Posted on 10/26/2013 6:56:10 AM PDT by NYer
There are 38 questions + a few bonus questions. I have split them into two separate posts of 20 and 18 + bonus questions. Are you ready?
1. Where did Jesus give instructions that the Christian faith should be based exclusively on a book?
2. Other than the specific command to John to pen the Revelation, where did Jesus tell His apostles to write anything down and compile it into an authoritative book?
3. Where in the New Testament do the apostles tell future generations that the Christian faith will be based solely on a book?
4. Some Protestants claim that Jesus condemned all oral tradition (e.g., Matt 15:3, 6; Mark 7:813). If so, why does He bind His listeners to oral tradition by telling them to obey the scribes and Pharisees when they “sit on Moses’ seat” (Matt 23:2)?
5. Some Protestants claim that St. Paul condemned all oral tradition (Col 2:8). If so, why does he tell the Thessalonians to “stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thes 2:15) and praises the Corinthians because they “hold firmly to the traditions” (1 Cor 11:2)?
(And why does the Protestant NIV change the word “tradition” to “teaching”?)
6. If the authors of the New Testament believed in sola Scriptura, why did they sometimes draw on oral Tradition as authoritative and as God’s Word (Matt 2:23; 23:2; 1 Cor 10:4; 1 Pet 3:19; Jude 9, 14 15)?
7. Where in the Bible is God’s Word restricted only to what is written down?
8. How do we know who wrote the books that we call Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, and 1, 2, and 3 John?
9. On what authority, or on what principle, would we accept as Scripture books that we know were not written by one of the twelve apostles?
10. Where in the Bible do we find an inspired and infallible list of books that should belong in the Bible? (e.g., Is the Bible’s Table of Contents inspired?)
11. How do we know, from the Bible alone, that the individual books of the New Testament are inspired, even when they make no claim to be inspired?
12. How do we know, from the Bible alone, that the letters of St. Paul, who wrote to first- century congregations and individuals, are meant to be read by us as Scripture 2000 years later?
13. Where does the Bible claim to be the sole authority for Christians in matters of faith and morals?
14. Most of the books of the New Testament were written to address very specific problems in the early Church, and none of them are a systematic presentation of Christian faith and theology. On what biblical basis do Protestants think that everything that the apostles taught is captured in the New Testament writings?
15. If the books of the New Testament are “self-authenticating” through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to each individual, then why was there confusion in the early Church over which books were inspired, with some books being rejected by the majority?
16. If the meaning of the Bible is so clear—so easily interpreted—and if the Holy Spirit leads every Christian to interpret it for themselves, then why are there over 33,000 Protestant denominations, and millions of individual Protestants, all interpreting the Bible differently?
17. Who may authoritatively arbitrate between Christians who claim to be led by the Holy Spirit into mutually contradictory interpretations of the Bible?
18. Since each Protestant must admit that his or her interpretation is fallible, how can any Protestant in good conscience call anything heresy or bind another Christian to a particular belief?
19. Protestants usually claim that they all agree “on the important things.” Who is able to decide authoritatively what is important in the Christian faith and what is not?
20. How did the early Church evangelize and overthrow the Roman Empire, survive and prosper almost 350 years, without knowing for sure which books belong in the canon of Scripture?
Seems most of your list boils down to “Why do they believe scripture is more important than what the Pope says?” And that is easy to answer:
“1.19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2.1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” - The Apostle Peter
The Word of God takes priority over the words of men. And there have been an ample number of evil Popes, whose lives proved the Holy Spirit was not in them. There are also an ample number of evil men preaching in Protestant pulpits, and we need the Word of God to save us from being beguiled by their lies and deceit.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Given that the New Testament church had no priests other than the High Priest, and the universal priesthood of believers offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving and good deeds, it seems reasonable to question the teaching of men who set themselves up as mediators between man and God...
Sorry...It has been proven that some of your doctor's writings have been forged, especially your first doctor, Ignatius...
Read the Bible, Jesus and the Apostles also believed scripture was the answer, not some human authority.
I can only hope you can plead ignorance for taking the Lord's name in vain. That conclusion makes as much sense as the love of God approving sodomy.
(11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV)
18 Dear children, this world’s last hour has come. You have heard about the Antichrist who is coming—the one who is against Christ—and already many such persons have appeared. This makes us all the more certain that the end of the world is near.
19 These "against-Christ" people used to be members of our churches, but they never really belonged with us or else they would have stayed. When they left us it proved that they were not of us at all.
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you know the truth.
21 So I am not writing to you as to those who need to know the truth, but I warn you as those who can discern the difference between true and false.
22 And who is the greatest liar? The one who says that Jesus is not Christ. Such a person is antichrist, for he does not believe in God the Father and in his Son.
23 For a person who doesn’t believe in Christ, God’s Son, can’t have God the Father either. But he who has Christ, God’s Son, has God the Father also.
24 So keep on believing what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will always be in close fellowship with both God the Father and his Son.
25 And he himself has promised us this: eternal life.
26 These remarks of mine about the Antichrist are pointed at those who would dearly love to blindfold you and lead you astray.
