Is it in the Bible?

Certain doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church are attacked by the Protestants and their favorite line as always is – “is it in the Bible?” The following is an answer to this question by Rev. R. J. Griffin

Bible, Not The Sole Criterion of Truth.

Does not the Bible contain all that Christ did and taught? No, certainly not. Read the last verse of St. John’s Gospel: “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written” (John xxi.25) So it is clear from the Gospels themselves that they only contain parts of what Jesus taught. Where then can we learn the truth? Where can we learn ALL Christ’s teachings? We can learn the truth and all Christ’s teachings from the Church which Christ made, namely, the Catholic Church. Remember the following points: a.) Christ never ordered anyone to write the Bible. b.) Christ Himself never wrote anything. c.) Christ never ordered anyone to learn his religion from the Bible. d.) He sometimes referred to the old testament to prove to the Jews that He was the Messiah, and to explain the law of Moses, (John v. 39) e.) There were no printing presses until 1400 years after Christ died, and so it was impossible for many people to have Bibles. They were few because they had to be written by hand. f.) Many people did not know how to read in the time of Christ, and later.(Hence, Our Lord wouldn’t have made it mandatory that Christians should believe ONLY in the written word).

Now I will ask you a question. If Christ had wanted people to learn His religion from the Bible, why did He found a Church to teach it? Surely if He had wanted all people to learn his religion from the Bible He would not have made us wait 1400 years for the printing press.

This briefly explains the absurdity of believing ONLY in the bible. If we are to hold such a view that the bible is the sole criterion of truth, the ONLY true guide to heaven, we will end up damning the early Christians of the first 300 years after the death of Christ. For in those times, the bible never existed yet their faith was so strong.

The Oral Tradition(communicated through the teaching magisterium of the Church) and the Bible is our source of truth.

Kyrie Eleison.