You have no knowledge of what I do or do not believe about Scripture, so please do not presume to tell me what I ignore or dismiss. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Tim.3:16-17)
>> This verse DOES NOT prove Sola Scriptura.
The rite or ritual of water baptism is purely symbolic just as Peter explained.
>>Again, that is your INTERPRETATION of what St. Peter is saying.
The consensus up until Martin Luther was completely different, suggesting that water baptism is a supernatural event not unlike when Jesus used mud and spittle to heal the blind man.
But as you admit “My way of interpreting their interpretations is governed by my own cultural traditions, just as yours is.” Your cultural tradition starts with a presumption of egalitarianism ala America and a knee-jerk anti-Catholicism. Consequently, if Catholics believe A you believe B.
I’ve found similar polemics leveled against Lutherans because they are “too much like the Catholics” instead of a dispassionate look at Lutheran beliefs. I assure you Lutherans hate Catholicism as much as you do.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Lutherans/luther_no_christian.htm
Take a look at the Catechism sometime, if you want to really see patchwork scripture to try to prove a position.
>>No different than what you do. At least the Catholics and Orthodox readily admit it.
Why you seem to insist that these verses PROVE your magesterium has carte blanche to define any “tradition” not recorded in Scripture as equal to Holy Scripture is not beyond me, because I know that they have used these verses to state such before and their intent is plainly visible. So if we want to live the “spirit” of God’s truths, we must know what they are first.
>>Because the apostles were Jews. Judaism has continually taught there is the Oral Torah and the Written Torah.
Catholic tradition corresponds to the Jewish Oral Torah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_Torah
Protestants cut the cord of Christianity’s organic development out of Judaism. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy cannot be understood without understanding pre-rabinnic Judaism. This is especially true of the Ethiopian Church, which largely converted from Judaism to Christianity.
The first Protestants instead reinterpreted the Bible in the light of the Nominalist culture that had begun to grow during the dark times of late medieval Europe when William of Ockham’s worldview had become prevalent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominalism
Didn't say it did, raz.
But as you admit “My way of interpreting their interpretations is governed by my own cultural traditions, just as yours is.” Your cultural tradition starts with a presumption of egalitarianism ala America and a knee-jerk anti-Catholicism. Consequently, if Catholics believe A you believe B.
There you go again, thinking you KNOW what I believe. I believe, and have stated so numerous times on this forum, that a great many things I agree with the Catholics. They did, at one time, hold to the same truths taught by the Apostles who in turn enscripturated those very same truths. Where a religion holds to those truths, I agree with them.
Protestants cut the cord of Christianity’s organic development out of Judaism. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy cannot be understood without understanding pre-rabinnic Judaism. This is especially true of the Ethiopian Church, which largely converted from Judaism to Christianity.
I completely REJECT your assertion. You seem to be forgetting that what you casually refer to as Protestantism came about FROM the orthodox faith. Need I remind you that the early reformers were almost to a man Catholics? How could you presume Protestants do not honor the same Judeo/Christian heritage? I studied the Old Testament as well as the New, so I believe this is a "knee-jerk" reaction you have to anything that isn't hardcore Catholic. That word at one time MEANT universal but it has lost that meaning NOT at the fault of Protestants.
Tell ya what, I'm done hashing the same topics back and forth with you. It is obvious that you have no interest in learning or even hearing other views. You seem to be too busy labeling people and defining everyone else as some kind of heretic or another to actually engage in dialog. I hope you find the truth. Good night.