Do you worship Christ or Paul?

Forgive me if this causes any sidetracking.. i have a question for Dr. Bob... You made a statement that the epistles work better for preaching that the gospels, since that was their purpose. I agree, but what about the Old Testament? Isnt it strange that the Old Testament historical accounts of Abraham, David, etc are a lot easier to preach from than the NT gospels? Strange, isnt it? Is that how you feel as well? I rarely PREACH from the 4 Gospels. What think you? Just seems weird that two historical account-focused sections would be different in their ability to "inspire", as you put it.

Interesting.

 

For once I generally agree with you jim.

An over-emphasis on progressive revelation manifesting itself in dispensationalism (of which ultra-dispensationalism is most problematic) is the primary cause of why many Baptists appear to have overemphasized the words of Paul at the expense of the words of Christ.

I wouldn't call that heresy but I believe it to be a very dangerous position for one who considers themselves to be Christian and have so little exposure of the direct words of Christ.

 

By gb93433:

This I understand, but not all of us have the education needed to know the differences in audiences. Therefore, we have to use what is given to us to interpet, with the knowledge that all scripture is useful. That thing we are given is other scripture.

By Joseph Botwinick:

I agree with you here Joseph, but I have seen just that happen far to many times. Usually though in my experience Paul's word is taken before Christ's with no attempt to reconcile the two. This is not just a Baptist problem and I have seen less of it in our churches than I have in other denoms. Oneness teachings tend to be this way.

I also see your point and agree with you and the others that all scripture is equal. Sometimes we take out of written words just what we think we see. I didn't notice the particular emphasis place on Christ's words over Paul's. What I understood was a question of why so many put Paul's words/context over Christ's.(seemingly excluding the words of Christ.) This is something I have seen quite a bit of personally.

I will say however that if I don't understand the point Paul is trying to make, that I refer back to what is written in the gospels. Eventually as I study I usually reconcile the two viewpoints(understanding of course that Christ and Paul ministered to different people/situations). I'm not necessarily taking the word's of one over the other, just trying to find the reconciliation point between the two.

Texas Sky, questions such as what Joseph posted should cause us to go back and think about exactly what we are saying. Even if it is annoying(and Joseph can be annoying), it won't hurt us to take a second look. If we like it the way it is written, then we leave be and ignore the annoyance. In this case Joseph had a point. If you're gonna debate then you have to have a thick skin.

 

Please, someone point me in the direction of a good definition of the dispensationalism?

 

Wikipedia - Dispensationalism

 

Thank you Gold Dragon.

 

I am sorry but the above statement is absurd.

All Scripture is equally inspired.
All Scripture is NOT equally important.
Therefore, all scripture is not equally applicable.

 

I am sorry but the above statement is absurd.

All Scripture is equally inspired.
All Scripture is NOT equally important.
Therefore, all scripture is not equally applicable. </font>[/QUOTE]I certainly did consider that in light of what scripture says about itself, and I think the Word of God disagrees with you:

2 Timothy 3:16

I think that all of these functions are important for Christians and the Word of God says that scripture fullfills this function. Therefore, all scripture is equally inspired and equally important.

Joseph Botwinick

 

This business of putting Pauls Epistles above all other books of the NT. Isnt this something that the Roman Catholics always accuse us Baptists of?

 

See, Ladies and Gentlemen----the way that I look at it is this---we agree as to what Paul tells Timothy---that--all scripture is inspired by God---

We can agree on that, can't we???

Well---then---if all scripture is inspired by God---then here's how I see it

The Apostle Paul may have "written" Romans 3:23---"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"----but to be inspired carries it far beyond who wrote it---to the point of who said it!!!

Paul wrote Romans 3:23---but God SAID "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!!

See??? From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21----is Jesus talking!!!!!!

Bro. David

 

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!

Joseph Botwinick

 

Yes.. this one had me scratching my head... inspired by God means regardless of the writer.......................

I could state my opinion but it would incite a riot between dispensationalists and the covenant boys.

 

We need to reach a point in our spiritual lives where we realize that the scripture that we read---from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21---is as Holy as Jesus is Holy!!! They are Holy Jesus' Holy words on printed page!!!! They are as inerrant as Jesus is inerrant! They are as infallable as Jesus is infallable!!

You can take that to the bank---I base my life upon that---and you can even quote what I just said!!!

Bro. David

 

Me too! I thought that was a given? There are Baptist's that don't believe that?! Looks like I need to read the rest of this thread. Yikes!

 

I think that all of these functions are important for Christians and the Word of God says that scripture fullfills this function. Therefore, all scripture is equally inspired and equally important.

Let's just think logically about your observations. Obviously no one is arguing here against 2 Tim 3.16. All Scripture is God-breathed. However what Paul is also saying is that the Word of God is the BASIS for everything we teach. He is not saying all Scripture is equally important to know and teach.

Let's use an example. Let's say you have the opportunity to teach ONE biblical truth to a person who is an unbeliever. You have one opportunity to articulate a text. This will be the only opportunity you have to speak to this person. Let's say you have 2 verses to choose from:

Leviticus 12.2: "The Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period."

Or

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son."

Which of these two verses is more IMPORTANT within this context?

Are both passages equally inspired? Yes
Are both passages equally important and applicable? No

Even Jesus prescribed to this method ... when asked which of the commandments was the greatest, how did Jesus respond? He singled out the Love God and love others commandments as the MOST important.

It is much easier to think through your "I will go so far as to say..." statements before you make them.

Perhaps this is a subject for another thread.