Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 2 Corinthians 11:4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 11:4 For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception]. |
Subject: Beware "Another" |
Bible Note: Hi Jeff, You are oh so right that we can only guess at what this Pope had in mind. For ease of discussion, I will again quote: "This is why love for Sacred Scripture is so important, and in consequence, it is important to know the faith of the Church which opens up for us the meaning of Scripture. It is the Holy Spirit who guides the Church as her faith grows, causing her to enter ever more deeply into the truth" Now, I realize this is a Bible Study Forum, and not a Pope Study Forum, so I want to look at his comments in the light of God's Word. The part that concerns me is his referrence to "the faith of the Church". He gives importance to two things, "love for the Sacred Scripture" and "to know the faith of the Church". My ears perk up because of what the Pope did not say. He did not say that it was important to know the Scriptures. So what is this faith of the Church? Act 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. The faith, in this passage, is something that the priests were obedient to, therefore, it must be or contain commands that can be obeyed. Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: The Law was a religious system, that as you fulfilled the requirements of the Law you could have relationship with God, either by obedience or sacrificial substitutionary propitiation. The Faith of Christ replaces this system, therefore, it must be our means of having relationship with God. Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. This Faith was delivered directly to the saints (all of us believers). Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Again, the is the Faith of Christ. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. The Faith of the Son of God. The faith of Who? The Church, or of Christ? What is the faith of the Church? Scripture does not contain this concept. This is what it seems to me that this Pope is saying: The Holy Spirit brings the Church more deeply into the truth, guiding the Church as the Church's faith grows. We, as individuals, (notwithstanding that we in fact are the church), must learn from the Church what the truth really is. Love the Scriptures, but learn from the Church. We can't know his thoughts, or his heart, but as far as I can tell, his words are telling us that we need the Catholic Church to interpret the Bible for us. That is fully in line with other things the Catholic Church has said. What do you think? Am I all wet? Love in Christ, Mark |