Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Aquinasfan
1 Timothy 3:15

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

"God's household" refers to the community of believers, which is the Church. Further "the pillar and foundation of the truth" refers to "the living God".

2 Thessalonians 2:15

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

The operative word is "we", as in Paul and the other Apostles. It does not follow that "we" includes the self-appointed RCC. It is God's providential goodness that led to God-fearing men to preserve the writings of the New Testament.

Matthew 18:17

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

The word "church" is used in the connotation of "local assembly", not in the universal sense, as in "Church of Christ". Other than that, I don't see how this supports your contention.

Your contention that these verses support the RCC triple play of Authority is simply misguided.

The idea that the RCC precedes Scripture in time is laughable. The Church of Christ established at that very special Pentecost certainly precedes New Testament Scriptures, and those same Scriptures document the activities and teachings of the Church that God would have us know and apply in our lives.

Finally, the idea of relying on God's written Word exclusively pre-dates the Church, having its roots in the reliance on the Torah, Writings, and Prophets by the Jews.

303 posted on 01/25/2007 11:27:47 AM PST by pjr12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 289 | View Replies ]


To: pjr12345
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

The operative word is "we", as in Paul and the other Apostles. It does not follow that "we" includes the self-appointed RCC. It is God's providential goodness that led to God-fearing men to preserve the writings of the New Testament.

If that's the case, it does not follow that the word "you" includes anyone but exactly who Paul was writing to, and not self-appointed Christians of the 21st century.

307 posted on 01/25/2007 11:31:44 AM PST by Rutles4Ever (Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia, et ubi ecclesia vita eterna)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 303 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson