- Jan 2, 2015
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You are funny.
I point out what is obvious.
If we take your understanding, then the New Testament is all "Christians" are left with.
From Genesis to Malachi, the Prophets spoke to whom? The Hebrews. (Using your principle, we must discount these books)
In the Gospels, Jesus spoke to whom?
The disciples and the Jews, and in only two places did He ever address a "Gentile". (Using your principle, we must therefore discount everything in the Gospels except the passages where Jesus addressed the Gentiles)
Acts is basically, the history of the primitive church. We must discount this also.
So what we are left with, according to your own words and principles you said,
all we have for a Bible is Romans through Revelation, minus Hebrews.
Just because the Council of Trent said:
"Praeterea ad coercenda petulantia ingenia decernit, ut nemo, suae prudentiae innixus, in rebus fidei et morum ad aedificationem doctrinae Christianae pertinentium, Sacram Scripturam ad suos sensus contorquens, contra eum sensum, quem tenuit et tenet sancta mater Ecclesia, cuius est iudicare de vero sensu et interpretatione Scripturarum Sanctarum, aut etiam contra unanimen consensum Patrum, ipsam Scripturam Sacram interpretari audeat, etiamsi huiusmodi interpretationes nullo umquam tempore in lucem edendae forent. Qui contravenerint, per Ordinarios declarentur, et poenis a iure statutis puniantur." (Latin version)
"Furthermore, in order to restrain petulant spirits, It decrees, that no one, relying on his own skill, shall,—in matters of faith, and of morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine, —wresting the sacred Scripture to his own senses, presume to interpret the said sacred Scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church,—whose it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy Scriptures,—hath held and doth hold; or even contrary to the unanimous consent of the Fathers; even though such interpretations were never (intended) to be at any time published. Contraveners shall be made known by their Ordinaries, and be punished with the penalties by law established."
Council of Trent, Session IV, Decree Concerning The Edition And Use Of The Sacred Books
Don't mean a blessed thing to me.
I'm not part of the RCC, I never will be part of the RCC, so I'm not worried about anything the RCC can say is due to me.
Talk about following blindly.
Good luck with your P.O.V.
God Bless
Till all are one.
As much as I would rather stick a rusty fork into my own eye than agree with Light of the East - he has a point.
Christians, especially individualistic, western Christians tend to read the Bible as if it were directly addressed to them. Almost all of the texts aren't. That's really not a difficult point for me to argue, so I'll assume you understand it.
This does not mean that there is no application for Christians. All of scripture has application for Christians, but much of it doesn't have direct application, and most of it is not addressed (directly) to Christians, which again is an easy argument to make.
One example of a NT text which is a perfect example of where many Christians get it wrong is The Great Commission. Christ is addressing the 11. It's right in the text: "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee. . ."
Jesus then proceeds to tell them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Now, we, as Reformed believers understand that none of what Jesus commanded can be a directive to all Christians, because we don't believe that all Christians should teach; we don't allow any and all Christians to perform baptisms, and we don't send all Christians into the world as missionaries. These directives were given to those with authority: the leaders of the Church. Jesus begins with, "All authority. . ., and ends with, "therefore", and I can hear RC Sproul's voice whenever I see the word, "therefore", instructing me to ask myself, what is therefore "there" "for"?
Certainly Jesus is passing authority to the 11 before he goes to the cross.
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