Teaching with Authority: How to Cut Through Doctrinal Confusion & Understand What the Church Really Says

by Jimmy Akin

Teaching with Authority The Catholic Church claims to possess the fullness of Christian truth, but getting to the truth on some matters of doctrine or morals can be a challenge—with different popes, documents, and theologians treating them with different levels of authority and shades of meaning. This can lead not only to personal confusion but—increasingly in our day—conflict and disagreement among Catholics. Teaching with Authority is a unique, valuable, and long-overdue resource for all Catholics as well as those inquiring about the Faith. It will help deepen your understanding of what the Church teaches by showing you (maybe for the first time) how and why and where it does. Not another catechism or “Catholicism for beginners” book, Teaching with Authority isn’t about understanding specific teachings of the Faith (even the complicated and misunderstood ones) but rather about understanding Catholic teaching itself. Where does the Church’s teaching authority come from? How do we weigh dogmas versus practices, doctrines versus disciplines, conciliar declarations versus papal interviews? How do we sort through the many kinds of ecclesial documents and determine their relative authority and relevance? And, in an age when accusations of “heresy!” fly regularly across social media, with competing sides eager to paint the other as unfaithful to Catholic tradition or to the current pope, Jimmy also tackles the issues of incredulity, apostasy, and schism—showing you how to recognize different forms of dissent and respond to them fittingly.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Christianity, Spirituality, Nonfiction

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2018

About the author

Jimmy Akin (b. 1965) was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant pastor or seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith. Eventually, he was compelled in conscience to enter the Catholic Church, which he did in 1992. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is a Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to This Rock magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

Reviews

[Jason Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reference for distinction

I like how this book brought a lot of distinction on levels of doctrine in terms of the magisterial weight. This book could be considered indispensable on delicate matters of conscience that a Catholic or general Christian may be facing who is looking at the Catholic Church

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound, detailed book for every Catholics and especially Protestants to know why they do this and that. Why they cannot do and can do. What's right and what's wrong? It answers almost all of the questions that I need to know is in this book.

[sch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apr-Jul 2024. Fantastic book: clear in the main text and well-documented; more importantly it is thorough and systematic and interlocking. There are strict and very reasonable limitations on the doctrines of papal and conciliar infallibility. Plan to read Akin's FATHERS KNOW BEST.

[Leslie Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author makes a very technical subject very readable. He gives adequate examples explaining how the principles work as you look at church teachings.

[Dave MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such an important book

I kept saying over and over ‘I didn’t know that’ and ‘that blows my mind’. Every Catholic should read this.

[Mary Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting book on Catholic Church teachings, concerning mainly those infallible dogmas promulgated by the Popes.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the most important books a catholic can read. It really levels with the reader what is important to listen to and what is important to disregard.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much detail. If you’re into detail and knowing everything there is to know about the terminology of church authority - this is the book for you.

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally readable and engaging work on what can be a very technical and nuanced subject. Akin does a great job of explaining levels of authority within Church teaching, and why they matter. Through many examples and illustrations it gives clear guidance and method for understanding what you "have to believe" as a Catholic.

Brimming with citations, it gives ample gateway to further study on methods or particular doctrines.

My only two criticism would be it uses endnotes instead of footnotes (Personal peeve) and the index should be a bit more robust to make it easier to find where some examples are addressed.