Who is the final authority?

Who holds the truth?
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The true church is the pillar and ground of truth. Does that mean the church is the truth?
4769 stulos {stoo'-los}piller
from stuo (to stiffen, properly akin to the base of 2476); TDNT - 7:732,1096; n m
AV - pillar 4; 4
1) a pillar 2) a column 2a) pillars of fire i.e. flames rising like pillars 3) a prop or support
1477 hedraioma {hed-rah'-yo-mah}ground
from a derivative of 1476; TDNT - 2:362,200; n n
AV - ground 1; 1
1) a stay, prop, support
Both of these adjectives say that the true church supports the truth. Yet many churches make that claim. Does Paul get anymore specific?
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
These are signs of the true church in that true church has the true Christ.
A. God was manifested in the flesh…
Catholics and liberals have this phrase erased from their Bible. They claim to believe that Jesus is God in Human flesh, but how can they be the pillar of truth if they can not even preserve this basic verse?
Other groups (muslims, mormons, Jehovah’s Witness etc.) deny this entirely
B. Justified in the spirit…
Jesus was righteous and the spotless lamb. He was a perfect sacrifice and not the smart aleck hippies teacher of the liberals.
C. Seen of the angels…
Jesus was not inferior to any spiritual entity not Allah or Lucifer, no one will ever esteem himself higher than the Savior Jehovah. (Jesus is short for Jehovah saves)
D. Preached unto the gentiles...
Salvation is free and by his grace even the pagan unclean gentiles were offered eternal life in Christ.
E. Believed on in the world...
Christ is the historic man and Son of God spoken of 2,000 years ago. There is no knew gospel.
F. Received up into glory…
Christ did not die and spiritually ascend to Heaven. He in fact physically resurrected.

Jesus is the truth
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the Word of God
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Word of God is essentially God
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
If you are working and your boss gives you a comand you can not really make a strict distinction between the person of your boss and their command. The only way that you are to not follow your boss’s command is if they give you another command. The difference between a person and their message may exist yet it is insignificant.

The Bible or scriptures is the word of God
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Is the paper God?
A: Of course not, but the complete revelation is the Word the second person of the trinity.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
As we compare these two passages we can see a pattern. Man lives by the complete revelation of God. In other words the word of God. Jesus himself comes down from heaven to feed mankind. In other words Jesus is the word of God and Jesus is the revelation from scripture.
Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The logos is by nature God manifested upon the earth; The Word is the manifestation of God upon the earth.


What is the biggest difference between the word of God and the Word of Man?
A: The word of God endures forever
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Is Jesus talking about his words in general?
A: If that were the case then John has contradicted him!
Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
So if this were the case then Jesus is speaking of the scriptures and not general phrases.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The Bible is not only to be preserved but it is linked with the gospel and evangelism. No version of the scriptures has made it’s way around the world like the King James Version and as a result, Peter’s prophecy finds it fulfillment in the canon of the authorized version. Catholics never cared enough to spread the word of God to the masses and fought against it. Yet the supposed Pope Peter teaches that we are born-again by the incorruptible seed of the wor
d of God and not by the sacraments of the priest.

