John Paul II being beatified for holiness, not his papacy, speakers say

cns ^ | April 1, 2011 | Cindy Wooden

[don-o]

If it’s not criticism, then what is it? What do you make of the words following “but, I say unto you...”?

[circlecity]

It’s not scripture he’s criticising. If so, give me the chapter and verses of the scriptures he’s criticising.

[don-o]

Matthew 5:27

Exodus 20:14

[circlecity]

Heavens, Jesus isn't criticizing the scriptural prohibition not to commit adultery - where did you get that idea? As with much of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is revealing just how far the imperatives of the Decalogue go. They extend to thoughts as well as action. Jesus is saying that to even think about breaking the 7th commandment is to break it. He reinforces and discloses the true meaning of the scripture (despite what they may have “heard”) and in the process reveals to everyone, especially the pharisees, just how far from the Kingdom of Heaven they really are. Far from criticizing scripture here, Jesus is proclaiming just how important it really is - and the terrifying consequences that has for everyone.

[don-o]

[krit-uh-sahyz] Show IPA verb, -cized, -ciz·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1.
to censure or find fault with.
2.
to judge or discuss the merits and faults of: to criticize three novels in one review.

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The second definition is what our Lord is doing. One could fairly say that he is criticizing the sola scriptura of the teachers of His day.

[PapistProud]

Scripture is wonderful, if we read it through the lens of tradition.

[circlecity]

"Scripture is wonderful, if we read it through the lens of tradition.

I prefer reading it through the power of the Spirit. That protects against the corruption of tradition.

[Campion]

Which it teaches by enabling us to (1) originally recognize which writings were cannonical scripture and (2) giving us the ability to understand scripture.

Who's "us"? Historically, it was the church -- the one that started at Pentecost and had priests, bishops, and yes -- Popes -- which recognized the canonicity of Scripture.

(Incidentally, that right there destroys sola Scriptura, because the Scriptura by itself is not sufficient to give you its own table of contents.)

And "giving us the ability to understand scripture"? Understand it exactly how? The way the LCMS Lutherans understand it? The way Southern Baptists understand it? The way the Assembly of God understands it? The Holy Spirit cannot be the author of contradiction; I hope you would agree with that.

[Campion]

I have found 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 work for me

The immediately preceding verse describes the Scriptures as something Timothy has "known from [his] infancy". That didn't include the New Testament, which hadn't been written yet. If 2 Tm 3:16-17 proves that only Scripture is needed, it necessarily proves that only the Old Testament is needed.

BTW, the Greek says pasa graphe, which can just as easily be translated "every Scripture" as "all Scripture".

And it's God's Word that makes you complete and thoroughly furnishes (literally perfectly finishes) you for ALL good works.

Certainly it's necessary, but the problem is that it doesn't say that that's all you need. And it's clearly not all Timothy had, either: he had the church, the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tm 3:15), of which he was not only a member, but a bishop. He had the preaching of Paul (2 Tm 2:2) and the graces conferred on him by his ordination (1 Tm 4:14).