2 Pet. 1:20
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation.
Your answer above was the response to Farouk's statement "The Word is self-authenticating; it does not depend on clerics supposedly giving it authority at their convenience."
Your interpretation is not correct on 2Pet 1:20 It seems you are attempting to yank a scripture out of context and trying to use it to disavow that the Word of GOD is of Divine authority and like farouk stated: " it does not depend on clerics supposedly giving it authority when it's convenient. ---when that's exactly what Peter was stating. However you are trying to say that the Protestants whom you are speaking to are taking the scripture out of context --- well no.
Peter is speaking of himself & the apostles that they are not speaking from themselves nor have they followed cunningly devised fables but were eye witnesses to the glory of GOD in Jesus Christ. Peter the man is not just speaking but as directed by the Holy Spirit.
The other problem is that RC have been taught wrongly that the Roman Church is "the church" mentioned in the Bible and that is false & they think that their Pope's are the lineage from Peter --again False RC teaching
If we read from Verse 16 :
Peter states,
2Pet 1: 16 " For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the Power and coming of our Lord Je'sus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory. THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. 18.And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.
19.We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts;
20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Ho'ly Ghost."
The biggest problem you (RC) and me (Bible believing Protestant) will have is in communicating, is be because since you are a follower of Roman Catholicism the liturgy it is based upon very much is outside of what is
Biblical, so from the onset our foundations are different. Mine is based upon the
words of the scriptures only and yours will be based upon
Roman Catholicism and the
religious RC traditions it has taught you.
Jesus words come from the Bible not from anywhere else ( AS in HIS words have been recorded and written down for us. The RCC has no God given authority to pretend it has any divine authority nor has right to change JESUS words as Pope Francis keeps trying to do and as Pope's in the past have added to scripture their own false teachings or interpretations.
The Bible scripture is the ONLY written Divine authority, written by godly men - as directed by GOD and nothing & no other human authority is to be looked to as equal to it- not the Pope not the Vatican, not the RCC's writings or traditions.
Another Faulty premise that Roman catholicism is based upon is the belief that the Roman church is the "the spiritual church of Christ" referred to in the Bible and that Peter passed down his Apostolic lineage to the Popes and that again is a falsehood that has been constructed by Rome to give their Papacy , Vatican & celibate priesthood & a man-designated counterfeit "holiness" and legitimacy as speaking with divine authority.
The RCC is Not "The Church" and it does not represent Christianity.
I know this will all go over with you like a rock, but hopefully these different views can be discussed in a manner that is on an intellectual basis and stay away from getting angry.
