Did Stephen give birth to God?
Not that I see, but the traditions might suggest something like that. I mean, if Irenaeus said that Jesus died as a 50 year old man, and the Apostles taught that, who knows what can be dug up.
But the scriptures give the same ‘full of grace’ to Stephen at his death. And using the RCC interpretation of that phrase...
Of course, (I know, here comes the old anti-Catholic chesnut, still unanswered here) Luke makes certain truth claims at the beginning of his gospel which would put RCC and Orthodox tradition on its ear. What does Luke mean when he writes:
Luke 1:3it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.(NASB), or perhaps you prefer from the online Catholic bible (http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=42)
3I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus,
4so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received.
So, in his ordered account, to show his Excellency, Theophilus the well founded traditions that he was taught, Luke accidently skipped the whole Marion de fide Catholic doctrines? Boy, Luke needs to get somebody else to write for him...Poor Theophilus had to wait for someone to orally teach him, as Luke cannot seem to put such important de fide info into his inspired book.
Of course I always have heard some LIBERAL Catholics say that tradition is like “an acorn, that grows into a oak”. But that makes it seem that the traditions are somewhat new, and don’t go back 2000 years.
I know, I know, I am just an anti-Catholic, and my arguments can just be dismissed. Ignore the truth, and say that I am just being ‘Wrathful’ ‘Hateful’ and ‘spitting venom at the Holy Virgin Mother and Her Church’...
I will sit down and shut up.