Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Perspicuous Magisterium vs. the Apostles

http://unapologetica.blogspot.com/2012/02/standing-on-straw-legs.html

"On the one hand, the RC magisterium is perspicuous. On the other hand, the Scriptures which the apostles wrote - yes, the same apostles who RCs argue constituted the RC magisterium in Acts 15 - are not perspicuous."

5 comments:

John Bugay said...

An old Roman Catholic friend actually told me that the Magisterium of today is actually more authoritative than the Apostles because they have the same authority, plus the benefit of all the centuries to reflect etc.

And I think that's the natural meaning of the Vatican II position on authority.

The Blogger Formerly Known As Lvka said...

Well.... since you brought up the topic...

Stephen Galanis said...

That video link isn't strictly speaking on topic. The dilemma is that the Magesterium is either necessarily perspicuous, or it isn't. In short, if the RC Magesterium is perspicuous, so is the Scripture the apostles wrote because it was written by those considered to constitute the RC Magesterium in Acts 15. That is what the argument turns on. And the position of 'Magesterium = necessarily perspicuous' is self-defeating. The position of 'Magesterium = not necessarily perspicuous' renders it irrelevant. Any reasonably fair minded person must admit Paul wrote his letters with the fullest intention of being understood by the recipients, and, according to RCs, he is part of the perspicuous and infallible Magesterium in Acts 15. So if anyone thinks Paul's letters require further interpretation, then being consistent, they likewise cannot know what the Magesterium now or at any other time really means.

Any attempt to maintain that the Scriptures written by the apostles, even Peter, are not perspicuous despite believing the very same people constituted the perspicuous Magesterium, might well lead to the conclusion: that this Scripture, as a teaching from the infallible Magesterium, was not ex cathedra. Any takers for that?

Anonymous said...

Rome binds the conscience with many teachings. But it has never followed the Apostolic example displayed by Paul.

But even if WE or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one We preach to you, let him be eternally condemned! Gal.1:8,NIV

They always deliver the second
"we", but never the first. To the best of my knowledge, no roman magisterial act has ever warned us about themselves before teaching on the gospel. Their authority is so great that no warning is needed.

James Swan said...

Any reasonably fair minded person must admit Paul wrote his letters with the fullest intention of being understood by the recipients, and, according to RCs, he is part of the perspicuous and infallible Magesterium in Acts 15.

Well said, thanks.