Posted on 09/25/2013 6:15:23 AM PDT by matthewrobertolson
Let's take a look at 2 Peter.
Verses 1-4 start off chapter 1 with a nice salutation, in which the grace of God is emphasized.
Verses 5-11 inform us about the necessity of works, and they warn us against being "unfruitful," in reference to John 15:5-8, and other verses. The passage also reminds us that we were "purified" from our "former sins," most probably in reference to the regenerative effect of baptism.
Verses 12-15 point out that the purpose of this Book is mostly just to remind us of important things -- we "already know them" -- not really to add anything new.
Verses 16-19 remind us of the fact that Peter witnessed all of this first-hand, and he is not just retelling old mythical tales, so he knows what he's talking about.
The final verses (verses 20-21) read: "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
This passage does two things. First, it reminds us that the Bible does not contradict itself on and is infallible on matters of faith and morals, because its writers, "moved by the Holy Spirit", "spoke from God." Second, the passage undermines individual interpretation, the cornerstone of the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura, implicitly reminding us of the necessity of being united under one set of doctrines.
Chapter 2 heavily warns against sin.
Verses 1-3, especially, remind me of the times we currently live in. Particularly, "[m]any will follow their sensuality" reminds me of society and debates around same-sex "marriage."
There is a lot of valuable material in this chapter. It informs us that we will be punished for sin that we do not repent of. Verse 13 tells us that we will "[suffer] wrong as the wages of doing wrong."
This is all completely contrary to the "Jesus died for all of our sins, so we're good!" view that many Protestants hold. Yes, it is through Christ that we can be cleansed from sin, but the cleansing is not automatic -- we must seek it.
Another interesting thing in the chapter is verse 20, which reads: "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first."
This verse obliterates the Protestant idea -- held only by a minority, fortunately -- of "once saved, always saved." The people being referenced already had "knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" and "escaped the defilements of the world", so they were supposedly "saved" at one point (at least, according to common Protestant doctrine), but then they lost their salvation after getting "entangled" in these "defilements of the world."
And the next verse -- verse 21 -- reads: "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."
This verse and the previous verse tie in with the Catholic idea of salvation through "invincible ignorance." Basically, anyone genuinely ignorant of Christian teaching can reach salvation. Like this verse says, for some people, "it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness."
The chapter closes with a proverb.
Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 3 again remind us of the fact that this Book is in continuity with the rest of the Bible, simply a reminder of important details.
Verses 3-9 touch on people doubting the eventual return of Christ. The passage tells us that the reason that it seems to be taking so long to occur is that Christ is trying to lead as many souls to salvation as possible before then.
And verses 10-18, the final verses, urge us to always "be in holy conduct and godliness" and "be diligent to be found by Him [God] in peace, spotless and blameless." The passage tells us that "the patience of our Lord" allows more people to attain salvation. It also tells us that there are "some things hard to understand" in Paul's writings (like supposed "faith alone" verses, perhaps?), "which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."
Feel free to check out my other videos and other past work. Like 2 Peter 3:18 tells us, we must "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." May God bless you.
(All verses are from the NASB translation.)
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But its apparently not a definitive interpretation, right?
No alternative is even in the same league, especially the individual Self and Self Alone interpretations.
Estin.
That's exactly what's going on here...
Every verse in 2 Peter has verses that go with it in other parts of the scriptures to complete the picture...
1Co_2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Joh_6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1Co_2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Doesn't take anything spiritual to read down thru a chapter and form an opinion, does it???
About a half a dozen...But accurately, zero...
If he didn't the bible is no more valuable than an encyclopedia...Maybe that's the point, eh???
Absolutely zero...None...Nein...Nada...Nyet...Dah...Non...Ochi...'A'ole...
Right here: John 6:63...
I'd be careful if I were you. Having an "Imprimatur" is not much of a guarantee that something is "authoritative" or even "official".
The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed. This applies only after precensorship; it is not specifically applied to the permission of a major religious superior. [Source: Robert C. Broderick, ed., The Catholic Encyclopedia Revised and Updated (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1987), p. 288.]
LOL, I might take that comment at face value were it coming from someone who I knew was careful .
