***ALL scripture is God’s TRUTH.***
I see. Do you further claim that, for example, that 2 Chronicles 34 is equally as important and instructive as Matthew 5?
*** It is only your reasonable perception from personal experience. When we Reformers practice apologetics with Apostolics we frequently quote from Paul and the OT because THAT’S where many of the disagreements are. Apostolics generally don’t “like” Paul because he so often trashes your Tradition.***
That is false. We object to the misinterpretation of Paul and the wrong application of his words. We consider Paul to be pretty well on a par with Peter as the greatest of the Apostles, with all the others as lessers.
The parish I grew up in is called Sts. Peter and Paul. The Reformers tried to abscond with Paul and with St. Augustine by misinterpreting them both.
LOL. Then stop criticizing the Reformers for quoting Paul since we do so not to the exclusion of the words of Christ, but in tandem with them.
I see. Do you further claim that, for example, that 2 Chronicles 34 is equally as important and instructive as Matthew 5?
Yes and No. It depends on how we measure what "important and instructive" is. If all that is true is important and instructive, which is a perfectly good way to look at it, then yes, they are equal. OTOH, many people think that teachings about salvation and perseverance, sanctification etc., or anything from the mouth of Jesus are comparatively "more" important to them. I also have no problem with that view. I have said before that if I could only take 5 books of the Bible to a desert island, then my personal preference would be that Matthew would probably be one of them. So, in that sense they are not "equal" subjectively to me.
Ultimately, both 2 Chron. 34 AND Matt. 5 are absolutely God's word and God's truth. They both reveal God to us. Therefore, neither is "better" than the other in terms of truth or worth.
Please forgive this bizarre comparison, but it fits so well, I can't resist. :) From the movie Kill Bill 2:
Elle Driver: Bill tells me you had a Hanzo sword once.
Budd: Yeah.
Elle Driver: [examining the Bride's sword] How does this one compare to that one?
Budd: If you're gonna compare a Hanzo sword, you compare it to every other sword ever made... that wasn't made by Hattori Hanzo.
That is really what I think about trying to compare the worth or importance of scriptures! :)
We consider Paul to be pretty well on a par with Peter as the greatest of the Apostles, with all the others as lessers.
If you're right, then Paul and Peter must be shoe-shine boys in Heaven: :)
Mark 9:33-35 : 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
This is why I try to stay away from trying to "rank" the Apostles. :)
The parish I grew up in is called Sts. Peter and Paul. The Reformers tried to abscond with Paul and with St. Augustine by misinterpreting them both.
Abscond? We just look at what Paul actually says. While interpretations are needed and made by both sides at different times, the NUMBER of times Paul's plain meaning is taken is FAR greater in Reformed theology. I have often felt sorry for poor Paul when I look at the beatings his words have to take to be shaped into conformity with Tradition. :) They just don't match. Paul would have to be the most cryptic writer in the history of literature for his writings to agree with Church teachings.
As to Augustine, you must have seen some of Harley's posts concerning Augustine's retractions, when they were, and what he was retracting. As I understand it, in many cases, Augustine's "final" answers were what Calvin and Luther were quoting from in support of their writings.