"leaving/abandoning the commandment of God, you are holding onto the traditions of men"
Mark 7:8
The Aorist participle of "leaving"/ "neglecting" / "abandoning" (aphentes- αφεντες, from aphiaemi αφιημι ) seems to be contrasted with the present active verb of "holding onto" ( κρατειτε )- because they are so focused on teaching as doctrine, the commandments of men (verse 7), or they are so focused on holding onto their own man-made traditions (8b), it caused them to neglect, abandon, leave the commandment of God (the word of God, the Scriptures). Or, it could be an adverbial participle of means or manner, modifying the way they are holding onto the traditions of man - "by abandoning" or "by neglecting" . . . "you are holding onto". Or it could be a causal participle, "because you neglected the commandment of God, you are holding onto the traditions of man". Or it could be a temporal participle: "while neglecting the commandment of God" or "after neglecting the commandment of God". Any of these three fit the context. This is exactly what the church started doing little by little in history.
It is interesting to me that the word for "leaving" ("abandoning" or "neglecting") is also the word used in Revelation 2:4 - "you have left your first love" ἀλλὰ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκες "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love"
and Matthew 23:23 - "you have neglected the weightier provisions of the law . . . "
Dr. Plummer pointed out in the video that this word, aphiaemi / αφιημι - has a wide range of meaning, many times, in context, it means "to forgive" sins, and other times "to divorce", but you can see the idea of "leaving", "abandoning", "neglecting", "forsaking" in the basic concept.
This is what the Roman Catholic Church did in history, by clinging to man-man traditions and holding onto them, they neglected and abandoned important doctrines such as justification by faith alone; and emphasized Mary too much and exalted her too much, and created doctrines such as Purgatory; and said that bread and wine turns into the body and blood of Jesus by the words of a RC priest. They emphasized and clung to external works and relics and penances and pilgrimages, and clinging to those things caused them to not see the main issues. Justification by faith alone was there all along in the Bible, and hinted at by some early church fathers, but it was left behind and neglected by their emphasis on external works, focus on non-Biblical things about Mary, statues, priests, penances, relics, etc.
Some Roman Catholics like to say that Protestants treat "tradition as a dirty word" or "always negative" and some (far too many) Evangelicals have done that; but that should not be and everyone should be able to handle the passages that speak of "traditions" in a positive way, since they are the true apostolic traditions.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
"But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you rom the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
Then he turned the tables on me. The students were supposed to ask him a question or two. He said, "Can I first ask you a question, Professor Hahn? You know how Luther really had two slogans, not just sola fide, but the second slogan he used to revolt against Rome was sola Scriptura, the Bible alone. My question is, 'Where does the Bible teach that?'" I looked at him with a blank stare. I could feel sweat coming to my forehead. I used to take pride in asking my professors the most stumping questions, but I never heard this one before. And so I heard myself say words that I had sworn I'd never speak; I said, "John, what a dumb question." He was not intimidated. He look at me and said, "Give me a dumb answer." I said, "All right, I'll try." I just began to wing it. I said, "Well, Timothy 3:16 is the key: 'All Scripture is inspired of God and profitable for correction, for training and righteousness, for reproof that the man of God may be completely equipped for every good work....'" He said, "Wait a second, that only says that Scripture is inspired and profitable; it doesn't say ONLY Scripture is inspired or even better, only Scripture's profitable for those things. We need other things like prayer," and then he said, "What about 2 Thessalonians 2:15?" I said, "What's that again?" He said, "Well, there Paul tells the Thessalonians that they have to hold fast, they have to cling to the traditions that Paul has taught them either in writing or by word of mouth." Whoa! I wasn't ready. I said, "Well, let's move on with the questions and answers; I'll deal with this next week. Let's go on." I don't think they realized the panic I was in. When I drove home that night, I was just staring up to the heavens asking God, why have I never heard that question? Why have I never found an answer?
Aside for failing to distinguish between 1 or 2 Timothy, it is amazing to me, that he could not handle this, when one looks at the context of verses 13 and 14; and the date and historical background of when 2 Thessalonians was written. 1. The historical context of when the Thessalonians epistles were written. (50-52 AD) Obviously, at this point, the only other letters that Paul has written are Galatians (48-49 AD) and 1 Thessalonians (50 AD), so it seems obvious that the apostle was preaching and teaching content that will be later included in letters such as Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Timothy, etc. There is no evidence at all that the apostle taught anything that Roman Catholics claim he may have, RC traditions like Mary as a perpetual virgin, or purgatory, or priests as a NT office, or indulgences, or the Papacy, or the Immaculate Conception of Mary, or Transubstantiation, external penances, relics, praying to Mary. No; it is obvious that Paul means was essential doctrine that will be later in the rest of Scripture. There is no evidence that the apostles taught any of those things that Roman Catholics developed centuries later. They read their own traditions back into the word "tradition".
2. The context of the verse within the paragraph. Verse 14 identifies the traditions of verse 15 as the gospel ("our gospel"), and verse 13 shows the doctrines of election, salvation, "sanctification by the Spirit", "faith in the truth" as part of the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 This verse points to the context of the teachings in verses 7-14, and what Paul already taught them in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and 5:14.
1 Corinthians 11:2 - same principle here; 1 Corinthians is early also, around 55 AD, so the same principle goes, and by the rest of the content of the whole letter of 1 Corinthians, especially in the rest of chapter 11 and 15, but not excluding any of the letter. Paul considers his teaching and letters as spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) that he is passing on/delivering/handing over = "traditioning" to them. Since they have written questions about issues that were raised after he taught them (see 1 Cor. 7:1); and he will also write another letter to them (2 Corinthians, which may have as part of it embedded in it, the same content as the "painful letter" about church discipline mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:8 and 7:12 and possibly with 2 Corinthians 2:2, or it may also refer to 1 Corinthians 5 about church disciple), (or it may be a lost letter); it seems obvious the traditions are basic gospel issues and teachings. These essential teachings will all be included in writing, that will eventually all be finished by 96 AD. All Scripture is written down by either 70 AD or 96 AD. Also, the context is on the content of what he writes to them in chapter 11.
1 Corinthians 15:3 has the verbal form of "tradition", "to deliver", which is also used in Jude 3 - "the faith once for all delivered to the saints". It seems obvious that the context of 1 Corinthians 15 is about gospel essentials (which agrees with 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, and that Jude 3 shows that all the truths of the faith necessary for the saints was already delivered once for all. This, along with Jesus' promise that when the Holy Spirit comes, He would lead the apostles into all the truth (John 16:12-13) and bring to their remembrance everything (John 14:26); it is reasonable to assume that all the truths needed would be written down.
