In saying this, I am fully accepting of the authority of scripture, to those who have scripture in their hands, but, I am concerned at the emphasis you put on it, seeing not only was Paul not with the twelve, (although he knew the Old Testament writings very well) but, there are literally thousands of Christians who have chosen to die for Christ's Name, who have never held a Bible in their hands.
When I was three, I was given a beautiful book with Bible stories and gorgeous pictures. It was big, and we had to sit at a table to look at it. I remember the angels standing round the garden of Eden and the fiery sword turning in all directions to guard the way to the tree of life. Did this mean anything to me? Well, God thought it meant enough, for, the day after an extremely traumatic experience, He sent an angel to show His interest in me. There are two ways I knew what I was seeing was an angel. Firstly, he looked like one of the angels in the picture. Secondly, I was terrified - just like the shepherds in the field.
_________________Ron Bailey
Quote from Ron "The point I am making here does not relate to the law at all, but simply that Christ believed in the inerrancy of the Scripture. Even Bubbaguy admits that, but he believes Christ was fallible in his earthly experience believing the fantasies of his day eg Jonah and the great fish."This is not what I have said. My point is that Christ spoke to the condition of people in the times of His earthly existence. He refers to Adam because no one could have understood anything else. This is cultural. He refers to Noah and the flood because it is a point of reference that the people of that culture and history would understand. He makes these points in context. This is not saying He is fallible at all.Bub
Dear Ron,
Paul's writings are expressly judged as scripture by the Apostle Peter.
I am not disputing the fact that God can communicate with us in all manner or ways.
we are required, as we are able, to test our experience against the scripture
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; (John 10:35, KJVS)The point I am making here does not relate to the law at all, but simply that Christ believed in the inerrancy of the Scripture.
Peter says that Paul's writings were scripture...as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2Pet. 3:16, NKJV)
Paul claims that all scripture is god-breathed. Would he say the same of your website?
_________________Blake Kidney
I have read much of this thread with interest and would make a very simple statement.Sin is always voluntary, so if I sin it's a decision I chose to make. The devil didn't make me do it.
_________________Ed Pugh
In case I've given any impression that I don't read scripture, or, that I don't think it's important to know and understand scripture, I thought I should re-state my affirmation of the value and necessity of knowing the Bible - both Old and New Testaments - and being as familiar as possible with its message. God has spoken many 'words' to me, straight off the page, as well as interpreting to my understanding, deeper insight as to His nature. I say 'deeper' because, some things did not reach my 'understanding' until I had been reading for a long time and actually [i]searching out[/i] truth.
This is not what I have said. My point is that Christ spoke to the condition of people in the times of His earthly existence. He refers to Adam because no one could have understood anything else. This is cultural. He refers to Noah and the flood because it is a point of reference that the people of that culture and history would understand. He makes these points in context. This is not saying He is fallible at all.
[Quote]
Quote:Peter says that Paul's writings were scripture...as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2Pet. 3:16, NKJV)As a side note, I think it's interesting that you have quoted the KJVS up to this point, but for this scripture you quote NKJV. In the KJVS, it says "they do also the other scriptures."
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;