I agree with Chrysostom - We have always provided texts in the local language, and when there is only an oral language we give them a written one - Viz The Kyrillic Alphabet and that of the Aleuts in Alaska... And many others... The Latins erred in their Latin only for clergy only etc...
So I don't get your rant... Sorry...
Then you don't "get" what you said. Which is that
rather than possessing the Scriptures for personal reading as Chrysostom encouraged, you said the Laity in the early Ekklesia, and often even the clergy, were ILLITERATE...
"May I repeat: ILLITERATE..." and that "these early and Holy and manuscripted Scrolls were not intended for private reading and study." "God intended His words to be...read aloud to the faithful for their hearing. NOT for their reading... Faith comes by HEARING - Not by reading."
But rather than your typical either/or assertions, the inspired writings were intended for both, as has been shown despite your assertions to the contrary.
It was read publically in Services, in Greek LXX, for all to understand...
By hearing... Not by all reading... Don't know why this is giving you so much difficulty...
So now its "Not by
all reading," versus "Not by reading," while the point is that the Scriptures were the supreme standard for obedience and testing Truth claims, enlightening the eyes, converting the sou, making wise the simple, obtaining great rewards for the obedient, etc., as
abundantly shown, and thus should be personally studied by lovers of Truth as such.
It is your assertion that Scripture was not intended for reading by laity, versus hearing it, and which is contrary to such testimony as above.
In a pre-literate culture, texts are read aloud publically...
Which simply does not mean Scripture was not also intended for reading by laity any more than the many signs/inscriptions in a pre-literate culture were, and this term does not mean all were illiterate.
And there is evidence of significant literacy in the contentious debate over just how literate people were in the ancient near east around the time of Christ.
Ho-hum... Look, here is how it works in pre-literate cultures, where some have literary skills - These skills are still the possession and tools of a pre-literate mind, and so when a text out of the Bible is read aloud, it is REMEMBERED... And when they get home, if they so desire, they write down what they heard, OK? They were too existentially marginal to be able to AFFORD their own Bible... But we find a LOT of little texts on small fragments... 'Paper' alone was prohibitively costly...
Which actually testifies to the importance and esteem of both Scripture and the written word, versus "what is needed is not written verifiction, but direct revelation," as if it was either one or the other, to for the former, as the established Divine revelation, is the judge of the latter.
The Book is written for the sake of the Holy People, not vice versa... Hardly a false dichotomy, yes?
That Scripture was only written for the sake of the Holy People, but not for Holy People to write such for unbelievers to be converted thereby, is not true, for it also was. (John 20:31)
And saying "Christ did not come into His creation as a Creature in order to write a Holy Book... He came instead to establish a Holy People" is a false dichotomy, and is akin to saying Christ did not come into His creation as a Creature in order to preach to the whole world...He came instead to establish a Holy People." For rather than being mutually exclusionary, they both go together in the plan of God.
God choose a people to reveal Himself to the world, both by preaching and writing His word.
The New Testament was written by Christ's Church...
They wrote it FOR the Church...
It was read IN the Church...
For the HEARING of the Church.
Paul even instructed that his letters be READ [not distributed by Cc's] IN the Churches...
This is not hard...
No, this is not hard...
- The NT is based on and abundantly references the prior written Scriptures.
- Which being the word of God was to be preached in and to the world. (Jeremiah 22:29)
- For the world to hear, whereby lost souls were converted by the Truth of the Scriptures, "which are able to make thee wise unto salvation which is in Christ Jesus."
- And which oral preaching was subject to testing by the written word as the established authoritative word of God.
- We know what true direct revelation was by it having been recorded as inspired written revelation which is the supreme standard by which Truth claims are tested.
- If the reading of Scripture was commanded and exhorted, then personal reading should follow, as able and available.
What Scriptures did Paul preach from? He preached Christ crucified in works of power in fear and trembling, becoming all things for all men that he might save some... Paul did manage to convert some Jews... Others not so much... He used their own OT texts...