It seems to me easy to see, when 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "all Scripture is God-breathed", that whatever is God-breathed or inspired is revelation from God, and when that revelation is written Scripture; and since it is God-breathed, is also "canon", since "canon" meant "principle", "law", "criterion", "standard", before it meant "a specific list of books" recognized / discerned as "God-breathed". As Dr. White has said many times, and James Swan in an article below,
"The canon list is not revelation, it's an artifact of revelation." This means it is physical evidence and a result of revelation, a proof that revelation happened in history, since all 27 books were first individual scrolls in the first century, and each one was God-breathed Scripture, the list is merely the "footprint" or evidence or product of them all together. Scripture is sufficient to equip the man of God in the church for "every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17; verse 17 is important to include), for ministry and teaching and counseling people (rebuking, correcting, training). Paul assumes that the "man of God" is a man like Timothy who has already been qualified to be an elder/pastor/teacher/overseer in the local church (see the whole letters of 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus). Things like the local church (1 Timothy 3:14-16), teaching, being an elder/pastor/teacher, a man of God, a man of prayer, qualified, are assumed in the whole context of the whole letters of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. The fact that Paul quoted gospels with law in 1 Timothy 5:18 as Scripture, and that Peter wrote that all of Paul's letters are Scripture (2 Peter 3:16), along with the "once for all" of Jude 3, rounds things out as logical and reasonable to assume that all things that were needed for the church were written down in Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:15 is about the OT only, but 2 Timothy 3:16 expands it to "all Scripture", including by principle, all of the NT books, even those written in the future.
Colossians 2:8 and 2:20-23 are also negative on man-made traditions. They also point to man-made traditions, (as Mark 7 and Matthew 15 do), philosophy, and the "elementary principles of this world" (see with Galatians 4:9-11) - these things seem to point the things that Roman Catholicism emphasizes - external rituals and laws, asceticism, rites and things that humans can do to make themselves feel religious - like visiting graves and praying to the dead, kissing relics, and the legalisms of adding things to faith as being necessary to do in order to merit finally that one may be justified before God in the future.
Those gospel essentials or essential doctrines are what Irenaeus (180-200 AD), Tertullian (190-220 AD), Origen (250 AD), and Athanasius (297-373 AD) refer to when they explain what "the tradition of the apostles" or "the faith" or "the preaching" is to their readers in the centuries that follow. When they explicate what the tradition is, it never includes any of the things that Roman Catholics read back into it. They are the same basic content as the early creeds, such as the Apostles Creed and the Nicean Creed. More on that later, Lord willing.
See Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1:10:1 to 1:11:1 and 1:22:1 and 3:4:2.
Tertullian, Presciption Against Heretics, 13:1-6 Against Praxeas 2:1-2
Origen, On First Principles, 1. preface. 2-8
Athanasius, To Serapion, Concering the Holy Spirit Against the Tropici Heretics, Book 1, 28-32 This work, unforuntately, is not available at the www.ccel.org or www.newadvent.org site.
A very good overview of the issues that touches on other areas in life (social, arts, music, aesthetics, etc.) that apologists and theologians usually don't mention in this whole issue of Roman Catholicism vs. Protestantism.
I noticed that my "Initial Review" of Rod Bennett's book, Four Witnesses, that I put up at Amazon.com and linked to in this article, is no longer there. It is actually "part 1a" of my article.
Update: (April 18, 2017)
see Rob's comment in the com-box:
Ken, I found it. The Amazon grading system wants to show Verified purchases only. If you click on the filter for verified purchases, it will alternate to "All Reviewers. Then your review does show. see my comment also in the combox. I will leave this up here. and adjust the title
In order to understand all of this post, it is important to read the two links at Apologetics and Agape, 1. The Defining Question on Sola Scriptura and Tradition https://apologeticsandagape.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/the-defining-question/
I think you have missed my point, Ken - I did not argue that the doctrine of Trinity is not explicitly taught in Scripture and we rely on authority of the Council, I agree with you that it is based on sound exegesis of Scripture. Scripture explicitly teaches deity of the Father, deity of the Son and deity of the Spirit, there is no question about it. However, specific Christological teachings like two wills of Christ, condemnation of monoenergism and condemnation of monotheletism byt Third Constantinople are not provable from Scripture alone (especially in the case of monoenergism, which, as I said, was deliberately vaguely defined to provide a compromise between Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians), thus these teachings are relying on authority of the Council.
This (above) was his response to my first response (below in blue) about the implication of Scripture passages that imply everything we need will be written down:
I wrote:
In the debate linked to below, from around the 1 hour mark to 1 hour and 8 minutes, Dr. White's questions to Mitch Pacwa answer your first objection. When I have time I will flesh it out more. the fact that the RCC has never dogmatically declared any words of the apostles that are not in Scripture shows that all that we needed was written down. (which Pacwa admitted was true - that there are no apostolic oral traditions that have been dogmatically defined as words of the apostles) What Pacwa is trying to say is that centuries later interpretations are "traditions" that are developed as new issues and questions are raised, and he tries to carefully parallel those RC doctrines and dogmas with the doctrine of the Trinity. But Pacwa admitted that the doctrine of the Trinity is based on sound exegesis of Scripture.
My main point was to point Avinger to the debate between Dr. White and Mitch Pacwa and the question that Dr. White posed to Mitch Pacwa, and Pacwa's answer that he admitted that the RCC has not infallibly defined any extra-biblical statement as coming from the apostles, which is not already written down in Scripture. Arvinger mostly went to the last part of my response, about the development of doctrine and the doctrine of the Trinity. I have decided to embed the debate between Dr. White and Mitch Pacwa again here.
My response to Arvinger's second response, which is now edited and expanded upon. See the combox for my original answer. I confess I don't know much about "mono-energism" - I need to study that.
But I know about Mono-theletism (the heresy that Jesus has only one will). That seems easy, along with the 2 persons of Christ, that He had two wills, because He surrendered and submitted His human will in the Garden when He prayed, "Not My will, but Thy will be done" (Luke 22:42) That is clear enough in Scripture, in my opinion. Monotheletism was an attempt to win the Monophysites to the Chalcedonian Creed of 451 AD. I think that the Byzantine Emperors Justinian (527-565 AD) and Heraclius (Emperor 610 to 641 AD) (and probably others between them) were too harsh against the Copts, Monophysites, Jacobite-Syrians and Armenians, (those groups that disagreed with the Chalcedonian Creed of 451 AD), and that created a bitterness among those groups with the unfortunate result that they at first welcomed the Arab Muslims when they invaded the Byzantine Empire and fought the Chalcedonian Creed Byzantine troops quartered there, but the people were mostly Monophysite. when Islam conquered in 636 AD onward.
