Take a pilgrimage with Steve and Janet Ray!
Cruise Day 11: Thessaloniki, Berea, and my talk on the Bereans and Sola Scriptura
Two videos below: 1) The video of our day in Thessaloniki and Berea, 2) My talk on the Bereans and Sola Scriptura.
Cruise ported in Thessaloniki and no more tenders (sea taxis). Celebrated Mass at the Thessaloniki Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The guides gave us the history and biblical significance of this area on our 45-minute drive to Berea. Here I gave my talk about “Sola Scriptura vs. Scripture and Tradition.” I gave the talk at a beautiful mosaic monument to St Paul in the heart of the city. We also walked on the ancient stone roads that Paul walked on 2000 years ago.
Then we stopped at a wonderful Eli’s Restaurant for a good lunch with drinks included. Look at this menu!
Greek Salad, Batzos saganaki (local cheese), grilled Pleurotus mushrooms with honey and balsamic dressing, Beef with eggplant and mashed potatoes, cotta desert.
We took a nap on our 45-minute drive back to Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is a city to which St. Paul addressed his first two epistles. We saw the White Tower, the majestic statue of Alexander the Great upon his horse, and St. Demetrius’s Orthodox Church. Then back to the ship for free time and dinner and all the multiple shows and entertainment on the ship.
Were the Bereans “Bible Alone”?
Since we are in Thessaloniki today, just a few miles from Berea (which I have visited a number of times), I thought I’d share my argument which turns the PROTEST-ant idea of “Sola Scriptura” on its head. You know, many Protestants appeal to the Bereans as proof of their false doctrine. As for the Bereans, that ain’t so.
St. Paul traveled through Thessaloniki and Berea in modern-day Greece (Macedonia). The account is recorded in Acts 17:1-15. Many Protestants consider the Bereans as proto-Protestants holding to a “Bible alone” theology. But they are sadly mistaken.
Here is my article “Why the Bereans Rejected Sola Scriptura” which was published in THIS ROCK Magazine a while ago (here).
When you read this article, you will discover that the Bereans were actually Catholic in their view of Scripture, tradition, and authority.
Since it was the Thessalonians who were more like the “Bible-alone” folks, I think all the Fundamentalist churches that call themselves “Berean Bible Church” should change their name to “Thessalonian Bible Church” 🙂
Cruise Day 10: Philippi, Paul’s Jail, Kavala, Ancient Via Egnatia
Two videos below: 1) Our day in Philippi and Kavala (Neapolis); 2) Steve answers the Philippian jailer’s “ What must I do to be saved?”
Cruise anchored in Kavala out in the harbor and we dashed off the boat in our designated tender to arrive at our Mass site in Philippi at the River Zigatis where Paul baptized Lydia, who was a dealer in purple fabrics. Lovely site on the river where we also renew our baptismal vows.
Next we toured the ruins of the ancient Roman colony where Paul established a church and later wrote his Epistle to the Philippians. We saw the Jail where Paul and Silas were imprisoned (Acts 16) and in the Roman theatre I gave my talk “What must I do to be saved?”
Back to Kavala for lunch after one of the highlights of the day. We pull off the freeway and walk ito the bush to walk on the old Egnatian Roman Road Janet and I discovered 20 years ago. It was built in 200 BC and still exists today.
Authentic Greek food for lunch, looked at the colorful mosaic in the town center of St. Paul’s call to go to Macedonia which led him to Philippi. Back to the ship for dinner and free time. Tomorrow heading to Thessaloniki and Berea (Acts 17).
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