Source of Wisdom and Authority

Question 1

What is the Bible?
(give at least 2 facts…)

Answer 1

1. Christian Holy Scipture made up of 66 books (Protestants)/ 73 books (Catholics).
2. Key source of wisdom and authority for Christians- sole source of authority for Protestants subscribing to “Sola Scriptura” doctrine.
3. Split into the Old Testament and the New Testament.
4. From Latin “biblia” - meaning the books.
5. Written by 40 different writers over the course of 1500-1600 years.
6. As of 1995, 5 billion copies had been sold/distributed worldwide.
7. Over 100 million copies are printed every year.

Question 2

What is the Old Testament?

Answer 2

• The Old Testament (1200-165 BC) is the original Hebrew Bible, the sacred scripture of the Jewish people.
• It tells the first part of the story, beginning with the Creation of the world. It contains many laws, including the 10 Commandments.
• Prophetic books contain insights of individuals into God’s purpose for Israel.

Question 2

What is the New Testament?

Answer 2

• The New Testament (50-100AD) was written after the life and death of Jesus. The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) tell the story of his birth, life, death and resurrection.
• They contain his key moral teachings as well as key moments in his life, such as those celebrated at Christmas and Easter.
• Acts tell the story of the early Church, including St Paul’s conversion to Christianity and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. St Paul’s 13 letters contain key theological and ethical teachings. Epistle of James teaches that “faith without works is dead”.
• Book of Revelation uses graphic imagery to describe the Last Judgement.

Question 3

Explain the meaning of St Paul’s teaching that “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16):

Answer 3

• Scripture (everything contained in the 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 texts- they have divine authority.
• Scripture should therefore be used to teach, rebuke, correct and train people in righteousness- how to live a good, righteous life.

Question 4

Explain the Evangelical Protestant view on the authority of the Bible. Refer to “Sola Scriptura” in your answer:

Answer 4

• The Bible is the sole authority for Evangelical Protestants.
• Martin Luther - “The true rule is this: God’s Word shall establish articles of faith, and no one else, not even an angel can do so.”
• Arthur S Wood - “Let us not change the Word of God; we ourselves should be changed through the Word…It is by the standard of Scripture that the believer is enabled to measure all other teachings.”
• It is the infallible and inerrant Word of God- therefore sole source of authority.
• Sola Scriptura- Scripture alone (solo) is authoritative for the faith, practice and ethics of a Christian. The Bible is the complete, authoritative source of authority.
• At the heart of the Protestant Reformation was Luther’s criticism of the Catholic Church for their “unbiblical teachings”.

Question 5

Strengths of the Evangelical Protestant View:

Answer 5

1. St Paul writes that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (Timothy) - it is from God, who has ‘given’ Christians the Bible as the guide. Therefore, it makes sense for Christians to treat the Bible as the sole source of authority. It comes from God!
2. St Paul also writes “Do not go beyond what is written” (Corinthians). This suggests that all morals/ ethics/ wisdom/ knowledge is contained within scripture, and there is no need for any source of authority for Christians.
3. Sola Scriptura ensures that human beings do not ever their authority- or the authority of the Church- supersedes Scripture; this reflects one of Luther’s key criticisms of the Catholic Church, that the church had developed ‘unbiblical teachings’ and given itself greater authority than scripture. This led to practices such as the selling of indulgences. By believing in the authority of Scripture alone, it stops human beings/ institutions using Christianity for their own advantage.
4. It provides one authoritative source of moral authority and guidance- prevents morality becoming a matter of personal preference/ opinion (key link: meta ethics - emotivism). Sets a clear moral standard that can be universally followed.
5. Martin Luther - “The true rule is this: God’s Word shall establish articles of faith, and no one else, not even an angel can do so”.
6. Arthur S Wood - “Let us not change the Word of God; we ourselves should be changed through the Word…It is by the standard of Scripture that the believer is enabled to measure all other teachings.”

