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OneTrueCathApos
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George Salmon, an Anglican apologist of the last century, analyzed development of doctrine in the following fashion:
An unlearned Protestant perceives that the doctrine of Rome is not the doctrine of the bible. A learned Protestant adds that neither is it the doctrine of the primitive church…It is at least owned that the doctrine of Rome is as unlike that of early times as an oak is unlike an acorn, or a butterfly like a caterpillar…The only question remaining is whether that unlikeness is absolutely inconsistent with substantial identity. In other words, it is owned that there has been a change, and the question is whether we are to call it development or corruption…
Salmon frames the debate correctly. Catholics maintain that the historical growth of doctrine throughout church history is a consistent development (which is to be expected), and not a corruption of Scriptural truth ( or specifically, the deposit of faith).
Catholics believe their doctrines are grounded both in the bible and the early church.
The Christianity of history is not Protestanism.
Protestanism did not develop the doctrines that distinguish it from Catholicism.
An unlearned Protestant perceives that the doctrine of Rome is not the doctrine of the bible. A learned Protestant adds that neither is it the doctrine of the primitive church…It is at least owned that the doctrine of Rome is as unlike that of early times as an oak is unlike an acorn, or a butterfly like a caterpillar…The only question remaining is whether that unlikeness is absolutely inconsistent with substantial identity. In other words, it is owned that there has been a change, and the question is whether we are to call it development or corruption…
Salmon frames the debate correctly. Catholics maintain that the historical growth of doctrine throughout church history is a consistent development (which is to be expected), and not a corruption of Scriptural truth ( or specifically, the deposit of faith).
Catholics believe their doctrines are grounded both in the bible and the early church.
The Christianity of history is not Protestanism.
Protestanism did not develop the doctrines that distinguish it from Catholicism.