The Bible = Sola Scriptura vs. Roman Catholicism = Sola Ecclesia
Nov 25, 2018 08:09:16 #
Roman Catholicism and Protestantism differ on whether the text of the Bible alone (sola scriptura), or the text of the Bible, tradition and the ruling of the councils and declarations of the Popes (sola ecclesia), are the infallible rule of faith.
Roman Catholicism in the Catechism of the Catholic Church #95:
"In the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls."
Does the Bible teach that the text of scripture and tradition are equally valid ?
"We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle" (2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15).
In the above verses, Sola Scriptura teaches that the Scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith for the Church. The doctrine does not say that there are not other, fallible, rules of faith, or even traditions, that we can refer to and even embrace. It does say, however, that the only infallible rule of faith is Scripture. This means that all other rules, whether we call them traditions, confessions of faith, creeds, or anything else, are by nature inferior to and subject to correction by, the Scriptures. The Bible is an ultimate authority, allowing no equal, nor superior, in tradition or church.
Roman Catholics claim:
1) The Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture.
2) Sola scriptura was an invention of the Reformation.
3) Sola scriptura is not found in scripture.
Consider these claims:
1) The claim that the Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture forces the logical and theological question: whence did it receive this authority?
Obviously, the answer would be that it received it from God.
But how or where was this authority bequeathed unto them?
In the scripture.
But which came first?
The Roman Catholic Church’s infallible authority to interpret scripture?
Or, the infallible interpretation of scripture that gave the Roman Catholic Church the authority?
They then interpret the scripture as giving them the authority to interpret the scripture—and do so infallibly.
This is circular logic.
Note that the Roman Catholic Church infallibly defines:
What is scripture.
What Scripture means.
What is tradition.
What tradition means.
Additionally, as Fr. John Hardon wrote that infallibility includes declarations that “include not only revealed truths but any teaching, even historical facts, principles of philosophy, or norms of the natural law that are in any way connected to divine revelation.”
Thus, scripture, tradition, teachings, history, logic and norms of the natural law are all infallibly defined by the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church does not submit to anything since she defines and gives meaning to anything that may keep her in check.
Consider a text of 2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15 which, as above, refers to tradition:
1st, note that Paul did not distinguish between one set of traditions that were given orally, and another that were written. He provided them both oral and written tradition, but there is no indication that the traditions were different.
2nd, what is the context? Paul had previously preached the gospel in person. He is now writing to them and had just noted the gospel. Thus, the tradition was the same whether oral or written and it was the gospel.
The Roman Catholic Church claims to have a different set of oral traditions that were handed down by the apostles which is different from the written traditions, but cannot tell us what the traditions are.
They can claim to know what Paul taught in a strictly oral manner but what was it that Paul had taught them orally? What was the actual content of the oral traditions?
We do not know.
We have an authoritative claim that he taught something orally but did not put into writing with no evidence whatsoever, and do not know what he supposedly taught orally - it is an empty claim.
Consider again Roman Catholic claims:
1) The Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture.
2) Sola Scriptura was an invention of the Reformation.
3) Sola Scriptura is not found in scripture.
Now consider what the Scripture, even the New Testament alone, has to say about itself and the issue of Sola Scriptura:
Matthew 4:3-11: "It is written…It is written…it is written…Then the Devil left Him."
—this is an appeal to the authority of scripture.
Mark 7:13: "Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition."
—this clearly means that tradition can conflict with the text of scripture.
John 10:35: "The Scripture cannot be broken."
—this establishes tradition’s submission to the text of scripture.
Mark 7:6-9: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me and in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men…laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men…you reject the commandment of God, the you may keep your tradition."
—this demonstrates that man made tradition, in this case Jewish and by extension any tradition, can conflict with the scripture to the point of contradiction and therefore, must be annulled and corrected by scripture.
Matthew 22:43: "He said to them, How then does David by the Spirit call him Lord?"
—this clearly teaches that the scripture records David’s words and David’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:17-18: "Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled."
—this teaches that God’s word cannot be broken but only fulfilled (as was the Law when Jesus paid for our sins).
Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish..."