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of the Evangelical Protestant View?

Answer 6

1. The Bible never explicitly teaches “Sola Scriptura” itself- whilst it affirms its importance, it does not declare it to be the only/sole source of authority for Christians.
2. Scripture was written thousands of years ago; it does not contain contemporary scientific understandings accepted by most Christians today (e.g. Big Bang Theory, Evolution), or addresses contemporary ethical issues, such as those raised by new medical advances (e.g new forms of contraception), artificial intelligence, modern business practices and social changes driven by social media. The Bible does not speak about these issues, making it outdated and insufficient to be the sole source of authority for Christians in the 21st Century. History did not end with the final book of the Bible, and the Bible IS NOT a historical book!!
3. Cultural Context: the Bible was written by human authors in particular contexts, responding to culturally-relative circumstances and issues (e.g. St Paul’s letters were written to particular communities based on certain issues he had identified in 1st Century society! This needs to be adapted and interpreted to fit the social and cultural context of the 21st Century)
4. Scripture is not supposed to be literally true! It features talking snakes and two contradicting accounts of the Creation story (Genesis 1&2)- It is a library of different literature, written by multiple different people, thousands of years ago, and has been translated multiple times…this makes it an unreliable sole source of authority and cannot be ‘blindly followed’. Christians should observe other forms of authority and wisdom, as well as looking at the Scripture as a ‘bigger picture’ and adapted it to fit the current social context.

Question 7

Explain Karl Barth’s Neo-Orthodox view on the nature of the Bible:

Answer 7

• Barth was a Swiss Protestant theologian who believed that the Bible is not the Word of God but contains the Word of God because it contains teachings about Jesus Christ. Jesus is the eternal “Word” of God who “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Key link: Doctrine of the Trinity.
• Neo-Orthodoxy emerged after the First World War.
• Karl Bath: Scripture is the “witness of divine revelation” (the incarnation, life, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ).
• The Bible is not the Word of God but contains the Word of God- it points humans towards God, but is not inerrant and sinless in the way Jesus was. A human book of special witnesses.
• Karl Barth: “The Bible has proved and prove itself to be a true and fitting instrument to point man to God and his work and his words, to God who alone is infallible. Since the Bible is a human instrument and document, bound and conditioned by the temporal views of nature, of history, of ideas, of values, it to that extent is not sinless, like Jesus Christ himself, and thus not infallible, like God.”

Question 8

Explain the Catholic Church’s view on the authority of the Bible. Refer to the Magisterium and the encyclical Dei Verbum in your answer:

Answer 8

• The Bible is inspired by God, but was written by human beings. It contains important “truths” about salvation- but each word is not literally true.
• The Bible and Catholic Church tradition are equal in authority.
• Jesus appointed Peter as the “rock on which I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18). He was the first Bishop of Rome. The Catholic Pope is known as the successor to St Peter- because of apostolic succession, he is traced back to Jesus. The Pope is believed to have papal infallibility.
• The Magisterium- the teaching authority of the Church, made up of Bishops- is the guardian and interpreter of both the Bible and tradition.
• Dei Verbum (1965): “The Bible is not intended to convey precise historical information or scientific findings…the authors were authors of their time”.
• The Church therefore has an important role as guardian/interpreter.
• It must be consulted, alongside the Church itself. For example, the Catechism contains a summary of the Church’s doctrines, and the Pope writes encyclicals on particular moral issues, such as Climate Change.

Question 9

What do the Sea of Faith network believe about the authority of the Bible? What are the strengths and criticisms of their position?

Answer 9

• Sea of Faith Network, which has “no creed” and welcomes people from all religious and humanist traditions, claims that faith is a purely human creation, so the Bible has no authority other than any that an individual might choose to give it.
• “We do not escape the human responsibility of distinguishing right from wrong is we choose to look to an ultimate and absolute authority to decide for us for we still have to interpret the word of that ultimate authority, whether it be God, the Bible or the Church, and interpretation is necessarily and unavoidably human, culturally conditioned, provisional- and fallible”.

