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NASB | Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. |
Subject: Could Jesus sin? |
Bible Note: Dear Edwin, You asked, "What makes you think that the Biblical interpretations of fallen human beings in the 5th Century are to be preferred to those of fallen human beings in the 21st Centuary?" (sic) Much every way, sir! Rather than getting too sidetracked from the question at hand, I will try to answer and yet remain in context. First, the errors that I cited are not from the Spirit at all... at least not from the Holy one! Though God providentially uses heresies to further the truth (1 Corinthians 11:19). I'd encourage to keep in mind the admonitions of 1 Timothy 4 and Jude. Second, the Church sacrificed life and freedom for these doctrines. A far cry from the comfort and safety of the Internet! Third, the Church rendered these careful considered responses out of entire lives of full-time learning. (In the case of Chalcedon, those folks actually spoke the language of the New Testament!) Their authority has been tested by many centuries of scholars. Another far cry from a bunch of part-time, arm-chair, lay yahoos who get together to pontificate in an electronic forum! ;-) Fourth, your use of John 7:17 has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic at hand. Consequently it weakens rather than strengthens your argument. Fifth, your use of John 7:17 is out of context. The Holy Spirit will not abuse Scripture in that fashion. (See Post #158836 for a good list of such common interpretational mistakes.) Sixth, the Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself. God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). Seventh, although taken by itself it is an ad hominem argument, these errors and heresies -- including the one "God told me so" -- are hallmarks of many past and present cults. However, we want to carefully distance ourselves from such (Romans 16:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14). I could go on... but time constrains... Nevertheless I am reminded of a quote: One of your countryman, Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, wisely encouraged young seminarians, "Of course, you are not such wise-acres as to think or say that you can expound Scripture without assistance from the works of divines and learned men who have labored before you in the field of exposition. If you are of that opinion, pray remain so, for you are not worth the trouble of conversion, and like a little coterie who think with you, would resent the attempt as an insult to your infallibility. It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what He has revealed to others." Odd indeed! In Him, Doc |