That is one of the big mistakes of the early church - the complete unity between religion and politics and military might. My main point was about those verses that seem to imply that everything the church needs for ministry will be written down. See the first article linked below for the Scripture passages.
As to your very first point that you make about the issue of questioning that everything we need for ministry, doctrine, etc. was written down, and those verses I supplied seem to imply that. That point is strengthened when we understand the promise to the disciples in John 14 and 16 - "the Spirit will lead you into all the truth" and "the Spirit will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you", etc. Notice the promise is to the disciples/ apostles. This is not a general promise of guidance for the church for the rest of history, although that is certainly an application of the promise, but the specific promise here is to give the disciples/apostles the rest of revelation ("all the truth", "all things", John 16:12 - "I have many more things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now", etc.). This promise was extended to the apostle Paul later, and would include the other writers of NT books who were writing under apostolic authority. Mark writing for Peter; Luke interviewing the other apostles and Mary and other eyewitnesses, and under apostolic authority as the fellow-missionary on Paul's team; James and Jude as half-brothers of Jesus, and James is specifically called an apostle in Galatians 1:19 and 1 Corinthians 15:7, and who saw Jesus in His resurrection body. The book of Hebrews, though Luke and Silas and Apollos have also been suggested, seems to have been written by Barnabas, who is also called an apostle in Acts 14:4 and 14:14. Tertullian thought Barnabas wrote Hebrews. (On Modesty, 20) The other NT books were all written by apostles themselves, John, Matthew, Peter, and Paul.
These 2 articles linked to below, at my other blog, "Apologetics and Agape", flesh that out more, as we see that the RCC has never infallibly defined any words as coming from the apostles that is not already in Scripture (Dr. White's question to Mitch Pacwa in the debate on Sola Scriptura, see in first link), and the rule of faith that functioned in the early church was a doctrinal statement, organized around the 3 persons of the Trinity, per Matthew 28:19, and whenever it is fleshed out and explicated in the early church (see in second article) it is always a doctrinal creed in content that is all Biblical truth. There is nothing in these lists of "the rule of faith" or "the tradition of the apostles" that is a particular doctrine or seed of a later Roman Catholic particular doctrine that Protestantism disagrees with. The context, especially in Irenaeus and Tertullian is against Gnosticism, which Protestantism also agrees that Gnosticism is heresy and wrong. The context of Athanasius is mostly against Arians (in his other writings, and where he writes, "Scripture is fully sufficient" (Against the Gentiles 1:3; and de Synodis 6), etc. see in this previous article) and the Tropici (who denied the Deity of the Holy Spirit), which Protestantism agrees with the early fathers that these were heresies and unBiblical. These early fathers and writers may have mentioned other things in other contexts (like the "Mary as the New Eve" statements), but those peculiar pious beliefs are not part of the rule of the faith, when it is explicated. Things like Ignatius and the Didache and others using the word Eucharist, or the word "cath- holic" are not bad in themselves in their original context. The problem is that Roman Catholicism takes centuries later meanings of these terms and reads them back into the first or second century usage of them.
The Rule of Faith in the Early Church https://apologeticsandagape.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/the-rule-of-faith-in-the-early-church/ Addendum: Also, Irenaeus' wrote that it was the Gnostics who pointed to a living voice and living oral tradition outside of Scripture, and this is what Roman Catholics attempt to do by pointing back to 2 Thessalonians 2:15 and John 20:30 and 21:25 - and then reading centuries later doctrines, practices, or "seeds" of those concepts back into those verses - this is what the Gnostics were doing in Irenaeus' day, in order to try and establish an authority from the apostles outside of written Scripture. See Against Heresies 1:8:1
Such, then, is their [Gnostics] system, which neither the prophets announced, nor the Lord taught, nor the apostles delivered, but of which they boast that beyond all others they have a perfect knowledge. They gather their views from other sources than the Scriptures . . .
When, however, they are confuted from the Scriptures, they turn round and accuse these same Scriptures, as if they were not correct, nor of authority, and [assert] that they are ambiguous, and that the truth cannot be extracted from them by those who are ignorant of tradition. For [they allege] that the truth was not delivered by means of written documents, but vivâ voce ("living voice") . . .
This is exactly what Roman Catholics do all the time when attacking Sola Scriptura.
There is nothing much new here, if you have listened to Rod Bennett in his previous testimony on the Coming Home Network, and other lectures that are on you tube and catholic web-sites (some are radio interviews and question and answer pod-casts); and if you have seen and read my previous blog posts on my friend (both here at Beggar's All, and at Apologetics and Agape).
Even though both sides repeat a lot of the same arguments; I still think it is important for me to repeat the Protestant responses and apologetic answers to the Roman Catholics who keep making these claims. Even though this is all a repeat of many issues that Protestants and RCs keep debating, I wanted to have these points here together in one blog article with Rod's lecture, because it seems good to me. Again, nothing is meant as a personal attack; I am merely defending the historic Protestant Evangelical position against the Roman Catholic Apologetic arguments.
Rod Bennett's recent appearance on Marcus Grodi's "Coming Home Network", again.
Below is most of my response (edited and developed from the combox comments at the chnetwork site, not at the You Tube link) to Rod's interview and responses to some Roman Catholics who commented. I am not repeating the RC arguments here. In order to get the Roman Catholic comments, go the link and see the comboxes.
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Issues revolving around church history, Sola Scriptura, the canon, and tradition:
Rod is right in that our Southern Baptist Mega Church did not
teach us about church history, and it did not prepare us to understand church
history. But knowledgable Protestants do not have that "great
apostasy" view like the Mormons, JWs, or "the Fields of the
Woods" (A. J. Tomlinson, founder of Church of God that later splintered into the Church of God of Prophesy and the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee,etc.) Rod tells that story of "The Fields of the Woods" and Tomlinson in his latest book, The Apostasy That Wasn't, and in his lecture, "The Four Witnesses Brought Me Home". He may have mentioned that in his first book, but I don't remember for sure. Another group that likes to promote the "Great Apostasy" theory are the the Seventh Day Adventists
(who teach that Sunday Worship is the mark of the beast and was done by Constantine). Another common view of "The Great Apostasy" is like the liberal and conspiracy theory views of Dan Brown of the DaVinci Code fame or "the Christ of history vs. the Christ of faith" paradigm. Knowledgeable Protestants just don't have that view, that Rod tries to lump in with those false groups. But Rod is right that some, in fact too many, Evangelicals are ignorant of church history and many of the Evangelical free church types, many Baptists, and Charismatics and Pentecostals do see church history wrongly as in the "Great Apostasy" theory. I remember in seminary, when some one called this the "BOBO" theory, "Being true in the NT, then, "Blink Off sometime after NT was finished, Blink On with Luther".