And Matthew 19:4: "He who made them at the beginning “made them male and female.”
—these texts demonstrate appeals to the historicity of scripture.
Matthew 22:29: "You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God."
—this teaches the error of lacking knowledge of the scripture.
John 17:17: "Your Word is truth."
—this teaches the accuracy of the scripture.
2nd Timothy 3:1-17: "in the last days grievous times will be at hand. For men will be…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it…ever learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth...evil men and seducers will go forward to worse, deceiving and being deceived…"
"But continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from a babe you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work."
—this teaches that when deceivers come along in the garb of godliness we need not follow nor fear them since it is the scripture that shows us the way to salvation and prepares us for every good work.
Paul had previously taught Timothy these doctrines and they were then written into scripture. There is no indication that Paul also taught an oral teaching that was not later written and included within the New Testament.
Acts 17:10-11: "the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. They, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. And these were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so."
—this teaches the individual’s ability and responsibility to test any teaching against scripture, whether the teaching comes from any church, preacher, priest, Pope, apostle (or Mormon prophet, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’, etc.).
Act 20:27-32: "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."
"Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
—Paul is not entrusting or commending the brethren whom he considers threatened to the Holy Mother Church nor the pope but to the Scripture.
Consider these following Roman Catholic claims:
1) The Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture.
2) Sola Scriptura was an invention of the Reformation.
3) Sola Scriptura is not found in scripture.
3) Was Sola Scriptura an invention of the Reformation?
Almost one and a half millennia before the Protestant Reformation (1517–1648 AD) the belief in Sola Scriptura was alive and well as a natural part of the Christian tradition:
St. Irenaeus of Lyons – 2nd Century AD
"We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith."
Athanasius – 4th Century AD
"The holy and inspired Scriptures are fully sufficient for the proclamation of the truth."
Cyril of Jerusalem - 4th Century AD
"For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and artifices of speech. Even to me, who tell you these things, give not absolute credence, unless you receive the proof of the things which I announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation which we believe depends not on ingenious reasoning, but on demonstration of the Holy Scriptures."
Gregory of Nyssa - 4th Century AD
"For we make Sacred Scripture the rule and the norm of every doctrine. Upon that we are obliged to fix our eyes, and we approve only whatever can be brought into harmony with the intent of these writings…Let the inspired Scriptures then be our umpire, and the vote of truth will be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words."
Augustine of Hippo - 4th Century AD
"Let them show their church if they can…not by the councils of their bishops, not by the writings of any of their champions, not by fraudulent signs and wonders, because we have been prepared and made cautious also against these things by the Word of the Lord; but let them show their church by a command of the Law, by the predictions of the prophets, by songs from the Psalms, by the words of the Shepherd Himself, by the preaching and labors of the evangelists; that is, by all the canonical authorities of the sacred books."
John Chrysostom - 4th Century AD
"Let us not therefore carry about the notions of the many, but examine into the facts. For how is it not absurd that in respect to money, indeed, we do not trust to others, but refer to [our own] calculation; but in calculating upon [theological] facts we are lightly drawn aside by the notions of others…Wherefore I exhort and entreat you all, disregard what this man and that man thinks about these things, and inquire from the Scriptures all these things"
"Regarding the things I say, I should supply even the proofs, so I will not seem to rely on my own opinions, but rather, prove them with Scripture, so that the matter will remain certain and steadfast…They say that we are to understand the things concerning Paradise not as they are written but in a different way. But when Scripture wants to teach us something like that, it interprets itself and does not permit the hearer to err. I therefore beg and entreat that we close our eyes to all things and follow the canon of Holy Scripture exactly."
Basil the Great - 4th Century AD
"They are charging me with innovation…Their complaint is that their custom does not accept this, and that Scripture does not agree. What is my reply? I do not consider it fair that the custom which obtains among them should be regarded as a law and rule of orthodoxy. If custom is to be taken in proof of what is right, then it is certainly competent for me to put forward on my side the custom which obtains here. If they reject this, we are clearly not bound to follow them. Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the Word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth."
