On 01/06/2017 08:12 PM, Muggles wrote:
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
We're supposed to study the word ourselves and be able to "rightly
dividing the word of truth" ourselves, not be dependent on someone else
to understand what it means.
It does not mean "sola scriptura", especially since the "words"
(we don't know what they were, possible the Teachings of the
Apostles) spoken of here were not the Bible, which wasn't
compiled for another 200 years. It doesn't mean to go off on
your own. It means to study the writings and traditions
given to them.
Sola scriptura is not biblical. This is what the Bible itself
teaches:
And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority
under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge
of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading
Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, €œGo
near and overtake this chariot.€
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet
Isaiah, and said, €œDo you understand what you are reading?€
And he said, €œHow can I, unless someone guides me?€ And he
asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
--Acts 27-31
The phrase I want you to especially listen to is "How can I,
unless someone guides me?€
"How can I, unless someone guides me?€ would not have been placed
the bible by the First Ecumenical Council if no "guidance"
was required when reading the Bible.
Now I will give you that there are a lot of charlatans out there.
The Teaching of the Apostles (Didache) spend a lot of time talking
about how to tell the difference, so it is not something
unique to our time and age.
But going off on your own can and does lead to wild misinterpretations,
such as in "call no man father".
Very true. That is why we need a trusted authority. The councils
are a good start.
They are fallible.
Absolutely! That is why the body of the church has to accept what
they come up with. The body accepted the Bible, the Creed, and the
Trinity.
Just out of curiosity, why are you trusting the council on the
Bible, especially since you do not accept their authority?
They may have goofed.
No authority, no Bible. It should matter a great deal to you.
Authority comes from God - not councils.
There was *** A LOT *** of praying going on when the Council
compiled the Bible. Without the Authority that came from
God and worked through the Councils and the people, we
would have no Bible.
You must give you pastor a hard time. He has to research,
pray, fast, and work his tail to tech every Sunday. That
is his job as a "spiritual advisor". What need do you have
for him if all you have to do is read it yourself and
interpret everything yourself?
"How can I, unless someone guides me?€
I would love it if you would take a gander over at the
Teachings of the Apoltles:
http://www.orthodox.cn/patristics/ap...didache_en.htm
Though it is not of the Authority as the Bible -- neither
is your pastor, but you should still listen to him -- it
is a wonderful connection to our past. And a wonderful
look at what the Apostles taught hundreds of years before the
Bible was compiled.
Here is a quick snippet:
There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there
is a great difference between the two ways.
The way of life is this.
First of all, Love God who made you;
Secondly, Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Do not do anything to another you would not want to
befall yourself.
Now of these words the doctrine is this.
Bless those who curse you, pray for your enemies, and
fast for those who persecute you;
For what thanks do you deserve, if you love them that
love you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? But do
love those who hate you, and you will not have an enemy.
Sound familiar?
Yours in Christ,
-T