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“But... surely you realize that this is a mere appeal to raw emotion and personal taste?”

Actually, it is an appeal to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Neither Philemon nor Revelations is my favorite book of the Bible, but I’ve never felt the Holy Spirit telling me they were not God’s word.

Remember, the canon was settled, not by a bunch of theologians making a list, but by congregations agreeing that X was scripture, and Y was not.

Mr Rogers wrote, in reply to my comment:

[paladinan] “But... surely you realize that this is a mere appeal to raw emotion and personal taste?”

[Mr. Rogers] Actually, it is an appeal to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Well... I understand that this is your belief, but: it really doesn't settle anything. If I were to ask you how you distinguished "the guidance of the Spirit" from your own strongly-held opinions, how would you respond? I, for example, could say that I read the twin Books of Maccabees, and found them not only inspiring, but inspired. How would we settle our disagreement? It'd be easy and chevalier for you to say, "But you're not guided by the Spirit; you're only going on your feelings!" How would you prove that? It's my claim against yours, and you haven't any greater evidence for your own claim.

Neither Philemon nor Revelations is my favorite book of the Bible, but I’ve never felt the Holy Spirit telling me they were not God’s word.

Hm. You seem to have weakened your standards, a bit, since you don't say that "the Spirit told you they definitely WERE Scripture". But again: how do you (personally) distinguish the "Spirit" from your own fervent preferences?

Remember, the canon was settled, not by a bunch of theologians making a list, but by congregations agreeing that X was scripture, and Y was not.

Er... friend, I don't mean to offend, but: do you have any evidence for that claim, whatsoever?