" What is the mark of a faithful soul? To be in these dispositions of full acceptance on the authority of the words of Scripture, not venturing to reject anything nor making additions. For, if “all that is not of faith is sin” as the Apostle says, and “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” everything outside Holy Scripture, not being of faith, is sin…We are not content simply because this is the tradition of the Fathers. What is important is that the Fathers followed the meaning of the Scripture."
John of Damascus - 8th Century AD
"It is impossible either to say or fully to understand anything about God beyond what has been divinely proclaimed to us, whether told or revealed, by the sacred declarations of the Old and New Testaments."
These men knew whence the Church’s authority must be derived, as Scripture is the ultimate guide and authority over traditions and other pronouncements.
The Roman Catholic claim of authority to infallibly interpret scripture is circular logic; the Scripture itself teaches Sola Scriptura, that New Testament tradition did not refer to alternate oral teachings, and belief in Sola Scriptura well before the Reformation.
Roman Catholicism in the Catechism of the Catholic Church #95:
"In the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls."
Does the Bible teach that the text of scripture and tradition are equally valid ?
"We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle" (2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15).
In the above verses, Sola Scriptura teaches that the Scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith for the Church. The doctrine does not say that there are not other, fallible, rules of faith, or even traditions, that we can refer to and even embrace. It does say, however, that the only infallible rule of faith is Scripture. This means that all other rules, whether we call them traditions, confessions of faith, creeds, or anything else, are by nature inferior to and subject to correction by, the Scriptures. The Bible is an ultimate authority, allowing no equal, nor superior, in tradition or church.
Roman Catholics claim:
1) The Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture.
2) Sola scriptura was an invention of the Reformation.
3) Sola scriptura is not found in scripture.
Consider these claims:
1) The claim that the Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture forces the logical and theological question: whence did it receive this authority?
Obviously, the answer would be that it received it from God.
But how or where was this authority bequeathed unto them?
In the scripture.
But which came first?
The Roman Catholic Church’s infallible authority to interpret scripture?
Or, the infallible interpretation of scripture that gave the Roman Catholic Church the authority?
They then interpret the scripture as giving them the authority to interpret the scripture—and do so infallibly.
This is circular logic.
Note that the Roman Catholic Church infallibly defines:
What is scripture.
What Scripture means.
What is tradition.
What tradition means.
Additionally, as Fr. John Hardon wrote that infallibility includes declarations that “include not only revealed truths but any teaching, even historical facts, principles of philosophy, or norms of the natural law that are in any way connected to divine revelation.”
Thus, scripture, tradition, teachings, history, logic and norms of the natural law are all infallibly defined by the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church does not submit to anything since she defines and gives meaning to anything that may keep her in check.
Consider a text of 2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15 which, as above, refers to tradition:
1st, note that Paul did not distinguish between one set of traditions that were given orally, and another that were written. He provided them both oral and written tradition, but there is no indication that the traditions were different.
2nd, what is the context? Paul had previously preached the gospel in person. He is now writing to them and had just noted the gospel. Thus, the tradition was the same whether oral or written and it was the gospel.
The Roman Catholic Church claims to have a different set of oral traditions that were handed down by the apostles which is different from the written traditions, but cannot tell us what the traditions are.
They can claim to know what Paul taught in a strictly oral manner but what was it that Paul had taught them orally? What was the actual content of the oral traditions?
We do not know.
We have an authoritative claim that he taught something orally but did not put into writing with no evidence whatsoever, and do not know what he supposedly taught orally - it is an empty claim.
Consider again Roman Catholic claims:
1) The Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture.
2) Sola Scriptura was an invention of the Reformation.
3) Sola Scriptura is not found in scripture.
Now consider what the Scripture, even the New Testament alone, has to say about itself and the issue of Sola Scriptura:
Matthew 4:3-11: "It is written…It is written…it is written…Then the Devil left Him."
—this is an appeal to the authority of scripture.
Mark 7:13: "Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition."
—this clearly means that tradition can conflict with the text of scripture.
John 10:35: "The Scripture cannot be broken."
—this establishes tradition’s submission to the text of scripture.
