I dunno, I can really enjoy a good argument — but then there's not a spirit of "gotcha", but usually at least a respect for the truth and an honest attempt to get at it.
One thing I've found to be particularly helpful is to use a higher scripture:me ration — a good example awhile back was one guy [smvoice] thumping on 2 Timothy 2:15 and rightly dividing the word of God
, ignoring possible different ways of reading the verse (or the context) or different translations… in the end he was silent when he couldn't explain how the single verse could fit the way he was interpreting it fit in-context with the surrounding text.
If it's tomayto vs. tomahto, it can be linguistically envigorating .. (my uncle did not marry an insect)
NO argument is worth coming to blows, losing friendships or making one hurt. They should by mental gymnastics (imo, of course)
Sola Scriptura is a dogmatic position and once one comes to the position of accepting (or rejecting) it ... there's really nothing anyone can say.
There's new FreepeRs coming on every day, so I guess it serves a purpose.
As much as I would like to feed your high opinion of yourself and your ability to scare away lesser foes with your arguments, I must confess that it is my lack of "longsuffering" that left you without an answer from me. If you would care to discuss this topic, a little less "gotcha" and a little more respect for the truth of God's word, studied HIS way would be helpful. Starting with this:
Think for a moment. Using the common sense God gave you, just THINK. WHY PAUL? There is a striking fact and a world of discussion when you ask yourself that simple question.
AFTER our Lord, in His so-called "great commission", had sent Peter and the other Apostles, Mathias included, into "ALL THE WORLD" to preach "THE GOSPEL" to "EVERY CREATURE" (Mark 16:15) and make "DISCIPLES of ALL NATIONS" (Matt. 28:19)- AFTER THIS, He raised up ANOTHER APOSTLE, Paul. WHY? He had already commissioned the twelve to go to all nations. WHY the need to raise Paul and send him? Why not make him the 12th Apostle instead of Mathias? Why make him an Apostle at all? And did Peter and the 11 perceive this raising up of Paul as some kind of change in the commission given to them?
If you want to continue this discussion, those questions must be answered. Honestly and with God's Word. Not man's "interpretation" of His word. Because He DOES tell us the answers.
And BTW, I am a "she". Not a "he". :)
I know knarf was around for The Neverending Story (The Christian Chronicles). You might remember that one knarf. It literally went on for years. After 65,000 posts they a started breaking it up into smaller chunks. Just for giggles I went back to look at it this morning. Same stuff, different time, some of the same posters: some of them long since banned.