Are Seminaries and Bible Colleges Biblical?

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crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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I agree with you; there is no new revelation given for everyone. However, God speaks to His kids. That is revelation, but is not special revelation in the same category as Scripture, nor should it be equated with Scripture, nor should it be treated as incipient Scripture.
I guess my concern in this matter (without getting nit picky), is that statements like this of yours earlier,
"In these passages, the Bible tells us with adequate clarity that God speaks outside of Scripture."
I would add 'and according to Scripture', otherwise we would set ourselves up to fall for an Institution like Papal Rome or other cults.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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I guess my concern in this matter (without getting nit picky), is that statements like this of yours earlier,
"In these passages, the Bible tells us with adequate clarity that God speaks outside of Scripture."
I would add 'and according to Scripture', otherwise we would set ourselves up to fall for an Institution like Papal Rome or other cults.
Agreed. I would say, "consistent with Scripture". God is not going to speak outside of Scripture in a way that contradicts Scripture, which is the fundamental error of Catholicism, Mormonism, and many other false belief systems.
 

Dino246

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Jun 30, 2015
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Perhaps a prophet like Agabus prophesied about what would happen to Paul because it hadn't occurred yet nor was written down for us to edify later. But now the word is complete and set before us in the form intended and I don't believe anyone is going to prophesy future divine events to occur that are not already taught in the scriptures.
That looks a lot like circular reasoning.

Yes, we can just disagree. That's the easy way out. I'm not going to badger you about it, but I think you haven't wrestled adequately with this issue.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
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You make a very good post.
So I want to be clear. NO, I am not calling the seminaries devoid of God's Spirit. I am not saying they are devoid of true believers.
At one time was was questioning this, but I did see my error in this, and I am relieved to know this truth now. There were even believers among the pharisees.
It is by grace in which we are ALL saved. Amen!!!

And yes my number one priority and central focus is to address my own sins, not the sins of others. I am the problem, first and foremost.

So we do have to discern our way through this world.
And there is Corthinians 5 for example.
And when I have gone on social media I saw a number of my church brothers and sisters judging the rest of the world whether it was politics, or vaccines, or cultural. And I also saw some of this from the deacon(s), and I also heard some of this from the pastor(s).
So what I am looking into is what Paul said in corthinians 5:12.
I also keep close attention to James 4:11-12

I think when we judge we do so in a sinful way. But perhaps there is a righteous or proper way to judge as I think corithians 5:12 is pointing to.

But I am not being without sin myself in doing this. So either I ought not to be judging, or a I ought to learn to judge in a righteous or proper way. But at this point I am still working these things out. And to not burden or upset my church brothers and sisters causing them to judge me, and return sin against me, I work out these things on line anonymously with strangers of the faith.

So I do want to apologize if and when I sin. And I don't want to draw others to return sin against sin. And this is most difficult. And I am conflicted about this things. But I can't be the only one.

What I know is that I do not want to judge one's salvation. There is only One Judge for this James 4:11-12. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And this is NOT for me to judge!!! AMEN!!! I have peace with this.

But If the church I go to has apparent sins (or the seminaries I see have apparent sins) am I to just look the other way, or am I to consider and address these sins in some matter or way Corithians 5:12? In fact this right here might be a good thread to start.

So once more you do make a very good point and the number one priority is for each believer to focus first on addressing their own sins. For we cannot see clearly unless we have the Spirit of God in full, and if we continue to harbor sin then our greiving of the Sprite will cloud our judgement and sight. Thank you for this post.
I agree completely.
 
Apr 26, 2021
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That looks a lot like circular reasoning.


Yes, we can just disagree. That's the easy way out. I'm not going to badger you about it, but I think you haven't wrestled adequately with this issue.
I appreciate that. I kind of feel the same about you. We're just 2 people that don't agree on a point because we both believe we understand the truth of the matter. One of us doesn't and hopefully, if it's me, the truth of the matter will be revealed to me at some point in the future. Or you if that be the case.
 

