Yerusalyim,
Quote Y: “ROMAN CATHOLIC Church didn’t give us the bible…the CATHOLIC CHURCH gave us the bible…the Orthodox were, and many still are PART of the Catholic Church…and those who are seperated can still validly claim apostolic succession”
*
Why do they not hold to all the same Traditions? Why do Orthodox deny the supremacy of the Pope? Why do they deny that Peter was the first pope of Rome? Why don’t they believe in purgatory?*
Part of our differences is that they deny Christ placed ONE Apostle ahead of the others. Their understanding is that a group of bishops holds as much authority as St Peter (The Pope.)
However, the plain reading of the text clearly identifies Peter as being The Rock upon which the church is built. Proper, detailed examination of NTScriptures also bares this out, notably, the council in Jerusalem and the decision on circumcision, etc. Just as Peter is the only one continually ‘tested’ and ‘questioned’ by Christ about his faith and love for Him, so that he could lead the flock.
Quote Y: "Matthew 16 Doesn’t declare there will not be splits in the Church, where did you get that idea. People ALWAYS seem to misread “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” "
It is RC’s that have repeatedly told me Mat 16 means exactly that.
Quote Y: “That doesn’t mean that hell won’t conquer the Church.…it means the Church should be asaulting the gates of hell…hell is on the defense…the Church, even with it’s human frailties as demonstrated by our various “splits” are on the OFFENSIVE against hell, and in the end we will pummel down the very gates of hell.”
This is the first time I’ve heard a Catholic explain it that way.
Quote Y: “Hippo and Carthage? I’m not sure where you got the idea that Hippo and Carthage were not Catholic Counsels”
That is not what I said. Hippo and Carthage were under the control of what later become the Orthodox church - not the RC.
Not quite correct. The councils were under the control of The (Roman) Catholic church. The one who departed, is now known as The Orthodox church, due to their dissention in understanding of the passages above and the AUTHORITY given to Peter. The one that remained has become known as The (Roman) Catholic church, because that is where the Seat of Peter is!
Quote Y: “
The Canon of Scripture has changed since the Church set it? Really? When…I know there were long discussions over more than 4 centuries, but once the canon was set, it hasn’t changed.”
Then why aren’t the Bibles exactly the same?
Like the Reformation Bible(s), the Ethiopian Bible, the Syriac and Coptic Bibles, the Quran and even the Talmud, what occurs later after the councils cannot be laid at their feet as ‘blame’ or accussations. One of the reasons the councils were convened was precisely because there were so many ‘letters’ books gospels and scrolls in existence at the time, all lauding to be of Christ, including some of the books and ‘Bibles’ listed here.
Now we have people arguing from the Quran which was some 400 years afterwards, and they say, ‘This is in the Quran, but NOT in The Bible, so the Bible is false!’ Same as the Reformers who were about a thousand years later, yet laud the ‘later version’ as being more truthful, than the original!
Over time there is a thought that every Bible is acceptable and will accord salvation to their respective followers and there is no longer an objective Truth. Every ‘Bible’ has salvific Truth! How can that be when they differ so much?
So the question is, Which one is actually the correct Bible for the Christian to follow? The evidence is clear and not hidden, but people aren’t interested in evidence. They want the interpretation that suits them! Unfortunately, although all things belong to God, there can be only One Truth, because that is what He said.
