2007-03-13 21:23:17 · 7 answers · asked by me 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Roman Catholics can answer that.
But if you want to know what the New Testament has to say on this, NONE! In the NT there was no clergy caste. No pope and no bishops in any hierarchy.
2007-03-13 21:26:13 · answer #1 · answered by Seraph 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Pope and the bishops are the direct successors of Peter and the Apostles.
They have been entrusted with the handing down of Apostolic Tradition.
The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).
There were hundreds of Christian (and not so Christian) writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.
Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?
Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.
This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.
With love in Christ.
2007-03-14 17:54:47 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Pope is not actually the one handling the traditions in the Roman Catholic church. His "office" is the one responsible in keeping this set of traditions and only making the pope runs it. This requires a deep understanding of this church, since there's still some authority above the pope. I may need a whole day to tell these things to you.
Anyway, the primary goal of all these "traditions" is to keep people away from God (as was condemed by Christ himself in the bible - "these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me...").
Traditions was condemed even by the apostles. That's why Jesus always bash those teachers of the law (priests) in his time! So if you need to follow any "church" traditions - make sure they come from the apostles - lest, you be condemed too.
God bless you, me...
2007-03-13 21:55:18 · answer #3 · answered by GH 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Pope and the bishops are the direct successors of Peter and the Apostles? The doctrine of Papal Succession is just a "Catholic Tradition" and it's not biblical.
Why do Catholics believe that Peter the Apostle was the first Pope when the word ``Pope'' doesn't even appear in Catholic Bibles?
2007-03-15 14:30:54 · answer #4 · answered by House Speaker 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Thats about all it is, tradition. No where in the Holy Bible (KJV) 1611 does it say that they should hold these positions or have any authority.
2007-03-13 21:40:57 · answer #5 · answered by Dakota Lynn Takes Gun 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus came to tell the pharasies off for their traditions, they made it imposible for men to serve God. he said God wonts our love not man made traditions.
2007-03-13 21:30:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Control.There really is no other way to describe what they do then that.
2007-03-13 21:31:45 · answer #7 · answered by Demopublican 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