The Audacity of St. Paul

While some apologists for the pope are trying to convince us of infallibility’s flabbergasting attributes and effects, Paul — the one who rebuked the first pope — had the temerity to suggest a foundation other than infallibility for the work and witness of the church:

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 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. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Cor 3:10-15)

Just before this, Paul expresses caution about belonging to church parties, which in chapter one included Paul, Apollos, and Peter.

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? (1-4)

I wonder what he would have made of the high papalists. But perhaps without an infallible basis for wonder, I am forbidden to do so.

35 thoughts on “The Audacity of St. Paul

  1. Yes. For:

    For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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  2. But what of all those denominations of Protestantism, Luther’s, Calvin’s?

    Henry VIII’s?

    “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?”

    This post is a helluvan argument for the other side.

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  3. Darryl,

    Yep Paul and Christ did not claim any divine authority. Nope. They were just on par with some random Jewish scribe teaching. The infallibility thing is tied to the authority thing. The authority thing is kind of a big deal for accepting Christ’s teachings/interpretations as articles of faith (i.e. infallible) to put the assent of faith in. Don’t put the cart before the horse. You do it here with infallibility, you do it with sola scriptura, you do it with your view of reason. Of course Christ is the foundation – don’t play the false dichotomy game.

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  4. Not Bryan Cross says: the pope, being the “vicar” (stand-in) of Christ, for all practical purposes IS Christ, which is why we follow him.

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  5. Rube, Cross’ entire system relies on his having a website. I say we leave Cross and Algore to their happy little selves. One invented the internet. The other, a new kind of hat. For Pope of Called to Communion.

    I’ll take Darryl’s baseball cap over Cross’. It’s better for keeping the sun out, while golfing.

    We are at the end of all this. Finally. Good show, everyone. It’s closing time, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t..stay..here….

    In other words, his epistemic crisis is not our problem. It’s between Bryan and God.

    Peace.

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  6. It’s game over and we can get back to our lives. From that link (admittedly a Bryan Cross move, referencing me..this is fun!):

    As it turns out, however, Barth is right, that the best theology would indeed need no advocates. For when we discuss theology, we are discussing matters pertaining to the divine, and in truth, some things we simply are not meant to know for God speaking in the Scriptures says:

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
    For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

    Ah, so there it is. The point at last: God is above our debating of theology, online or elsewhere. Wouldn’t that be funny if even if one of us is right, and the other wrong, in such a hypothetical debate on a theological topic, such a person is in fact right, but for all the wrong reasons? God, it may end up in the end, does have a sense of humor.

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  7. All is ended. The Pope has remained silent. Bryan and his website can go on as they always have. There is simply nothing to see here.

    As for this:

    I wonder what he would have made of the high papalists. But perhaps without an infallible basis for wonder, I am forbidden to do so.

    Darryl, I don’t need to reveal to you and all here where I’m at. One question remains.

    Golf anyone?

    well, there is that wee little question of when the pope finally calls all this off. He’s the only one who can. My guess? We’re all dead before that happens. Let’s all keep paying attention anyway, I suppose. Yo.

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  8. Darryl:

    1. I’ve read all of Joe’s works (Joe Ratzinger, Benedictus XVI). I’ve been reading Romanists diligently since the mid-90s. I genuinely love the poor Italian folks, but have no brook for Rome or St. Peter’s (the last time, I physically could not enter).

    2. Most oddly, I recollect Joe noting the oddity–even the curiosity on his part–that Protestants (his sense, Germany) failed to note Paul’s sense of co-equality with Peter from Galatians 1 and 2. He wondered why that case had not been more vigorously prosecuted. Even more oddly to his odd reflection, I recollect saying to myself (it’s all about me), “Joe, c’mon, where have you been?”

    Joe had a titanic mind, but…as with all great minds…there are blind-spots. That includes the great issue of Necromancy too.

    BTW, the research on textual criticism and vernaculars continues apace. The Anglo-Italian policy, 1380s and onwards…thank God for Tyndale and the Holy Spirit.

    Regards.

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  9. Cletus,

    The infallibility thing is tied to the authority thing.

    Yes it is. Which is why Rome’s claim isn’t worth taking seriously. The Apostles claimed all their teaching was infallible. Rome doesn’t.

    If Rome wants to be the Apostles, it needs to be the Apostles. Go whole hog or go home. And if you won’t go whole hog and want to stay, then quit pretending that Rome’s divine authority is the same as the Apostles. Until every teaching of the pope is infallible, you aren’t even making that claim even though you think you are.

