“Ask a Priest: Does the Bible Contradict Itself?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: Does the Catholic Church teach that the Bible contradicts itself? Do you believe that the Church’s teachings contradict the Bible? – H.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: You raise very good questions. Let me try to answer the second question first.

The Church believes that Revelation comes down to us in Scripture and Tradition. Tradition, with a capital T, is the oral transmission of Christ’s teaching that was passed down through the apostles. “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of God,” says Dei Verbum, the Church’s dogmatic constitution on divine Revelation.

Before the New Testament was written, it was Tradition that passed along Jesus’ teaching. On Pentecost morning, for instance, when Peter preached and saw the baptism of 3,000 people, he didn’t hand out copies of the New Testament. That polished collection of texts wouldn’t exist as such for several hundred years. Rather, Peter preached from Tradition — what he had heard from Jesus.

The Church relies on Tradition to help her interpret the Bible correctly. The Bible, like any text, needs to be interpreted. It is the correct interpretation of Scripture that forms a basis for Church teaching.

So, there is a kind of chicken-and-egg answer here. Church teaching doesn’t contradict the Bible because Church teaching by nature involves the correct interpretation of Scripture.

By now you might have figured out the answer to the first question: No, the Bible doesn’t contradict itself if it is interpreted correctly.

A common misconception about the Bible is that it is a handbook of moral dos and don’ts. It is much more complex than that. It is a collection of books that include the good, the bad and the ugly. And while on the surface the Bible contains a range of views and perspectives that seem to differ wildly at times, the God who inspired the whole of Scripture is one and the same deity.

Suffice it to say that the Bible is a work that needs to be interpreted well. And who decides whether an interpretation of Scripture is correct? The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit.

For more reading see “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church.” I hope some of this helps.

Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type in your question or send an email to [email protected] and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

Have a question?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time.

Ask A Catholic Priest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use.  You can ask about anything: liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events. Our goal is to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

Need an answer?

Be in the know

Sign up to receive the latest questions and answers by email biweekly.

Have a Question about the Faith? Get the answer here!

Scroll to Top

Ask a Priest a Question

Please note:

Questions regarding details of abuse of minors or vulnerable adults (including pornography) could be the subject of a mandated report to civil authorities. Mandated reporters are persons identified by law who have an obligation to report suspected child abuse and neglect. 

Sign Up to Receive Ask A Priest

* indicates required

Looking for another country?

RC Near You

News & Resources

News & Resources

The Regnum Christi Mission

The Regnum Christi Identity

Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!