Sigh. I never made the claim that Jesus did NOT ever refer to himself by the phrase "son of man". I already had to point that out in post 231. I get the impression that the number one goal here is for people to shout past each other in order to push their pet doctrines.
I was trying to point out how traditions and doctrines risk going awry, when people assume and cling to interpretations that are not demanded by the text. Kind of a Bible study version of verifying one's scientific methods: searching for and analyzing places in the text where experimental error is possible. It's tedious and it sure irritates people, but oh well. That's life.
Sorry, I was just pointing out that there is more than adequate scriptural evidence to point out that indeed Matthew 12:40 was referring to Christ.
I was trying to point out how traditions and doctrines risk going awry, when people assume and cling to interpretations that are not demanded by the text.
Oh, I certainly agree with that. However, the text should also not be isolated in a particular verse. Considering the context, it's much more reasonable that "son of man" in Matthew 12:40 is referring to Jesus Christ. He was in the grave (heart of the earth) for three days and three nights just as Jonah was in the fish for three days and three nights.
Kind of a Bible study version of verifying one's scientific methods: searching for and analyzing places in the text where experimental error is possible. It's tedious and it sure irritates people, but oh well. That's life.
I'm all for that. However there's a difference between embracing a particular viewpoint because you CAN make it fit and truth. I think your "heart of the earth" view is well thought out and interesting (You've posted it at least one other time and I did study it), but sometimes the simplest explanation really is the correct one.
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
I haven't read the entire thread yet, but it is obvious that tradition in religion is one of the ways men are decieved into false worship.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
In fact, Paul in Colossians really deals with how traditions had replaced sound doctrine and that applies today as much as it applied then.
It is HEALTHY to look at traditional teachings, celebrations, religious practices, etc to see whether or not they are actually truhful or cantaminated with man's ideology.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so