[boatbums]

Neither the Bereans, nor you, are qualified to judge apostolic doctrine. You either receive it or reject it, as is evidenced by one's works. Only the LORD himself, or other apostles, can judge apostolic doctrine.

The Jews in Berea applied seriously to the study of the word preached unto them. They not only heard Paul preach on the sabbath, but daily searched the Scriptures, and compared what they read with the facts related to them. The doctrine of Christ does not fear inquiry; advocates for his cause desire no more than that people will fully and fairly examine whether things are so or not. Those are truly noble, and likely to be more and more so, who make the Scriptures their rule, and consult them accordingly. May all the hearers of the gospel become like those of Berea, receiving the word with readiness of mind, and searching the Scriptures daily, whether the things preached to them are so. Matthew Henry's Commentary

I'm not asking anyone to believe what I say based on my own authority - I have none - but on the authority of the word of God. The Bereans were "more noble" than others because they received the gospel with eagerness and referred to the sacred Scriptures to ensure that they remained true to the teachings of God. If we are supposed to blindly accept the authority of others based on the claims they make for themselves, then why in so many places are we exhorted to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I Jn. 4:1) or "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matt. 7:15) or "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21)? What do we have that enables us to do that if not the word of God?

What "qualifies" a person to judge Apostolic teaching? Was Paul wrong to confront Peter, "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision." (Galatians 2:11,12)?

Did Peter, as an Apostle, have absolute authority so that NO ONE could challenge his acts or teaching? Or was Paul justified in calling him out and exposing his duplicity? What gave Paul the authority to do that? Can only Apostles challenge other Apostles? DO you contend that we have living Apostles today? You either receive or reject that teachings of the Holy Spirit as they have been written down for us as our "rule of faith". No man has authority OVER the word, but must be in subjection to it as unto the Lord because it IS from God.

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49)

[af_vet_1981]

I'm not asking anyone to believe what I say based on my own authority - I have none - but on the authority of the word of God. The Bereans were "more noble" than others because they received the gospel with eagerness and referred to the sacred Scriptures to ensure that they remained true to the teachings of God. If we are supposed to blindly accept the authority of others based on the claims they make for themselves, then why in so many places are we exhorted to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I Jn. 4:1) or "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matt. 7:15) or "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21)? What do we have that enables us to do that if not the word of God?

What "qualifies" a person to judge Apostolic teaching? Was Paul wrong to confront Peter, "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision." (Galatians 2:11,12)?

Did Peter, as an Apostle, have absolute authority so that NO ONE could challenge his acts or teaching? Or was Paul justified in calling him out and exposing his duplicity? What gave Paul the authority to do that? Can only Apostles challenge other Apostles? DO you contend that we have living Apostles today? You either receive or reject that teachings of the Holy Spirit as they have been written down for us as our "rule of faith". No man has authority OVER the word, but must be in subjection to it as unto the Lord because it IS from God.

1. It seems to me some try to stretch the Bereans into something they were not to support a certain model of Christian behavior, namely hear what a preacher/teacher has to say and then look it up in the Bible to see if it is true. The Bereans were Jews who were evangelzed by a true Jewish Apostle. Their example reminds me of And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. In every case I find there were Jews who received the teaching and believed, and Jews who rejected the teaching and believed not. The Berean model only made sense in the context of the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
2. Paul judged Peter's behavior, which set an erroneous example that caused others to stumble about Jewish-Gentile relations in the holy catholic apostolic church, which was somewhat new and uncharted ground. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? OTOH, Peter judged Paul's doctrine, and found it correct but misinterpreted. To judge a (true) apostle's doctrine, one must be an apostle, and yes the scriptures are apostolic. The issue is in personal interpretation which threatens one with destruction. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
3. The Apostles and Prophets upon whom the holy catholic apostolic church is built, with the LORD Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone, are the original Jewish apostles and prophets found in the scriptures themselves. Those apostles appointed elders and bishops to provide for the continuance the apostolic commission in the church. They chose the original bishops and elders, who chose other bishops and elders in an unending succession until now. If some of the Gentiles chosen turned out to be evil, like Judas or others of the first century Jews were, that did not extinguish the rest of the seed. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
4. As to who has authority, it is the LORD Jess Christ, sitting at the right hand of the Father. He used the beloved Apostle John to write, addressing the angel of the holy Catholic apostolic church at Ephesus, Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.