On the Clarity of Holy Scripture
A reply to something written in a combox last month (I lost interest in blogging for a bit there): Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)
"Augustinian Successor" wrote:
Dan, I assume that you do not believe the external clarity of Scripture, even as those within the LCMS who are the SSP-types dob not believe in the external clarity of Scripture, never mind the "external clarity" of the Lutheran Confessions!
My question is rather this: Why place implicit trust in the pope and Magisterium when they can't even save you in the first place??? Infallible authority and salvation belong together, don't they?
I think the question about the external clarity of Scripture doesn't really get to the heart of the issue. Much of Scripture is clear, but somethings are not clear on account of man's ignorance or unbelief/misbelief. The fault is not with Scripture but the reader. It is the latter that makes the magistarium necessary and beneficial. In addition, Jesus established a magistarium, without which we wouldn't have the New Testament.
One can talk about the external clarity of Scripture all day long, but at the end of that day you have thousands of little protestant enclaves teaching contradictory things all based on the "clear words of Scripture."
While many talk of the sole authority of the Bible, the reality is that they are interpreting that Bible according to their own "succession" of teachers, whether it be Calvin or Luther or Pastor Bob at the AOG Church.
As a Catholic, the Scriptures have become more clear to me, not less. I never did, and never could have, understood the internal logic of the book of Romans, for instance, as a Lutheran. Galatians as well. You can't understand Gal. 2:16 apart from St. Paul's argument which includes 5:16 and 21.
When it comes to the doctrine of Justification, I agree with St. Augustine. I take it you don't. I also agree with Augustine on authority in the Church. Clearly you question his teaching. I wonder: In what sense you are his successor?
Finally, I do not trust in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ to save me. No one else died for my sins. In fact, not even the Bible died on the cross for me. The incarnate Word did that. I trust the Bible not to be my savior, but to reveal my Savior. The pope amd magisterium function in very much the same way.
