Malaka said:
Could you possibly identify another "false doctrine" that would be qualified as "false" based upon God's "other word to us"?
1. Flat earth.
2. Geocentrism.
Both of these were justified by scripture but were disproven based on God's other word.
3. The Appearance of Age doctrine. God made the world to LOOK old, not really be old.
4. The whole world was taxed as in Luke 2:1. Extrabiblical knowledge showed that only the Roman world was taxed.
[QUTOE] And what is God's "other word to us"? Nature? The created world??? God had a few words to say about man's concept of the creation in Romans chapter 1 and 2... and they are called the invisible qualities of God and not His "other word to us". [/QUOTE]
1. GOD did not say anything in Romans. This is PAUL talking.
2. Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of him from teh creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."
Notice that the verse clearly states that the universe was created by God and shows us about God.
Now, the chapter continues against those that made gods out of created beasts"
23: "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."
There were sects in Rome that did worship gods in the shape of humans -- Zeus -- and in the shape of birds -- Horus of the Egyptians.
Now, in a verse that could apply to creationsts: 2:22b "thou that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?" I would say that YECers make an idol of the Bible. Even to the point of saying "God had a few words to say ..." when the words are Paul's. Sometimes when Paul is speaking for God, he clearly says so. This is not one of those times.
John 7:17
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
You know, taking the Bible out of context is not really using the Bible, is it?
John 7:16-19 "Jesus answered them, and said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall kow of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keep the law? Why do you go about to kill me?"
This is part of a defense Jesus gives against Jews who don't think he is from God because, in their eyes, Jesus broke the law by healing a man on the sabbath. It is not a blanket statement on what is or isn't "true doctrine".
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
And the two Genesis creation stories ARE useful for instruction and profitable for doctrine. BUT NOT IF they are read literally. If you do that, then all usefulness for instruction disappears because you lose the theological messages.
Tell us, Malaka, what are the theological messages of Genesis 1? What are the theological messages of Genesis 2-3?
That nature is a second book of God has a long tradition within Christianity.
"the great book ... of created things. Look above you; look below you; read it, note it." St. Augustine, Sermon 126 in Corpus Christianorum
"duplex cognito" John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, ed by John T. McNeil, 1.2.1, 1960.
"Man learns from two books: the universe for the human study of things created by God; and the Bible, for the study of God's superior will and truth. One belongs to reason, the other to faith. Between them there is no clash." Pope Pius Xii, Address to the Pontifical Academy of Science, Dec. 3, 1939.
"To conclude, therefore, let no man out of a weak conceit of sobriety, or an ill-applied moderation, think or maintain, that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the book of God's word, or in the book of God's works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an endless progress or proficience in both." Bacon: Advancement of Learning