If it's not too late to say so, I agree with Pilgrim's comments wholeheartedly <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />, although an Arminian (certainly not me) might respond that one can be "holy" and "of God" one day and not "holy" and "of God" the next (e.g., "holy" and "of God" when writing Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes, but not "holy" and "of God" when building high places for Chemosh and Moloch and offering sacrifes to them). I'd only like to add that we simply do not have enough information from Scripture to conclude that Solomon apostatized and never repented (unlike Robert Shaw, I would say that Solomon's apostasy appears total, but was probably not final). Although there is dispute about the matter, even among conservative evangelical scholars, I believe that Solomon was the author of Ecclesiastes, and the tone and flavor of that book are of a man humbled and chastened by the disciplining rod of the Lord. The paucity of direct or explicit biblical testimony that Solomon ultimately repented should not cause us to infer that he died apostate, nor should it cause us undue concern. We would not know of Manasseh's repentance apart from 2 verses in 2 Chronicles (33:18-20), and 1 Kings 11:41 and 2 Chronicles 9:29 speak of other sources (obviously noncanonical) which record the rest of Solomon's acts "from first to last." Knowledge of these other sources or "acts" (including Solomon's possible repentance) may account for the otherwise surprisingly positive assessments of Solomon's life and wisdom in the rest of Scripture.
An unassailable argument, I would say (if I can do so without Pilgrim's latent pride rising up!)
I am a little surprised Pilgrim hasn't said anything to this. But I must ask you to please explain how Pilgrim's argument is unassailable. Surely you can do better than to say that without even backing it up.
Tom said: I am a little surprised Pilgrim hasn't said anything to this. But I must ask you to please explain how Pilgrim's argument is unassailable. Surely you can do better than to say that without even backing it up.
Tom,
Actually, Flunky1's remark, aside from the bit about my pride rising up, is a compliment. Here's the standard definition of the word, "unassailable":
Adjective: unassailable (`únu'seylubul) 1. Able to withstand attack 2. Impossible to assail 3. Without flaws or loopholes
what an answer - I just had to print it <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />
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