Who Has the Authority to Interpret Scripture/the Bible? (feat. Fr. Dempsey Rosales-Acosta)

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. That being said, not everyone interprets scripture the same way, and not every verse is easily understood. So, then, if the text of the Bible really means any one thing… who gets to decide?

Today, Fr. Dempsey has the run down on exactly who has the authority to interpret scripture (and how Jesus vested that authority himself).

Fr. Dempsey Acosta is an adjunct professor of Biblical Theology and holds the Miller Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. After earning degrees in Philosophy and Education from the Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta en Maracaibo, Venezuela, he obtained a Bachelor of Theology (S.T.B.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, a degree in Biblical Sciences and Biblical Languages (S.S.L.) from the Pontifical Biblicum Institute in Rome, and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology: Biblical Studies (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Since 2008, Fr. Dempsey has been a peritus (theological advisor) and consultant of the American Bible Society in the Presidential Liaison and Roman Catholic Ministry Department. He has also served as an expert consultant for Biblical translations with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Ascension was blessed to collaborate with Fr. Dempsey on the year-long podcast La Biblia en un Año (con Fray Sergio Serrano, OP.