The Bible | Catholic Central

Catholic Central

10 Nov 201708:06

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging Catholic Central discussion, hosts Libby and Kai explore the significance of the Bible for Catholics. They clarify misconceptions about Catholic Bible reading habits, delve into the inclusion of the Apocrypha, and explain the canon's formation through historical councils. The conversation highlights the Bible's role as a divinely inspired, living text that offers personal connection and guidance through various literary forms. They emphasize the importance of understanding the Bible's context and the 'Law of Love' for interpreting its teachings, ultimately framing the Bible as a love story revealing God's relationship with humanity.

Takeaways

📚 The Bible is a compilation of 73 books in the Catholic version, including the 66 books of the Protestant version plus 7 additional books known as the Apocrypha.
🔍 Catholics believe that the Bible, including the Apocrypha, is divinely inspired and part of the canon of Scripture, which is a recognized set of sacred texts.
🏛 The canon of Scripture was established through councils, notably the Council of Rome in 382, under the authority of Pope Damasus.
🌟 The Bible is considered a living text for Catholics, offering a personal connection to God every time it is read.
📖 The Bible is written in various languages, including ancient Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Aramaic, and requires understanding of the historical and cultural context.
🤝 God inspired the human authors of the Bible to write about Him, akin to a love story or a marriage contract, as depicted in Exodus chapter 6.
📝 The Bible contains various literary forms, including narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, fable, allegory, parables, romance, and apocalyptic literature.
🧐 Understanding the different literary styles in the Bible can help in discussions about the Bible and science, as not all parts of the Bible are meant to be taken literally.
🕊️ The Law of Love, as stated by St. Augustine, dictates that no interpretation of Scripture should contradict the love of God and the love of neighbor.
👁️ Catholics view both the Old and New Testaments through the lens of Jesus Christ, recognizing His presence and teachings throughout both parts of the Bible.
🙏 The Bible's ultimate purpose is to reveal the love story of God with humanity, explaining our origins, destiny, and the path to salvation.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in the Catholic Central video?
-The main topic of discussion is the Catholic perspective on the Bible, its contents, and the beliefs surrounding it.
How many books are in the Catholic Bible according to the transcript?
-The Catholic Bible is made up of 73 books, which includes seven additional books known as the Apocrypha that are not found in the Protestant Bible.
What is the term 'canon of Scripture' referring to in the context of the video?
-The 'canon of Scripture' refers to the recognized set of sacred books that the Church believes are divinely inspired, forming the Old and New Testaments.
Why do Catholics believe the Bible is important today?
-Catholics believe the Bible is important today because it is a living text that connects them to God in a personal way every time they read it, speaking to their current situation.
What is the significance of the Council of Rome in 382 in the context of the Bible?
-The Council of Rome in 382 was significant because it was when the canon of Scripture, which includes the Old and New Testaments, was essentially settled under the authority of Pope Damasus.
Why do some people believe the Bible contains the 'secret Illuminati Gospels' and other fantastical elements?
-This belief is a misconception, as the video clarifies that the additional seven books in the Catholic Bible, known as the Apocrypha, do not contain such elements but are considered divinely inspired.
What does it mean to say that the Bible is a 'complicated book'?
-The Bible is considered complicated because it was written over different centuries by various authors, in different languages and cultural contexts, which requires a deep understanding of these backgrounds to interpret correctly.
What is the 'Law of Love' as mentioned by St. Augustine in the video?
-The 'Law of Love', as stated by St. Augustine, is the principle that no interpretation of Scripture should contradict the love of God and the love of neighbor, as the Bible is fundamentally a love story.
How do Catholics view the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?
-Catholics view the Old and New Testaments as equally important, reading the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus Christ, recognizing that Jesus and God the Father are one.
What is the role of different literary forms in the Bible according to the video?
-Different literary forms in the Bible, such as narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, fable, allegory, parables, romance, and apocalyptic, serve to reveal God to humankind through the personalities and styles of the human authors.
How should one approach the Bible if they encounter difficult or multiple interpretations?
-If one encounters difficult or multiple interpretations of the Bible, they should always return to the Law of Love and remember that all Scripture points to the truth and Jesus Christ.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Understanding the Catholic Bible

Libby and Kai from Catholic Central introduce a discussion about the Bible, highlighting the differences between Catholic and Protestant Bibles, particularly the inclusion of the Apocrypha in the Catholic version. They explain the concept of the 'canon of Scripture,' which refers to the set of books recognized as divinely inspired by the Church. The video also touches on the historical process of determining the canon, mentioning the Council of Rome in 382 and the role of early Church councils in shaping the Bible's content. The importance of the Bible to Catholics as a living text that offers a personal connection to God is emphasized, as well as the need to interpret it within its historical and cultural context.

