answering "Questions for “Bible Christians” that they can’t answer - Part 2"

There are 38 questions + a few bonus questions. I have split them into two separate posts of 20 and 18 + bonus questions. In case you missed it, here is the link to Part 1. Are you ready?

21. Who in the Church had the authority to determine which books belonged in the New Testament canon and to make this decision binding on all Christians? If nobody has this authority, then can I remove or add books to the canon on my own authority?
Perverse logic.God determines what is and is not scripture.
psalm 119:⁸⁹ For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

^{psalm 12:6} The words of the Lord are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
⁷ Thou shalt keep them, O Lord,
thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.




22. Why do Protestant scholars recognize the early Church councils at Hippo and Carthage as the first instances in which the New Testament canon was officially ratified, but ignore the fact that those same councils ratified the Old Testament canon used by the Catholic Church today but abandoned by Protestants at the Reformation?
A: The Canon was established centuries earlier.
" It would be a mistake to suppose that the Montanistic disputes led to the formation of a N.T. canon. On the contrary, it is plain that when these disputes arose Christians had so far closed their N.T. canon that they were shocked that any modern writing should be made equal to the inspired books of the apostolic age."http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wace/biodict.toc.html?term=montanus
 The montanists controversy was in the 2nd century


23. Why do Protestants follow postapostolic Jewish decisions on the boundaries of the Old Testament canon, rather than the decision of the Church founded by Jesus Christ?

 The New Testament Church would be identified today as the Baptist Church.  We have the same OT Canon as the Jews.
1658 Waldenses confession of faith
"III. That we ought to receive this Holy Scripture (as we do) for divine and canonical, that is to say, for the constant rule of our faith and life: as also that the same is fully contained in the Old and New Testament; and that by the Old Testament we must understand only such books as God did entrust the Jewish Church with, and which that Church has always approved and acknowledged to be from God: namely, the five books of Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Ruth, I and II Samuel, I and II of the Kings, I and II of the Chronicles, one of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the four great and twelve minor Prophets: and the New Testament containing the four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. Paul - 1 to the Romans, 2 to the Corinthians, 1 to the Galatians, 1 to the Ephesians, 1 to the Philippians, 1 to the Colossians {2 to the Thessalonians, 2 to Timothy, 1 to Titus, 1 to Philemon},
and the Epistle to the Hebrews; 1 of St. James, 2 of St. Peter, 3 of St. John, 1 of St. Jude, and the Revelation."http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/03/waldensian-confessions-of-1544-and1658.html

http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/03/case-for-waldenses-ancient-origin.html


24. How were the bishops at Hippo and Carthage able to determine the correct canon of Scripture, in spite of the fact that they believed all the distinctively Catholic doctrines such as the apostolic succession of bishops, the sacrifice of the Mass, Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, baptismal regeneration, etc?
 Correct they did not have divine authority.  Nor did their opinions matter, though we wish all men would receive the truth of scriptures.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/03/who-is-great-whore-of-babylon.html



25. If Christianity is a “book religion,” how did it flourish during the first 1500 years of Church history when the vast majority of people were illiterate?
Answer: BY Christianity you probably mean Roman Catholicism which is a pagan imitation of christianity.  http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/09/7-reasons-why-roman-catholicism-cannot.html
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/03/who-is-great-whore-of-babylon.html

The illiteracy must be continuing today!  The Majority of New Testament manuscripts were produced in medieval  times against the authority of the illiterate Catholics.  Who was reading them?  Waldenses Albigensian, Paulicans etc.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/03/who-is-new-testament-church.html




26. How could the Apostle Thomas establish the church in India that survives to this day (and is now in communion with the Catholic Church) without leaving them with one word of New Testament Scripture?
 Indian pastors have told me personally that the christian church was killed off completely on repeated occasions throughout the history of India.  The reason that Thomas did not leave  One word of New Testament Scripture to the Indians is the simple fact that Apostleship does not guarantee inspiration.  Most scholars agree that Paul wrote 2 letters to the Corinthians in addition to the canonical ones,  Yet God did not inspire those letters.



27. If Sola Scriptura is so solid and biblically based, why has there never been a full treatise written in its defense since the phrase was coined in the Reformation?
Seriously?  If Sola Scriptura is true, then a treatise is not necessary.  But there have been several works which dealt with sola scriptura. For Instance Calvin's Institutes in book 1.


28. If Jesus intended for Christianity to be exclusively a “religion of the book,” why did He wait 1400 years before showing somebody how to build a printing press?
Gentile Christianity was hardened in heart and had resorted to a Pharisaical religion.
Hebrews 9: ⁸ the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹ which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰ which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."



