Hi Dwight,
Thanks for joining the discussion. The truth is the truth, to include its interpretation. We know for a fact (biblically) that the church is equipped with the Holy Spirit of God, therefore, if teachers, preachers, prophets, etc…
(1 Cor 12:28) are led by the Spirit of God to expound on what "thus says the Lord", isn’t it in fact ancillary, at the very least, to the foundational tenets of scripture? Unless you are contending that the spiritual gifts of various utterances are mute, how can you defend this position by the Word of God?
Dwight, my inquiry is not based on the history of defiling Christ’s foundational tenets, but by expounding on them. But to expound on the truth, you must be in the truth, to elaborate on what “thus says the Lord”; but, isn't spiritual gifts the modem to do just that?
Nevertheless, your concerns are valid, because anything that contradicts foundational doctrines should be dismissed as a lie. But, the 1st Century believers were no stranger to this deception, and neither are post Apostolic believers. If the Holy Spirit sustains us, the gifts of The Spirit will always provide further clarification, hence, teachers, preachers, and prophets. For example, everything Paul said was not inspired but could be authoritative, we read in
1 Cor 7:12 that Paul gives his own judgement on marriage issues. However, do we read his judgement as inspired? No, we don’t, but could they be authoritative, absolutely. Then why can’t inspiration and authoritative processes of this sort be ongoing to this very day, especially in the multitude of writings?
Dwight, you keep eluding to
“the bible” as if it existed as we know it today. The Apostles only knew of one form of scripture, The Law and the Prophets and Jesus’ interpretation of the latter. Their teachings and instructions were inspired, by God, to equip the church to sustain themselves in Israel’s last days and beyond--through teachers, preachers, and apostles. Are you saying this is over? If not, then inspiration which clarifies the truth must still be active and on par with the same sound judgement Paul and others exercised. You mentioned
Deut 4 & 12, but by your own mandate, Paul was guilty of adding his
“two-cents” to the Word of God in
1 Cor 7:12! But if you say, no—Paul clearly distinguished his comments from The Lord’s, well I hope you don’t consider his comments
“as scripture”. But if they’re not scripture, then what are they? Whatever your answer is, all subsequent Christians writings, consistent with Jesus’ teachings, are on par with Paul’s comments! Maybe every man should be convicted in his own heart.
As for
Rev 22, this is a non-sequitur to the biblical reality of Christians building upon Christ’s sure foundation outside this lone prophecy addressed to the seven churches in Asia. Additionally, “this book” is clearly referencing the prophecy therein, not any ongoing teachings and instructions relating to God’s eternal truths.
Dwight: Our words will never be equal in authority or inspiration to Jesus' words, nor IMO to any Biblical author.
The Word of God says,
"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 3:11). Therefore, whatever is said can only further clarify the truth. But if there is only one truth, proclaimed through, preacher, teachers, etc... why wouldn't their words be on par in authority or inspiration as Jesus' and the NT Writers? For we read,
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward" (1 Cor 3:12-14). Dwight, our words and deeds
must be equal in authority and inspiration as Jesus in order to receive a reward. Anything less will in fact suffer loss! Thus, teachers are specifically on notice; "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness"
(James 3:1). I think your judgement is not entirely aligned with scripture, especially if The Spirit is still at work today. Our words, especially speaking on God's behalf, matter greatly.
Blessings.