Question 10

How do literalists understand the Genesis?

Answer 10

• Literalists believe that God created the world in six literal days, followed by a day of rest, as this is what it literally says in the Bible.

Day 1 - light was created
Day 2 - Sky was created
Day 3 - Dry land, seas, plants and trees were created.
Day 4 - The Sun, Moon and stars were created
Day 5 - Creatures that live in the sea and creatures that fly were created
Day 6 - Animals that live on the land and humans were created (in God’s image)
Day 7 - God rested, making this a Holy Day.

• The quote “All Scripture is God-breathed” (St Paul) supports this view.

Question 11

How do liberalists understand Genesis? Refer to Christian beliefs about the rise of science in your answer:

Answer 11

• They believe the Genesis account is not supposed to be taken literally- instead, it is a metaphorical story that teaches important messages (or “truths”).
• They believe that the main message is that God is the creator of everything.
• However, they believe that science provides the best explanation for how this actually happened (Genesis tells us the “why”, whereas science tells us the “how”).
• Liberal Christians therefore believe that God created the world via the Big Bang, and that he created life through Evolution.
• This is supported by Pope Francis, who says that the Big Bang “requires the intervention of the divine creator” - it could not have happened without God (synoptic link: religion and science).

Question 12

What does S Arthur Woods mean when he says, “Let us not change the Word of God; we ourselves should be changed through the Word…It is by the standard of Scripture that the believer is enabled to measure all other teaching”?

Answer 12

• Sola Scriptura- the supremacy and infallibility of scripture alone.
• Religion vs Culture - religion should not be changed by society. Instead, scripture should be used to critique society- and all other teachings that are held and developed, for example by Churches. They must always be true to scripture.
• Human beings should not change scripture in order to benefit themselves/ suit their own agendas and adapt to cultural changes/ trends. We cannot interpret scripture in order to fulfill our agenda/ adapt scripture to modern society.
• Instead, humans should themselves be “changed” by scripture, which is supposed to challenge us and hold us to particular values, teachings and standards.

Question 13

What is Apolistic Succession? Which Church is it important for?

Answer 13

• The uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church but denied by most Protestants.
• Source of the Pope’s authority- it is “inherited” and “passed down” from the Apostles (who were appointed by Jesus himself) and this authority is held by the Catholic Church today- which is why Church Tradition is equal to scripture.

Question 14

Who was the first Bishop of Rome? Who holds this position today?

Answer 14

• St Peter was the first Bishop of Rome.
• “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Mattew 16:18)
• “Come, follow me” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:16)
• Pope today wears the Ring of the Fisherman, was used to seal all Papal documents. No longer a custom to be worn daily.
• St Peter’s Basilica is located in the heart of the Vatican and a place of pilgrimage.
• The 266th Bishop of Rome is Pope Francis, leader of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. He is the successor to St Peter.

Question 15

What is the meaning of the Catechism’s teaching that “In the Church the fullness of the means of salvation has been deposited”?

Answer 15

• Synoptic link: religious pluralism - exclusivism
• 1863 Pope Pius IX declared in encyclical that there is no salvation outside of the Church (extra Ecclesiam nulla salus).
• Salvation is NOT through scripture alone- the Church is required as well. The Church is the “guardian” of scripture and tradition. Only though the Church can salvation be fully achieved, because the Chuch continues to teach and guide, as well as preserving protecting, interpreting the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Question 16

What was the Reformation? Refer to Martin Luther in your answer

Answer 16

• The Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement that swept through Europe in the 1500’s. It resulted in the creation of a branch of Christianity called Protestantism, a named used collectively to refer to the many religious groups that separated from the Roman Catholic Church due to differences in doctrine.
• Martin Luther was excommunicated by the Catholic Church after challenging doctrines such as Indulgences.
• Luther believed that salvation is not earned through good deeds but is received as the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. (synoptic link: justification by faith).
• Luther challenged the Church’s authority by believing in Sola Scriptura- scripture alone.
• Also challenge authority of the Church’s hierarchy- pope, bishops etc- by asserting the “priesthood of all believers”.