Knowledgable Protestants who believe the Bible and appreciate
church history appreciate Ignatius, Polycarp, Tertullian, Irenaeus, Justin
Martyr, Cyprian, Athanasius, Augustine, Jerome, the Cappadocian fathers,
Anselm, etc. But they were not infallible; they made some mistakes.
Knowledgable Protestants don't say "the church went totally
bust" or "went off the rails", etc.
At first, I
thought Rod was saying that Constantine did make Christianity the state
religion, rather than that is what many Evangelicals (and others also)
believe.It is a common mistake repeated
a lot, even in history books. A couple of the RC commenters helped me see Rod was not saying that. Polycarp and Relics:
Rod
mentioned what happened after Polycarp was burned at the stake. If one reads
the account carefully, (The account of Polycarp's martyrdom is available atccel.orgornewadvent.org) it does not say that after they buried them,
they took out his bones next year for exhibition or stored them in a reliquary
in a church for exhibition, or prayed to Polycarp, or kissed his bones, etc. It says that they honored his remains by gathering them up after he was burned, and then they buried them. I think Timothy Kauffman makes a good case for understanding that "depositing" just meant burial. See Timothy Kauffman's excellent article on this issue of the early church and relics here.
They remembered him the next year on the anniversary of his
martyrdom, but the text does not indicate that they brought out his bones for exhibition or veneration or
kissing them or staring at them or praying before them. And the passage does not say they prayed to
Polycarp for him to pray for them. The Proto-Evangelium of James and Mary:
Rod mentions the Proto-evangelium of James. The Proto-evangelium of James was mentioned and used as a basis
for the Marian dogma of the Perpetual virginity of Mary, etc. It is Gnostic
tinged, since it implies that Jesus just "popped out" from inside of
Mary, without the normal pains of childbirth and passing through the birth
canal. This is a problem of Roman Catholicism - basing a dogma on a
non-canonical writing. It is a Gnostic idea to think that Jesus was not born in
the normal human way that we all are - after all, He was 100 % human, and that
is a dogma that Protestants agree with the RCC on - Jesus is 100% God and 100 %
man - the God-man; the second person of the Trinity who became flesh/human.
(John 1:1-5; 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8) Athanasius, canon, Sola Scriptura
Much of Rod's new book, The Apostasy that Wasn't, was about Athanasius and his fight to defend Nicene orthodoxy and the Arian heresy. However, Protestants love Athanasius and his fight against Arianism. He
also wrote: "they (the Arians, the heretics) have the buildings, but you
have the faith" (Letter 29) The heretical Arians held the external
buildings and priesthood and bishoprics for some 60 years. Protestants agree
with Athanasius and others who resisted Arianism. To try and imply that
Protestants think the early church went completely off is wrong.
Athanasius also wrote:
"in these alone (the 27 books of the NT) are the doctrine of
godliness" (that is Sola Scriptura in seed form). (Letter 39)
"Alone" = (Greek, "mono" = alone, which in Latin,
"Sola")
And, Athanasius also wrote, "the holy and God-breathed
Scriptures are self-sufficient for the preaching of the truth." (Contra
Gentiles, "Against the Heathen", 1:3)
Athanasisus also wrote:
"Vainly do they run about with the pretext that they have demanded
Councils for the faith's sake; for divine Scripture is sufficient above all
things . . . " (De Synoodis 6)
The Mass and Eucharist:
Rod claimed that the Didache has a Roman Catholic mass in it. The Didache does not have anything in it that implies
transubstantiation or a RC mass. It does not even imply the "real presence" in the Eucharist. The word Eucharist is used, but that is not a problem in itself. Protestants would use it, if it was not for the all the RC and transubstantiation associations with it because of the centuries of man-made traditions added to it. It just points to "thanksgiving" and being thankful for the Lord Jesus' atonement on the cross. Using the word "Eucharist" in the early writings, does not mean backloading the word with all the development of the meaning of the Lord's Supper that slowly takes place over centuries all the way up until 1215 AD.
General church history and the "great apostasy" question:
The corruptions that people like John Wycliffe in the 1300s, Jan
Hus in the 1400s, and Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin in the 1500s objected to was
a very slow process of an emphasis on externals, penances, works, rituals,
visiting shrines and relics, and the addition of man-made traditions like
purgatory and praying to dead saints, indulgences, transubstantiation, Marian
dogmas, Papal doctrines, priestly ex opera operato powers, etc. that had
eclipsed or hidden the true teaching of Scripture on justification and
sanctification; and understanding the distinction between the two.
Rod's main point is that many Evangelicals and cultic groups both seem to think that there was a great apostasy with Constantine around 313 AD - 325 and afterward. It is true that many Baptists and free church Evangelicals and Charismatics probably are ignorant of the details of church history and wrongly think there was a complete apostasy with Constantine. But this idea get mixed up with cultic groups and liberal theology and Rod does an effective job of lumping them all together.
All these groups (cultic groups, liberal theology, semi-cultic groups (Seventh Day Adventism), and uninformed Evangelicals), even though totally unlike one another, seem to blame everything on Constantine. Anti-Trinitarian groups, cultic groups, historical revisionism as in the Dan Brown Da Vinci code type of thinking, and a lot of liberal theology (the whole "separating the Christ of history from the Christ of faith" liberal paradigm). We don't
say the early church went off the rails completely - At least not until the
Council of Trent ( 1545-1563) - that is where the Roman Catholic Church
knowingly condemned the doctrine of justification by faith alone; and only then
did it become a completely false church.
Athanasius is claimed to have had a high view of Mary as arc of the covenant:
A Roman
Catholic named Anthony cited from a work attributed to Athanasius called, “the
Homily of the Papyrus of Turin”.
There is some doubt about the work that has been attributed to
Athanasius called, "The Homily of the Papyrus of Turin" - it was
found more recently and was unknown in the west for centuries. It is not part
of the standard works of the early church fathers and was not in Migne's
Patrology.
"I wonder whether this is spurious or genuine. The name of
the document is not itself frightfully reassuring. It suggests attribution to
Athanasius based on a single copy (probably in Coptic-Sahaddic not Greek) from
the 6th century or so. As far as I can tell, it was unknown to the Western
church as part of the Athanasian corpus and has become known via the journal Le
Muséon in 1958." (Turretinfan, at his blog,) ( with my editing for clarity.)
Even
if that can be proven it was from Athanasius himself, it is just his private
opinion. It carries no weight at all as authoritative. We can accept the good
and Biblical things from the fathers, and reject the man-made traditions and
opinions as just that. They are not infallible. Only Scripture is infallible.
