What difference does it make, when anyone with the internet has the wisdom of the world at his/her fingertips. We can parse every participle and every verb of the extant Greek and Hebrew, but that won't get you past the early childhood indoctrination of a cult. Your constant harping about it only illustrates the inanity of it. It reveals nothing except pride (which is a listed sin, I believe!).
A degree just proves that you have sat in on some classes, and passed whatever they decided to tested you with. But, in the course of conversations here on FreeRepublic concerning spiritual things, some of us prefer to provide the answers provided by Scripture. without the misapplication and diversion from the truth, which usually comes from the Roman Catholic cultists. We define things according to how the Holy Spirit leads us, and find the answers ENTIRELY independent of any fancily dressed poseurs telling us what it says (usually opposite of the original texts and intent!).
Of course, the Roman cultists posting on this thread usually fall back on their indoctrination. They start giving you milk shakes, instead of milk. The chocolate or strawberry flavorings help hide the poison from perception. By the time you reach adulthood, or an age of responsibility, it has soaked into every pore and reeks of smells, and tolled with bells. Ritual replaces spiritual connections, and habit becomes SOP.
Sorry, but you win no prize with God, with whatever degree you may have earned. He is not a respecter of persons, and I have the greatest respect for those that have blind faith, as led by the Holy Spirit. YMMV!
Jesus says it best...
John 14: 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ...
And, Paul expands the thought...
1 Corinthians 2: 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" -- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
