Bellarmine, in book 3, chapters 4 and 5 of his work on the Word of God in De Controversiis, gives a number of arguments from Scripture against us, which will be answered here.
The first is from Exodus 18 (especially verses 13, 16, and 26), which says that when there was a dispute among the Israelites regarding the law, they would go to Moses in order for it to be resolved. Bellarmine says that this text proves that “we would understand that there should be one common tribunal from which all should seek interpretation of the divine law, and in which all would simply acquiesce.”
Response:
[1]. The “chair of Moses”, so to speak, is not a type of the papal chair. Moses was a prophet with extraordinary gifts and received immediate revelation from God. This is not the case with the bishop of Rome.
[2]. Moses did not have successors in his office, as Aaron did in his priesthood.
[3]. “Besides, if there be any force in the Jesuit's comparison, why, as Moses was superior to Aaron, because the latter was the ordinary priest, and Moses the extraordinary, were not also the other apostles superior to Peter; since he was the ordinary pastor, and they the extraordinary ?” (Whitaker)
The second text that Bellarmine argues from is Deuteronomy 17:8-13, which says “If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose. And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the Lord will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.” (ESV)
I answer:
[1]. This act of going to the judge is only granted to a few specific situations, not universally. Here it is specifically concerning homicide and legal rights, or anything which they find too difficult to resolve themselves.
[2]. In verse 11, it should be translated along the lines of “whatever they teach you according to the law” (עַל־פִּ֨י הַתֹּורָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹור֗וּךָ), which is in the Masoretic Text, at least in Leningrad Codex (B19A), which is a chief representative of the MT. This is indeed how the KJV, NKJV, Berean Bible, NLT, and the NASB translate it, and rightly so. The decision of the priest is followed thus in terms of whether or not it agrees with the law.
Bellarmine objects to this by saying that “according to the law” is a promise or assertion, not a condition in the sentence. He says that if it were conditional, the inquiring party would be left with more doubts than before and that the priest would not truly be a judge, since it implies the people could judge it for themselves.
I respond to this by noting that the conditional interpretation of the sentence “according to the law” is necessary, since if Bellarmine’s interpretation is correct, it would seem to imply that if the priest did not teach them according to the law, they would still be required to follow what he says, which is blasphemous and I don’t think any Romanist would be willing to grant such an idea. However this would not leave men in doubt, considering that the priest possessed great authority among the people of Israel.
[3]. The priests here are joined with judges in civil matters (homicide, legal rights, etc.). If the priests are infallible in their decrees, which is the opinion of Bellarmine, then also the judges are infallible in their civil decrees, something which is manifestly false, as their have been many wicked rules over Israel (and Judah, after the division between the two kingdoms) throughout their history recorded in Scripture.
The third text that Bellarmine uses is Ecclesiastes 12:11 - “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.”
I respond: Bellarmine is in error when he says that the “one Shepherd” here is referring to the Pope. He clearly disagrees with St. Jerome (whom Bellarmine often abuses to his cause) on the matter, who says “That is, many are allowed to teach, but there is only one originator of the teachings, who is God” (Commentary on Ecclesiastes).
Bellarmine’s next argument is from Haggai 2:11 - “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law.”
We have no problem with people coming to the ministers, bishops, and elders to inquire concerning Scripture. It is part of the minister’s duty to teach the people of God. However, if Bellarmine wishes use this text in his favor, it will work against him since the text speaks of “priests” in the plural not one singular priest, i.e. the pope, as the Romanists might have it.
The next text he uses against us is Malachi 2:7 - “For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”
I respond that this is speaking of what the priest ought to do, not what he will do, since it says “a priest should guard knowledge”. Bellarmine leaves out the next verse which says “But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts,”. Similarly, Hosea 5:1 refers to the priests as “snares”.
The final text used by Bellarmine is 2 Chronicles 19:10-11 - “whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers.”
I respond that given the office of interpreting in no way guarantees that one will always be correct in such decrees concerning “the matters of the Lord”.
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