Third, from parity of nature.
Third, from parity of nature.
§ 520. (III) From parity of nature. “The Hebrews had authentic Scripture in their language. The Greeks also had authentic Scripture in their language, that is, the Old Testament from the Septuagint translation, as well as the first sources of the New Testament. It is reasonable, then, that the Latin Church, where Peter’s throne is and in which the Christian faith will endure forever, should have authentic Scripture in its own language.”
We respond. (1) By the force of this argument, any church that uses a language other than Hebrew or Greek ought to have an authentic version. (2) The Greek Church does not consider the books of the Old Testament in Greek as authentic. (3) Let us grant that the Latins were equipped with the spirit of prophecy such as the prophets and apostles once were; the former preached and wrote in Hebrew but the latter were pleased to write in Greek for the reason we explained in its own place. (4) On the other hand, where is the Latin Church today? The Roman Church is not Latin but Italian. (5) If the Latin Church is not Church without having some authentic version of Scripture in its own language, then before the Council of Trent, which canonized the Latin version, the Latin Church was not Church. (6) They are claiming without proof that the throne of Peter is at Rome and that the Christian faith will endure in it forever. Where the doctrine of Peter echoes without corruption, there is Peter’s throne.