It is one of the most amazing facts of all time that when dealing with the Bible, one of the most important aspects is almost always ignored. This is: what is the reason why the Bible exists? What is it for...really?
This is not a trivial question. Although the Bible is one of the most revered, studied, and talked about books in the history of man, this question is universally ignored by almost all. Yet it should be the FIRST question asked and answered.
As a starting point, let me point out that ALL books have purposes. The Bible was produced by men, (although its ultimate author is God), for a reason. The numerous Catholics who died in the 4th century rather than hand over the "Scriptures," did so in the clear understanding that the Bible was a thing of great value. That which has no purpose and goal can NOT have a value. If anything (including any book) is designed for no end, then it is quite literally USE-less.
I trust that IF we agree that the Bible is of value (as the Church of Rome has always taught since the time of the Apostles) then it MUST, as with all other books, have a purpose and a goal:
FIRST, let me point out what the Bible can NOT be intended for. It can NOT be meant as a means of salvation. Jesus earns our salvation and not some book. Nor can the words of the Bible be necessary for salvation. This can NOT be...if we hold that the Bible records truth.
But as many (incredibly) foolish Protestants hold precisely this, namely that the Bible is necessary for salvation, allow me to show why this CANNOT be so.
The martyrdom of St. Stephen (ACTS 7:54-60) clearly records his salvation. Yet present at this murder was "Saul of Tarsus," who later became St. Paul (one of the earliest Catholic bishops). But at this time he had not written one word of any Epistle. Therefore, NONE of any of the Epistles is necessary for salvation...unless Jesus has two ways for man to get to heaven. And when St. Stephen was killed not a word of the Gospels were written. So, none of the New Testament is necessary for salvation. And without the New Testament the Bible itself does NOT exist...but only part of it.
So, the Bible itself shows us that it is NOT the means of salvation for mankind. But Catholics have died to preserve it. WHY? It can not be that the Bible is a "blue-print" for living. The Bible tells us that many of Christ's words were NOT recorded in it, and yet Christians are to live by every word which comes from God. The Bible certainly does contain lots of great insights, and profound truths, and inspirational words, and deep wisdom...but all of these things can be obtained from other sources and it still does not tell us what the Bible is for.
The Bible is intended for ONE primary purpose -- although it is useful for many others. It is designed to point the way to the True Church, for there (and there ALONE) is the means of salvation for man.
Jesus tells His followers that they are ONE flock hearing only ONE Shepherd (Jn 10:1). He solemnly states that His very flesh must be eaten (Jn 6:52). He pronounced that His followers would receive forgiveness of sins from the successors of the Apostles (Jn 20:20). He said that His followers would speak infallibly in His name and that to reject them would be to reject Himself (Lk 10:16). He said His Church would be founded on a man called Cephas (St. Peter -- the first Pope), who would have the authority to make decisions binding on ALL of His followers.
In other words, the Bible itself gives us the sure and certain signs that distinguish the true Church which is united in only "one Faith, one baptism, one Lord" (Eph 4:5).
If one can be saved following another "faith, or baptized into "another church," or have another authority structure, then this verse is meaningless and a fraud. But, as it is in the Bible, it must be of inspired value to us (2Tim 3:16).
And so must the other verses and passages which tell us what the true Christian must do and must believe. The true Christian must not be allowed to "pick and choose" what he wants to accept or reject. But this is exactly what the Protestant does by insisting that ANY man can accept or reject ANY thing based upon his own personal view of what he feels.
No, if the Bible has value, and it does, then it must teach what is true and false, and why the Christian MUST accept what is true and reject what is false. And as the Bible does not provide the means to salvation the value of this truth must be that it points the way for man to discover where and how he can be saved. And man can not be saved in any "church" which rejects the truths of the Bible (as all non-Catholic "churches" do). Nor can he be in truth if he attributes to the Bible a role that it itself gives to the Church, namely being the bulwark and pillar of truth (1Tim 3:15) meaning that it ( and not mere human opinion of what a book means) is what supports and determines what is true or false, right or wrong. And without this true sense of values, no one can live a good life, nor know the true faith, nor follow Jesus... and without this no one can be saved.
So the Bible's true value is in this: that it shows the right way to find truth, faith, and virtue.
Let me conclude with a simple analogy. If we need emergency medical care, we are grateful for a sign that tells us where the hospital is, but unless we enter the hospital itself and consult the doctor, our knowledge is useless.
Simply having knowledge of what is to be done is valueless if nothing is done. The Bible is a sign indicating the way to find salvation.
The Bible is important, but only if used correctly. It shows any intelligent person who seeks the truth which is the true Church. It shows you the road to Rome... but this fact should surprise no one, as it was we Catholics (namely St. Matthew, St. Mark, etc.) who "wrote the Book," in the first place. And we wrote it for this specific purpose. After all, who knows better than the publishers?
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