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WatchfulPilgrim
Guest
This charism has to exist in some extra-biblical, earthly authority for a canon to exist. He relies on Scripture I assume as his authority, correct? Or the indwelling Spirit to enlighten the believer, at least in things “essential”? But he would have no basis to believe in the indwelling Spirit and no basis to believe in things “essential” if not for Scripture, correct? Or perhaps he believes through others who have based their faith on Scripture? Regardless, we would know nothing about the Spirit, the “essentials” or even Christ Himself if not for Tradition. Tradition is what gave us Scripture to begin with. Jesus didn’t write anything - He appointed men to carry His truth to the world. People came to faith in Christ through these men. True, you can come to faith in Christ through the writings of these men but regardless, the fact that they came from men (other than God Himself, penned from His hand) means that they came from Tradition. The Apostles’ writings were inspired by the HS. Why do we believe this? Maybe b/c of the miracles that accompanied them. How do we know they performed miracles? Tradition. People said they performed miracles. Why do we believe these people? B/c they were willing to die for their beliefs. B/c their exemplary lives attested to something divine working within them. So, again, we see Tradition. How do we know which writings were inspired at that time? More Tradition. The only way Christianity could live on is through man - unless Christ was going to continue to walk this earth for all eternity.
So we see in Scripture that God used man over and over again. We see Him pass authority onto the Apostles and we see the Apostles appointing others to carry on the fullness of truth. The only way the eventually written truth would be recognized to form the canon of Scripture is through more men - more Tradition. And the only way truth could be preserved is if that Tradition/those men were being guided with the same authority and inspiration that the Apostles had, given by Christ Himself.
Otherwise we have no reason to believe in Scripture to begin with, and otherwise we have no reason to believe in Christ. It is a matter of faith that God preserved His Word through man. It is wholly SCRIPTURAL that God preserved His truth through man. It makes no sense that God would have used man thoughout and then suddenly stopped using man after Scripture was written. It would take more inspired men to recognize inspired Scripture. If we cannot put faith in God using man, then ask why we would have had any faith in Christ had we known Him personally while He walked the earth.
So we see in Scripture that God used man over and over again. We see Him pass authority onto the Apostles and we see the Apostles appointing others to carry on the fullness of truth. The only way the eventually written truth would be recognized to form the canon of Scripture is through more men - more Tradition. And the only way truth could be preserved is if that Tradition/those men were being guided with the same authority and inspiration that the Apostles had, given by Christ Himself.
Otherwise we have no reason to believe in Scripture to begin with, and otherwise we have no reason to believe in Christ. It is a matter of faith that God preserved His Word through man. It is wholly SCRIPTURAL that God preserved His truth through man. It makes no sense that God would have used man thoughout and then suddenly stopped using man after Scripture was written. It would take more inspired men to recognize inspired Scripture. If we cannot put faith in God using man, then ask why we would have had any faith in Christ had we known Him personally while He walked the earth.