Bill O'Reilly, in an interview with CBS, claims that the Holy Spirit inspired his book entitled 'Killing Jesus" even as he attempts to "correct the Gospels. When confronted with such an arrogant approach to God's Word, the Fathers of the Church responded in no uncertain terms:
"They have not feared to lay hands upon the sacred Scriptures, saying that they have corrected them. Nor is it likely that they themselves are ignorant of how very bold their offense is. For either they do not believe that the sacred Scriptures were spoken by the Holy Spirit, in which case they are unbelievers, or if they regard themselves as being wiser than the Holy Spirit, what else can they be but demoniacs." (St. Hippolytus of Rome, "Fragment" in Eusebius, History of the Church, 5, ch. 28)
In his book, Bill advances the idea that Jesus could not have spoken the words, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" because the way he was hung on the cross would not have allowed enough air in His lungs to speak them audibly." Bill also refers to Jesus as "the guy" in his interview with CBS.
The problem with Bill's argument should be immediately obvious to even the most unastute who spend even a modicum of time with Sacred Scripture. In Matthew 27: 46-48, we read: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' And some of the bystanders hearing it said, 'This man is calling Elijah.' And one of them [because Jesus said "I thirst," Jn 19:28] at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink."
If Jesus couldn't speak audibly to pronounce the words "Father forgive them...," how could He speak these other words audibly? The words "I thirst" were among His last spoken words from the cross. Apparently Bill would reject the authoritative teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well:
"When the hour had come for him to fulfill the Father's plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth of his filial prayer, not only before he freely delivered himself up ("Abba . . . not my will, but yours."), but even in his last words on the Cross, where prayer and the gift of self are but one: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"; "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise", "Woman, behold your son" - "Behold your mother"; "I thirst."; "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"; "It is finished"; "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"until the "loud cry" as he expires, giving up his spirit." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2605).
Perhaps Bill should retitle his book "Killing Common Sense"?
3 comments:
Bill's grey matter has finally liquified
Why didn't Bill get crucified to prove his theory? Where's my spear?
Darling of self-styled "conservatives." Non-religious conservatiives are as pagan and full of crap as all secularists.
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