Sister Ann,
You provided Titus 1:9 as a scriptural justification for seminaries. Here is what that verse says in context, "4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:4-9). Paul is writing this to Titus, tell me what was the name of the seminary school Titus attended? Further, verse 5 talks of Titus ordaining elders in every city. Paul then goes on to list the qualifications for these elders in verses 6-9, and in verse 9 (the verse you appeal to for seminaries), states, "holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught", can you name me one Elder, preacher, in the New Testament that went to "seminary"? If not, then this verse obviously can't be referring to such. Who were the most educated, schooled people of religion in the gospels, was it not the Pharisees who crucified Christ? Who were the apostles who wrote the New Testament? A bunch of unschooled fishermen.
Not only did the apostles not go, but men such as Stephen and Apollos who did not sit under the ministry of Christ were preachers in Acts and had no such training. These institutions are man made and have their origin in none other than the mother of harlots the Catholic church themselves. "The establishment of modern seminaries resulted from Roman Catholic reforms of the Counter-Reformation after the Council of Trent.[5]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary
The Holy Spirit in combination with the written word of God is more than sufficient. "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" (1 John 2:27)
Also, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." If the scripture makes a man "thoroughly furnished" and "perfect" then I do not see what seminary could add as nothing further needs to be added upon (so as long as the reader of scripture has the Holy Ghost in him to teach him).
Other verses in scripture are clear enough to establish my case,
"33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, " (Jeremiah 31:33-34a)
John 6:45, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be
all taught of God"
An elder is one who is called of the Holy Spirit and ordained by the church to preach the gospel. Seminary is not listed as a means of becoming an "elder" in the New Testament or a way to become "trained to preach". It is funny how Paul, Peter, John, Jude, Luke, Matthew, Mark, and James failed to leave out this important institution in all their epistles, isn't it?