I notice you forgot to mention the alternative which is faith in the heresy of Self and Self Alone that assures those who embrace said heresy Jesus Christ personally approves of interpretations of His Word by Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, Sister Aimee, David Koresh, Manny, Moe, & Jack, and of course ones own personal interpretation as well.
The strong delusion of Self Alone that leads inevitably to embracing the social norms of the day or to the worship of ones own Most High and Holy Self is literally the oldest lie in the book.
In spite of the rare exceptions and well known limits, relying on the Imprimatur of The Church Jesus Christ Himself established it is clearly a guideline grounded in what Scripture teaches with regard to the Church being the pillar and bulwark of the Faith. Obeying His Word is by definition being careful whether those who are under a strong delusion can grasp that Truth or not.
I find myself in the strange position of agreeing with Boatbums. I have read a number of books that had the Nihil Obstat that left me scratching my head over their orthodoxy.
Also, please note I said as a guideline that's vastly superior to a specific alternative. I prefer to start with the Imprimatur and go from there knowing that there are exceptions as opposed to giving the latest Purpose Driven Bestseller the same status as everything else to be judged by my Self and Self Alone. That's like individual interpretation of Scripture, it almost totally rules out any correcting of what someone already accepts. Just disregard a book you don't know in advance agrees with you, decry any interpretation of Scipture you don't like, or even throw entire books of the Bible out if you feel like it, and go on your merry way.
Agreed, Given the large number of books I read the number has been very small.
This sounds like a global warming paper being reviewed by global warming scientists.
You say that "proper church authorities" were used ... who determined those authorities were the authorities?
When it comes right down to it ... someones interpretation was inspected by a bunch of other exegetes, and those exegetes conferred their blessing on the interpretation ... or they witheld their blessing.
Protestants do the same thing every day ... except we have the added difficulty that our interpretations are inspected by exegetes that we already know will not agree with us ... so our exegesis has to be better and more complete.
"This sounds like a global warming paper being reviewed by global warming scientists.
Ba
Low
Knee
Only someone incredibly insecure with their own Self and Self Alone narcissistic approach to understanding Scripture would think of making such a foolish and transparently absurd comparison.
Insecurity and uncertainty are typical of the crowd who start here:
then pretend to be shocked when their fellow Self Alone narcissists end up here
Find a mirror. And take a long look at yourself.
And when anyone gives an interpretation of the bible that contradicts a catholic view, there is no real interaction with the text ... its a default "your own interpretation." ... YOPIOS has become the thought terminating cliche of the catholics on this forum.
How predictable, one of the Self and Self Alone folks insists that what Christ and the Apostles taught as it's been taught for he entire thousand years since the Apostles, is wrong, but they, as a master of Sola Yourselfa, they are right.
That's exactly like our Narcissist in Chief in the Whitehut pontificating about how all moral and economic understanding other than what he personally dreams up is all wrong.
Matthew 7:3 And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye ; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye ?
Matthew 7:4 Or how sayest thou to thy brother : Let me cast the mote out of thy eye ; and behold a beam is in thy own eye ?
Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy to dogs ; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you : seek, and you shall find : knock, and it shall be opened to you.
It's incredibly sad to see Self and Self Alone folks running after Eve rather than following Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name ?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
Such folks have accepted the oldest lie in the book. But, hey, going along to get along is easy and those who worship their own Most High and Holy Self believe that even if they're wrong and their narcissistic jive and Christian Liberty excuses are all wrong they'll still be just fine because God is merciful, so surely they will not die the death.
Unfortunately for the Self and Self Alone crowd Jesus Christ doesn't agree.
Luke 6:46 And why call you me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say?
Romans 11:21 For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest perhaps he also spare not thee.
Romans 11:22 See then the goodness and the severity of God: towards them indeed that are fallen, the severity; but towards thee, the goodness of God,if thou abide in goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
I realize that the the default "Sola Yourselfa" view is "that's what Scripture says, but that's not what it means" which leads to narcissists always ignoring those portions of Scripture that should be a warning for them, and since pictures are such a crowd pleaser
WOW, those were SOME KIND OF WORDS for so little truth. Actually, NO TRUTH contained there. But continue on, groping through the darkness, thinking the light you see in the distance is salvation. You’re not ON the train, you are IN FRONT OF the train, right in its path of total destruction. Have a day!
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