What a demeaning and insulting post. Why do you assume that Judith Anne is incapable of arriving at a position by herself and why do you deny her or any Catholic the inherent right you claim for all Protestants to be the sole and final interpreter and arbitrator of all things Scriptural?
Actually, the best paper I read on the authorship of Ephesians was written by a Baptist. He presented pros and cons for Paul’s authorthip. Very even-handed.
Alex Murphy makes collections of people's posts. Isn't that convenient? I am so grateful! ;-D
This insult tossed at Protestants is in no way what Protestants do or believe, nor is it what Scripture says to believe or how to behave.
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit indwells them as a free, merciful gift from God to His children. The Holy Spirit guides our reading of the Scriptures, making known the truth of God, so that the words themselves truly become "spirit and life."
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." -- John 6:63
The words, made knowable by the Holy Spirit, penetrate our hearts and minds and redirect us from the darkness to the light.
Do all Christians get everything right?
Nope. But as Calvin reminded us, without the Holy Spirit as our guide, the Scriptures are just ink on a page.
"For by the Scripture as our guide and teacher, God not only makes those things plain which would otherwise escape our notice, but almost compels us to behold them; as if he had assisted our dull sight with spectacles." -- JOHN CALVIN "Commentary on Genesis" Vol. 1
Therefore, the "sole and final interpretor" is God, the Holy Spirit, refining our understanding and renewing our minds to the truth of Christ risen.
The visible church was created to help men know the truth personally, not to define the truth for them nor to dispense (or withhold) God's grace. The word of God by the Holy Spirit does that, as the Christian church, testifies, and it does that for all who have been given, freely and mercifully, eyes to see and ears to hear.