Extra-Biblical Oral Tradition Arguments Refuted:
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"Only oral tradition gave the duration of Elijah's drought in James 5:17 as 3 1/2 years." |
False arguments that Catholics and Orthodox use to prove oral extra-scriptural church tradition are refuted.
"Only oral tradition gave the duration of Elijah's drought in James 5:17 as 3 1/2 years."
"Notice that while James gives 3 1/2 years as the duration of the drought, 1 Kings 17:1 only says, "these years". Obviously it was only known by oral tradition, because scripture did not tell us."
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months." James 5:17
"Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 1 Kings 17:1
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Refutation of the false Catholic & Orthodox tradition argument:
"Only oral tradition gave the duration of Elijah's drought in James 5:17 as 3 1/2 years." |
Scripture recorded the duration of the drought.
James got the 3 1/2 year figure directly from the Holy Spirit. Inspiration means that the prophecy did not come by an act of human will. We are offended that anyone would suggest the authors of the Bible rely upon human records and not the Holy Spirit. "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Pet 1:20-21)
Scripture does tell us : "Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth." 1 Kings 18:1
Jesus tells us: "But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; Luke 4:25
What if James learned the number directly from Jesus himself? Did Jesus need to rely upon oral tradition? Hardly!
There is no need to appeal to oral tradition, when you have specific Bible verses.
Even if the figure of 3 1/2 years was a matter of oral tradition, just how important is the length of the drought? It is not a matter of importance or critical faith. If this is the best example of oral tradition Roman Catholic and Orthodox defenders can come up with, they have lost their case!
More Pro-Oral Church tradition arguments refuted!
More Anti-Sola Scriptura arguments refuted!
by Steve Rudd
Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA
