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NASB | Matthew 1:25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 1:25 but he kept her a virgin until she had given birth to a Son [her firstborn child]; and he named Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation). |
Subject: Was Mary a virgin her whole life |
Bible Note: You wrote: "I do not subscribe to sola scriptura as the bible itself does not support this notion." What is identified as "God-breathed" in 2 Timothy 3:16-17? Is anything else but Scripture identified as "God-breathed"? Please demonstrate where the Bible supports something besides the classical Protestant understanding of sola Scriptura. You wrote: "The Apostles always taught orally in person and only wrote letters when circumstances did not permit them to travel." I disagree with this statement. Please demonstrate where the apostles ONLY wrote letters when they could not travel. In any case, how does this conflict with the classical Protestant doctrine of sola Scriptura, which holds that the traditions of the apostles are inerrantly inscripturated in the writings of the New Testament and that these writings stand as the sole source of revelation for believers today as well as the sole infallible authority? The fact that the apostles taught orally does not refute sola Scriptura. You wrote: "Note that they sent others with the letters 'to confirm orally' what they had written." Please cite references to show that the role of those who delivered the letters was to "confirm" what the apostles had written. Are you saying that those who had authority given to them directly by Christ himself needed "confirmation" by others? You wrote: "The bible comprises a small, but important part of the traditions passed on to the church by the Apostles." 1. The classical Protestant understanding of sola Scritpura does not deny the value of tradition. I hold to many of the same creeds that the Orthodox church does. However, they are not infallible like Scripture is. Nor are they a source of additional revelation; they comment on and interpret what has already been revealed in Scripture. 2. How do you know what the Orthodox church teaches today (apart from what is clearly revealed in Scripture) is actually tradition passed down from the apostles and not conjecture or something added later? You wrote: "The Apostles did not just give people the gospel, they explained it to them as well, and the Orthodox church has continued to pass on faithfully that which it was taught." The Scriptures do not just give the gospel; they explain it as well. Ever read Romans? Ephesians? The epistles themselves serve as explanation of the ins and outs of the gospel. I also agree that God has entrusted the church as the interpreters of Scripture. However, the church has not been given the task of giving additional revelation or setting itself up as an infallible source of authority apart from the Scripture. And this is precisely where the Orthodox church errs. Eastern Orthodoxy holds a higher view of the fallible church than it does the infallible Scriptures. --Joe! |