You wrote:
“Several people have correctly pointed out that 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. What does the word “all” mean to you?”
You can avoid it all you like, but I asked for verses about Matthew and got NONE IN RETURN. The simple fact is that Matthew’s gospel is nowhere mentioned by name in the Bible No where at all. Period.
“If you use a Catholic Bible and you’re looking at the table of contents, what comes after Malachi and before Mark in your Bible?”
Not Matthew. You claim to be a former Catholic and you don’t know that there are two books of Maccabees AFTER Malachi? This is an example of why I can’t take you guys seriously when you assume you know the Bible or the Catholic Church. Besides, I didn’t ask you if Matthew was in Catholic Bibles. I asked you if there was a verse that showed it, specifically Matthew, was inspired. Where is it?
“The Catholic Church doesn’t dispute the inclusion of Matthew in the canon of Scripture. Look in your Bible—what does Matthew 23:9 say in your Bible?”
It doesn’t say, “This book is inspired.” How DO YOU KNOW IT IS? Can you answer the question or not?
“As for Hebrews, let’s go back to your Bible’s table of contents again. What comes after Philemon and before James in your Bible?”
Is your table of contents inspired? If not, then how do you KNOW you have all the inspired books or that you don’t have books that aren’t inspired? How do you know? Show me a verse.
“You see, then, that the Catholic Church doesn’t dispute the inclusion of Hebrews in the canon of Scripture either.”
So you’re putting yourself under the authority and direction of the Catholic Church? Do you see the problem yet? Is this getting through?
“For the record, I do not consider myself to be a religious person. I am a born-again follower of Jesus Christ. He is the One I bow to. No mere man is worthy of (or entitled to) our worship.”
You’re a Protestant. You can say what you are or aren’t but the reality is you’re a Protestant.
“All” would include Matthew, so yes, actually, you did get a verse about Matthew.
Well, what comes after Maccabees and before Mark in your Bible?
OK, forget the table of contents. What comes after Philemon and before James in your Bible?
I was a Catholic once. Never again will I put myself under the authority of the Catholic Church. I was merely pointing out the inconsistencies in your argument—Matthew and Hebrews are both in the Catholic Bible. Therefore it is inconsistent for you to suggest that the Catholic Church doesn’t consider Matthew and Hebrews to be inspired.
You have done a masterful (though probably unintentional) job of pointing out the danger in following the doctrines and traditions of men when they contrast with God’s word. I suspect that’s why you’re suggesting that you don’t consider Matthew or Hebrews to be inspired—because it doesn’t support your argument in favor of the Catholic Church’s version of the priesthood, which is most definitely in conflict with what God’s word says.
When someone points out a Scripture that undermines your arguments, you claim or suggest that it isn’t inspired. That may be convenient for your purposes, but it doesn’t alter the reality that there is no biblical basis whatsoever for the Catholic Church’s version of the priesthood.
Call me a Protestant if you like. That doesn’t bother me. It’s not the label I would choose for myself, but it doesn’t bother me. There is definitely much to protest regarding the Catholic Church. I love the people in that religious system enough to tell them that they (like myself and every other person on earth—regardless of religion, nationality, skin color, etc.) must be born again or they face a godless eternity in hell, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I can’t depend on my church (Catholic or otherwise) to make me right in God’s sight. I can’t depend on my works, either.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Again, those are God’s words, not mine. You can reject them or try to explain them away if you like, but that doesn’t alter their truth. Fair warning: if you reject them, you’re in direct conflict with God, and that’s a fearful place to be.
Let me know if you think you’ve done enough to justify yourself in His holy sight. As for myself, I’ll lean on His precious promises and rejoice in the fact that I will spend eternity with my Savior—because of what He did and not because of anything I’ve done. Nothing that any of us could ever do would merit what Jesus did for us. I’m so glad that He doesn’t expect or ask us to merit it. All He asks us to do is accept it.
So, the ball is in your court.