[TruthTalk] The value of history

[Judy Taylor]

From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Dear Kevin and Judy, We are having problems communicating because of two faulty assumptions. Following are two assumptions that need to be examined:   1.  Does God's Word equal The Bible?  My answer:  No.    jt: My question then is, where are you going to find it then? Where IYO is the present day Sanhedrin seated?   The Bible is God's Word, but God's Word is not the Bible. God's Word includes much more than the Bible.   jt: Would you say that God's Word is a person? and would you believe this independent of the Nicene Fathers?   The problem here is that when you read in the Bible, "the Word" or "the Word of God," you automatically think it is talking about the Bible. It is not.  The Bible did not even exist when these words were written down.   jt: What about "scriptures" - did the scriptures exist when these words were written?   Example: Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This does not mean that faith comes by reading the Bible, but I suspect that you both have this in mind when you read this passage.  The Word of God in this passage refers to the oral word of God, not the written word of God.  It refers to the Word of God spoken by a man preaching the gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.    jt: Would you say the apostle Paul is one of these men who spoke the Word of God publicly?  If so then why would he call the Bereans more honorable because they checked his preaching/teaching by the written Word daily? [Acts17:11]   Think about it.  The passage cannot possibly mean "reading the Bible" or even someone else reading the Bible for you.   jt: Why not?  Jesus said His Words are spirit and they are life; and I for one, believe him and have found them to be more trustworthy between the covers of my Bible than from the mouths of some speakers.   2.  There is a difference between my use of the phrase "PRIMARY SOURCE" and the word "AUTHORITY."  The Bible is an authority FOR THIS EARTH, but it is NOT a primary source.  The Bible itself teaches this in many places, including the passages already shared.  If you want more explanation, I will be glad to answer questions asked by those who are interested.   jt: Whether or not you consider the Bible to be a primary source David, it is what God has given to reveal Himself to us. Jesus told the ppl in the first century that if they would not believe Moses and the prophets they would not believe though one rose from the dead. You may see the Holy Spirit as primary source but He is the one who works with rather than against scripture to lead us into ALL truth.   Kevin asked for another authority other than the Bible.  The Bible itself teaches that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).  That makes the church an authority too.  There are other authorities mentioned by the Bible.  If anyone is interested, just ask about it.  It's all in the Bible, but even those who study the Bible the hardest seem to miss it.   jt: The Church are the ones who do the will of the Father - and how do we know the will of the Father? I've seen ppl following spirits they claim is the holy spirit and I've heard more heresy from the pulpits around.  You are teaching against being Berean David and your personal belief appears to me to be more along the lines of tradition, mysticism and RC'ism. judyt   God allows the devil to raise up heretics to make his people study