Exactly, versus only being for believers, and the texts were God's own.
Nor did Paul preach from visions...
As shown, he did preach the gospel which "I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12) But which was tested and established upon Scripture, and "Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures." (Romans 1:2)
But what he discipled was for his disciples to know God as he did,
Writing, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15)
and as Ananias who Baptized and restored his vision did,
Being a devout Jews of the Scriptures.
and as Christians generally did in those first centuries of the faith... And THIS preparation was the preaching of the Cross, that we follow Christ crucified in denial of self and in calling upon the Name of the Lord...
Indeed, and with no conflict with my positions, versus "what is needed is not written verifiction, but direct revelation," as if it was either one or the other, to for the former, as the established Divine revelation, is the judge of the latter.
True regeneration is a supernatural event with effecting profound basic changes in heart and life. Thanks be to God.
Private? Personal? A private miracle with God?
Thank God. Yet the validity of which is subject to testing by the assured written word of God, thus there is not conflict.
When you make subjective supernatural dreams and visions etc. "direct Revelation from God" as you describe it, the basis, the standard for Truth, so that "what is needed is not written verifiction, but direct revelation,"
I don't do this, but you seem to do so in your own private miraculous personal "True Regeneration" narrative...
Wrong, and a flailing failing argument.
and set faith in Scripture in contrast to faith in God ("You can put your faith in Scripture... I place mine in God...)
Thus you put faith in false dichotomies, while you also said you believe in the church, but do not say that of Scripture. But as explained, to believe in God is to believe what He said and inspired, and to believe the latter is to believe the former.
Conversely, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)
You need to give this up.
Your marriage is with the Book of God...
Ours is with God...
Same fallacy. You simply cannot separate God from His word, even while exalting direct revelation.
That is how we GAVE the Book TO you, you see...
Another fallacy, that the NT church which began with common souls having entered into a Scripture-based covenant with the God of Scripture, with its very existence being a fulfillment of Scripture and its preaching reflecting its basis thereof, is somehow not married to the revelation of God.
A very underwhelming accusation...
A warranted one in essence based upon certain statements.
Yes, we DID establish the Canonicity of Scripture, so it IS assured...
Another fallacy, that the instruments and stewards of express Divine revelation are the assuredly correct authorities on what is of God. Instead, both men and writings of God were established as being so long before there was a church which presumed it was essential for this.
are not your supreme standard but subjective esoteric "direct Revelation from God" is...
That straw man is YOUR bugaboo, not ours... We agree with the Bible we wrote that the Prophet is subject to the Prophets, remember?
Not when the standard for your Prophets is their own "direct Revelation from God," or wherever their traditions came from which distinctives are not what is manifest in the only wholly inspired record of what the NT church believed.
One little series of questions on the issue of the Truth: Is the Truth a Person in your understanding?
It is a person who cannot be separated from His own words, which we have as Scripture. T
Yes, as a person of 100% Truth/Light, and as revealed by His via His words. The resurrection is also personified as a person, (John 11:24) yet this has a necessary manifestation.
To some degree, and not as much as he must have wished he had.
Why is Eternal Life KNOWING the One True God?
Because to know Him who is eternal and is life is to know eternal life. Likewise to whom Him who is the Truth is to know His word which is Truth, (Jn. 17:17) and to know the latter is to know the former.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
Do you need to KNOW God to HAVE Life Eternal?
Indeed, and by receiving His word one comes to know the God of revelation.
By the Book, one knows ABOUT God...
By God, we can KNOW God...
In Thy Light shall we SEE Light..
Which means that by the Light of His word and receiving it, one will not simply know ABOUT God but will KNOW God. And feeding upon, and being nourished and built up by it, and by walking in that light one will receive more light.
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (1 Timothy 4:6)
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
And if hearing the word is needful and commanded, and which preaching is tested by, thus personal reading is to be encouraged.