Back to issues of Tradition, Canon, Sola Scriptura, church, and the Trinity:
Rod and another Roman Catholic commentator mention sacred tradition, and as we all know, their main text for that is 2 Thessalonians 2:15.
Sacred tradition of the apostles was all eventually written
down. 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6; (very early epistles - 51-52 AD - it is reasonable
to assume that the things he was teaching orally and not written down yet at
the time, were later written down in other letters like Romans, Colossians, the
pastoral epistles, etc.) 1 Corinthians 11:2; 15:1-9, Jude 3. The harmonization of sound exegesis of passages such as Jude 3 (the faith was once for all delivered to the saints), 2 Peter
1:3-4 (His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness); and John 17:8 (Jesus praying to the Father, "the words You gave Me, I have given to them" - to the disciples), John 17:17 (Your Word is truth), John 14:26 (the Holy Spirit will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you), and John 16:13 (The Holy Spirit will guide you into all the truth), with 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (All Scripture is God-breathed; and is sufficient to equip the man of God for every good work), and 2 Peter
3:16 (Peter considers all of Paul's letters as Scripture), and Hebrews 1:1-3 (in the last final days, God has spoken decisively and finally through His Son) - all of these together strongly implies that everything we need was written down for
us, and that with the death of the apostles, there will be no more revelation.
A Roman Catholic claims that the Trinity is only known through later tradition (meaning the interpretation of the church, in RC understanding), church councils and creeds.
Athanasius speaking of the Holy Trinity - well, since the Holy
Trinity is scriptural and we Protestants agree with that, and Athanasius was writing against the heresies of the Arians, Sabellians, and Tropici, that is not a good
example of something that becomes particularly Roman Catholic that Protestants
disagree with, that is called as part of the "Rule of Faith" or
"the Tradition". The Rule of Faith or "the tradition"
spoken of by Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and Athanasius are all doctrinal
statements based on the organization around the Trinity, that are similar to
the Apostles Creed, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, etc. that Protestants
agree with that are in infallible Scripture.
On
the "canon" of Scripture. All of the 27 NT books and letters were
God-breathed / inspired, the moment they were written from around 45 AD to 96
AD, with most written before 70 AD. They were individual scrolls written to
different places by different authors and from different areas. The form of a
codex was not even in existance in the first century. A simple codex - flattening out the sheets of papyri and tying more than one book together -
which later became basis for book making with a binding. 'canon"
originally just meant "standard", "rule", "law"
before it came to mean "list". They were canon or standard already
because they were God-breathed at the time of the writing of them in the first
century. Just because it took time to even know about them(some areas would not
have known about every NT book until enough time passed for all the areas to
communicate with one another about all the different books), then discern them
all as Scripture, and then gather them together in one "codex", does
not make that in itself some sort of infallible act. It is true and correct,
but it was a natural part of a process of history. Irenaeus and Tertullian
(around 180-220 AD) list most all of the 27 NT books in their writings. Before
then, we just don't have anyone writing the volume that they wrote to quote
from all or most of the books. What we have that is extant from writers earlier
than those 2 are very small works and short letters. (Clement of Rome,
Ignatius, Polycarp, Didache, Hermas, Justin Martyr)
Although the word Trinity, and homo-ousias (same substance) and
hupostasis (for person of the 3 persons formula for the Trinity) are not words
for the Trinity in the NT (though hupostasis is used for Jesus' nature/ being
in Hebrews 1:3, the word was later adopted for the person that is
"existing under" the one substance (ousia); although those words are
not employed in the text of the NT in the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine
is Biblical in that the concept and doctrine is taught by harmonizing all that
Scripture says about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (and based on
Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Matthew 3:13-17, and others). That is
the proper role of theological development, or proper interpretations, which
the Roman Catholic Church calls tradition also. (beyond the revelatory
traditions that were apostolic, as in 2 Thess. 2:15 and 1 Cor. 11:2, etc.)
There is proper doctrinal and theological development, and then there is
improper (additions, corruptions), which is what the RC dogmas about Mary
(beyond the ones Protestants agree with such as the Virgin Birth of Christ),
Popes, indulgences, purgatory, penances, trafficking in relics, prayers to Mary
and dead saints, priests, ex opere operato powers, Transubstantiation, etc. -
these are man-made traditions that are not in the early centuries and not
biblical.
If you go back and look at the context of De Decretis (Defense
of the Nicene Definition) 27, it is all about explaining Scripture. "this
view was transmitted from Father to Father" just means the proper
interpretation of the Deity of Christ and the Trinity, which Athanasius
explains and Protestants agree with that. Athanasius (about 300-373 AD)
mentions Origen, who was about a century before him. (250 AD) The quote does
not go against Sola Scriptura, it merely is testifying that the Nicene Creed
was Biblical. He was condemning Arianism and Sabellianism (Modalism) and
Protestants agree with that. So that quote is not saying Creeds or Bishops or
fathers are above Scripture, it is only saying that the fathers properly
interpreted the Scriptures on that issue - the issue of the Deity of Christ and
the Trinity, which is all Biblical.
The To Serapion, On the Holy Spirit, against the Tropici heretics, 1:28 quote, is in Athansius' work on the Holy Spirit
against the heretical group called the Tropici, and if you look at the context
of that also, he is quoting Scripture about the Deity of the Holy Spirit, and
the Trinity, and so the Tradition, the teaching and faith of the universal church
at the time was the sound doctrine about the Trinity, which Protestants agree
with, so that, (and the other quotes) do not exalt some extra-Biblical
tradition above Scripture, but rather are expressing the proper interpretation
of infallible Scripture.
Here is more of the full quote: (It is all based on Matthew
28:19 and 2 Cor. 13:14, and Ephesians 4:6:
28. But, beyond these sayings, let us look at the very
tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which
the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept. Upon this the
Church is founded, and he who should fall away from it would not be a
Christian, and should no longer be so called. There is, then, a Triad, holy and
complete, confessed to be God in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, [based on
Matthew 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14] having nothing foreign or external mixed with it,
not composed of one that creates and one that is originated, but all creative;
and it is consistent and in nature indivisible, and its activity is one. The
Father does all things through the Word in the Holy Spirit. Thus the unity of
the holy Triad is preserved. Thus one God is preached in the Church, ‘who is
over all, and through all, and in all’ [ Ephesians 4:6] — ‘over all’, as
Father, as beginning, as fountain; ‘through all’, through the Word; ‘in all’,
in the Holy Spirit. It is a Triad not only in name and form of speech, but in
truth and actuality. For as the Father is he that is, so also his Word is one
that is and God over all. And the Holy Spirit is not without actual existence,
but exists and has true being. Less than these (Persons) the Catholic Church
does not hold, lest she sink to the level of the modern Jews, imitators of
Caiaphas, and to the level of Sabellius. Nor does she add to them by speculation,
lest she be carried into the polytheism of the heathen. And that they may know
this to be the faith of the Church, let them learn how the Lord, when sending
forth the Apostles, ordered them to lay this foundation for the Church, saying:
‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ [ Matthew 28:19 ] The Apostles went,
and thus they taught; and this is the preaching that extends to the whole
Church which is under heaven. (Athanasius, To Serapion, against the Tropici heretics, Book 1:28, Translated, intro, and notes by C.R. B. Shapland.)