27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, in your hearts, so that you don’t need anyone to teach you what is right. For he teaches you all things, and he is the Truth, and no liar; and so, just as he has said, you must live in Christ, never to depart from him.
John 17:14-17 (AMP)
14 I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
Hebrews 4:9-12 (AMP)
9 So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;
10 For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.
11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].
12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
1 Peter 2:1-8 (AMP)
1 SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.
2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,
3 Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.
4 Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God's sight.
5 [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.
7 To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,
8 And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God's] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.
Just in those 4 verses, most of your questions are answered - or at least the important ones. Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Rock that is the Cornerstone, no other foundation will save you when the storms come. You know him through the Word, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not come to create another religion. He came to grow God's family.
Romans 8:11-16 (AMP)
11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh.
13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!
16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
Some cannot abide the truth because it requires a changing of allegiance from what comes natural, lying, cheating, hating, murdering, to the supernatural, a living sacrifice.
Seems to me, that when something is written down, it has a greater capacity to withstand cynical attempts to confuse on matters of eternal importance... "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." Proverb 26:4...
At least this thread exposed the ludicrous ignorance that leads to such inane assumptions and the resulting frighteningly unintelligent conclusions - it is now “easy to conclude” why so many here post such nonsense.
#4, notice Moses has a seat but Peter doesn’t.
Thank you. That’s exactly what I was looking for and I’ll be looking all of that up.
For three years I went on a quest to understand Christianity. I went to Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Mormon, and other Christian churches, trying to find answers for my questions. There were many things that bothered me about Church doctrine and I was honestly looking for resolution.
What I got was a big helping of “That’s a good question. You just have to accept it and take it on faith.” One Catholic priest (WONDERFUL man) told me that some of the things I’d brought up had once bothered him as well.
For the most part, the priests and ministers were *wonderful*, honest, loving people who genuinely wanted to talk to me. I was offered some resolution on some of the issues, but there were things that I could never find satisfactory answers to.
I did get one telling me that the fact that I had doubts and questions meant that Satan was trying to keep me from G-d. “Don’t ask. Don’t doubt. It’s evil to do so.”
It is profitable to include iron in your diet.
From this, do you conclude that a diet consisting only of iron would be the best?
The Foundation of the church is the Trinity, Christ’s SOLE atonement for sin, Grace that forgives a repentant sinner, Love your neighbor and hate their sins, Christ risen from death to shatter the power of death, and “I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father except through me.” All the rest falls into the decorations we hang on the church walls. Anything beyond these truths God will reveal to me. Done with this time-wasting and diversive thread.
Have to break my own rule to say, Bravo.
Who was responsible for maintaining the Christian oral tradition?
I am happy to follow the oral teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. Provide me with a recording and that is exactly what I will do.
Oh, right, the recording is in the scriptures because someone took the time to record the oral teachings in written form.
"That they all may be one (so) that the world may believe".
I encourage you, brother, to let your Christian presence here to serve as an encouragement to your fellow Christians, to strive to conduct themselves so that we might become worthy of the Master's final prayer for and about us.
This attitude is exactly what led me to Judaism. It’s the only religion where I was actively encouraged to question and challenge my teachers and they were well trained enough to deal with it. If I ask a Rabbi a question and he doesn’t have the answer, then it’s his failing and not mine for asking.
This openness had led me to trust my Rabbis and trust my faith. G-d made us curious and intellectual debate strengthens faith - it doesn’t demolish it.
Yes, he did want that, and he wanted it because A) He knows our sins before we commit them, B) He knew, just from the examples of his disciples, our love of sectarianism and division (Master, we saw these casting out demons in your name, and we told them to stop, because they were not one of us", C) He foresaw, correctly, that because of our sin nature and our love of division (and worse, "Master which one of us will sit at your right hand?"), that the world would not believe - and it does not.
Please reflect on what the Master is asking, not of your Protestant brothers and sisters, but of yourself. You can't change them, at least not this way. You can let your light shine, though. Work on that.
I’m confused by your questions .. which have nothing to do with what Jesus did for you on the cross.
You might learn more, if you would just start by finding out who Jesus was, who were the people surrounding him at his birth and death, and what did he tell the Apostles and the public.
So, I recommend a great book, “The Life of Jesus Christ”, by James Stalker. The author was a Pastor of a church in Scotland.
I studied this book in Bible College, and I just recently re-read it several times; the reason being that the times we’re living in now (while waiting for Jesus to return), are very similar to the times Jesus lived in and the times He died in. Really amazing.
This book will tell you more about the person of Jesus, which will make the rest of the Bible more easily read and understood.
Your goal should be to know Jesus .. and not get bogged down with mindless questions which have no bearing whatsoever on your relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you want to discuss this particular book with me .. I’d be happy to join in that discussion.
Why don't you ask Jesus to turn a stone into bread for you, or ask Him to let you jump off a building and get angels to catch you?
You don't make demands of God, He makes demands of you.
If you're still in the place where you need a tape, you have a ways to go.
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