Given the foregoing I have three questions:
1- Do you intend, and if so, to what extent, the implication that the Pope is protected from error because the Office is protected from error? (I'll try to read yuour link to Armstrong's writing sometime today....)
2- Why, if the Holy Spirit protects both the Office and Pope against error, have there been only two Popes who were "defenders of the Faith orthodox which insisted that Jesus Christ was both truly God and man" ?
3- Isn't what you've presented an indictment against the Holy Spirit's capability to "override" a quite long list of "stubborn" people?
I really am interested in giving you an opportunity to explain what, for me, is a glaringly inconsistent statement of what the Holy Spirit has promised and what you admit as historical fact, especially since you cite what you interpret as a Scriptural promise to the contrary.
1. I would say yes, the office is protected by the Holy Spirit. The promise of the protection of the Holy Spirit given in Matthew 16: 18 - 19 is given in the context of the speech to St. Peter, meaning that this promise is intended for him.
As part of your question, I would ask you this, if the office of St. Peter is not protected from doctrinal and moral error by the Holy spirit, then which office of leadership is? What man can claim that blessing of having his teaching absolutely free form error?
This is an important question, since in Protestantism not only are there massive disagreements, but a number of them are on things very basic to salvation and eternal life.; Therefore, it is important to KNOW just who is teaching "the truth and nothing but the truth" isn't it?
2. I'm sorry. I am not familiar with the situation you are quoting me. Could you perhaps enlighten me a bit more?
My understanding is that all of the popes have validated the position of Christ's deity, but I am interested in what you can share with me. This has not been an area of study for mre.
3. How is this an indictment against the work of the Holy Spirit?
[Personal note: There is some importance in this discussion for me because I have an RC friend that is new to her faith and she has raised these same questions in our sometimes lengthy, but always very cordial, conversations about RCism and how it differs from my beliefs as a Protestant.]
Curiousity bids me to ask from where this young lady has converted from and what her backgound is theologically? (If you don't mind)
Cordially in Christ,
Brother Ed
