerrant - they are from God himself
-God has spoken through the authors of the text, they have divine authority
-scripture should therefore be used to teach..
What is the doctrine of Sola Scriptura?
The Bible is the complete, authoritative source of authority. Protestants reject any other infallible source of wisdom other than the Bible
Give a strength of the Evangelical Protestant view (sola scriptura)
Strengths- St Paul writes that “all scripture is God-breathed”
He also writes “Do not go beyond what is written”
Sola Scriptura ensures humans don’t give anything higher authority than the Bible
Prevents morality becoming a matter of personal preference/ opinion
Give a weakness of the Evangelical Protestant View (Sola Scriptura)
-Bible never explicitly says other sources of authority cannot be consulted aswell
-Scripture was written thousands of years ago (outdated)
-scripture involves metaphors not literal language
What does Karl Barth (neo orthodox) believe about the nature of the Bible
-scripture is the “witness of divine revelation “ (incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension Of Jesus)
-points humans towards God, but isn’t sinless in the way Jesus was
-not the Word of God, contains the Word of God. ‘book of witness’
What is the Catholic view on the authority of the Bible?
-Bible is inspired by God, written by humans.
-Bible and Catholic Church tradition are equal in authority
- the magisterium, the teaching authority of the Catholic Church
-Dei Verbum encyclical- “The Bible is not intented to convey precise historical information or scientific findings.. the authors were authors of their time”
What is the Apostolic Succession?
Authority of Pope in Roman Catholic Church
- uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive Popes and Bishops
-Pope’s authority is inherited and passed down from Apostles (appointed by Jesus) and this authority is held by the Catholic Church
What is the Papal Infallibility?
-doctrine that the Pope acting as supreme teacher cannot be wrong when he teaches in matters of faith or morals
-based on the promise of Jesus to Peter ( first bishop of Rome)
-Catholics this take seriously the Pope’s teachings eg on contemporary ethical issues
-any doctrines must be consistent with Sacred Scripture and Apostolic tradition
Why may the Catholic Church’s authority be questioned today?
-science like Charles Darwin Evolution
-scandals like child sexual abuse
Give 3 titles given to Jesus in the New Testament
-son on God
-son of man
-Lord
-Light of the World
-Lamb of God who takes away sins of the World
-The Christ
-King of the Jews
Is the New Testament a reliable source of information about Jesus?
-unreliable. Not a neutral or objective historical document. written with agenda to persuade people that Jesus was son of God
-written by those who had faith in
Jesus
-Gospel writers may have embellished details to ‘prove’ Jesus’ divinity (propaganda)
