Rs - chapter 1 - sources of wisdom and authority

What is the bible

1. Christianity’s sacred text

2. Beliefs about god and gods purpose for humanity

3. Earliest writings - first Millenium, latest writings - second century

4. 2 parts (canon of the bible) - old and New Testament

What is the Old Testament

1. Jewish scriptures in fixed form by first century bce

2. Contains wide variety of literature from prose to poetry

3. 4 main parts; 1) Torah= first 5 books, law codes and rules as well as the origin of the Jews with the creation of the universe to that death of Moses

2) historical writing= which tell the story of the Jews from the conquest of Canaan and ending in the history of Persian rule in the fifth century bce Contains wide

3) prophetic books= insights into gods purpose for Israel’s

4) wisdom literature= examination of suffering and innocent, commentary on life, erotic love poems ( covers a wide range of writings and themes)

What is the New Testament

1. Contains writings from Christian’s in the first century and reached its fixed phase by the 4th century ce

2. 4 main parts; 1) gospels = contains the good news about Jesus accounting his ministry passion (suffering and death) and resurrection

2) acts of the apostles = history of the early church

3) epistles = letters written to mainly Christian communities to give guidance on lifestyle and beliefs

4) book of revelations = describes the last judgment with graphic imagery

What is evangelical view on the authority of the bible

1. Fundamentalist view, believing the bible is the infallible word of god; it contains no mistakes of any kind —> ‘god breathed’ - Timothy

2. The authors were directly inspired by god

3. Apparent contradictions are due to limitations of human intellect so are thus not real contradictions

4. 2 approaches to the idea of genesis and creation;

1) young earth creationists- literalist understanding believing the earth was made in 6 literal days 6000 years ago with every species as a separate act of creation (no evolution)

• science is rejected as products stemming from mistakes due to our limitations of human intellect —> some say fossils were planted by god to test faith

2) old earth creationists - not literalist believing the earth was created in six stages but 13.8 billion years ago in account with science

• acceptance with limits of Darwin’s theory of evolution but humans are seen as a special creation

• Genesis and science are compatible —> the six stages of evolution the the cosmos matches with genesis’ account of 6 days

What is the catholic view on the authority of the bible

1. The bible was inspired by god but written by humans

2. They distinguish between inerrant matters, such as salvation and faith, and accounts which are understood within the time and culture of the writer and thus more symbolic

3. Genesis 1 - not intended as a factual or scientific account but was used to show the idea of god as the all powerful creator and us as the creation and the nature of humanity

4. Guidance in interpreting the bible - tradition and the magisterium as well as conscience and reason

What’s the magisterium

• Teaching authority of the pope and bishops who preserve the interpret the bible traditions ensuring correct interpretations of bible scriptures - used by the Catholic Church with the same authority as the bible

What is the neo-orthodox view on the authority of the bible

1. Barth - not the word of god but contains the word of god, it is the way we experience god realising our need for his forgiveness and mercy

2. Not inerrant (without error) with regard to science, history and religion as the writers were products of there with limited intellects

What is the liberal view on the authority of the bible

1. Some believe - those who wrote the bible were guided by god

2. Others believe - human document entirely containing what people believed about god and his purpose for humanity

3. Accounts are products of time and culture

4. It’s not inspired but inspiring to individuals; mathew 26:52 - those who draw the sword will die by the sword- pacifist approach to war

5. Sea of faith network - liberal Christian group believing faith human creation so the bible has no authority other then what is given to it by individuals

What are the Protestant views on the authority of the church and bible

1. Martín Luther -

• Sola scriptura(scripture alone): the bible is the only source of religious authority and gives us the standard of measurement for deciding on the truth of church teachings

• Without the bible there would be no church

• Each believer interprets the bible individually

• His belief of salvation coming from faith (not the church) indicates that all Christian’s have equal access to god through prayer - this belief is known as ‘the priesthood of all believers’ and comes from the New Testament

2. The baptist church -

• evangelical combining sola scriptura approach with the use by the individuals conscience and reason

• They reject authority of the church as an institution (for stuff like religious traditions etc,) and believe there is no central authority beyond scripture which is how all teachings should be assessed

What are the catholic views on the authority of the church and bible

1. The bible is divinely inspired and thus holds great authority —> 2 Timothy ‘all scripture is inspired by god’

2. The bible and church are equally authoritative

3. The church interprets the bible via the magisterium - they have the final authority in interpreting scripture. Catholics believe Jesus gave authority to the church through Peter and the apostles continuing through the apostolic succession

4. The pope and bishops have teaching authority

What is the authority of Jesus as god

• Jesus’ authority as god is seen via his miracles, teachings and his title self given (messiah) —> ‘you granted him authority over all people’ - John 17

1. Teachings - Jesus taught with authority compared to with how churches taught with instructions. This caused awe in believers and those who heard him, and that his authority came from god

2. Healing - Jesus would only need to speak one word for healing and that one word was enough to strike obedience and show his unique authority - centurion servant healed doe to Roman centurions faith

3. Son of god - ‘no one knows the farther except the son’ - Matthew, Indicates Jesus’ divine authority ( baptism gods voice was heard ) - shows his importance and authority

4. Son of man - referred to himself. ‘son on man has authority on earth to forgive sins ’ - mark 2:10. Used it to describe his role as a suffering servant spoken in the old testament and his good-given authority in the present and future

What is the authority of Jesus as man

1. Adoptionism - Jesús wasn’t divine by nature but adopted by god at his baptism

2. Unitarianism - deist (god created the world but has no further connection with it), Jesus is thus seen as a spiritual leader containing potential useful insights but with no divine authority

3. Liberal Christian view - seen as a great moral teacher (sermon on the mount Mathew 5-7) as shown via his on love , justice and compassion rather than divine status

• hick - Jesus seen as an example of gods consciousness

• Miracles, virgin birth and resurrection are symbolic

• His authority comes from his wisdom and ethical teachings

Christian responses to the teachings of Jesus