So what’s wrong with that concept? Why is that so objectionable to you?
Well to me a council, even if considered ecumenical, is fallible - It has the possibility of error. The CC claims it lacks even a possibility of error here.
My position on the clearly has been they knew it by history… If sacred tradition was enough on this we would expect to find the same canon in the east and west, and no debate amongst scholars regarding the apocrypha. Again, see the book, far better answer than my own
He is the ultimate and final authority…
No debate, Matthew 28:18 is very clear there! The Lord Jesus has all authority.
- “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you shall know Him, because He will dwell with you, and be in you,” Jn 14:16-17,26, Jn 15:26,16:13. The Holy Spirit will dwell in the Church that Jesus Christ founded and He will be with that Church forever.
Yes, The Holy Spirit lives among his church forever
No debate here!
Not all will be revealed to the Church at once because we could not bear it. It will all be revealed over time. This is the authorization for the Church to reveal doctrines.
- “Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when the Spirit of Truth has come, he will teach you all the truth, …and the things that are to come he will declare to you,” Jn 16:12-15
Indeed, for the Spirit had not yet come upon them at Pentecost. It seems most commentators regard this verse as The Lord telling them they would not bear being told at this point of the great changes that were too come, of the abolition of the Ceremonial laws and more -
bible.cc/john/16-12.htm
- “I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you were not yet ready for it…I have planted…but GOD has given the growth,” 1Cor 3:1-15.
So in context Paul is addressing the Corinthian elders who have begun to exhibit traits not in keeping with the Gospel truth. He warns them to build up the church of God well, for their works will be tested by fire on the last day. With respect, this section pertains to the development of doctrine in the Catholic sense how?
Eph 4:11-16, "…in order to perfect the saints for a work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the deep knowledge of the Son of GOD, to perfect manhood to the mature measure of the fullness of Christ…that we may be now no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine devised in the wickedness of men, in craftiness, according to the wiles of error.
In context then, The Lord has given his church various ministries that it may be built up and may attain a mature faith, not tossed to and fro by anyone who would announce a new teaching. They therefore it would seem are to test teaching, same as Paul implies with prophecy in 1 Thessolonians 5:21: “Test everything, hold fast to what is good.” Again, I see little in these verses on the Newman idea of the development of doctrine.
Phil 1:5-11, “…he who has begun a good work in you will bring it to perfection until the day of Christ…I pray that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and all discernment.” Clearly GOD is telling us that knowledge will increase with time.
The verse indicates clearly that the elect will persevere, aligning well with Romans 8:30, Paul tells them that as they mature in their faith, he prays their charity will become wiser and more abundant. It’s a simple prayer for a Godly Christian life for his hearers. Where does this verse gve support to the development hypothesis?
Jesus Christ gave full authority to the Apostles when in Lk 10:16, He said, “He who hears you, hears Me; and he who rejects you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects Him who sent Me.” We hear His words through His Church. Therefore these words have to apply to His Church as well, ‘he who rejects My Church rejects Me’. That verse also prevents the Pope from teaching heresy, so when the Pope speaks in matters of faith and morals, he is speaking as Christ would and with His authority. Paul acknowledged the authority given to the Apostles in 2Cor 10:8
Indeed, he who hears them and rejects is in trouble. Does it imply an infallible papacy? Well firstly, there is an absence of a papacy in the NT, secondly he is speaking here chiefly to his apostles, thirdly, the verse gives no indication that the church can not err. Just that a pure preaching of the Gospel message which results in rejection, means one has rejected both The Son and The Father.
As to the Corinthians passage, I’m not denying Apostolic authority. I’m denying that the current leaders of the CC possess it. Paul warned in Gal 1:8 of departing his gospel, if people in his direct line could do it then, I see no reason men can’t now.
Jesus gave authority to 72 other disciples in Lk 10:1-12, and told them He sends them forth as ‘lambs in the midst of wolves’. He told them to shake the dust off their feet from the towns that do not receive them.
Indeed. I’m not denying church authority, far from it. I just don’t think the CC is what it claims and is not infallible.
We are commanded to obey our superiors (priests, Bishops, and the Pope) and to be subject to them, as they keep watch as having to render an account of our souls, Heb 13:17.
I dispute the leaders here refers to a modern pope, as I deny that office exits in the NT. I do however obey my elders yes, they are worthy of my double honour (1 Timothy 5:17).
