Could you produce the infallible interpretation of this part of Hebrews for us??
This proves the complete inability of Romanists to rightly interpret the word of God.. it is sad
Lets look at this
THERE WERE NO CHAPTERS IN THE EPISTLES WHEN WRITTEN ...So Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 are the same topic..
So what is the topic of chapter 11???
IT IS THE ROLL CALL OF SAINTS SAVED BY FAITH4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
THEY WERE WITNESSES TO US... NOT WITNESSING US
Isn’t here a scene from Monty Python where 20 crusaders are about to be wiped out by a horde of Muslims. A fight breaks on between a Dominican and a Franciscan monk.
“Free will” “No predestination” they yell as they roll on the ground choking each other.
As this fight breaks out the horde on the hill starts charging.
Somehow your postings always seem to remind me of that.
If you are praying to anyone besides God through Jesus, you are already doing it wrong
Correct: The text, "surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" refers to just that, being in the company of such as part of the same body, but not as communicating with them in Heaven, which is nowhere seen. Nor any Roman purgatory.
This is made so clear in Scripture that it is shocking and surprising when some twist that passage of us "being surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses" to mean they can all see what WE are doing here on earth or in some way rationalizing us "praying" to them. I cannot imagine Heaven would be the wonderful place God tells us it is if souls there have a ringside seat to all the atrocities and cruelties going on in this world - some even in the very name of Christ!
The Catholic Church has to twist that to fit their doctrine. When a lawyer takes a deposition from someone and the person dies the testimony of that witness is still permissible in court. We have the testimony of the faith of them all recorded in scripture so it is a witness to us.