Question 7's answer improved
7) Where in the Bible is
God’s Word restricted only to what is written down?
Subtle, if we accept the premise the Bible and
God's Word are two separate entities, then we have accepted what the argument hopes
to prove, that the Bible and God's Word exist as two separate entities.
Also the argument equivocates as it hopes to prove Rome's living tradition,
which isn't verbal, is the same as the Word God speaks.
Hence the argument is an irrelevant thesis, immaterial and incompetent if one
is trying to prove Rome's living tradition is the word of God.
Proving delicious steak might exist apart from a restaurant doesn't prove those
smelly socks in your closet are steaks too.
God's Word is restricted to words God speaks, and because He is the Supreme
Being, His Words have Supreme Authority.
Since God caused His words to become scripture, scripture has supreme
authority....sola scriptura.
If the Roman Catholic Church can prove God's Word exists elsewhere, let them
present their proofs to a true Ecumenical council and we will determine if
those words are canon.
Until we see the text of their "Word of God" they have no argument
the Word of God exists in other writings.
Catholic Living Tradition cannot be
the Word of God according to Paul
In First Corinthians the apostle
Paul expressly rejected the idea the Word of God is in Church teaching and
tradition. Therefore Catholic and Pentecostal belief the Word of God is being
channeled through them is impossible.
So what exactly is Tradition?
"Tradition is the word living continuously in the hearts of the
faithful," 489 "the living memorial of God's Word" [113][78,113,2650,2661]. Roman Catholic Tradition is not
something you can read or even lay your hands on.
[Tradition]...is not an inanimate thing passed from hand to hand; it is not,
properly speaking, an assemblage of doctrines and institutions consigned to
books or other monuments....it must be represented as a current of life and
truth coming from God through Christ and through the Apostles to the last of
the faith who repeats his creed and learns his catechism.-The Catholic
Encyclopedia 490
Tradition, as explained by Catholic scholars, is not contained in books, but in
people, in the life of the church. It is the life experience of the
Catholic faithful. It is revelation "...written principally in the
Church's heart rather than in documents and records...."[113]
Roman Catholicism describes Tradition as a "living transmission" [78]
through which "...the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship,
perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that
she believes" 491 [78,98]. It is the living faith produced by
"realities and words that are being passed on." 492
-James G McCarthy, The Gospel According to Rome, Harvest House
Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 1995), p.291
Even inspired utterance of the Holy Spirit through the church is NOT the Word
of God:
1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye
come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue,
hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue,
let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one
interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the
church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two
or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be
revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first
hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and
all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the
prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it
is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will
learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:
for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or
came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself
to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write
unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let
him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to
speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently
and in order.
I always suspected this phenomena was not as supernatural
as Pentectostals today make it. Consider a
"prophet" might false prophesy, yet not be labeled a false prophet.
He would be corrected by the older men, who no doubt would cite the relevant
scripture correcting his error.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth
by, let the first hold his peace. ...
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the
prophets.
If the prophecy were "the Word of God" or
considered to be on that level, then false prophecy would be condemned and the
false prophet cast out.
When believers get together, and the Spirit inspires them to read and sing
scriptures, and share the insights they have in them....that is the same as
prophesying psalms reading the Corinthians were doing....the difference being
in semantics only.
Note they were going to forbid tongues....only the majority could have done
that. Most of the epistle is about "non charismatic"
issues....proving this church wasn't like charismanic
churches today.
Back to exposing sneaky Catholic arguments.
While "Scripture" is the "Word of God", the
"Word of God" can be non-verbal revelation.
In Luke 3:2 "the word of God" came to John, inspiring his message in vs 3:
Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,
the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he
came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for
the remission of sins;
Other texts show the "word of God" is preaching by Jesus (Luke
4:44-5:1; 8:11-15) and His apostles:
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they
have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias
saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Protestants aren't accustomed to think of the "Word of God" in these
terms because they have the finished product of this Word in their Bibles.
So Catholic apologists have had some success blind siding them with the
argument "the phrase 'Word of God' in scripture doesn't always refer to
scripture" and from this argue sola scriptura is wrong........a straw man
to be sure, but effective on some.
While the "Word of God" came to preachers in the New Testament, it
begs the question whether it also went to those fellows in Rome.
Proving the Word of God existed in the preaching of Jesus and His apostles and prophets in the New Testament doesn't prove Catholic
"living tradition" is the Word of God.
Proving nutritious steak can exist apart from good
restaurants isn't the same as proving a smelly sock is steak.
We know God's Word came through Jesus and His apostles and prophets, but does
it follow it also comes through the church? No, it comes to us only:
1 Corinthians 14:36 What? came the word of God out
from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord.
The founding apostles and prophets who wrote scripture are with the LORD. We
cannot diminish the Word of God by adding to it
tradition of the church.
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the
word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may
keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Spiritual blindness is the price one pays for rebelling against this clear
command of God. Catholic apologists argue the Bible is unclear, and they
are right, its unclear
to them.
As their Teaching Authority adds its "precepts" to the Word of God,
diminishing God's authority....the Word of God is hid from them.
Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep,
and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he
covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is
sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray
thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I
pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their
mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have
removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the
precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous
work among this people, even a marvellous work and a
wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of
their prudent men shall be hid.
__________________
The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth
all men every where to repent:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.-kjv