Nebuchadnezzer

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2019
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The pope is irrelevant to biblical Christianity. Say anything you like about him within that framework.
This is a total underestimation of the enemy, to pretend he is not even there. He influences so many people, and then influences the people through them.

The council at Jerusalem was the method God used to get the apostles on the same page regarding the gentiles and the Law. The Catholics were wise to use it as a model, even if they did other things horribly wrong.
And you erroneous interpretation serves the enemy (pope).
He is trying to counter or reverse the reformation. But how can you properly defend against your enemy (the pope) when you pretend he isn't even there?

In this point, yes, you are simply wrong.. He didn't lay any burden on the church at Antioch, because he wasn't an elder of the church at Antioch. He was in Jerusalem, and the "burden" was on gentiles coming to Christ, not "the church". Further, he didn't compromise anything. He spoke as guided by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:28
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:

Yes, so the burden was laid upon the gentile believers, you are correct.

It does not say he was guided by the Holy Spirit. It says seemed go to the Holy Spirit and to them. This is how they saw it and they saw it wrong.

What is so difficult to accept that James was mostly right, but still induced error in his actions? James acted like a pharisee by laying an unnecessary burden (no eat blood or stangled meet) on man. This was a man-made rule. We know this is not from the Holy Spirit because it is in contradiction with other scripture. This is not a red-herring - this is where the error was made. So sure the error seems small, but it still is error nonetheless.

So when the catholic church wrote the 1st council of nicea they wrote good things about the trinity, and so forth but then they induced errors in other parts of the council. And when you repeat the mistakes over and over you compound the errors.

The example of the Council of Jerusalem is an example for what seminaries do as well. They say and mean many good things, but still in their writings they also induce errors. Then they build on those errors. So this is in agreement with Eccesiates 12 where God clearly says that anything written beyond what One Shepard (Jesus) you are to beware.

So you think because the council of jerusalem is in the bible it is perfect.
Do you think because James is in the bible he too is perfect?
Do you think the apostles choice of Matthias (without Jesus present and without the Holy Spirit in them) was error or not?
I will save you the suspense. I believe that was also error made by the apostles.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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This is a total underestimation of the enemy, to pretend he is not even there. He influences so many people, and then influences the people through them.

And you erroneous interpretation serves the enemy (pope).
He is trying to counter or reverse the reformation. But how can you properly defend against your enemy (the pope) when you pretend he isn't even there?
The pope is not the enemy; he is merely a deeply-deluded sinful human. See Ephesians 6:12.

Acts 15:28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:

Yes, so the burden was laid upon the gentile believers, you are correct.

It does not say he was guided by the Holy Spirit. It says seemed go to the Holy Spirit and to them. This is how they saw it and they saw it wrong.
That is your opinion, and you have offered nothing of substance to support your opinion.

What is so difficult to accept that James was mostly right, but still induced error in his actions?
Why is it so difficult to accept that James was fully right and that his words were consistent with the will of the Holy Spirit?

James acted like a pharisee by laying an unnecessary burden (no eat blood or stangled meet) on man. This was a man-made rule. We know this is not from the Holy Spirit because it is in contradiction with other scripture. This is not a red-herring - this is where the error was made. So sure the error seems small, but it still is error nonetheless.
Kindly support your assertion (in bold) with Scripture.

So when the catholic church wrote the 1st council of nicea they wrote good things about the trinity, and so forth but then they induced errors in other parts of the council. And when you repeat the mistakes over and over you compound the errors.
Where is your issue? The council of Jerusalem, or the council of Nicea?

The example of the Council of Jerusalem is an example for what seminaries do as well. They say and mean many good things, but still in their writings they also induce errors. Then they build on those errors. So this is in agreement with Eccesiates 12 where God clearly says that anything written beyond what One Shepard (Jesus) you are to beware.
The intent of seminaries is to prepare people for a lifetime of ministry to the Church. Like churches, they are made up of humans, and human nature expresses itself through institutions as well as through individuals.