Mark 7:6-9: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me and in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men…laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men…you reject the commandment of God, the you may keep your tradition."
—this demonstrates that man made tradition, in this case Jewish and by extension any tradition, can conflict with the scripture to the point of contradiction and therefore, must be annulled and corrected by scripture.
Matthew 22:43: "He said to them, How then does David by the Spirit call him Lord?"
—this clearly teaches that the scripture records David’s words and David’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:17-18: "Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled."
—this teaches that God’s word cannot be broken but only fulfilled (as was the Law when Jesus paid for our sins).
Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish..."
And Matthew 19:4: "He who made them at the beginning “made them male and female.”
—these texts demonstrate appeals to the historicity of scripture.
Matthew 22:29: "You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God."
—this teaches the error of lacking knowledge of the scripture.
John 17:17: "Your Word is truth."
—this teaches the accuracy of the scripture.
2nd Timothy 3:1-17: "in the last days grievous times will be at hand. For men will be…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it…ever learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth...evil men and seducers will go forward to worse, deceiving and being deceived…"
"But continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from a babe you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work."
—this teaches that when deceivers come along in the garb of godliness we need not follow nor fear them since it is the scripture that shows us the way to salvation and prepares us for every good work.
Paul had previously taught Timothy these doctrines and they were then written into scripture. There is no indication that Paul also taught an oral teaching that was not later written and included within the New Testament.
Acts 17:10-11: "the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. They, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. And these were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so."
—this teaches the individual’s ability and responsibility to test any teaching against scripture, whether the teaching comes from any church, preacher, priest, Pope, apostle (or Mormon prophet, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’, etc.).
Act 20:27-32: "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."
"Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
—Paul is not entrusting or commending the brethren whom he considers threatened to the Holy Mother Church nor the pope but to the Scripture.
Consider these following Roman Catholic claims:
1) The Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture.
2) Sola Scriptura was an invention of the Reformation.
3) Sola Scriptura is not found in scripture.
3) Was Sola Scriptura an invention of the Reformation?
Almost one and a half millennia before the Protestant Reformation (1517–1648 AD) the belief in Sola Scriptura was alive and well as a natural part of the Christian tradition:
St. Irenaeus of Lyons – 2nd Century AD
"We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith."
Athanasius – 4th Century AD
"The holy and inspired Scriptures are fully sufficient for the proclamation of the truth."
Cyril of Jerusalem - 4th Century AD
"For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and artifices of speech. Even to me, who tell you these things, give not absolute credence, unless you receive the proof of the things which I announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation which we believe depends not on ingenious reasoning, but on demonstration of the Holy Scriptures."
Gregory of Nyssa - 4th Century AD
"For we make Sacred Scripture the rule and the norm of every doctrine. Upon that we are obliged to fix our eyes, and we approve only whatever can be brought into harmony with the intent of these writings…Let the inspired Scriptures then be our umpire, and the vote of truth will be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words."
Augustine of Hippo - 4th Century AD
"Let them show their church if they can…not by the councils of their bishops, not by the writings of any of their champions, not by fraudulent signs and wonders, because we have been prepared and made cautious also against these things by the Word of the Lord; but let them show their church by a command of the Law, by the predictions of the prophets, by songs from the Psalms, by the words of the Shepherd Himself, by the preaching and labors of the evangelists; that is, by all the canonical authorities of the sacred books."
John Chrysostom - 4th Century AD
"Let us not therefore carry about the notions of the many, but examine into the facts. For how is it not absurd that in respect to money, indeed, we do not trust to others, but refer to [our own] calculation; but in calculating upon [theological] facts we are lightly drawn aside by the notions of others…Wherefore I exhort and entreat you all, disregard what this man and that man thinks about these things, and inquire from the Scriptures all these things"
"Regarding the things I say, I should supply even the proofs, so I will not seem to rely on my own opinions, but rather, prove them with Scripture, so that the matter will remain certain and steadfast…They say that we are to understand the things concerning Paradise not as they are written but in a different way. But when Scripture wants to teach us something like that, it interprets itself and does not permit the hearer to err. I therefore beg and entreat that we close our eyes to all things and follow the canon of Holy Scripture exactly."