If scripture is authoritative, who is the authority?
Catholicism’s interpretation is atheistic. They claim to need a man to interpret the Bible. If God’s Word needs a man to print it and then needs a priest class to identify it and then needs a papal man to interpret it for other men. And future councils and to span across and untold millennia then the revelation of God is flawed. Because as the Catholic Church teaches, man is sinful and therefore could misinterpret the Word of God.
New Testament Christianity leans toward the Bible to reinterpret itself. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the authority to guide us in interpreting the word of God.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
The power of Paul’s preaching had nothing to do with his ability, his asuthority was entirely based upon the power of the Holy Spirit.
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The revelation of God is not based upon natural wisdom. Natural wisdom has no authority. So why did the Roman Catholic scholastic theologians based their teachings upon the writings of pagans like Plato and Aristotle instead of the word of God? For the princes taught of this very philosophy crucified Christ.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
The instrument of interpretation lies in the hands of the Holy Spirit. It is in the Holy Spirit that we find the truth of Christ. Notice that spirit revealed them unto “us”?
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
In and of themselves, no man may interpret the word of God. Unfortunately this includes Popes, councils and the other cult leaders.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
The Christian is indwelt not with the spirit of Satan but the Holy Spirit.Most all protestants and catholics recognize this fact. Paul teaches that this indwelling allows us to interpret the scriptures. The apostle John agrees with this.“1Jo 2:19-22 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We are to teach the things which were inspired by the Holy Spirit and not that which is secular. Those who are secular will reject the scripture. Without the Holy Spirit the scriptures are always rejected. The saint has a christian mind and only Godcan judge the Christian. Not to say that people can’t make judgements but that only God can do so objectively.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
There is a since in which we should lean towards the Christians which are more mature. At least until we can obtain that maturity. Many Evangelicals and Catholics like to have the hierarchy obtain knowledge while leaving the young members in an easily manipulated state of immaturity.

1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Here we see that that this fleshly immature state is linked to the dependence upon the ministry of men instead upon God.

1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Even Christian men of the Highest Caliber are simply servants of the one true living God. God is our source of strength; not man.

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
We are all the work of Christ. Yet we must be very careful to how we fit in the body.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
We need our fidelity to be based not upon religious leaders and man made theology. We need to be faithful to Christ and Christ alone. Jesus gave up his life for us, not His Sovereignty. When churches are based upon people, no matter how devout, they are not going to survive the judgement of God.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
We are the temple of God and therefore have a personal relationship with God. Therefore the Holy Spirit can counsel us and illuminate the scriptures as we read them.

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
To follow the advice of man as oppose to God is foolishness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
Notice “Cephas” which means Peter. Even Peter is not our Father, but God is.
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1Co 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Our head is Christ alone.
1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1Co 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
We are therefore not accountable to man, but instead to God.
1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Here we see the action of religious liberty. We focus on ourselves in order that we not get in the way of God.


But can Paul be understood?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen
Now Catholics use this passage to argue against the common man’s ability to read the scriptures. Let’s look at this passage a little closer.
Verse 13 states that we long for the New Heavens and New Earth where in it righteousness dwells. We see that righteousness in vrs. 14 is something we are longing for. Yet this sounds strange if the catholic is internally righteous. We are to prove that we have lived this way by the fact that as vrs. 15 we give an account of the patience of Christ as the source of our salvation. This is identified as the message of Paul. The reformation claims that it is Christ righteousness which our salvation. But the Catholic view does not make a difference between the righteousness of Christ and the righteousness of the Roman Catholic.
Verse 16 claims that some things by Paul were hard to understand. Yet the theme of salvation by grace is obviously the understandable message of Paul. Peter does not say this is the weakness of everyone. Instead it is only they that are both unstable and unlearned who twist them. Were Calvin and Luther and Erasmus unlearned? Both calvin and Luther were trained catholic priest. Luther was in fact a roman Catholic monk and doctoral Professor of Biblical studies. So according to catholic standards they were not unlearned. Both of these men were in fact very staunch in their views their entire lives, as opposed to instability. They were neither destroyed even with the threat of death constant both lived a healthy life. Though I do not endorse everything in their theology (just read past articles) They were obviously able to discern the writings of Paul.


Is scripture within tradition or is tradition within the scripture?“113 2. Read the scripture within the living tradition of the whole church “ According to a saying of the fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the churches heart rather than in documents and records, for the church carries in her tradition the living memorial of God’s Word , and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (according to the spiritual meaning which the spirit grants to the individual.”
Catholic Catechism 1996


