many people here say that instead of following priests one should read bible and take one´s own conclusions?

Question

is that religion or more like religious anarchy?

ok then you understand what you want to understand! and then you say it is god that wanted you to understand. amazing!!!

so what makes your interpretation better than that of the priest if both are supposed to be inspired by god????

Answer 1

u dont need a man to interpret it for you or a religeous framework to understand Gods word ...

Answer 2

That's actually dangerous. If you read the Bible and have not studied the cultures and languages of the people you are reading about, you have little background in which to understand what it is that you are reading.

Take for example the verse that states that it is easier for a camel to pass throug the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. First reading this, you might assume that rich men can't get to heaven, as it's impossible for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle.

Studying history, one finds that there was a gate to the city known as the "needle's eye", which was a low gate that was difficult, but not impossible for a camel to get through.

These are the traps that one reading the Bible alone, without historical or cultural education, runs into. Basically, ignorance breeds heresey.

Then again, I'm not a Chrsitian, so I don't have the holy spirit to fill in all the blanks for me. I'm sure that any human blessed with the holy spirit would have automatically provided such cultural and historical knowledge to understand such verses with their intended meanings.

Answer 3

Yes they do and most of those who say that know nothing about biblical hermeneutics, biblical languages or the history or culture of the first century Christians and beyond. Some may even study and learn from a Bible translated in Elizabethan English that they can hardly understand.

The truth is that the Bible was written by the Church by members of the Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and it is the Church that has the qualifications to interpret it and not each individual thinking that they are their own magisterium. That is how we have ended up with tens of thousands of Christian denominations increasing exponientially when Jesus' last prayer was that we be one. Who can serve God when one instead of being humble and obedient to Christ's Church and trusting in the "bulwark and ground of the truth" instead trust their own intellect and ability in a prideful example of worldly ignorance to the things of God received by grace through faith.

In Christ

Answer 4

Just as the American government was founded on the premise that people were competent enough to govern themselves, so I believe that people are competent enough to interpret the Bible for themselves. A priest is a human being, so am I. The Bible say "whosoever will" and I am a "whosoever". A priest is not necessarily smarter or more 'spiritual', or without sin , than any other human being.

Answer 5

Priests are just people, same as you. You are more than capable of reading the Bible and making your own decisions. God is there for you to find on your own. Which you must do since you will be going to heaven or hell ALONE. No priest tagging along, telling you which way to turn.

Answer 6

Let not man tell you truth, but let God tell you truth! It's not about a religion, its about a relationship with Christ. God tells us in the Bible to check and make sure that what is taught is indeed in the bible, his word, not just assume it is. God gives understanding to those who truly wish to know him, through the Bible. If you are reading so with no heart felt reason, then you probably will not be given the understanding.

Answer 7

some sites you may enjoy

www.scripturecatholic.com
www.fisheaters.com
www.catholiceducation.org
www.salvationhistory.com
www.newadvent.org

for those who say it is for your own opinion and not "mans" do they realize that the very grounds they use for not using priests negates their ability to interpret the bible as they are humans aswell.
it is interesting to note that since people have declared it ok to read and interpret the bible by themselves has caused the body of christ to split some 28000 times.

also noteworthy is that the church that has priests is the same church that safeguarded and protected sacred scripture during persecution and at risk of death and is solely the reason why we have a bible to this day.

jesus established a church with a teaching body,the same as the levites were,so if the bible is true we need priests,if not jesus was a liar and established a visible church on earth for no reason.are you saying jesus is a liar?

Answer 8

The first commandment says to love God with all your heart mind and soul. This means to love God even above what your religious leaders may say. This doesn't mean they are terrible people but God never meant for us to follow men. In the scriptures God has a very high priority for his word. Jesus said sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth. He also said if you continue in my word then you will be my disciples and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The bible also teaches all scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is profitable for instruction, reproof that the man of God may be thouroughly furnished. Another verse says the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two edsge sword. There are quite a few more verses that go into detail about the importance of scripture. If yo need I can look them up for you. What you find is traditions of men have gotten in the way just like they did in Jesus day. It's ironic that the people that gave Jesus the hardest time were the vary priests from the priesthood that God had ordained. Jesus had strong words of rebuke for them and told them they made lifted their own traditions above Gods word. Were they the only ones capable of making that error? I would suggest any person is capable which is why we need to follow God not men, again tis doesn't belittle the help men can offer. What we see believed and practised in thenew testement is markedly different than what is being presented. The Apostle Paul said if I or an angel from heaven preach any gospel other than what we have preached let him be accursed. Notice Paul doesn't put himself on a pedestal and say you have to believe me cause I am your leader in fact he suggests we have the right to question what we hear and if it doesn't measure with the gospel they first preached we have the right to reject it. There is another verse that says to study to show yourself approved ubot God a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. The sad fact is the Catholic church became so far removed from the teaching of Jesus that they had people killed for making the gospel available to the people. (Tyndale) And they tried to put a stop to Martin Luther when he exposed the corruption of the sale of indulgences. The current Pope said Luther was right Salvation is by faith. I read this a few yearsback in a Toronto newspaper when he was the advisor to the last Pope. But you have t wonder when people are willing to kill to protect their relgious establishment are the not behaving more like the Priests who were afraid of Jesus. I will finih with this verse. In one passage some disciples tell Jesus we saw a man casting out devils in yu r name but we forbid him because he travelled not with us. Jesus told them not to because it is not easy for someone who did works in his name to easily speak evil of him. What is interesting is in this passage it reveals that the disciples were try8ng to protect some special relationship they had with Jesus. Jesus isn't owned by anyone which is why no one can monopolize him. He doesn't need mens permission to save who he wishes to.

Answer 9

That's right we should. How can we believe that a human interprets when his/her own morals are blinding their possible "true interpretation"????

God isn't hiding from me just because I didn't go to the seminary.

I believe the Bible is for self interpretation between yourself and God.

Christians need to question and question more and think outside of the box..... that's how you find truth - to search.

Answer 10

We listen to what the Priest's have to say about God's word, They are teachers and help us to understand the Bible and God's law

Answer 11

the problem with just taking a priests word for it is going in blindly. you need to read the Bible and interpret it your self. say you took a history class and the teacher tells you that the Holocaust never happened? it is true, but you didn't know because that is what you are told