Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
We can say that the DA is seen in the New Testament, especially in Paul's writings, but we can also see beheading repeatedly in the NT, e.g. in Luke's writings (9:9; Acts 12:2) which doesn't make it the universal norm. In order to tease out the DA motif from the letter of Paul (his writings), and give it some actuality, reality, or concreteness on your preferred manner, you need to violate the spirit of Paul, and the both spirit and the letter of Jesus. The Bible presents us an organic whole, a testimony undisturbed, and we can't overturn or ignore any part in order to make it say something we prefer.
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I don't think you need to be concerned that Paul somehow might support deputy authority. While he does refer to responsibility and to the willingness of the believers to take all the good teaching and leadership that is given, he also refuses to suggest that there is ever a cause to "cover" the sins of any kind of leader. While he is careful to keep a single naysayer from making a charge that sticks, if there are two making the charge, it is accepted.
And then the leader is to be made an example of for the benefit of the body, not quietly swept away. I think of the debacle relating to BM when he was quitely sent out to East Texas for allegedly personal reasons — all at the insistence of Lee. That really worked well. It was the error that keeps on erring.