MarkBsnr wrote:
“Well, let’s look at it. Who wrote Hebrews? It does not say it in the text.”
This is avoidance of the point, whether you realize it or not. There is a very great difference in admitting that one does not know the author of a particular book of the NT, and Hebrews is unique in this (and maybe it was intended to be such ... Origen’s statement on this is still the best) and either assigning a supposed name or, worse, denying the plain statement of the text of the said work. Don’t you see that? Don’t you see that denying the truth of the author’s own self-identification calls into question everything that follows?
I will leave unanswered the rest of what you say, since I have already spoken to the points you are simply repeating. It would seem that your trust in scholars outweighs your trust in God’s word.
Lastly, I too say and confess with the Nicene Creed - and with heartfelt sincerity: “Credo”, “I believe.” But I do not believe in that which is detached from real history. The Scriptures of the NT, like those of the OT, are anchored in time and space. They speak truth itself, given by God to us through the authors of the various books. If what they say is not true, the Christian faith is a sham, no matter how vociferously urged on us by Rome or anyone. The Nicene Creed stands upon and draws is veracity and authority from the Holy Scriptures, which themselves are grounded in history. Otherwise my “I believe” is of no more certainty than that of a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, or any naturalistic religion of the world.
But I do not believe in that which is detached from real history. The Scriptures of the NT, like those of the OT, are anchored in time and space. They speak truth itself, given by God to us through the authors of the various books. If what they say is not true, the Christian faith is a sham, no matter how vociferously urged on us by Rome or anyone. The Nicene Creed stands upon and draws is veracity and authority from the Holy Scriptures, which themselves are grounded in history. Otherwise my “I believe” is of no more certainty than that of a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, or any naturalistic religion of the world.
AMEN!
Thank you for a terrific post and solid Scriptural understanding.
Scripture "is anchored in time and space...and speak truth itself."
AMEN!
Not for a believer. I believe, my friend. I believe in Scripture. It does not matter if Peter wrote 2 Peter or not. I'd like to know intellectually, but it does not make a difference if he did or not. The Church said that this is Scripture and for me it is so.
The Nicene Creed stands upon and draws is veracity and authority from the Holy Scriptures, which themselves are grounded in history. Otherwise my “I believe” is of no more certainty than that of a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, or any naturalistic religion of the world.
The Nicene Creed stands far away from Scripture. Many of the elements of the Nicene Creed are not found in Scripture at all, and in fact, oppose the bulk of Scripture addressing it.
And is it no different than the first question asked in Eden "Yea, hath God said...". It is still going on to this day, "yea, did Paul really write, which is no different than 'hath God said' since Paul, James, Peter, John and the others wrote what God inspired them to say. All Satan wants is a toe in the door, just the smallest entry point in order to wreak havoc and destruction and make shipwrecks of men's lives. All he is looking for is the ability to add doubt to God's word. Doubting the authorship of God's word is the first step in doubt about the content being ushered in.
I believe that God said what He means and means what He says, that we can trust God's ability to get His word to His people the way He wants us to get them and that He has provided us everything we need to know what He wants us to know about Himself, His plan for mankind, and just what He desires from us.