which are fundamental for our salvation and also give a popular description
of the origin of the human race and the Chosen People.”
15
There is no doubt that Christ Himself accepted the book of Genesis as
historical and true. That He came as Redeemer shows that He was aware of
the original sin of Adam. This is reinforced by His teaching on marriage
and divorce: “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male
and female’.” (St. Mark 10:6). Finally, His rebuking of Capharnaum for its
faithlessness and His comparison of it with Sodom and Gomorrah
illustrates that He believed the latter two were actual cities (St. Matt. 11:23-
24).
Fourth objection: “Many Catholic writers and speakers say that the
Gospels were not written by the Apostles and Evangelists. What more
proof do I need that the Catholic Church is no longer truly
Christian?”
Unfortunately, many Catholics and non-Catholics have probably read and
heard such statements. Again, however, one must listen to the voice of the
Magisterium to know the Church’s authentic position concerning the
Gospels. The following is a list of pronouncements issued by the Pontifical
Biblical Commission (PBC) upholding the traditional belief that all four
Gospels were written by Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John respectively:
(i)
On the Author and the Historical Truth of the Fourth Gospel
(1907).
(ii)
On the Author, Date of Composition, and Historical Truth of
the Gospel According to St. Matthew (1911).
(iii)
On the Author, Date of Composition, and Historical Truth of
the Gospels According to St. Mark and St. Luke (1912).
15
Humani Generis, 1950.
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