Of course not. But it's just as foolhardy to reject a notion just because of the way in which it presented itself to you.And the way to what you have been after is not the way of going by "well, this that this individual is saying makes sense, I think I'll run with it."
There's no risk in believing in an unbroken continuation of the college of bishops, who were instituted by the Apostles, and participated with the Apostles in the first Church council, recorded for us right in mid-Acts.That is no more than a different version of your prior, Calvinist vacuum.
What you are doing is going by the reasoning of men that an IP's entire outlook was so long ago blinded by.
There is no reasoning with the guy - he long ago lost his mind in his OVER reliance on the ever endless "perhaps this" that; the other, that is "the traditions of men."
Might as well hand a stranger one's wallet under that kind of a self-delusion; under conclusions based on "perhaps" they will return it, untouched...
It gave me its answer. I wrestled with this chapter for about two decades now. I know that the bishops' teaching on divine providence is correct, and that Calvinism is incorrect, I just didn't know how to read Romans chapter nine without mental relics of Calvinism like small bugs crushed on my windshield.The way of attempting to understand the Scripture through books supposedly "based on" or "about" it - OVER relied on.
The thing to do is to wrestle with Romans 9 itself - like Jacob did with that angel - until it gives you its answer.
Working the college of bishops backwards from its results isn't the way I went about it, not being reared Catholic or Orthodox or Anglican (no exposure to even the notion of bishops as a child, young man and adult, not until my 30s did I really understand the contrast between Christian traditions that involved bishops, and those that don't). I studied and wrestled and finally took a step back to just look around at the whole landscape, and that landscape is history, and history says that the Body of Christ began with bishops, the Apostles were bishops, the Apostles ordained bishops, and bishops ordained bishops, and there are bishops today. I worked forward from Scripture, to the results, being bishops today.What does said wrestling with look like?
Endless questions about what operating principles does Paul appear to be not only making use of, but also, pointing back to as to other possible operating principles?
What one is to seek out first, is the answer to the question "what is this house here comprised of - what possible operating principles does it appear to point back to?"
Once those are identified, then they are applied to attempting to understand the intended meaning of what is being said.
One then also now has various operating principles in hand by which to attempt to study out the intended meaning of other, in this case, of Paul's various assertions.
See all this here...
Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
All imply a study approach of some sort was being applied.
It behooves each of us to work it all backwards from its results, to the operating principles said results cannot but point back to.
Scripture is the door. I don't worship the door. Who is through the door is the Maker. I worship Him, I believe in Him, I love Him, and He has given us the college of bishops, and they've published a catechism for us.For as the following asserts - The Scripture is more than able to make known to its more diligent student, its intended meanings...
Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Rom. 14:5; 5:6-8.
http://theologyonline.com/showthrea...-of-the-Catholic-Church&p=4812650#post4812650