Basil the Great - 4th Century AD
"They are charging me with innovation…Their complaint is that their custom does not accept this, and that Scripture does not agree. What is my reply? I do not consider it fair that the custom which obtains among them should be regarded as a law and rule of orthodoxy. If custom is to be taken in proof of what is right, then it is certainly competent for me to put forward on my side the custom which obtains here. If they reject this, we are clearly not bound to follow them. Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the Word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth."
" What is the mark of a faithful soul? To be in these dispositions of full acceptance on the authority of the words of Scripture, not venturing to reject anything nor making additions. For, if “all that is not of faith is sin” as the Apostle says, and “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” everything outside Holy Scripture, not being of faith, is sin…We are not content simply because this is the tradition of the Fathers. What is important is that the Fathers followed the meaning of the Scripture."
John of Damascus - 8th Century AD
"It is impossible either to say or fully to understand anything about God beyond what has been divinely proclaimed to us, whether told or revealed, by the sacred declarations of the Old and New Testaments."
These men knew whence the Church’s authority must be derived, as Scripture is the ultimate guide and authority over traditions and other pronouncements.
The Roman Catholic claim of authority to infallibly interpret scripture is circular logic; the Scripture itself teaches Sola Scriptura, that New Testament tradition did not refer to alternate oral teachings, and belief in Sola Scriptura well before the Reformation.
Nov 25, 2018 08:48:44 #
In the battle of Christianity vs Christianity, I wonder who is going to win, or better, who will lose???
Nov 25, 2018 09:04:55 #
Interesting you would see it that way... To be more precise, it is Christianity vs. Catholicism.
If you have no definitive definition of what Christianity is or is not, how will you ever know?
If you do have an understanding of Christianity, why would you need to ask?
Read all the posts, and decide for yourself. Freedom of expression is the Mother's milk of understanding.
So, in your humble opinion, and in lite of your terminology, has OPP's section of Religion and Spirituality become a battlefield, rather than a debate forum?
If you have no definitive definition of what Christianity is or is not, how will you ever know?
If you do have an understanding of Christianity, why would you need to ask?
Read all the posts, and decide for yourself. Freedom of expression is the Mother's milk of understanding.
So, in your humble opinion, and in lite of your terminology, has OPP's section of Religion and Spirituality become a battlefield, rather than a debate forum?
PeterS wrote:
In the battle of Christianity vs Christianity, I wonder who is going to win, or better, who will lose???
Nov 25, 2018 10:19:36 #
he Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture this seems to me they are saying we are the only ones who can understand the scripture so everyone must join us to be saved !
Now the Catholic Church isn't alone on this assumption as there are some Protestant Church's that believe they too are the true Church !
Now the Catholic Church isn't alone on this assumption as there are some Protestant Church's that believe they too are the true Church !
Nov 25, 2018 17:34:37 #
Amen and Amen those are all very strong arguments for following the scriptures and not following the fables of these other Churches. I would say that that puts a nail in the cofin of Orthodoxy and Catholicism as well. Thank Zemirah for this posting.
Dec 12, 2018 14:40:22 #
4430 wrote:
he Roman Catholic Church has the authority to infallibly interpret scripture this seems to me they are saying we are the only ones who can understand the scripture so everyone must join us to be saved !
Now the Catholic Church isn't alone on this assumption as there are some Protestant Church's that believe they too are the true Church !
Now the Catholic Church isn't alone on this assumption as there are some Protestant Church's that believe they too are the true Church !
What makes the Roman Catholic church different is they believe their clergy is endowed with the authority to interpret for the members of the church. That isn't biblical.
Some protestant churches go way off the deep end as well but we have to pray for discernment so we know which ones to avoid.
Dec 12, 2018 17:07:18 #
Rose42 wrote:
What makes the Roman Catholic church different is they believe their clergy is endowed with the authority to interpret for the members of the church. That isn't biblical.
Some protestant churches go way off the deep end as well but we have to pray for discernment so we know which ones to avoid.
Some protestant churches go way off the deep end as well but we have to pray for discernment so we know which ones to avoid.
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