It
is the same principle for the other 2 quotes; they are not exalting some kind
of extra-biblical man made tradition over Scripture, but Athanasius is saying
the proper interpretation of Scripture about the Deity of Christ and the
Trinity is passed down by the fathers.
Athanasius' work Decretis or Defense of the Nicene Definition you
can find it at
www.ccel.org
www.newadvent.org
Prayers to the dead:
A Roman Catholic commenter claims that praying to the dead is early and good.
No; Scripture is clear and forbids praying to the dead. Pray only to God. The angel rebuked John several times for worshiping the angel. Revelation 19:10 and 22:8-9.
The issue of Mary:
Mary is more honored by us (Protestants) by teaching what Scripture says about her and her faith and humility, but that she admitted she was a sinner and needed salvation ( Luke 1:46) and that Jesus was born of the virgin. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-37; chapter 2) Matthew 1:25 is clear - "until" 'εως 'ου = heos hou = "until, and after that, no more". Mary and Joseph had other children after Jesus. Matthew 12:46-47; 13:55-56; Mark 3:32; 6:3; John 7:5-10; Luke 8:19-20; Galatians 1:19
Praying to Mary and thinking she is a co-mediatrix, is a clear violation of 1 Timothy 2:5 - for there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ . . .
In later centuries, the church was wrong on over-exalting Mary and praying to her and having icons and statues to her later. The New Eve statements (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian) are not a big deal. God used her as the channel / instrument to bring the Messiah into the world.
But the other stuff about Mary, which developed later, especially after Athanasius, Totally wrong. Mary was a godly woman and Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, but she was not perpetual virgin and we should not pray to her. Prayers to her are later anyway, but they are still wrong. She was not sinless, nor Immaculately conceived, nor bodily assumed. These are all man-made traditions.
"Theotokos", as originally meant, about Jesus being God from conception (and thus pre-existent before the conception in the womb of Mary) was right; but Nestorius was right in that people will get the wrong impression and think Christians are saying Mary brought God into existence, which is exactly what Muslims thought by hearing this, and even to this day, the Muslims still misunderstand and think Christians worship Mary and over-exalt Mary and the Qur'an thought Mary was part of the Trinity because of your church's error and man-made traditions. (The Qur'an, Surah 5:116, with 5:72-78) puts Mary, Jesus, and God as the Trinity, with Surah 4:171 - "say not three", etc.)
A Roman Catholic asks, "How do you think the Church Fathers read the Scriptures regarding Our Lady?
Many of them said she sinned. Origen, Chrysostom, Tertullian, Basil, Cyril of Alexandria
Tertullian said she had a normal marriage after Jesus was born. She was not perpetual virgin.
Basil the Great:
Basil commented on the sword of Luke 2:35-36 stating, “Even you yourself [Mary], who hast been taught from on high the things concerning the Lord, shall be reached by some doubt. This is the sword” (Basil of Caesarea, Letter, 260, 9 italics mine).
Cyril of Alexandria (A. D. 376 – 444) also taught that Mary sinned in severe ways thereby holding to a position in opposition to an immaculate conception:
“For, doubtless, some such train of thought as this passed through her mind: ‘I conceived Him That is mocked upon the Cross. He said, indeed, that He was the true Son of Almighty God, but it may be that He was deceived; He may have erred when He said: I am the Life. How did His crucifixion come to pass? and how was He entangled in the snares of His murderers? How was it that He did not prevail over the conspiracy of His persecutors against Him? And why does He not come down from the Cross, though He bade Lazarus return to life, and struck all Judaea with amazement by His miracles?" The woman, as is likely, not exactly understanding the mystery, wandered astray into some such train of thought” (Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, Book 12).
1 Clement, elders and bishops, and NT priests and Latin:
One RC wrote: I mean, up until the late 4th century, the Epistle of St. James had not even been quoted in the west.
Actually, 1 Clement 23:3 seems to be combination of James 1:8 and 2 Peter 3:4, and Clement of Rome is western, and dated at 96 AD. Also a strong case for patristic witness to 2 Peter.
Even if it can be proven Athanasius did write the Homily of the Papyrus of Turin, it is just his opinion. It just does not sound like him, when I read his other writings.
You are right, I am not infallible; but neither is any human - no bishop of Rome or "Pope" was ever infallible, not matter how much your RC Church claims it.
Only Scripture is infallible (as opposed to interpretations later in history, non-apostolic traditions, creeds, church councils, bishops, priests, etc.), because it is revelation from God, and only God is infallible. Since God is infallible and perfect, it is a function of His attributes; and Scripture is His Word, therefore Scripture is infallible. Since man makes mistakes, he and Popes and bishops cannot be infallible, since they are human.
An RC commenter seemed to claim I was saying that 1 Clement taught Sola Scriptura. I did not say 1 Clement taught Sola Scriptura, rather I was responding to his claim that the epistle of James was not even quoted in the west until the late 4th Century.
One RC wrote: I mean, up until the late 4th century, the Epistle of St. James had not even been quoted in the west.
And my answer was: Actually, 1 Clement 23:3 seems to be combination of James 1:8 and 2 Peter 3:4, and Clement of Rome is western, and dated at 96 AD. Also a strong case for patristic witness to 2 Peter.
1 Clement (96 AD) is actually proof that each church had a plurality of elders, and understood that the office of elder and overseer (bishop) was the same. 1 Clement 42-44. This confirms the clear teaching of Scripture in Titus 1:5-7 (elder and bishop same office/person); Acts 14:23 (elders - plural - for each church); 1 Peter 5:1-4 - each elder is to oversee and shepherd (pastor) the flock. Peter is "fellow-elder", not a Pope nor a "bishop over all other bishops", (a false doctrine that came along centuries later.) Acts 20:17 (elders) - Acts 20:28 - each elder is to oversee and shepherd the flock. Clement does not claim any special office for himself, never says "I am Pope" or "bishop over bishops" and writes "from the church at Rome" "to the church at Corinth". He was right to rebuke the schism and rebellion in the Corinthian church for deposing the elders because of jealousy, for they had no good reason to rebel against their church elders.
