He was addressing those who should have known the scriptures (I believe he was speaking to the Sadducees, a priestly class).
The early Christians had no NT. But even if they did, faith doe snot come from preaching but from God, doesn't it? So, the vast numbers that converted must have converted not because of the Bible, according yo our theology, but because God decided to give them faith. It was no one's doing, preaching or reading.
Again, preaching and knowing the scriptures does not give you faith; it simply reiterates what one already believes. It proves nothing!
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
That sounds wonderful, but doesn't explain. Spirit has been called many things. And so has life. In the ancient languages the spirit (breath) is the power that animates (gives life). What life? The life of a believer? If that is so, then the Bible gives faith! Are you saying that the Bible gives faith? If so, then the Bible is God. Are you saying that the Bible is God? It seems to me that yes you are!
My opinion is that many Apostolics dismiss, perhaps accidentally, the "power of God's word" because it would seem to detract from the power of Apostolic men
Paranoia will destory'ya. "Apostolic men" (as opposed to Apostolic women?) have no such ambitions. They live their lives imitating Christ.
Nothing is missing here, and you have not thwarted my proof. I offer scripture. We disagree on whether scripture is proof.
How can anything be a proof if it requires an a priori absolute belief that it is true?!? Now, I am pulling my hairs! :)
God gives us our understanding. The understanding God has given me is that the Bible is true. Has He given you a different understanding?
How do you know it was God? If the Bible is true, it is so whether we understand it or not. How do you "understand" that the Bible is true? Because you believe it is! Right? That's circular logic. It proves nothing. You are just getting more and more tangled up, FK. :)
And I note that you say "the writings of one man". How do you determine that Paul is wrong,
You prove my point. :) I didn't say +Paul is wrong. I said "some interpret the Bible (based mostly on the writings of one man, +Paul) that this is so..." In other words, their interpretation is possibly wrong, not necessarily +Paul!
No, God gives faith. The words of God (Bible) tell us what that faith is in:
Rom 10:17 : Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Faith cannot be in nothingness. It has to be in the Gospel, the words of God. That doesn't make the Bible God, but it does make it His power to be used.