Quote:
Originally Posted by R. Scott Clark  With ref to Isa 34 is this directed to the laity? Does it presume that every member of Israel has a copy of the Scriptures? Are you sure you want to take this verse as literally as you do in the context of Isa 34?
To whom was Jesus speaking in John 5:39? To Jewish laity? Were "the Jews" who were persecuting (ESV) him the laity and serfs or elites (pharisees etc)?
rsc Quote:
Originally Posted by fredtgreco Quote:
Originally Posted by Gryphonette
Acts 17:11 "Now these [the Jews in Berea] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
Granted, this was recorded by Luke, not Paul, but still...
| One might add:
ESV Isaiah 34:16 Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.
ESV John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, | |
Dr. Clark,
I'm going to make a few "assumptions" here so correct me if I'm wrong.
1. That you are not arguing that no one here in the 21st century should not read Scripture on there own. It may be true that prior to the printing press the laity did not have wide access to Scripture but since then the laity can have full access to the Canon. In fact it was translated into varius languages so that the laity could actually read it. Didn't Luther translate the bible into German so that the German people could read it?
2. That what you are arguing against when you refer to "private readings" is actually private interpretations where folks are reading Scripture in a vaccum, ie; the "me and my bible" crowd. I believe that it was Luther who said "As each man reads the Scriptures, he finds his own pathway to hell". Luther was not arguing against a private individual reading Scripture just that one should take seriously what the church has historically said about what various passages mean so one can come to a fuller understanding of what God is conveying to his people. Coming to a full understanding of Scripture is the role of the church, which is to "equip the saints".