a. Church tradition based upon church tradition is circular reasoning.
Here the catechism has based the authority of tradition based on the church fathers. Bit how do we know that the Church fathers had this authority. At which point their have been two options: an appeal to scripture or an appeal to fascism. Either they based their on the scriptures, or they would resort to violence. (for instance the inquisition)
b. The “father” quoted was Origen who would be considered a heretic.
Origen was not allowed to be a catholic Saint, because he resorted cutting his penis off in the tradition of the gnostics. He has been identified by most scholars as heretical since he taught universal salvation possibly including the devil. He denied the full deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. He edited the Old Testament LXX to conform to Platonic philosophy. ( we see this in the Hexapla) yet this is the “father” whom they cited to ground the doctrine of tradition.
c. The OT scripture belonged to the Jews before it was ever delivered to the Catholic church.
d. The concept of church fathers is contrary to Christ teachings
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Now let’s consider this vrs. 8 states that Jesus teaches against any exaltation of religious leaders. It also states that all Christians should refer to themselves as brethren. He then explicitly orders Christians not to refer to themselves as father. Now some may want to argue that this was just referring to lay people; but let’s look at the context.
Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Here we see the context is quite clear. It is obvious that this admonition is for apostles and followers alike. So this concept of a fatherly and priestly class to rule churches was always in contradiction to Jesus teachings.
e. Christ is Lord without any competitors.
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
f. Christ opposed traditions that got in the way of scripture.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
g. Since the scriptures are sufficient for salvation and perfect living then they must include apostolic traditions.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

What is the church based upon?
Many of us remember that famous passage on how Jesus will build his church. Let’s do something unusual and find the context of this verse fully revealed through the entire chapter.
Mat 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
We see in the scene, the Pharisees and Saducees who do not have faith that he is messiah, and therefore, are asking him to prove it by signs are tempting Jesus.
Nottice that what is essential to the enemies of Christ is that they lack faith.
Mat 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Mat 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
After rebuking them Jesus tells them that the only sign that they will know Christ has came is the sign of Jonahs. This sign was the sign of a man risen from the dead after thredays and nights of death. Faith in the Messiah is proved by faith in the risen Messiah.
Mat 16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Mat 16:7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Mat 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Now here we see that Jesus is still rebuking the disciples for a lack of faith build a cumulative case for faith as essential to Christianity. Also we see the disciples with a fleshly understanding. Jesus taught in parables so that only those who wanted to understand would do the homework to understand. Yet the disciples are thinking without faith and thereby misunderstanding the words of Christ.

Mat 16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mat 16:10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mat 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Mat 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Now they have been humbled enough to understand Jesus warning that they should avoid the faithless philosophy of the Pharisees.

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
So here we have the question concerning Christ identity, in others words who should we have faith in?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
So Peter gives what is known as the good confession. Notice if you will that this is the subject of the moment who is Christ. This was the type of Faith by which the disciples are required. It is something obtained by the power of God and not by man.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now we come to the verse. This is the “rock” upon which Christ will found the Church. The rock is the subject of the sentence. So what was the subject of the previous sentence? “it” was the subject; and what is “it”? That Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God”! So this confession of Faith is the foundation of the Christian church and everything else stands or falls upon it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
So Christ has given Him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Now some may think that Peter has writes over Heaven and Hell. The Pope even assumes the write kick people out of the church and condemn them to Hell. However, that is the exclusive right of Christ. “Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Let’s look at the context, Peter had confessed faith in Jesus. This would be the “rock or foundation of faith. He was then given a name “peter” “Joh 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
This would imply that Peter is a part of the “Rock” or a member in the body. Yet not the foundation. Peter’s keys refer to the authority he had in the initial proclamation of the gospel. However we see in the NT that he did have accountability. “Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”

Mat 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Here is a good test for the Catholic interpretation. If Peter has the infallible authority of Pope then can he rebuke Christ?
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
It is obvious that Peter only had the Authority that Christ had given him. Peter has no power over the gospel. Instead he must apply it as God has allowed him. Such is with the Apostles and prophets. 2Pe 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Yet Bishops and Popes contradict each other all the time. How could John Pall II be against the death penalty when every pope has had an army?
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The true church does not assume earthly authority. Instead it dies to it’s own passions.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.