29. If the early Church believed in Sola Scriptura, why do the creeds of the early Church always say “we believe in the Holy Catholic Church,” and not “we believe in Holy Scripture”?

The early "church" was not necessarily the  NT Church. There were many sects at every stage and level with competing beliefs.  Without the Bible it is truly bigoted to label any group "the church".

 Publication does not guarantee understanding truth. Just because the followers have kept the bible does not mean they understand it. Besides there are statements upon the authority of scriptures even among Catholics throughout every stage of church history.




30. If the Bible is as clear as Martin Luther claimed, why was he the first one to interpret it the way he did and why was he frustrated at the end of his life that “there are now as many doctrines as there are heads”?
Martin Luther was still Catholic,  he was trying to preserve His Catholicism which made his theology twist.  http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2008/04/little-c-catholicism-true-flaw-of.html
There are more greater differences among Catholics than protestants.  There are Catholics who practice black magic and eat chicken blood(santa ria) there are Catholics who believe in evolution.  There are Catholics who believe geocentricity.  There are Catholics who deist and there are catholics who are pantheist. There are several secret societies as well as several types of monasticism.  Some catholics flagellate themselves Some priest justify homosexuality and some practiced it with children. So when it comes to disagreement there are more factions of the RCC Than Baptists most likely.



31. The time interval between the Resurrection and the establishment of the New Testament canon in AD 382 is roughly the same as the interval between the arrival of the Mayflower in America and the present day. Therefore, since the early Christians had no defined New Testament for almost four hundred years, how did they practice sola Scriptura?
Already debunked, the New Testament was already around for centuries. The Church stayed with a simple gospel as opposed to complex systematic theologies.  They preserved the NT, does not mean that they had systematize it nor were they compelled to.  The establishment of a one volume Bible was however a future looking prophecy.

hebrews 10:⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

32. If the Bible is the only foundation and basis of Christian truth, why does the Bible itself say that the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15)?
The Pillar holds up the truth.   If the church gets the bible wrong it is not a true church. Besides if the church is authoritative over the bible then why would it need the Bible to give it authority?  Ultimately if the church is in charge then God must be submissive as well.



33. Jesus said that the unity of Christians would be objective evidence to the world that He had been sent by God (John 17:20-23). How can the world see an invisible "unity" that exists only in the hearts of believers?
 They can not.  The Church is a visible "little Flock".
john 17:²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;" [Take not that the believers are through the word of the apostles not secret traditions]
Matthew 5: ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke  ^12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 34. If the unity of Christians was meant to convince the world that Jesus was sent by God, what does the ever-increasing fragmentation of Protestantism say to the world?
What is a christian?  A christian is someone identified with Christ.  If people assume a group of people is like Christ enough to call them Christians then it is apparent that they are unified.
 ^{Acts 11:26} and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
The church has to be Holy.  Holy means set apart.  Catholic church is not holy because it is the opposite of set apart.   http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-ecumenicist-are-evil-bigots.html

35. Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." What is the expiration date of this verse? When did it become okay not only to disobey the Church's leaders, but to rebel against them and set up rival churches?
  Roman Catholicism rebelled against the apostles from the start  Giving their allegiance to Constantine instead of Christ.  The Donatists will testify that there priest denied Christ to give their allegiance to pagan Rome.  The Novations will testify how they stole the bishopric of Rome.  The Nestorians will testify how they made up lies and indictments to destroy Nestorius and demote the authority of byzantium. Two popes will contend against a 3rd pope.  The Old Catholics will testify that the bishopric was to be conferred from one pope to another that was supposed to be a genealogy instead of the papacy of today. Constantine will testify that he never wrote a golden letter to Pepin that the Pope has the right to the roman empire.  etc.etc.


36. The Koran explicitly claims divine inspiration, but the New Testament books do not. How do you know that the New Testament books are nevertheless inspired, but the Koran is not?
 This is a lie.
2 timothy 3:¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 
There is one gospel which can not be altered.
Galatians 1:⁶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷ which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 
 http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/09/is-allah-same-as-jehovah.html


37. How does a Protestant know for sure what God thinks about moral issues such as abortion, masturbation, contraceptives, eugenics, euthanasia, etc.?
God's Words are all true
luke 16: ¹⁷ And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Matthew 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. 
Also if you are born again The Holy Spirit can convict you.
1 john 2: ²⁶ These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ²⁷ But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


38. What is one to believe when one Protestant says infants should be baptized (e.g., Luther and Calvin) and another says it is wrong and unbiblical (e.g., Baptists and Evangelicals)?
Believe the Bible!!!!
 http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/09/one-baptism.html
   It is good to point out that "Protestant" is roman catholic term.   Most theologians would identify the movements evangelical, reformed and anabaptist as the core belief systems that are classified as protestant.  

