[af_vet_1981]

Was Paul crazy? I don't think so. Did Luther perhaps encounter the same thing within himself -- which Paul did? We just might be able to venture that yes he did. And where did Luther find his relief -- not from within and amid the Church of his own time & place -- but from the written word, and even from Paul. It really is no wonder that Luther (and others too) was among others things --- so driven to translate the written word into language that the common man could understand.

This fits another of my theories. In general, I tend to find Protestants/Others take a view if the Apostles and Prophets/Patriarchs that tries to bring those men of God down to the level of the audience, to make them seem as neither worthy of veneration or obedience, but as fellows just like them, who often had no clue what they were up to. That would fit the model of every man and woman deciding individually what, and who, merits their obedience. It also makes it easier to ignore certain passages of Jesus when convenient.

Since Catholics tend toward the opposite view, upholding them in veneration and obedience, it really makes for an interesting contrast.

[metmom]

This fits another of my theories. In general, I tend to find Protestants/Others take a view if the Apostles and Prophets/Patriarchs that tries to bring those men of God down to the level of the audience, to make them seem as neither worthy of veneration or obedience, but as fellows just like them, who often had no clue what they were up to.

A theory, no doubt and one that is without any merit at all.

The apostles were men just as we are, and they are no better or worse than any other redeemed child of God.

God commands us not to be respecters of persons, another area where Catholicism blatantly defies the clear teaching of the Scripture it claims it wrote.

As far as Protestants thinking that the apostles has *no clue what they were up to*, would you care to provide evidence that led you to that conclusion?

Because I have lost count of the number of times Christians on FR have posted Scripture to the RC's showing that they penned Scripture as they were moved along by the Holy Spirit.

It's really too bad that Catholics don't understand the indwelling and moving of the Holy Spirit in a person's life.

That would fit the model of every man and woman deciding individually what, and who, merits their obedience. It also makes it easier to ignore certain passages of Jesus when convenient.

Jesus merits our obedience, not the organization of the RCC which claims for itself that it alone is the OTC.