Excellent analysis Harley. How in the universe is any Christian supposed to know which Bible verses apply to him under Apostolic rules? There are somewhere around 31,100 verses in the Bible, and I know no Catechism covers them all. If it's two here and three there, then no one could possibly know what's going on. I suppose it all reverts back to the Church. How convenient! :) Artificially make the Bible impossible to understand by anyone, and that solidifies the power of those who claim it. These guys certainly have had quite a ...... umm ...... "plan" going on here for a long time. :)
Maybe they should print a Bible with BLUE print for those verses that apply only to the Apostles and their successors and leave the rest in black.
I suppose it all reverts back to the Church. How convenient! :) Artificially make the Bible impossible to understand by anyone, and that solidifies the power of those who claim it.
Only problem is the Church militant is not found in one physical institution.
ICor.12:13 For by one Spirit we were baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether saves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
Luke 17:21...For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.
And a gold star to you FK for your insight. Over the past week I have been reading some of the Papal edicts. Here are the tricks.
A Pope is only considered infallible when he speaks to the "whole church" whatever that means. Therefore they are careful to leave some addressees out when they do proclaim something.
The RC church wrote, invented, caused to come into being, whatever, the bible, so they are the only ones "qualified" to interpret it.
When the Pope contradicts the bible, it used to be that the bible took precedence but now the tradition has become the other way around. The Pope is authority over the written word of God.
As Dr. Eckleburg has shown in other posts, the priest offering up the mass becomes another Jesus, so in effect Jesus "sacrifices Himself" over and over.
The Pope is Christ's head here on earth, and the members of the Catholic Church are the body. So they say in effect "Here is Christ, under this roof, in this building or temple."
The Popes frequently contradict the bible and Paul's writings, so they give little weight to the written word.
Mary is the firstborn of all creatures, or so proclaimed one of the Popes. She is hypostaticly united to the HS and He does nothing except through her. As a result, Mary is our Advocate, our comforter.
Not only are you all speaking a different language around here, but the religions are as different as apples and oranges, making an intelligent debate impossible. You'd have more luck with the Mormons
My pinging is hap hazard too, sorry if I left anyone out
Personally, I'm thinking more and more that the entire Bible is really written only for God's children. Reprobates might read it, but they will never understand it. In fact, they will despise it.
Those who read the Bible by the light of the Holy Spirit do so because it is God's will that they understand how and why God has loved them from before the foundation of the world.
And there is one chapter which clarifies the fact that while God's words are spoken about many different kinds of men, they are actually addressed to His children.
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them... Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." -- John 17:9-10;20-23"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.