Huh? Calvin postulated that? No, God's holy word "postulated" that, and Calvin rightly affirmed it.
Calvin makes it clear that in saying Scripture is "self-authenticated," he does not mean to be taken literally and absolutely. He does not mean that some Bible text or other affirms that the 66 books, and they alone, are divinely inspired. As we observed in step 4 above, nobody ever could claim anything so patently false.
But that is exactly what Calvin wrote and meant and claimed and affirmed...for all those with ears to hear.
Calvin simply means that no extra-Biblical human testimony, such as that of Church tradition, is needed in order for individuals to know that these books are inspired. We can summarize his view as Proposition D: "The Holy Spirit teaches Christians individually, by a direct inward testimony, that the 66 books are inspired by God."
Isn't this exactly what the author said Calvin didn't do?
The trouble is that the Holy Spirit Himself is an extra-Biblical authority as much as a Pope or Council.
Yep. Spoken straight from Rome -- "the Holy Spirit Himself is an extra-Biblical authority."
BBWWWAAAHH!!!
Adding insult to injury, this goofy author continues to show his ignorance by actually equating in some manner or another the Holy Spirit to "a Pope" or "a Council."
And this author is attempting to show the illogic of the Protestant faith?
Illogic is believing there is "another Christ" and that there is a "Co-Redeemer" and that there is another mediator between God and men but Christ Jesus. That's illogical at best, and at worst, those words will condemn those who believe them.
My pastor had a wonderful message on Resurrection Sunday. In the message he discussed Thomas and the difference between honest doubters and dishonest doubters. Thomas when he actually touched the wounds on Jesus the Resurrected LORD he immediately cried out "My Lord and my God!".
I mention this because I really don't see the opportunity for an honest discussion. Alex Murphy was even pinged just so a flame war could be started.
THANKS THANKS.
Doctor, would you care to defend Calvin's ridiculous view on the self-authenticating scripture, somehow? A scriptural eveidence of such self-authentication would help.
“No, God’s holy word “postulated” that, and Calvin rightly affirmed it.”
All things necessary to become a Christian, live as a Christian, and grow as a Christian are clearly presented in the Bible. Without the Bible we could not know these things. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As God’s very words, the words of Scripture are more than simply true; they are truth itself (John 17:17). They are the final measure by which all supposed truth is to be gauged.
The Bible is our only source for clear and definite statements about God’s will. While God has not revealed all aspects of his will to us, for “the secret things belong to the Lord our God”, there are many aspects of his will revealed to us through the Scriptures, “that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:2). Love for God is demonstrated by keeping “his commandments” (1 John 5:3). And his commandments are found on the pages of Scripture.
The New Testament affirms that its words are the very words of God. In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter refers to all of Paul’s letters as one part of the “Scriptures.” This means that Peter, and the early church, considered Paul’s writings to be in the same category as the Old Testament writings. Therefore, they considered Paul’s writings to be the very words of God. Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:16, makes this clear when he writes that “all Scripture is breathed out by God.” and as Paul told Timothy, “the sacred writings ... are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:18, writes that “the Scripture says” two things: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain” and “The laborer deserves his wages:’ The first quote regarding an ox comes from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy. 25:4). The second comes from the New Testament (Luke 10:7). Paul, without any hesitation, quotes from both the Old and New Testaments, calling them both ”Scripture”; the very words of God. That is why Paul could write, “the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37).
Since the Old and New Testament writings are both considered Scripture, it is right to say they are both, in the words of 2 Timothy 3:16, “breathed out by God.” This makes sense when we consider Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would “bring to” the disciples’s “remembrance” all that Jesus said to them (John 14:26). It was as the disciples wrote the Spirit-enabled words, that books such as Matthew, John, and 1 and 2 Peter were written.
The “extra-biblical authority” Holy Spirit, doesn’t change the words of Scripture in any way; he doesn’t supernaturally make them become the words of God (they always have been). He does, however, change the reader of Scripture. The Holy Spirit makes readers realize the Bible is unlike any book they have ever read. Through reading, they believe that the words of Scripture are the very words of God himself versus the extra biblical writings and traditions. It is as Jesus said in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice … and they follow me”.
This is one of the most appalling displays of ignorance I have seen in writing-and I mean this in the most kindness sense.
These articles are all the same...."the Bible is the inspired word of God, but we don't really know what is inspired...except that we do know what was inspired...but what we mean is the Church knows what was inspired...except the Church didn't know what was inspired until we confirmed what was inspired at Trent then everyone knew what was inspired although what we were quoting from as inspired was inspired until the Church officially said that stuff wasn't inspired..."
Ad infinitum... It is almost laughable if it was so serious. And this comes from the "great thinkers" of the Church??? Claiming to be wise, they become fools.