Question 17

What is Papal Infallibility? What are its implications for Catholics?

Answer 17

• Based on the promise of Jesus to Peter, the first Bishop of Rome.
• The doctrine that the pope, acting as supreme teacher and under certain conditions, cannot be wrong when he teaches in matters of faith and morals.
• Catholics will take the Pope’s teachings seriously, for example on contemporary ethical issues or questions of Church doctrine (e.g. in encyclicals addresses).
• Any doctrines must be consistent with Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition.
• Pope Benedict XVI said in 2005 that the “Pope is not an oracle, he is only infallible in very rare situations.”

Question 18

What is the Priesthood of all believers?

Answer 18

• The Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers states that all believers in Christ share in his priestly status, eliminating any special classes.
• All can access God and have a relationship with him, reading scripture for himself. No need for a Priest to “mediate” for you.
• Key Lutheran belief- everybody is able to have a relationship with God and make sense of scripture for themselves (for example, you don’t need to then pay the Church in order to buy indulgences.)

Question 19

Name two reasons people may question the Catholic Church’s authority today- consider current affairs and/or social changes:

Answer 19

1. The Church has been embroiled in scandals, for example child sexual abuse.
2. The rise of science (synoptic link) has led to alternative sources of authority developing in society / alternative explanations. Challenged belief in God.

Question 20

What does the Catholic Church believe about its role in the world today? Refer to encyclicals and Apolistic succession in your answer:

Answer 20

• The Church sees itself as as the “guardian” of Church tradition and Scripture.
• The Church exercies the authority first given to St Peter by Jesus, leading the faithful and acting as his “representitives” in the modern world.
• The Pope continues to release encyclicals - letters to the worldwide Catholic Church, and beyond - on important issues; such as Laudato Si on climate change.
• John Paul II - “Redemptoris Missio” - the permanent valley of the Church’s missionary mandate”. The Church has an ongoing role in “making disciples of all nations” (Jesus, The Great Commission).
• The Church also believes it has a duty to help those in need, fulfilling Jesus’ teachings in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25). This is seen in the work of Catholic organisations such as CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development).

Question 21

What does Jesus’ statement that “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30) teach Christians? What does it suggest about his authority?

Answer 21

• Jesus is asserting that he is equal to God the Father.
• Nicene Creed: Jesus is “consubstantial” with the Father- they share the same substance (they are divine).
• This reflects the Trinity- God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are equal.
  Jesus (the Son) and God the Father are in the closest possible relationship of unity (synoptic link: unity of essence vs unity of purpose).
• This suggests that Jesus’ authority is God’s authority- Jesus has complete authority, and therefore his teachings are taken seriously by Christians.
• Jesus is the “Word made flesh” (John 1:14). Confirms he is 100% divine.

Question 21

What is the significance of John 1:14 (“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”) for Christian belief about Jesus?

Answer 21

• Confirms Jesus is divine. He is the incarnation of God.
• Jesus is not an ordinary man- he is the earthly incarnation of God!
• Incarnation = made flesh.
• Jesus has existed eternally as the Word of God. 2000 years ago, the Word entered the world (incarnation) through a virgin birth in Bethlehem. This was in order to save humanity (salvation) through his crucifixtion and ressurection.
• Reflects belief in the Trinity- God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, outlined in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creed. (synoptic link: God - Trinity).

Question 22

What does John 5:23 (“Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father”) teach Christians about the authority of Jesus?

Answer 22

• Christians must honour Jesus in the same way that they honour God the Father.
• In other words, Jesus is equal to the Father, reflecting the fact that they are “consubstantial” (Nicene Creed). As the Trinity demonstrates, they are the same/equal.
• It is through Jesus that God can be honoured. (synoptic link: exclusivism).
• Jesus’ authority is God’s authority. His teachings must be followed.

