Expert: Edward Bode - 1/31/2011

Question
QUESTION: [[[We recognize the validity of authoritative interpretations of the teaching of Jesus as transmitted through the teaching authority of the church.]]]

What teaching authority would you be speaking of? If it is possible, could you post scripture for this authority?

Thank You

Belial

ANSWER: That the teaching authority concerning the authentic interpretation of of God's oral and written word is based on numerous New Testament passages.  Among these are: Mt 16:16ff, 28:20; Mk 8:27ff, 16:15; Lk 9:18ff, 10:16; Jn 16:13; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 10ff; Gal 1:6ff.
Also, keep in mind that the first few generations of Christians after the death of Jesus did not yet have the complete New Testament.
I hope these are helpful, Belial.  As you know, I am available should you have further questions.
Best wishes.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mt 16:16= And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  
 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

[[ So Peter had a *revelation by the Spirit* of who Christ was! And Jesus builds His church upon this *revelation by the Spirit*, not by the wisdom of man!]]
Matt 28:20 =18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
 19 ¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

[[ And Jesus was speaking to his disciples vs 16 ¶Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. ]]

John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
[[ And the Spirit of Truth did come, and all believers were to receive Him, to be guided into all truth, etc! All, not just the disciples, all!]]

[[  Mr Bode, you have only declared what every believer is to have, which is the Holy Spirit, by which revelations of Christ are revealed... Paul  said it best in 1 Corinthians 2..... who knows the mind of the man, but the spirit that is in him? We have received the Spirit of God, that we might know the mind of God..  This truth and experience is available for all born again believers of Christ who receive the Spirit of Christ...  ]]

[[ Any believer can read the new testament and see these truths for themselves IF, as Paul describes they have received the Holy Spirit! 1 John 2:  27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.]]

There is no single authority of teaching the meanings of the scriptures, other than the One who caused them to be written.  
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

{quote}Also, keep in mind that the first few generations of Christians after the death of Jesus did not yet have the complete New Testament.{end quote}

[[ True, but they had the Holy Spirit, since Christs ascension! The New testament came out of the teachings of the Holy Spirit to those writers of it! So your point is mute! ]]

I hope these are helpful.

Regards
Belial.

ANSWER: I am aware of your citations but do not agree with your interpretation.
The sayings of Matthew [16: and 20: especially] and of Paul [especially in Galations] with his appointments of Timothy and Titus show that the promise of authenticity of the gospel message rests with Church leaders.  By the end of the first century, bishops and priests were in charge of the assemblies of the faithful.
That each person has the Holy Spirit to assure each individual an independent way of inerrantly interpreting the message of God is an idea that did not flourish until the 14th-15th centuries with the Protestant reformation.  At that time, the ancient teaching of divine tradition had long been dominate among the followers of Jesus and was restated clearly in a general council.
Best wishes, Mr. B.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sir. The Holy Spirit is well able to keep and teach His sheep! I have and do see daily, the sheep of the ecumenical churchs, led and pastored by men, with much learning, and following your said *divine tradition*.  Jesus said, pupils become like their teachers.. And sheep like their shepherds... And unequivably these sheep are in no way, after many, many years, like Christ,in character, or nature, which is the calling of the leaders to their charges. Eph.4.

But I have seen, and know others, that have the sensitivity to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, and follow Him, and doing so, are becoming more and more like Him in image... Which is the goal, the prize of the High calling we have in Him..

Truly the sheep are becoming like their teachers. All one has to do, is open their eyes and take a good hard look at their charges. Sinning, confessing, sinning, confessing, promising themselves to do better, but never arriving at that goal..

Teachers who don't even possess what they profess, and wonder why their charges aren't any better...

No sir. bishops and priests appointed by man, not God. The evidence is not in the quantity of followers, but the condition/qualaity of those that do..

Where's the BEEF! As the expression goes. Where are those IMAGES OF CHRIST JESUS, coming out from the so called church? Partaking of Christ every mass, for years, and yet,.....remain the same!

The evidence is clear. the church has side stepped the true worker of this end, the potter has been replaced by another. One can tell by the product in the clay..

Sincerely
Hope this helps
belial

Answer
John speaks about the good Shepherd in a parable [10:1ff] and as a personal mission [21:15-19,25]-- one flock and one shepherd.
Unfortunately, some of the flock have strayed.
God Who is Truth and has taught truths does not look equally on truth and falsehood.  If God the Holy Spirit would inspire every individual to be correct in trutful faith, then there would be one flock and one shepherd.  Such is not the case.  That tells us something.
The New Testament is clear about bishops being in charge.  See also 1 Tim 3:1ff.  That role does not mean that one cannot sin.  Sin is detestable in all, but God is merciful.  
Would that sinful leaders would be no more. People have free will and can reject the grace-help of God to repentence and reform.  Sinfulness does not eliminate God's will that all be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.  See 1 Tim 2:3ff.
If you would like to learn more about the teaching of the Catholic Church on the matters about which you have written, I refer you to The Catechism of the Catholic Church,especially paragraphs 683ff, 851ff, 1450ff. The book is available online at:  www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm
The book may be a more efficient and effective way for you to understand what I have tried to summarize without much success.
Best wishes in your efforts' success.