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One should know the difference between following and believing. We cannot pass the buck to God.
Remember man is involved in writing. Hearing is more spiritual than reading and recording.
Humans are involved in writing everything - even the book you like to regularly quote from. As far as I'm aware, the only document which people claim came straight from heaven; dictated to someone in a trance who had no control over what he wrote, is the book of Mormon.
Being written by a human being does not automatically mean it wasn't inspired by God and cannot be trusted. And I don't agree with you that "hearing is more spiritual than reading and recording" - which doesn't even really make sense. I imagine you're trying to say that the Gospels, written by eyewitnesses who heard Jesus teach, are more reliable than the epistles - but that's not true either.
If you say to us, "I heard God tell me that Paul is false"; how do we know that is true? How would you prove to us that a) you heard a definite voice and b) that it was God and not your subconscious? I'm not saying that you're saying this, I'm trying to give an example. In the same way, if I said to you, "well God spoke to me last night, assured me that Paul's writings are true, and told me to tell you to accept them" - how would you know that that was from God? By your own words, it's "more spiritual" than the Bible; it's even "more spiritual" than my writing about it on here! But if everyone were to go around saying, "X says they heard from God; whatever they say must be true because God spoke", then we'd all start believing all sorts of things and would change our faith every 5 minutes whenever anyone else came up with a new message.
We need to test prophecies and test the spirits to discern what is from God and what isn't. And the way we test them is by reading and finding out what has already been revealed in Scripture - writings inspired by the Spirit of truth who reveals Jesus, the truth, to us and who does not make mistakes. Accept that or not; that's how it is. Arguing that it should not be that way, won't change anything.
As well as being a historian, Luke was Paul's comp[anion and doctor. So I would say that when he wrote his Gospel, and Acts, he not only had his own research to hand, but Paul's teachings and sayings.
The only reason you have for saying that Paul relied on his own inventions is that you feel you cannot not trust him - except for sometimes, when you agree with him.
Don't you even trust those who heard the words of Jesus? So what's with the view that "hearing is more spiritual than reading/recording"?
Sorry, but with respect, isn't this exactly what you are doing?
You say that Paul was called by Jesus, that he was his chosen one, was a saint and that sometimes you agree with, and quote, his words. Then Paul writes, "I was chosen by Christ to be an apostle", and you say, "it is not recorded anywhere that Jesus said to Paul 'you are my apostle', so Paul must have made that claim himself. Therefore, he was self appointed, therefore he was arrogant, told white lies and had his own agenda."
You have just said that "hearing is more spiritual than reading or recording"! The phrase "you are my apostle" has not been recorded in Scripture - though Paul may well have heard it. But because of that, you are dismissing many of Paul's words.
And your point is? Luke is still a gospel.
Jesus said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. He then demonstrated how it is that we do that in the last supper when He declared the bread to be His flesh and the wine to be His blood. Again, I'll go with Jesus.
No, it's not. It's Paul dealing with sin in the church.
No, I'm not telling Jesus to do anything. You're telling Jesus to call Paul an apostle, using that word specifically. I'm telling you that you need to show where Jesus called anyone an apostle, using that word specifically. Jesus called Paul His chosen vessel to carry the gospel to the Jews and the gentiles alike.
Evidence, please. Cite your source. This is just your own self-claim.
That's really rich. You tell me I should reject everything written by Paul and Luke, and then point me toward the Acts according to Thomas and the Acts according to Peter. You tell me I should reject everything written by the early church fathers - yet you point me to apocryphal books that have been rejected by the church since it's early days.
I'll stick to the Canon of scripture that was chosen in the same way all major decisions were made in the early church - through much prayer, dependence on the Spirit, and discussion among the church leaders.
And Paul's weren't. As has already been demonstrated from scripture, Paul is attested to by (1) Jesus Christ, (2) the Holy Spirit, and (3) the apostles and church leaders of His day, including a specific commendation by the apostle Peter. By calling him a false prophet, you defame every witness who commends him as well.
I cant say if it matters in that way or not, but it matters for other reasons. The scriptures are Gods gift to us, to help us in our struggles, to give us hope.
So they should complement one another, not new diversions.
I know, but scriptures do say God will judge us all. Christ says many will call him Lord but they will be rejected. Im only maintaining my humbleness of mind, i believe its important in my spiritual walk. I have a certain level of confidence however, that im following the Lord.
That's not an answer. What transcendent standard do you and your church use to test truth claims?
When i read them they do compliment each other, although they didnt always at first because i didnt understand many things. That's because God uses a spiritual language that we can only see when our eyes are opened.
As David said, open my eyes that i may see wondrous things in your law.
We are simply believers and doing our best to please Him despite our encumbrances. However, Jesus' call is different:
Matthew 16
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 19
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Can you see the differences in following. Multitude followed and were healed, but that doesn't mean they were saved.
From that point of view, Paul extrapolated, interpolated and added many things unsupported by the words of Jesus and that of others.
We have a personal Savior. A church will not save. The words of the Word are of paramount importance. Paul's words written with the wisdom he had cannot be equated with Lord's words nor they can supersede them.
I believe Christs miracles were like a shadow of Gods true purpose, which is to heal us from sin and death, and to open our spiritual eyes, to heal our spiritual blindness, deafness, lameness and raise us from the dead into eternal life. As far as selling everything we own goes, i believe in Christ command to not store treasure on earth, and i believe it has to do with healing our spiritual blindness, because Christ said that our heart would be wherever our treasure is, and that the eye is the lamp of the body, which refers to our spiritual sight. In Acts 4, we see a Church that did sell all they owned, and shared it as well,
and we see Paul teaching this same thing in 2 Corinthians 8.
Not the way i see it.
Again a non answer. How do you test truth claims when there are opposing views as there was at the Jerusalem council?
Remember Christ left a church to shepherd the sheep.
It was basically solved by chosen apostles and other disciples who were part of the earthly ministry of Jesus.
With a warning of the arrival of false prophets. He did not hint at new writings to look for guidance.
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