The reason behind the scripture
“He is making a circular argument. A circular argument is an argument in which the conclusion is found in the premise.
“Person A: ‘I am George Washington’.
Person B: ‘How can I know it’s God’s Word?’
Person A: ‘Because I George Washington, just told you so’
“Atheist correctly accuse Protestants of using this type of argument to defend the Bible of using this type of argument to defend the Bible.
“Protestant: ‘The Bible is God’s Word’
Atheist: How can I know it’s God’s Word?
Protestant: “because it says so”
Atheist: ‘So does the Koran’”
This is a retort from a Catholic critic of mine. He argues that Biblical authority is a circular argument. Catholics however use a circular in determining their authority. They claim to have inspired authority because they can draw up a supposed geneology of Popes. Much like the evolutionist Haekyl convince academia that species are related simply because he could draw pictures of different embryos in a way to where they looked the same.

Let me finish this conversation.
“Protestant: ‘The Bible is God’s Word’
Atheist: How can I know it’s God’s Word?
Protestant: “because it says so”
Atheist: ‘So does the Koran’”
Protestant: “the problem with that argument, is that the Koran basis itself upon the Old and New Testament but then departs on Key points so it contradicts iteself.”
Athiest: “But couldn’t it still be a subjective point of view?”
Protestant: “Anything is possible, but the proof is in the putting. I told you that the Bible is God’s Word. So it will be totally true and match the world we live in.”
Atheist: That’s a little far fetched. When I was growing up I went to Catholic schools. They would claim that the Bible is the Word of God one minute and then tell me that evolution is true the next. But now I have come to realize that that’s just bull@#$% because the Bible says there was no death before Adam sinned. So God spent millions of years killing dinosaurs and cavemen before he got into Eden. That makes God look like a murderer and a %^&*ing hypocrite.
Plus, I don’t think even the popes and priests really believe all that junk in the Bible. If they did then what about the Inquisition?
Protestant: Well, first things first. Evolution is a bad joke that’s why I don’t believe it. Secondly, you are talking about Roman Catholicism and not my religion of Christianity. We have a personal relationship with God were we ask and receive the Holy Spirit of God in our spirits to make us born again. They just drip water on babies heads and say that they are born-again. By the way as a child were you confirmed?
Atheist: Yeah when I was 8
Protestants: Do you remember what you had say?
Atheist: Not a &^%* thing! Well, I guess I remember some thing about one and some bull@#$% like that.
Protestant: So do you think you had personal relationship with God?
Atheist: No, a couple priest and nuns, and their nice, but that God stuff isn’t for me and I mean I ain’t no saint..
Protestant: Problem is neither are they, they think that happens after you die. Secondly, the Bible unlike the Koran actually authenticates it’s miracles. We have archaeological proof the Jews were in Egypt and that the pharaoh’s oldest son died and they escaped the worlds most powerful empire at that time. Yet what proof is there that Muhammad came to Jerusalem on a flying beast? This sounds stupid yet the West thinks that Muslims should control Israel’s historic city of Jerusalem because of this garbage!
Atheist: Hey what about you not believing in evolution? What kind of crap is that?
Protestant: Oh, that’s just a scam? I mean how do these people know how the earth was formed?
Atheist: Well there are scientist, I mean they ought to know!
Protestant: Did you know that Darwin was not a trained scientist, but instead a trained theologian who never got access to a microscope strong enough to show cells? Besides how old is the Earth?
Atheist: uh… 3 billion years?
Protestant: how long is human history?
Atheist: About 5-20 thousand years.
Protestant: So how do we know about the billions of years
Atheist: Carbon Dating
Protestant: But you know that has been criticized and how do you really know what started the big bang or life on earth or the human brain or any of that?
Atheist: just what we think would naturally happen.
Protestant: Doesn’t that mean you are imagining what would happen without God?
Atheist: Yeah.
Protestant: Isn’t that circular reasoning?
Atheist: you have a point.
Protestant: Well, let me just tell you about Jesus…”
It is in the perfect Word of God which we find life. It is in man that we find death. The true church is fed by the word of God and supports it alone.

In Christ,
Matt