There was no hierarchy of one bishop over the college of elders, until Ignatius, who comes a few years after Clement. ( Ignatius, around 107-117 AD) Even so, it was a practical practice, Jerome around 400 AD, agrees that bishops are elders and elders are bishops, and calls what Ignatius and others after him did, as "custom", rather than revelation/in Scripture. (commentary on Pastoral Epistles).
The problem in Latin Christianity (later, Tertullian and Cyprian) was the conflating of the term of priest in the OT with the idea of elder in the NT. A priest in the OT (Kohen) was translated in the NT and Clement as heireus, priesthood as heirosunaes 'ειρωσυνης (in 1 Clement 43:2, which you quoted). In the NT, an priest is the Greek word heireus / 'ειρευς where that word in 1 Clement is derived. The Hebrew for that was Kohen כהנ and yet both Hebrew and Greek had other words for "elder" ( Greek: presbuteros / πρεσβυτερος ). There was another Latin term for those that offered the sacrifices in the temple (the priests). Latin = sacerdos, where we get "sacerdotal" from.
But in English and in Roman Catholicism, the elder/ presbuteros and the priest / Sacerdos got combined into "priest" because they (what later became Roman Catholicism exemplified in the Mass and Transubstantiation - mainly developed from 800s AD to 1215 AD) wanted to combine the ideas of offering sacrifices with the office of elder. But in the NT, there is no sacerdotal office in the NT church, as Jesus was and is our mediator/ high priest, and priest according to the order of Melchizadek (Hebrews 5, 7) and He offered the last and final sacrifice, Himself. And when the NT does refer to priests and priesthood, aside from Christ, it is talking about all believers in Christ who are priests who offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. (1 Peter 2:5-10; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10) There is no special NT office of priests for the churches, as it was for Israel in the OT.
Since elder in the NT was NOT a sacerdos, it was wrong for the Latin development of the word into priest, rather than to keep the two words separate and clear.
Clement is pointing out that there was jealousy, envy and strive over the OT priests in the OT times; and there was jealousy and strive against the elders/bishops in the church of Corinth, but he is not saying that elders/bishops are priests like in the OT. The Corinthians were wrong to allow the presbyter-overseers to be deposed, and Clement rightly rebukes them for that; but Clement was not teaching any mono-episcopate or NT priesthood; and he clearly affirmed that elders and overseers (episcopos, translated sometimes as "bishop") are the same office, just as Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 14:23; and Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3, 5 show. The NT, 1 Clement, the Didache, and the Shepherd of Hermas show that the earliest NT and earliest in church history local church government was a plurality of elders and they were all expected to be shepherds (pastors) and overseers and there was no mono-episcopate; and definitely no "bishop over all other bishops". The mono-episcopte developed from Ignatius onward, and it grew to a bishop over a larger area, and then, centuries later, evolved into the claims of the bishop of Rome (as "Pope"), but the East never accepted such a claim.
He clearly teaches that they are the same office, if you read 1 Clement 42 to 44 fairly.
especially this section of paragraph 44:
"For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that ye have removed some men of excellent behavior from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honor." I Clement 44:4-5
Conclusion: Rod is wrong.
Those early pious beliefs or side comments (like using the word Eucharist, or "Catholic" or the "Mary as the New Eve" comments by Tertullian, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr, or the respect shown to Polycarp's bones, or that they seem to teach baptismal regeneration, or the mono-episcopate from Ignatius onward, or the conflating of the Latin creation of the word priest from the Greek presbuteros that developed, etc.) by early church fathers that RC developed into later dogmas, are not things that mean a complete apostasy of the whole church in the early centuries (Constantine or a little later) at that time. The church existed even in the time of Wycliffe, Hus, Luther, though it has drifted far and was full of corruption. The real apostasy does not come until the Council of Trent in 1545-1563.
Please watch and listen to the video first. You may not understand what I am getting at in my article there after the video of Rod's lecture, without listening to Rod first.
This is the combination of two older posts, with additional comments. (and a 3rd link to Michael Horton's article) This is also where I made some comments about my friend Rod Bennett and his book Four Witnesses and his struggles with doubt about church history, the canon, which interpretation, which church is right, etc. He went through the same kinds of doubts and skepticism that John Henry Cardinal Newman, Scott Hahn, Chesterton, Peter Kreeft and pretty much all former Protestants who have crossed the Tiber and become Roman Catholic have gone through. In a way, this could be "Review of Rod Bennett's book, Four Witnesses, Part 3".
In the "What about the Canon?" article, this was also a good summary of the issues.
Though I don't agree with some of what he writes at his blog, on this issue of Sola Scriptura and the canon and uncertainty, C. Michael Patton wrote an excellent article on Sola Scriptura and the Canon here a while back, with a classic picture of Bill Murray from the movie, "What about Bob?"
This part of C. Michael Patton's article was especially good in shooting down the typical Roman Catholic method of trying to sow doubt and confusion into the mind of sensitive Protestants who also enjoy church history, who take seriously the Biblical doctrine of the church; and who take historical theology seriously.
"We have a term that we use for people who require infallible certainty about everything: “mentally ill.” Remember What About Bob? He was mentally ill because he made decisions based on the improbability factor. Because it was a possibility that something bad could happen to him if he stepped outside his house, he assumed it would happen. There are degrees of probability. We act according to degrees of probability. Simply because it is a possibility that the sun will not rise tomorrow does not mean that it is a probability that it won’t. C. Michael Patton
I am not saying that all Roman Catholics are mentally ill; but I am just agreeing that that kind of skepticism leads to such instability that it leads people astray from the truth, and it could possibly lead to mental illness.
The same argument can be made about uncertainty about the canon and interpretation of Scripture.
Just because there is a possibility that we are wrong (being fallible), does not mean that it is a probability. Therefore, we look to the evidence for the degree of probability concerning Scripture. The smoke screen of epistemological certainty that seems to be provided by having a living infallible authority (Magisterium) disappears when we realize that we all start with fallibility. No one would claim personal infallibility. Therefore it is possible for all of us to be wrong. We all have to start with personal fallible engagement in any issue. Therefore, any belief in an infallible living authority could be wrong. As Geisler and MacKenzie put it, “The supposed need for an infallible magisterium is an epistemically insufficient basis for rising above the level of probable knowledge. Catholic scholars admit, as they must, that they do not have infallible evidence that there is an infallible teaching magisterium. They have merely what even they believe to be only probable arguments. But if this is the case, then epistemically or apologetically there is no more than a probable basis for Catholics to believe that a supposedly infallible pronouncement [either about the canon or interpretation of the canon] of their church is true” (Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences, p. 216)." C. Michael Patton
Concerning the search for "feelings of Nostagia", I wrote these comments, with some updated editing.
nostalgia - 1. A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.
