True or False: Everything is Answered in the Bible?

The following notes are from a Catholic apologetics class:

• It’s recommended for anyone who’s going to begin studying the Bible that they start with the first four Gospels.
• Book used in the class: “The Answer is in Scripture.” The teacher explained that the example and motivation for this title is when Satan tempts Jesus in the dessert. Satan tries to act like a know-it-all by using Scripture to tempt Jesus, and Jesus responds in the same way.

Piedrecita Reply:

Bible Study Requires Historical Knowledge

Beginning to study the Bible and starting with the first four Gospels, in keeping with this recommendation, is convincing proof that our instructors in Catholicism are blind and ignorant when it comes to religious material.

This message truly sets up students to walk blindly in matters that require real study and apologetic understanding.

In the first place, the Bible was composed by different authors. It has different books, different eras, and the grand majority of the books, whether from the Old Testament or the New Testament, are written by unnamed authors. And if that weren’t enough, Jesus Christ didn’t even write any of the books.

The Bible Wasn’t Written for Our Time

In order to be able to teach any of the books from the Bible, we must know the author, his culture, his style of writing, and understand to whom he is addressing that particular book or letter to, since the books were not geared towards any other culture in the world, except to only a certain people, race, or culture. And as such, in any of the books, there are literary genres and expressions which are very different from ours. Therefore, if we wish to understand the message correctly, studying the books, even the Gospels, requires understanding the literary genres and culture of that particular people, which is the same culture that our Lord Jesus Christ belongs or belonged to.

It would be much more advisable to begin reading the Gospels, starting first with an explanation of their origins and how to interpret them in accordance to Church Canon or Christ’s teachings. Of course, it’s necessary to obtain teachings regarding Biblical introduction or, in general, Biblical studies.

Moreover, there exists a special gift from the Holy Spirit that must be had by whoever wishes to accurately interpret the Scriptures without error, so as not to harm the Church and humanity by giving false teachings.

We Mustn’t Give Our Own Interpretations

Otherwise, we’ll end up discovering our own interpretations and personal reflections that the Biblical chapters and verses are not really indicating with their apocalyptic phrasing and expressions, which are characteristic of this Semitic language. In other words, reading and studying the Bible in our own way, lends itself to very mistaken personal interpretations and may even lead us into starting our own religion. And that’s how we end up with people forming their own religions and separating themselves from the Only Church that Christ Instituted.

“Everything’s Answered in the Bible” is a Falsehood

Now as to address this very common response, that is, since the whole world usually guarantees that everything’s written in the Bible: It’s false, of course, to think that the Bible has addressed all questions and that everything has been written in the Bible.

It would be super interesting if the Bible could tell me whether tomorrow I’ll be the next Super Lotto winner, or it would even be interesting if the Bible could tell me whether I’ll be passing my physics exam at the University next month. How wonderful that would be, but unfortunately all of this has to do with religious ignorance.

Jesus Responds to Satan with Scripture

To understand the instance where Jesus is tempted in the dessert before beginning his ministry and in which Satan tries to be a know-it-all using Scripture and vice versa, requires an understanding of Jesus’ plan and the reason as to why Satan attacks Him using biblical verses.

Nonetheless, this is not a good argument to base ourselves on Scripture to say that everything is in the Bible or that we should prepare ourselves like Jesus and attack with Biblical versus. We should understand that in those days, it so happened that Satan put Jesus to the test with Scripture, whereby Jesus had to respond using the same Scripture. Moreover, however, we’ve forgotten the many times in which Satan has wanted to publicly reveal Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, yet Christ, in those situations, has silenced him, and that wasn’t written in the Old Testament.

Additionally, in the Gospel of St. John, the Jews high-handedly call him a Samaritan in order to disparage him, which is why He himself gives proof of how everything isn’t in the Scriptures of the Old Testament.

It’s a Bad Habit to Say Everything’s Answered in Scripture

It’s a very bad habit to say that everything is written about in Scripture because this lends itself to false interpretations and to believe in different creeds or religions that people may develop.

One of the biggest mistakes in Catholicism is that of always focusing on the good points while overlooking the bad ones, such that we end up right back where we started, that is, making the same mistakes. After all, it’s always more enjoyable to see the positive side of things instead of the negative.

Jesus assures us that the good Judge starts with his own home, and if we don’t start by correcting ourselves, then we may be likened to the blind who all fall into the same pit. And evidently, this is what’s happening in the Church.

We recommend reading our book, A Momentous Criticism of Catholicism: Century XXI
Thank you and blessings for all.

Not everything is written in the Bible. The Bible only contains that which God has wanted for our salvation

Attentively,
Jesé Retoño
Editorial Piedrecita.
Translation by León Jesuita.

Author: Jesé Retoño - An Apocalyptic Wolf

Jesé is a Retoño (plant shoot). From birth he was marked by the Most High. The two stars that descended from the horizon have stayed in the soul and roots of the Retoño, and they have marked him with an indelible character. But the Kingdom of the Heavens suffers violence and the violent seize it. Jesé is a predatory Wolf. By morning he devours his prey, and by evening, he scatters remains. The son of man speaks to the multitudes; Jesè shreds and scatters everything in his way. Like a Wolf, he becomes enraged and gathers everything for his owner…Read More »

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