"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." - 1 John 5:7
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." - Matthew 28:19
Is the Bible the "pillar of truth" in the Christian religion? No. According to the Bible Itself, the Church is the "pillar of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), not the Bible.
Is private interpretation of the Bible condoned in the Bible Itself? No, it is not (2 Peter 1:20). Was individual interpretation of Scripture practiced by the early Christians or the Jews? Again, No (Acts 8:29-35). The assertion that individuals can correctly interpret Scripture is false. Even the "founder" of Sola Scriptura (Martin Luther), near the end of his life, was afraid that "any milkmaid who could read" would found a new Christian denomination based on his or her "interpretation" of the Bible. Luther opened a "Pandora's Box" when he insisted that the Bible could be interpreted by individuals and that It is the sole authority of Christianity. Why do we have over 20,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations? The reason is individuals' "different" interpretations of the Bible.
Is the Bible to be taken literally - "word for word?" No. The Bible doesn't state anywhere that It should be taken literally. The Bible was written by different authors with different literary styles at different times in history and in different languages. Therefore, the writings should be interpreted with these circumstances in mind.
Did Jesus Christ write down any part of the New Testament with His own hand? No, He did not. If the Bible was to be the sole authority of the Church, shouldn't the Founder have written down His Own teachings? Shouldn't He have at least stated something similar to the following: "the written works of My disciples will be the authority upon which My Church is based?"
Did Jesus Christ with His own mouth instruct any of His disciples to "write down" any of His teachings? No. With the exception of the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) by St. John the Apostle, Jesus Christ gives no such instructions to any of His disciples or Apostles. In fact, only the Apostles Peter, John, James, Jude and Matthew were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Scripture. Why were the other seven not inspired of the Holy Spirit to "write" if the "written" Word of God is the only authority to be followed in the Christian religion?
Like Kolokotronis, I too am off to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Please ponder some of these questions.
Very good. I've almost come to believe your argument since encountering so many "experts" on the Bible with so many different ideas of what it is saying. Very frustrating to say the least.
Mathemagician, God is a Being. That being has Wisdom, Word and Spirit. That much is obvious. They are all Divine separate but interconnected entities of one Being we call God. These are His Energies, through Which He has made Himself known to us; His essence remains unknown and incomprehensible. God made us (and only us humans) in His Image: mind, word and soul. Just as they are creative Expressions of one Being, God, your mind, word and your soul are expressions of you -- one being.
You trust only the Bible? Which Bible? And where does it say in the Bible that only the Bible should be trusted? Show me!
Bravo, NYer!