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  10. Cletus van Damme, so you do accept that Paul is infallible. If that’s the case, then the foundation can’t be the one you’re proposing. All I hear from you is infallibility. I never hear Christ or God’s word.

    As for the false dichotomy, you’re the one that claims we can’t have any knowledge only with Scripture. Psshaw.

    Love Tom.

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  11. Given the 600-year blackout for English speakers (1380ish-1970ish), so ably rebutted by the English Reformers, aggravated by the Anglo-Italian policy of a Anglo-Hispanic Queen (Mary), repulsed in the English Channel (1588) by the Royal Navy, and upheld by Elizabethan and Jacobean Injunctions against Rome, “Rome shall have no jurisdiction in these realms.” A wonderful day for the West. Time to rediscover the 1599 Geneva Bible, a bulwark against the Great Necromancers with the bread-god or Christ-cakes.

    Psalm 119. 130 “The entrance into thy words showeth light, and giveth understanding to the simple.”

    The 1599 Geneva notes puts it more simply: “The simple idiots that submit themselves to God, have their eyes opened and their minds illuminated, so soon as they begin to read God’s word.”

    What is it that the simple idiots don’t get? Even Joe (Ratzinger) got it.

    Peter got whipped by Paul in Galatians 1 and 2. Whipped.

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  12. Darryl,

    “we can’t have any knowledge only with Scripture. ”

    Please don’t go down the Vincent Cheung road.

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  13. Steve, good one. That man sure knew how to turn a phrase.

    I, for one, stand with.

    Auf Wiedersehen

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  14. Darryl:

    You said, “Cletus van Damme, so you do accept that Paul is infallible.”

    Admit that, game over. Oh no!

    Regards.

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  15. Donald Philip Veitch
    Posted January 29, 2014 at 10:21 pm | Permalink
    Darryl:

    You said, “Cletus van Damme, so you do accept that Paul is infallible.”

    Admit that, game over. Oh no!

    Regards.

    Easy on the victory dance just yet. If the pope admits Paul is infallible, the game’s still on.

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  16. Mr, Van Dyke:

    Oh no, Trent said Paul was infallible. Oh no, it cannot be! Horrors, must we revisit Romans, Galatians and Ephesians too? Say it is not so!

    Yet, Trent said what Trent said.

    Crestfallen here.

    Van Damme, what sayest thou? Including the 600-year blackout.

    Regards.

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  17. Donald Philip Veitch
    Posted January 29, 2014 at 11:10 pm | Permalink
    Mr, Van Dyke:

    Oh no, Trent said Paul was infallible. Oh no, it cannot be! Horrors, must we revisit Romans, Galatians and Ephesians too? Say it is not so!

    Yet, Trent said what Trent said.

    Crestfallen here.

    Van Damme, what sayest thou? Including the 600-year blackout.

    Regards.

    Mr. [I won’t make a crude joke out of your name] Veitch, I believe we have refudiated your claim about the [Catholic] Bible not being in English for 600 years. Pls re-examine your charge and it’s boring anyway.

    Again:

    If the pope admits Paul is infallible, the game’s still on.

    You actually brought clarity to an essential point, albeit accidentally. Let’s continue, if you must.

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  18. Donald Philip Veitch
    Posted January 29, 2014 at 11:19 pm | Permalink
    Paul, infallible? Oh no! Trent just crashed

    Viking, the (as usual) mops up OLTS like he owns it.

    Is there another blog like this anywhere? Anyone? Bueller?

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  19. DPV,

    Paul’s writings recognized as Scripture are inspired. The Pope agrees. That does not mean everything he did was infallible. Same with Peter’s writings and his actions. Same with the papacy’s writings and its actions. Not a shocker. And to the citation above, I’m not aware of RCs saying they were baptized in the name of Peter or he was crucified for them. Another non-shocker.

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  20. Cletus van Damme
    Posted January 30, 2014 at 2:38 am | Permalink
    DPV,

    Paul’s writings recognized as Scripture are inspired. The Pope agrees. That does not mean everything he did was infallible. Same with Peter’s writings and his actions. Same with the papacy’s writings and its actions. Not a shocker. And to the citation above, I’m not aware of RCs saying they were baptized in the name of Peter or he was crucified for them. Another non-shocker.

    In other words, the RCC is nothing like the CTC paints it as. But you stick up for BC, since he’s in your tribe.

    Yesterday’s news, yo.

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