So you think because the council of jerusalem is in the bible it is perfect.
Did I use the word, "perfect"? No. Don't put words in my mouth.

Do you think because James is in the bible he too is perfect?
Don't be ridiculous.

Do you think the apostles choice of Matthias (without Jesus present and without the Holy Spirit in them) was error or not?
I will save you the suspense. I believe that was also error made by the apostles.
You're welcome to your opinion.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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Again, since the Greek words for books and parchments are different, I'd be dishonest to think they were both speaking of the same thing viz. Scriptures. Not sure what Proverbs has to do with anything, since wisdom and knowledge come from the Scriptures and the God of Scripture.
If he had Isaiah on a parchment and Jeremiah on a papyrus scroll, then what?
 

Nebuchadnezzer

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2019
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The pope is irrelevant to biblical Christianity. .
You are misleading others and yourself.

the pope has a tremendous influence on bible believing Christians.
It is not called the Counter Reformation for nothing. And he is still countering the reformation today.

pope francis meets with Franklin Graham through Russian proxies. The pope influences Franklin Graham who influences the Southern Baptists.

The pope also met with Billy Graham on multiple occasions. The pope influenced Billy Graham who was and still is a huge influence on Southern Baptists.
 

Attachments

Nebuchadnezzer

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2019
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You are misleading others and yourself.

the pope has a tremendous influence on bible believing Christians.
It is not called the Counter Reformation for nothing. And he is still countering the reformation today.

pope francis meets with Franklin Graham through Russian proxies. The pope influences Franklin Graham who influences the Southern Baptists.

The pope also met with Billy Graham on multiple occasions. The pope influenced Billy Graham who was and still is a huge influence on Southern Baptists.
The Counter Reformation was really a counter-offensive to the reformation. This counter-offensive to the reformation is still being brought today.
 

Nebuchadnezzer

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Feb 8, 2019
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The intent of seminaries is to prepare people for a lifetime of ministry to the Church.
Church with a captial C is found in the Council of Trent (which made seminaries obligatory).
Where is Church with a captial C found in scripture?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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Church with a captial C is found in the Council of Trent (which made seminaries obligatory).
Where is Church with a captial C found in scripture?
I capitalize the word for the universal body of believers in Christ, period. It has nothing to do with Trent.
 
A

Alyd20

Guest
I’m planning On Going to Lipscomb college a Christian college in Nashville Tennessee I’m praying like I have never done before
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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It's all guesswork. You cannot know what was on the scrolls and parchments because he does not say.
If it was all Scriptures, don't you think it would most likely be the same word? Biblion vs membrana.
 

Nebuchadnezzer

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2019
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I capitalize the word for the universal body of believers in Christ, period. It has nothing to do with Trent.
If you cannot find Church with a capital C in scripture, then that is man-made.
 

Nebuchadnezzer

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2019
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Not at all. I’m telling the truth: the pope is irrelevant. You seem to misunderstand the meaning of the word.
Irrelevant means not related to the subject at hand. If a rock star becomes irrelevant, it means people are not relating––or even listening––to his music anymore.

What you say is untrue.

Billy Graham certainly listened to the pope.

Rick Warren is clearly relating to the pope.
https://welcome2jesus.wordpress.com...ncis-is-the-pope-of-all-christians-worldwide/
Richard Duane Warren (born January 28, 1954) is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor and author.[1][2][3] He is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention in Lake Forest, California, which is the sixth-largest megachurch in the United States (including multi-site churches).

Russell Moore previously served at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of six seminaries of the SBC, as dean of the School of Theology, senior vice president for academic administration, and as professor of theology and ethics.
Why I am going to the vatican (he is also listening and relating)
https://www.russellmoore.com/2014/11/03/why-im-going-to-the-vatican/

(Moore is also listening and relating)
https://www.christianitytoday.com/n...warren-russell-moore-n-t-wright-marriage.html