Monday, December 21, 2009

True Gospel

"I went up in accord with a revelation, and I presented to them the gospel that I preach to the Gentiles--but privately to those of repute--so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain." Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 2

What is going on here? Lets trace back to Saul on his way to Damascus. You know the story, he is struck down from his horse and God speaks to him. Does anybody doubt that Saul is receiving Divine Revelation? He then goes through his remarkable conversion, becomes Paul and he begins his mission to bring the message of Christ first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. He writes that he went to Arabia, then Damascus, then after 3 years He goes to Jerusalem and meets with Peter, then he went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia and after 14 years he heads to Jerusalem again with Barnabas. Then he writes that he preaches the Gospel privately to those of repute! What is going on here?!!? Do you mean that St. Paul who has received Divine Revelation from the mouth of God has to check with the Apostles to ensure it's accuracy? Though divinely instructed to preach and go to Jerusalem Paul deems it necessary to check with the experts. At issue was a Gentile, Titus, and the question of circumcision, which false brothers (Gal 2:4) evidently demanded for him. Paul insists that the gospel he preaches (Gal 2:2; cf Gal 1:9, 11) remained intact with no addition by those of repute (Gal 2:6); that Titus was not compelled to accept circumcision (Gal 2:3); and that he and the reputed pillars in Jerusalem agreed on how each would advance the missionary task (Gal 1:7-10). The truth is that even for St. Paul the Church, the Apostolic Church was both revered and acknowledged as the authority. The point is that we have people running around today preaching that they have received "divine revelation" from the Holy Spirit, yet they believe that this is true and authentic without having any authority to confirm whether the message has any validity. That goes also of course for Sacred Scripture.

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