Posted on 12/18/2007 1:52:09 PM PST by NYer
Nobody ever talks about the fact that much of scripture is written in Greek. The Greeks being Eastern Orthodox probably have a good handle on what’s in the bible especially when one considers that translating Greek to Latin or any other language may have opened the door to interpretive differences.
Actually, its sort of a constant mantra around here, even from the Latins. BTW, all of the NT was written in Greek.
When all was said and done, the Scriptures Martin Luther recognized were the same as those of the Early Church Fathers. Do you even know why Luther questioned the inclusion of a few books in the first place?
Of course this was determined by a majority vote. If you were in the minority you were a heretic. The Council of Nicea was as much about politics as it was scripture.
I am, my wife reads NIV.
You can say that again! Luther thought he knew better than 1500 years of unified understanding and recast the canon based on his own self-aggrandized opinion.
I always seen Latin as the subject. Thank you for the correction.
I don’t remember jumping on any Catholic threads before, some Mormon, but that is here nor there. I will respond to assertions made about one specific “worldly church” claiming to be the “church” and trying to claim exclusivity when clearly the “church” in the true sense is the body of true believers in Christ regardless of their denomination, size, or location. The Bible says where two or more meet to worship there Jesus will be also.
I have attended many churches in my life: Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, and yes Catholic for about 2 years. I have settled back on Southern Baptist after a long absence, but do not claim that it is above any other denomination historically or spiritually, it merely reflects the style of worship and fellowship I prefer and the amount of control I am willing to relinquish to a structured man made church-political hierarchy over my spiritual journey, tithes, and doctrine. While I agree with many of the Catholic Church’s tenets ( this is what is outside of the Bible ) I did not want to subject myself to the bureaucratic whims of basically a small government on the form of the church leadership and Pope. The Bible says nothing about having to follow endless prayers, rituals, and tests to be included in the church, only that you believe in Him and secondly strive to live like Him. All the other trappings: saints, rosary, and others are man-made.
While each mainstream Christian church ( and I do not count LDS ) has its internal problems and differences no one church regardless of its age can claim to be the “church”. The seven churches mentioned in Revelation more than likely were merely organized meetings of believers who exchanged support and learned about the Word from the original apostles or their appointees like Timothy. The formal Catholic Church was founded my men ( I disagree that Peter founded it ) who added the tapestry of the ceremony as did other churches in their own way that popped up over the last 2000 years.
You have a Merry Christmas as well and may God Bless you.
Basically so is mine as we worship God through Jesus and try to follow the Bible’s teachings.
Of course the only difference between Protestant and Mormon is timing - both religions think thsey can have a bible with and without what ever they see fit at that point in time.
One came during the reformation to worship Luther and one came later to worship Joeseph Smith, but they are both heretics at heart.
That is taken from the Bible where it says “where ever two or more meet in My name I shall also be”.
A moniker made by a man who more than likely never met Christ nor an original apostle.
If I am a heretic by choosing not to be Catholic and allowing a man to dictate when, where, and how I worship based on his latest whim then I can come up with some descriptions of the Catholic Church for you that I will for go listing as not to insult any Catholics as you have just done many Protestants.
While I do agree that Mormonism is not Christianity you could not be more wrong about mainstream Protestant faiths like Methodism, Baptists, Presbyterian and others.
The term "Catholic Church" was coined in 106 AD by St. Ignatius in his epistle to the Smyrnaeans:
"Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."
Augustine continued the formalization of the term Catholic in the 4th century: "In the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations keeps me in the Church; so does her authority, inaugurated by miracles, nourished by hope, enlarged by love, established by age. The succession of priests keeps me, beginning from the very seat of the Apostle Peter, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, gave it in charge to feed His sheep (Jn 21:15-19), down to the present episcopate.
"And so, lastly, does the very name of Catholic, which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house.
The term "Catholic Church" was finally formalized in 380 AD by Theodosius I, in response to the myriad heresies which had sown confusion across the evangelized world. Christianity thereby became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Megalomania.
What's fun about giving some people the opportunity to show their ignorance is that they are often so quick to rise to the challenge.
Let me ask again, this time in the hopes that you'll actually present something that shows you have a clue what you're talking about.
Do you even know why Luther questioned the inclusion of a few books in the first place?
But if that man is "yourself" and it's your "latest whim", it's okay?
Why did Jesus assemble the Apostles if He didn't desire unity? Heck, why did He pray for unity in the Garden of Gethsemane if religion is "every man for himself"?
But not to worry, I have been selected to know Yah'shua and serve Him. I know Him much better now that I have read all of His Word.Yes i have and that is why I doubt the statement.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua
In my church it is a group effort through the deacons and in some cases every member of the entire body of the church has a vote on the direction of the individual church within the boundaries of the Bible and whether or not to accept guidance from an outside association such as the SBC. No one man directs the workings of our church. If our pastor starts preaching on things outside the Word and the deacons/members vote on it he can be dismissed unlike the Pope. No one person should hold that authority over congregates. If the SBC comes out with a doctrine we do not like as a church we can leave the SBC.
I know what his excuse was, if that’s what you meant.
And shame on you for saying the Catholic Church wrote the Bible. G-d wrote the Torah. The inspired prophets and sages wrote the Na"KH, and it was canonized by the 'Anshei-HaKenesset HaGedolah. Now, your church may have written the "new testament" . . . but you're welcome to that!
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