Your questions indicate that you don’t know enough about Tim to draw an informed conclusion on his knowledge of scripture or exegetical skills. I really don’t know that much more about him than you do. During his talk, he mentioned that he studied the bible thoroughly as a Baptist and participated in many bible quizzes. He said the Assembly of God that he was part of did emphasize the bible, forming small groups that gathered weekly to study the bible. He gave examples using specific passages of his discussions with his fellow Marine and mentioned several of the subjects over which they argued. One example was Matthew 22:6, call no man father. He himself drew many Catholics away from the Church by starting with this passage and then going to other passages. Most of the Catholics that he converted did not know Scripture so had no response. But this Marine did. For every passage Tim referenced showing that we should not use the term father, the Marine came back with another passage showing where the term father was used in Scripture. He said they went at it with each other for over a year. At some point the Marine challenged Tim to read the Catholic documents himself; that if he was going to refute something, he should become familiar with what it is he is refuting. And it was during this study of Catholic exegesis that he found that it was more soundly based than anything he read from other Christian sources.
I do not know if you have ever looked at Catholic writings in any depth. I admittedly have not, but am reading more and more. I am also looking at writings by other Christians. Much of what Luther wrote was on target. Maybe you have studied Catholic teachings and concluded differently than Tim did. Which is fine. Many have. But if you haven’t, you really do not know the path Tim travelled, do you?
I fat fingered the Matthew verse. I meant to write Matthew 23:9
But your assertion about him was that he was well grounded in scripture ...
So on the one hand he is well-grounded in scripture, and I don't know enough about him to make an assessment ... but then you don't know much about him either ... ?
That at the very least suggests that your definition of well-grounded really means 'he is now a Catholic so he is solid.'
I do not know if you have ever looked at Catholic writings in any depth.
With the advent of the internet ... the online CCC is a valuable resource for RC teaching. Isn't that what we non-Catholics should be looking at for your beliefs?
Salvation posts her 'Catholic word for the day' ... and the huge array of RCs that post here are plenty of data points for determining what the RCC teaches.
Do you disagree here ... is there something else that I should look at ...
I heard him speak once. I believe he said that even when the Marine did not know the answer to Tim’s questions, he told him, “I don’t know, but I will go find out” and the Marine went and found the correct answer.
Not many Catholics are well informed about the deeper details; you have to make an effort on your own to keep learning about your faith after Confirmation. This Marine was knowledgable; and, when he wasn’t, he was diligent and went and found the scriptural details that lead to the Church’s stance on issues and brought them back to Staples. The historical, scriptural doctrine speaks for itself.