Then who is the earliest post-apostolic writer you can point to who interpreted John 6 the way you do?
I simply need Jesus words when he said
John 6: 63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
Peter said about this new birth inwardly
1 Peter 1: 23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
We read of eating the word and believing in what Jesus did on the cross and his resurrection . The gospel is defined by Paul who did not add the Lords supper or water baptism or the Mosaic law, or circumcision or foot washing etc to the gospel. To do so woul make another gospel,
1 Corinthians 15: 1. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you
the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
Jeremiah 15: 16.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17.
I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.”
Also Paul spoke of the bread and said
1 Corinthians 10: 17. For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
And he showed the spiritual aspect of this eating and drinking of all the saints of all time when he said,
1 Corinthians 10: 4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat;”
Spiritual meat and spiritual drink of that Rock which was Christ.
James also speaks of the new birth spiritual by the word,
James 1: 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
That doesn't seem like a very consistent standard. You accept all kinds of things about the faith that aren't divinely revealed or in Scripture, like which books of the Bible are canonical and that a council of the world's bishops can meet to define the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father or of the Spirit with the Son and the Father. If you're reading a two thousand year old Greek text and all the people within several centuries of the text's composition interpreted it one way, why would you not consider their interpretation as evidence in determining the correct interpretation?
I believe God overshadowed the making of the King James Bible and all the manuscripts to be used and preserved were preserved by God. How could Daniels words be sealed up for the latter times if Gid did not watch over them. Or the book of Revelation if Gid did not preserve it?
Psalm 12: 6. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
I trust in God not men.
Yes, that's from a Protestant source, Strong's Concordance. And as I said, some Protestants will try to translate the word as anything other than "bishop" to avoid acknowledging the existence of the episcopate in the Bible. Strong's is a decent reference
I have no issue with the word bishop/overseer as the Greek word is used in both ways and means the same thing. As scripture shows. But there is a plurality of elders in every church in scripture we don’t see one man a pastor or bishop over all the believers in God’s order in scripture except Christ who is the Lord over all. Even Paul said ,
2 Corinthians 1: 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”
Dominion over means
from
2962; to
rule:--have dominion over, lord, be lord of, exercise
lordship over.
(2962) from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun)
controller; by implication,
Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir
Eiders watch over, not Lord over, they are helpers not controllers or rulers over them.
Jesus warned of such exalted men over others and said,
Matthew 20: 25. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:”
All would do well to take heed to Jesus words here. This is similar to what happened in history, the exalted men took rule and lorded it over the church as kings or exalted men controlling others with force and earthly power, even killing many saints who did not let them Lord over and their teachings corrupt them.
Paul warned of men exalting themselves over others and said,
2 Corinthians 11: 12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works… 20. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if
a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.”
John warned of these exalted men as well
3 John 1: 9. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
In the Old Testament the people also wanted a king over them in Saul. God earned them when they wanted this they did not want God to rule over them and that this king would bring them into bondage and affect them in a bad way.
Paul warned of a man rub them of their goods (spoil them) etc.
Colossians 2: 4. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words…8. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”