2. The condition of being homesick; homesickness.
Scott and Kimberly Hahn - "Rome, Sweet Home" - you can feel the longing for nostalgia here.
Rod Bennett, author of Four Witnesses: the Early Church in Her Own Words (Ignatius Press, 2002) (who was one of my best friends for years; one of my groomsmen in my wedding; after 8 years of debate, after he informed me of his decision to convert to Rome; he told me he wanted to debate no more. We debated from 1996-2004 by email and phone and face to face in many 3 to 5 hour discussions/arguments/informal debate.)
Rod had this same longing for nostalgia - connection to history, old architecture, pilgrimages, grave sites; heroes of the past (martyrs, saints), wars of chivalry, knights, and rescuing princesses; and he also longed for unity and perfection and ultimate authority. (some of that is not bad, as long as we are balanced and come back to reality to today and let the Scriptures be our stabilizing comfort by the power of the Holy Spirit.)
He used John Henry Cardinal Newman and G. K. Chesterton types of arguments a lot. Interesting that the Roman Catholic author that John Bugay cited above in "A word about intellectual converts", says, “Newman probably is the one who started that mess . . . “
Interesting that that cradle Roman Catholic that John Bugay cited looks at all the nostalgia and Newman methods as a negative thing; and he doesn’t sound too sure or positive about pope Pius IX.
But also, they seem to long for perfection here on earth – for example - the dissillusionment with pastors and churches and disunity in history and denominations comes from this root of longing for perfection here on earth, which is delusional.
"Wouldn’t it be great if we had a living voice, someone who could walk into the room and say "thus says the Lord" someone who could tell us what the right interpretation is and solve all the disunity problems in Protestant denominationalism?" Rod Bennett (this is basically what he would say to me, from memory of many talks with him over those 8 years.)
Tim Staples also reflects this "nostalgia" and said similar things about a living voice that can walk into the room and solve disunity problems, in his debates and discussions with James White on the Bible Answer Man program and in debates - he has the same nostalgia.
Rod Bennett's uncertainty about the right interpretation and disillusionment over disunity in Protestantism reminded me of what C. Micheal Patton wrote about the radical skepticism of doubting everything and obsession to know for sure, to require infallible certainty; and the illustration from the movie, “What About Bob?”, with Bill Murray. The picture of Bill Murray from the movie is worth a thousand words.
“We have a term that we use for people who require infallible certainty about everything: “mentally ill.” Remember What About Bob? He was mentally ill because he made decisions based on the improbability factor. Because it was a possibility that something bad could happen to him if he stepped outside his house, he assumed it would happen. There are degrees of probability. We act according to degrees of probability. Simply because it is a possibility that the sun will not rise tomorrow does not mean that it is a probability that it won’t.”
That seems to be the root issue for the RC apologetic – this “how do you know for sure?” questions. Peter Kreeft, as I recall, used the same kind of argument, when another friend of mine contacted him about doubts about church history, the canon, assurance, how to know the right interpretation, etc. with statements like,
“What if the canon was not right?”
"What if your interpretation is not right?"
" How do you know for sure you have the right books or the right interpretation?"
"How do you know for sure you are in the right church?"
It is all based on epistemology and the search for knowing for sure. Somehow, the pope and infallible church claim gives them comfort.
It is a false assurance.
It is the nature of epistemology and "how do you know what you know?" that is the Roman Catholic apologetic tactic. The Roman Catholics, especially the former Protestant like the Called to Communion folks, are just using a very clever tool in their churches' apologetic kit. It is what happened to Newman; it is Descartes methodology in RCC terminology and dressed up in Cardinal's clothes, so to speak.
Notice Ephesians 3:12 - "in whom, we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him." The Bible gives us all the confidence we need:
"to write and orderly account for you . . . " . . . so that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught". Luke 1:1-4 ESV
NIV = "certainty"
NASB says "so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught."
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you have know you have eternal life." I John 5:13
2 Peter 1:12-21 and 3:1 (read and meditate on these verses) also communicate from Peter himself, who according to your church is the first Pope, yet before he dies, he does not mention anything about the bishop or elders or church leadership and he does not say "ask them for assurance" or "trust in them for the right interpretation", etc. - he leaves a letter so that the believers will have something to teach them and remind them of the truth and because he did write it down, he says, "therefore we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts . . ." (2 Peter 1:19)
Roman Catholics will say "you only have a "fair amount of certainty".
I disagree. It is rather the highest amount of certainty that God expects from humans who will be reading His God-breathed Scriptures. There are many other passages - John 20:30-31"these have been written that you may know". God never expects us humans to have "infallible certainty" in our feelings or souls, etc. That category of "infallibility" is not even within our subjective feelings and knowledge. Rather, we have reasonable and sufficient certainty by reading the Scriptures and by the power of the Holy Spirit communicating that assurance to us.
With the clear teaching of Scripture, I don't understand the creation of another level of extra-certainty, which is superfluous of the whole infallible RC church/magisterium/pope/ etc. We have all the certainty that God requires.
And in fact, because of the mistakes and the errors and the false doctrines that have been added to the Scriptures (Marian dogmas, penance, treasury of merit, indulgences, purgatory, NT priests, Apocryphal books, prayers for the dead, alms giving and good works as required conditions for salvation; infant baptismal regeneration, transubstantiation and bowing down to the consecrated host of bread and wine; praying to statues and icons; having other mediators beyond the one mediator (contradiction to 1 Tim. 2:5) - these things actually take away confidence and assurance and certainty and create a trust in man-made traditions. So, the Roman Catholic "certainty" is not a certainty at all for me, even though it claims "infallible certainty", it does not inspire a stronger certainty at all for me.
“Let nobody suppose that he has tasted the Holy Scriptures sufficiently unless he has ruled over the churches with the prophets for a hundred years. Therefore there is something wonderful, first, about John the Baptist; second, about Christ; third, about the apostles...“We are beggars. That is true.” - Martin Luther
Luther's Works
A Collection of On-line Resources For All Your Luther Needs
"It is true that the best apologetics can be given only when the system of truth is well known. But it is also true that the system of truth is not well known except it be seen in its opposition to error."- Cornelius Van Til
"But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the church. As if the eternal and inviolable truth of God depended upon the decision of men!"- John Calvin
"The Scriptures obtain full authority among believers only when men regard them as having sprung from heaven, as if there the living words of God were heard."- John Calvin
This is the best book available on Sola Scriptura. For Protestants, it will help you understand and defend sola scriptura. For Roman Catholics, this book will help you understand exactly what Protestants mean by sola scriptura... rather than what you think it means!
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