Question 23

How does belief in the Trinity- outlined in the Nicene Creed- influence Christian’s attitude to Jesus’s authority?

Answer 23

• Demonstrates Jesus’ divinity- he is fully divine and is equal to the Father. He is God’s incarnate within the world.
• He is the “Word” of God- what he SAYS must be listened to, as it is God speaking the world.
• Teaches Christians that Jesus as absolute authority because the Trinity shows that he is God- he is “consubstantial” with the Father, he shares the same essence. This shows that, when Jesus speaks, it is God speaking. His authority comes from the fact that he is the God incarnate, the second person in the Trinity…the Son!
• Therefore, what he teaches must be taken seriously and has real significance, because he is God speaking within the world. Follow his teachings, take seriously what he says about life after death, and use these as the standard by which you live your life.

Question 24

Give three titles given to Jesus in the New Testament:

Answer 24

1. Son of God
2. Son of Man
3. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World.
4. The Christ
5. Lord
6. Master
7. Light of the World
8. King of the Jews
9. Rabboni and Rabbi

Question 25

Is the New Testament a reliable source of information about Jesus?

Answer 25

• Unreliable source as it’s not a neutral/objective historical document. Written with an agenda- to persuade people that Jesus was the Son of God/Messiah!
• Written by those who had FAITH in Jesus e.g. earliest disciples, St Paul following his conversion. They are not intending to state historical facts but instead convert people to the faith.
• Regardless, the gospels are not, nor were they ever meant to be, a historical documentation of Jesus’ life. These are not eyewittness accounts of Jesus’ words and deeds recorded by people who knew him. They are testimonies of faith composed by communities of faith and written many years after the events they describe. Simply put, the gospels tells us about Jesus the Christ, not the man. (Reza Aslan)
• Means Gospel writer may have embellished details to prove Jesus’ divinity (propoganda!!)
• Also- Gospels began as an oral tradition, details may have been changed as they were passed down through generations. Manuscripts, when they were written may have also been changed/edited, again by writers with their own agendas.
• Today, there are hundreds of different translations- these different translations can present the same events/stories in very different ways, meaning we don’t know exactly was Jesus said/did/meant…the original meaning is lost.

Question 26

Give two quotes from Reza Aslan to suggest the New Testament is not a reliable source of information:

Answer 26

1. “As with everything else in the gospels, the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial and execution was written for one reason and one reason only: to prove that he was the promised messiah. Factual accuracy was irrelevant. What mattered was Christology, not history…this final, most significant episode in the story of Jesus of Nazareth is also the most clouded by theological enhancements and flat-out fabrications”
2. “They gradually transformed Jesus from a revolutionary zealot to a Romanized demigod”

Question 27

What does Reza Aslan write about Jesus as a historical figure? Refer to his book “Zealot”. What does he mean when he writes: “Scholars tend to see the Jesus they want to see”.

Answer 27

• Very little is known about the “original” Jesus- the Jesus of history.
• Scholars / Christians tend to “make Jesus in their own image”.
• “They gradually transformed Jesus from a revolutionary zealot to a Romanized demigod” (Reza Aslan)
• “The great Christian theologian Rudolf Bultmann liked to say that the quest for the historical Jesus is an internal quest. Scholars tend to see the Jesus they want to see. Too often they see themselves- their own reflection- in the image of Jesus they have constructed.”
• Scholars tend to see Jesus they want to see- he usually looks like them, sounds like them and thinks like them. They project their own identity onto Jesus so that he ends up looking like them. In reality, he was a Middle Eastern carpenter…not a white man with long, blonde hair and blue eyes!
• Most people’s mental image of Jesus- which they have picked up from depictions seen in childhood, western media, their own biases/assumptions- is disconnected from reality. Ask: does this really matter?

