Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI will be publishing a book in March. It is a scholarly and spiritual work on the life of Jesus, and it is written in defense of the Jesus presented in Scripture.
In the preface, signed “Joseph Ratzinger — Benedict XVI,” the pope wrote that for decades he had noticed a growing scholarly distinction between the “historical Jesus” and the “Christ of faith,” a distinction that many Christians now accept as accurate.But, he wrote, if the human Jesus was totally different from the Jesus depicted in the Gospels and proclaimed by the church, what does it mean to have faith in him?
“I trust the gospels,” the pope wrote.
I think this is great. I hoped for some time that someone would publish a book along these lines that had the name recoginition factor going for him. Although regular readers know that I seldom defend Roman Catholic practices and doctrine, I am certainly looking forward to an English translation of this book and I will likely purchase a copy. Or ask for one for Christmas.
I trust the gospels, too. The fact that Christians accept a difference between Jesus of history and Jesus of Scripture is evidence to me that Satan has one foot in the door of the church already. The Bible is inerrant in all its details–including historical ones. When we start thinking that the Bible is inaccurate in history, the seed is planted to create doubt in other areas, too. Soon, we’re left with no basis for our faith, and that is bad news.
What I think is even greater about the book is that the Pope invites critique and discussion. This man holds the power to publish this book as an encyclical or define its elements as a doctrine of Catholic faith through papal infallibility. However, he chooses not to do that.
In a Nov. 21 statement, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said, “The pope says clearly, with his usual simplicity and humility, that this is not a ‘magisterial act,’ but a fruit of his personal research and, as such, can be freely discussed and critiqued.
Kudos to you, Pope Benedict. I will pray for you as you journey to Turkey today. A journey into a primarily Islamic country after the remarks in September could be very dangerous.
Get the story on Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration here.