A Few Bonus Questions

Where does the Bible . . .
. . . say God created the world/universe out of nothing?

^{Hebrews 11:3} Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

. . . say salvation is attainable through faith alone?
straw man:  salvation is obtainable through the work of Christ alone (sola Christa) Justification is through faith alone.

Romans 3: ²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 
Galatians 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. 


. . . tell us how we know that the revelation of Jesus Christ ended with the death of the last Apostle?
Paul was the last apostle
 ^{1 cor. 15:8} And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 
John was the last living Apostle.
Acts 1: ²¹ Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection." The apostles were only those who knew Christ which would limit the office.
 http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/02/case-for-closed-canon.html
 
. . . provide a list of the canonical books of the Old Testament?
 The OT was entrusted to the Jews
Romans 3 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? ² Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."
Romans 9: ⁴ who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
The jewish text was historically the masoretic text.
Matthew 23: ³⁵ that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
This is a list of martyred prophets given by Christ.  Under masoretic script it starts at the beginning of the canon and the end of the masoretic canon (2chronicles) the canon was defined in the counsel of Jamnia.

It should be notticed that the bible mentions the canon of the bible by mentioning the books in the book titles to begin with.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2012/07/on-road-to-alexandria-responding-to-jay.html

. . . provide a list of the canonical books of the New Testament?
We know who  authored the books
^{1cor. 15:3} For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ⁵ and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."

Now the canon is ultimately kept in line by the church, yet it must be the true church.
 http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-it-biblical-to-hold-to-king-james.html but it must be the true church.

. . . explain the doctrine of the Trinity, or even use the word “Trinity”?
1john 5: ⁶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. ⁹ If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ¹⁰ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. ¹¹ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
Genesis 1: ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
  Exodus 3:⁶ Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."
Mark 1: ⁹ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. ¹⁰ And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: ¹¹ and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mark 2: ⁶ But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, ⁷ Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"
Matthew 28:¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Acts 19:² he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ³ And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. ⁴ Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
  The trinity is a correct description of this aspect of God.  the title is in the bible but the title is not.  So we can use other Words to describe this.  Like  Elohim and godhead.


. . . tell us the name of the “beloved disciple”?
John 21: ²⁰ Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? ²¹ Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? ²² Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. ²³ Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?²⁴ This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true."
So the beloved disciple is the author of the gospel of John.

John 19:26

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
john 13:²³ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Acts 6:² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Revelation 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Here we see that John wrote revelation and it implies that he also wrote a gospel account or "testimony".

It is only natural for scholars to nottice that the apostle John is not mentioned in the gospel of John and that the disciple whom jesus loved 


. . . inform us of the names of the authors of the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John? 
  All our Greek manuscripts with few exception have the titles intact.
. . . who wrote the Book of Acts?
Luke. 
The author of Luke was the author of acts.

luke 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, ² even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; ³ it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."

Acts 1: 1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ² until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:"

Acts 16: ¹⁰ And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. ¹¹ Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; ¹² and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
¹³ And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither."
The author of luke and acts traveled with Paul. Luke did travel with Paul.^{colossians 4:14} Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you."  Luke was also a scholar and able to author such a work.

. . . tell us the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Trinity? 
John 16: ¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
Matthew 28: ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
i john 5: ⁶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. ⁹ If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son."   
Acts 5^:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
. . . .tell us Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully man from the moment of conception (e.g. how do we know His Divinity wasn't infused later in His life?) and/or tells us Jesus Christ is One Person with two complete natures, human and Divine and not some other combination of the two natures (i.e., one or both being less than complete)?
Isaiah 9:⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:
²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

1 Timothy ^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.

1 john 4:² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³ and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Honestly I encourage everyone to read this blog as it is incredibly complete discussing this question and issue.

http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-bible-teaches-on-incarnation.html


. . . that the church should, or someday would be divided into competing and disagreeing denominations?
This is the prophetic fulfillment against the roman empire/church
Daniel 2:³⁵ Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors;"

. . . that Protestants can have an invisible unity when Jesus expected a visible unity to be seen by the world (see John 17)? 
   We can have a visible unity by partaking in the true visible church.  Not the visible pagan temples


. . . tell us Jesus Christ is of the same substance of Divinity as God the Father?
 colossians 2:⁹ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 
john 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 timothy 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.
Philippians 2: ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:


  At the end of the day... THE SCRIPTURES ARE SUFFICIENT!  We must trust the Gospel that it has preserved and trust in the God who inspired it!
1 peter 1:¹⁸ forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰ who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, ²¹ who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. ²² Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: ²³ being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 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: ²⁵ but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."