05:00

🌟 Literary Forms and Interpretations of the Bible

In this segment, Libby and Kai delve into the various literary forms present in the Bible, such as narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, fable, allegory, parables, romance, and apocalyptic literature. They discuss how these forms are used by God to reveal Himself to humanity through human authors, each with their unique personality. The conversation also addresses the topic of biblical interpretation in relation to science, explaining that not all biblical stories should be taken literally. They introduce the concept of 'Jesus goggles,' which means reading the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus Christ, finding parallels and deeper meanings. The importance of the Law of Love, as stated by St. Augustine, is highlighted as a guiding principle for biblical interpretation, emphasizing that the Bible is fundamentally a love story about God's relationship with humanity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Bible

The Bible is a collection of sacred texts and scriptures central to Christianity, consisting of the Old and New Testaments. It is considered the inspired word of God by Christians and is the main theme of the video. The video discusses the Catholic perspective on the Bible, including the number of books it contains and its importance in connecting believers to God.

💡Catholic

Catholic refers to a follower of the Catholic Church, which is one of the largest branches of Christianity. In the video, the term is used to describe the specific Christian denomination that the hosts, Libby and Kai, represent, and their beliefs and practices concerning the Bible.

💡Canon of Scripture

The canon of Scripture refers to the set of books recognized by a religious community as divinely inspired and authoritative. In the context of the video, it explains how the Catholic Church determined which books to include in the Bible, emphasizing the role of councils and the preference for early and widely used documents.

💡Apocrypha

The Apocrypha refers to a group of seven books included in the Catholic Bible but not in most Protestant Bibles. The video uses humor to describe these books, but ultimately clarifies that Catholics believe they are divinely inspired and part of the canon.

💡Divinely Inspired

Divinely inspired refers to the belief that a text or piece of writing was guided by God. In the video, this concept is used to describe the Catholic belief that the authors of the Bible were inspired by God, making the writings special, holy, and sacred.

💡Council of Rome

The Council of Rome was an ecclesiastical gathering in 382 AD that played a significant role in settling the canon of Scripture for the Catholic Church. The video mentions this council as the event where the Old and New Testaments were essentially finalized.

💡Interpretation

Interpretation in the context of the video refers to the process of understanding and explaining the meaning of the Bible's texts. The hosts discuss the importance of considering the historical and cultural context of the authors, as well as the various literary forms present in the Bible.

💡Literary Forms

Literary forms are the different types of writing styles or genres found in the Bible, such as narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, and more. The video uses the game 'Categories' to highlight these forms and how they contribute to the overall message of the Bible.

💡Law of Love

The Law of Love, as stated by St. Augustine, is the principle that no interpretation of Scripture should contradict the love of God and the love of neighbor. The video presents this as a guiding principle for understanding and interpreting the Bible, emphasizing the centrality of love in Christian teachings.

💡Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible, which contains the sacred scriptures of Judaism. In the video, it is discussed in relation to how Catholics read it through the lens of Jesus Christ, finding connections and prophecies that point to the New Testament.

💡New Testament

The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible, containing the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian Church. The video mentions it in the context of the Catholic belief that Jesus is present in both the Old and New Testaments, and that the Bible points to Jesus Christ as the central figure.

Highlights

Libby and Kai discuss the importance of the Bible in Catholicism and the differences between Catholic and Protestant Bibles.

Kai reveals that some Catholics do not read or believe in the Bible, contrary to Libby's assertion that Catholics do read it.

The Bible consists of 73 books in the Catholic version and 66 in the Protestant version due to the inclusion of the Apocrypha.

The Apocrypha contains seven additional books that are considered divinely inspired by Catholics but not by Protestants.

Libby clarifies that the seven additional books are not secret Illuminati Gospels but are part of the Catholic canon of Scripture.

The concept of the canon of Scripture is introduced as a recognized set of sacred books or a religious order.

Catholics believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, written by humans but divinely guided.

The process of determining the canon of Scripture involved councils and the selection of the earliest and most widely used documents.

The Council of Rome in 382 played a significant role in finalizing the canon of Scripture.

The Bible is described as a living text that offers a new and personal connection to God each time it is read.

Kai humorously interprets a literal reading of the Bible, highlighting the importance of understanding its metaphorical language.

The Bible is a complex text written in various languages and dialects, requiring a deep understanding of its cultural context.

Interpreting the Bible requires considering the historical and cultural context of its authors.

God's inspiration for the Bible is likened to a love letter, sharing His nature and the relationship He desires with humanity.

The Bible contains various literary forms, including narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, fable, allegory, parables, romance, and apocalyptic.

Understanding the different literary styles in the Bible can help in discussions about the Bible and science.

Libby explains that not all parts of the Bible are meant to be taken literally, such as the allegorical or mythological sections.

The Law of Love, as stated by St. Augustine, ensures that interpretations of Scripture do not contradict the love of God and neighbor.

The Bible is seen as a love story, revealing God's nature, humanity's purpose, and the path to salvation.

The program concludes with the hosts emphasizing the Bible's role in guiding and inspiring readers to live according to its teachings.