Sources of Authority

• What is the Bible in Christianity?

  Christian Holy Scripture made up of 66 books (Protestant) or 73 books (Catholic).
• Why is the Bible considered a key source of wisdom and authority for Christians?

  It is the sole source of authority for Protestants subscribing to the 'Sola Scriptura' doctrine.
• How is the Bible divided?

  The Bible is split into the Old Testament and New Testament.
• How many different writers contributed to the Bible?

  Around 40 different writers contributed to the Bible.
• What is the Old Testament?

  The Old Testament is the original Hebrew Bible, the sacred scripture of the Jewish people.
• What does the Old Testament contain?

  The Old Testament contains many laws, including the 10 Commandments, and prophetic books.
• What is the New Testament?

  The New Testament was written after the life and death of Jesus and includes the Four Gospels.
• What do the Four Gospels tell us?

  The Four Gospels tell the story of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection.
• What does the Book of Revelation describe?

  The Book of Revelation uses graphic imagery to describe the Last Judgement.
• What does St Paul teach about Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16?

  St Paul teaches that 'all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.'
• What does it mean that Scripture is seen as infallible and inerrant?

  It means that Scripture is considered to be without error and authoritative because it is from God Himself.
• What is the Evangelical Protestant view on the authority of the Bible?

  The Bible is the sole authority for Evangelical Protestants.
• What does 'Sola Scriptura' mean?

  'Sola Scriptura' means that Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith, practice, and ethics of the Christian.
• What was Martin Luther's criticism of the Catholic Church?

  Martin Luther criticized the Catholic Church for their 'unbiblical teachings'.
• What is a strength of the Evangelical Protestant view?

  A strength is that it treats the Bible as the sole source of authority, which is seen as coming from God.
• What is a weakness of the Evangelical Protestant view?

  A weakness is that the Bible itself never explicitly teaches 'sola scriptura'.
• Why might the Bible be seen as outdated?

  The Bible does not contain contemporary scientific understandings or address modern ethical issues.
• What is the cultural context of the Bible?

  The Bible was written by human authors in particular contexts, responding to culturally-relative circumstances.
• What does Karl Barth believe about the Bible?

  Karl Barth believed that the Bible is not the word of God but contains the word of God because it teaches about Jesus Christ.
• What is the role of the Magisterium in the Catholic Church?

  The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church, made up of Bishops, and is the guardian and interpreter of both the Bible and tradition.
• What does the encyclical Dei Verbum state about the Bible?

  Dei Verbum states that the Bible is not intended to convey precise historical information or scientific findings.
• What do the Sea of Faith Network believe about the authority of the Bible?

  The Sea of Faith Network claims that faith is a purely human creation, so the Bible has no authority other than what an individual might choose to give it.
• What is the difference between literalists and liberals in their understanding of Genesis?

  Literalists believe that God created the world in six literal days, while liberals see Genesis as a metaphorical story that teaches important truths.
• How do liberals reconcile science with the Genesis account?

  Liberal Christians believe that science provides the best explanation for how creation happened, while Genesis tells us why God is the creator.
• What does Arthur S Wood mean by "Let us not change the Word of God"?

  He means that scripture should not be changed to suit human agendas; instead, humans should be changed by scripture.
• What is Apostolic Succession?

  Apostolic Succession is the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops.
• Who was the first Bishop of Rome?

  St Peter was the first Bishop of Rome.
• Who is the current Bishop of Rome?

  The current Bishop of Rome is Pope Francis.
• What does the Catechism teach about salvation?

  The Catechism teaches that the fullness of the means of salvation has been deposited in the Church, which is required alongside scripture.
• What was the Protestant Reformation?

  The Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement in the 1500s that led to the creation of Protestantism.
• What did Martin Luther believe about salvation?

  Martin Luther believed that salvation is received as a free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, not earned through good deeds.
• What is Papal Infallibility?

  Papal Infallibility is the doctrine that the pope cannot be wrong when teaching in matters of faith or morals under certain conditions.
• What are the implications of Papal Infallibility for Catholics?

  Catholics take the Pope’s teachings seriously because of the doctrine of Papal Infallibility.
• What is Protestantism?

  Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that refers to religious groups that separated from the Roman Catholic Church due to differences in doctrine.
• Who was Martin Luther?

  Martin Luther was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation who challenged Catholic doctrines and was excommunicated by the Catholic Church.
• What doctrine did Martin Luther challenge that led to his excommunication?

  Luther challenged doctrines such as Indulgences.
• According to Martin Luther, how is salvation received?

  Salvation is received as the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, not earned through good deeds.
• What does the term 'sola scriptura' mean in Luther's beliefs?

  'Sola scriptura' means scripture alone is the authority in matters of faith.
• What is the 'priesthood of all believers' according to Luther?

  The 'priesthood of all believers' asserts that all believers can access God and have a relationship with Him without needing a priest to mediate.
• What are the implications of Papal Infallibility for Catholics?

  Catholics take the Pope’s teachings seriously, especially on ethical issues and Church doctrine.