Question 28

What does Jesus mean when he teaches “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also”? (Matthew 5)

Answer 28

• Radical commitment to pacifism and non-violence.
• Even if someone attacks you, there is no excuse for responding with violence.
• Indeed, you should actually practise resistance.
• Inspired Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr (“we must use the weapon of love”)
• Consider reasons for this: a commitment to promoting pacifism / non-violence / non-violent methods?
• Consider the persecution of Jesus’ earliest followers of the 1st Century.

Question 29

What does Jesus mean when he teaches “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5)?

Answer 29

• Radical commitment to agape (selfless, unconditional love)- your love should extend to your enemies…shows that being a Christian is demanding! (“Take up your cross” - Christianity demands sacrifices and selflessness from you.)
• Radical commitment to agape love and have compassion for all people.
• Have mercy/compassion/concern for those who persecute you (link to the persecution Christians suffered during the early days of the religion).
• Inspired Martin Luther King Jr in the 20th Century- “we must use the weapon of love”.

Question 30

What are the implications of these teachings for Christians?

(“love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”)

Answer 30

• Commitment to agape (synoptic link: Situation Ethics).
• Pacifism and non-violence.
• Mercy and compassion
• May therefore work for peace, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation
• Synoptic link: justifications by works.

Question 31

Is Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5 practical in the modern world? Refer to the context in which Jesus was originally teaching:

Answer 31

• Matthew 5 contains the Sermon on the Mount. Key features include “blessed are the peacemakers”, “turn to him the other cheek also”.
• Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr both believed it remained relevant and important to put into action- both committed to non-violence resistance/ protest.
• Demands Christians are committed to non-violence, praying for those who persecute them, showing mercy and working for peace.
• In the earliest days of Christianity, Christians were heavily persecuted- for example, it was placed on the imperial list of “illicit sects” and made illegal (64 AD).
• Many early Christians were martyred- the belief in life after death was often a reassurance to those facing punishment (and even death) for their beliefs.
• Today, Christianity is the world’s largest religion with over 2.4 billion followers.
• Over 200 million Christians are thought to face persecution worldwide (2018)
• Some believe it is too demanding and is out-dated in the modern world.

Question 32

What is the difference between the titles “Son of God” and “Son of Man”? Refer to when these titles are used in the New Testament:

Answer 32

• Son of God - emphasis on Jesus’s divinity
• Son of Man - emphasis on Jesus’ humanity
• In Luke, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.
• At Jesus’ baptism, a voice from Heaven (God) declares “this is my Son”.
• Christians believe that Jesus is fully human (100%) and fully divine (100%)

Question 33

A Bible verse that represents Jesus as human:

Answer 33

“He was hungry” (Luke 4)

Question 34

Give three teachings that show Jesus as a good role model:

Answer 34

• Healing people
• Caring for those in need
• Teaching people to work for peace, be merciful, forgive others, etc.
• Sacrificed himself (his life) for others.
• Challenging hypocrisy and injustice
• Remaining faithful to his moral principles and religious convictions
• Caring for/ helping the helpless. Reaching out to the marginalised, poor etc.

Question 35

What is the Golden Rule and why is it important for Christians today? (Paper 1 Synoptic Link: Refer to Situation Ethics in your answer):

Answer 35

• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12)
• “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31)
• Inspired Joseph Fletcher’s Situation Ethics, based on the agape love Jesus taught and modelled in the New Testament.
• “Love should be the predominant Christian impulse” (William Temple)
• At the core of Jesus Christ’s message - and example - is the importance of love.
• “Love is the only universal”. This is more important than following laws, for example, Jesus’ healing at Sabbath.

Question 36

Should Christians give more authority to the Bible or the Church? Refer to scholars / sources of authority for both sides of the argument:

Answer 36

Bible as authority as the Word of God, but Church as authority via Apolistic Succession. (Luther says Sola Scriptura…Catholic Church say both EQUALLY).