There is no scripture I know that says “there are 27 inspired books in the NT.”
Dainel, the point is, the New Testament, or the sole authority as some Protestants refer to it, does not tell us any of the books that belong in the New Testament. That decision was made by another authority, the Church Christ built and promised to be with until the consummation of the world.
As you said, the Holy Spirit told us. And he told everyone who reads the NT. How do I know this is true?
Luke 8:11"… The seed is the word of God. …15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
There you go using scriptures to fit your view. Where do any of those verses specifically say the written word only?
Let’s suppose for a moment, that those scriptures do really mean only the written word. The only scriptures recognized as sacred scriptures at that time was the Old Testament. Since the authors of the New Testament did not tell us that their specific writing was sacred scripture, we have to assume some did not consider their writings as anymore than instructions to the recipients.
Just using the examples you use above, those scriptures were not written by eye witnesses to Christ. What they learned, they learned through an oral tradition.
The New Testament has several examples of oral tradition.
When Christ spoke of the chair of Moses, He did not explain what the chair was. It’s apparent the crowd knew what He was speaking about as the Chair of Moses is not mentioned anywhere else in scriptures.
Mat 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
Mat 23:2 Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.
Mat 23:3 All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not.
Another example of oral tradition is found in the writings of St. Luke. Remember, St. Paul nor St. Luke were eye witnesses of Christ, yet he wrote words Christ spoke, that were not written anywhere else in scriptures. (Also think about this, St. Luke nor St. Mark were eye witnesses to Christ, yet they wrote two Gospels, they wrote what they heard through oral tradtion.)
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.
St. Paul also wrote about Jannes and Mambres, the two magicians for Pharoah. Remember, Moses’ staff, turned into a snake, ate their staffs turned into snakes. Jannes and Mambres are not written about anywhere in scriptures. The only way St. Paul could have known their names, was through oral tradition.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
St. Paul also wrote about the rock that followed the Israelites, during the Exodus led by Moses. The rock that followed them, is not written about anywhere else in scriptures.
1Co 10:4 And all drank the same spiritual drink: (And they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.)
There was clearly another authority to learn from.
As for your example that the Holy Spirit gives us the answers, or interpretations, why would the Holy Spirit give thousands of denominations different interpretations?
