How can you rely only on the private interpretation of your church tradition?
JL: How can you rely on the Tradition the bible is the word of God? You only know it is the word of God, because that Tradition has been handed on to you and you accept that Tradition by faith.
Can you really trust the interpretation of people who tell you that the Bible says only they can interpret the Bible?
JL:
No I do not really trust the interpretation of people, especially self. I do not rely on my understanding nor on that of any man, no matter how learned, who in the last analysis gives only his own opinion, although he could be right at times. I prefer the assurance of those Christ SENT to lead in all truth, not hit and miss truth, Jn16:13. I prefer to follow those, whom Christ has set over me, who have the gift of the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands in an unbroken line, to recall all Christ has taught, those to whom Christ promised the gates of hell shall never prevail against, Mt 16:18, the house of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth, 1 TM 3:14.
*What did people do when the gospel was first orally preached to them, before the NT was written, before most people could even read? * Acts2:41 Then THEY THAT gladly RECEIVED HIS WORD were BAPTIZED: and the same day there WERE ADDED UNTO THEM about three thousand souls. 42 And THEY CONTINUED steadfastly IN the APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE and FELLOWSHIP, and in BREAKING OF BREAD, and in PRAYERS.
Those that received, not read, his word were baptized. They were brought into the Church by baptism and continued steadfastly in the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Fellowship.] 1Cor 1:9 God is faithful you were called into THE FELLOWSHIP OF his Son JESUS CHRIST 10 I appeal to you BREATHREN by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you AGREE that there be no dissensions among you that you BE UNITED in the same mind and the same judgment. 1Thes2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you RECEIVED the word of God, which you HEARD from US, you ACCEPTED it NOT AS the word of men, BUT as it actually is, THE WORD OF GOD, which is at work in you who believe. 1Jn 4:6 WE ARE OF GOD Whoever knows God LISTENS TO US and he who is not of God DOES NOT LISTEN TO US BY THIS WE KNOW the spirit of TRUTH and the spirit of ERROR
With whom did Paul, who wrote scripture, check his own teaching to make sure he had not run in vain? Gal2:1 Then fourteen years after I WENT UP AGAIN TO JERUSALEM with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up BY REVELATION, and COMMUNICATED UNTO THEM that GOSPEL which I PREACH among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, LEST BY ANY MEANS I SHOULD run, or HAD RUN, IN VAIN.
How do we come to a correct understanding of other domains like math, science, history, language, etc? By ceding control to one dogmatic interpreter or by collaborating and comparing knowledge in order to be “led into all truth” while “studying to show ourselves approved?”
JL: * We have no authority to cede control to one dogmatic interpreter or anyone. That magisterium, teaching authority, was given to them by our Lord himself.* [Mt 28:16 the eleven disciples 18 Jesus spoke to THEM ALL POWER IS GIVEN TO ME in heaven and in earth 19 GO TEACH ALL NATIONS baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 TEACHING to observe ALL things whatever I have COMMANDED you I AM WITH YOU always even TO THE END.]
The great commission to the Church, the apostles fellowship. Christ to whom all power in heaven and earth is given, sent with his authority the apostles, to TEACH ALL NATIONS, to observe what he taught, they were to go to all nations (universal, catholic). Only the apostles were sent to teach all nations, with the authority of Christ. Christ promised to be with them till the end of the world. Those individuals would not be around till the end, but their SENT successors in the Apostolic Fellowship would, by passing on their authority to teach, sanctify and rule by laying on of hands from bishop to bishop till the end.
[2 TIM 1:6 …stir up the GIFT OF GOD IN YOU BY THE PUTTING ON OF MY HANDS 7 GOD HAS GIVEN US the SPIRIT OF POWER. TITUS 1:5 For this I left you in Crete that you should set in order …and ORDAIN ELDERS in EVERY CITY AS I APPOINTED YOU.
*The Church does collaborate and compare knowledge, through discernment, by study, by theologians, Church Fathers, the lived out Apostolic Traditions, the collective knowledge of the college of bishops in union with the pope throughout the world and also with prayer. Scripture indicates, to be a valid minister one must be SENT, [Rm 10:14 …how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 how shall they preach EXCEPT THEY BE SENT? Lk 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that HE went out into a mountain to pray, and CONTINUED ALL NIGHT IN PRAYER to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and OF THEM HE CHOSE TWELVE, whom also he NAMED APOSTLES; JN 17:18 As you have SENT me into the world I also SENT them into the world 20 I do not pray for these alone but for those who will BELIEVE IN ME THROUGH THEIR WORD 21 THAT THEY ALL MY BE ONE as you Father are in me and I in you THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE you SENT ME.] [Acts15:28 It seemed good to the HOLY SPIRIT and to US not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:]
Using their authority to teach ALL and bind and loose, Mt16:18. That magisterial teaching authority speaks with the authority of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, and all Christian knew it. That’s why the decision was accepted with JOY in Antioch, Acts15.
