Sola scriptura advocates, just a few of questions.......

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I agree, but the issue in such a situation is whose evidence within Scripture is more consistent with the overall text of the writings, as well as what has been the consistent teaching of the church on the matter. Taking your example of confession and absolution, you could point to John 20:23 and say that Christ gives his earthly representatives the authority to forgive and retain sin. If you’re opposing say, a Baptist, it would be incumbent upon that person to provide evidence within Scripture that would argue against the clear words of John 20:23. I’m sure they will provide arguments against your view, that doesn’t make them good ones. Scripture is difficult in places, but in most places, it isn’t rocket science. I don’t know why individuals present Scripture as if it’s more difficult to understand than Plato, but it isn’t.

Yes, but is that interpretation infallible? If the argument is given that in order to have certainty about something, it must be infallible, then your interpretation that the teachings of the church are infallible is no less fallible than my interpretation that the church isn’t infallible. In short, we both fallible interpretations about things we believe are infallible.
No scripture is not complicated in the least. All one needs to do is read it and believe.

If an interpretation comes from one whom we believe is guided by the Holy Spirit then yes that interpretation is infallible since the Holy Spirit cant teach error. I understand your point though about infallibility which is why we will constantly move in a circle
 
No scripture is not complicated in the least. All one needs to do is read it and believe.
Indeed. As St. Gregory the Great said, regarding Scripture:
It has out in the open food for children but keeps hidden away the things that fill the minds of the eminent with awe.
Also, I love his analogy:
Scripture is like a river again, broad and deep, shallow enough here for the lamb to go wading, but deep enough there for the elephant to swim. As each separate passage provides the opportunity, so the order of this commentary will change its direction designedly to find the sense of the divine words more truly by adapting itself as circumstances demand.
source.
 
…and besides, neither Hippo or Carthage meet even the Catholic criteria for an infallible council.
Incorrect. They did not issue a definition of the canon, but because Trent did in the 16th century, confirming what those earlier councils did, demonstrates that their determination of the canon was in fact infallible (because it was affirmed by an infallible definition from Trent).
 
Of the early councils that you mentioned, none of them were under the supposed doctrine of ecumenical infallibility. So none of them, even by Roman Catholic standards, produced an infallible list of Scripture. The first, as far as I know, that would have qualified would have been the Council of Trent. Was Christendom unsure of the canon up until the 1500s?
They did not issue a definition of the canon, but because Trent did in the 16th century, confirming what those earlier councils did, demonstrates that their determination of the canon was in fact infallible (because it was affirmed by an infallible definition from Trent).
 
Incorrect. They did not issue a definition of the canon, but because Trent did in the 16th century, confirming what those earlier councils did, demonstrates that their determination of the canon was in fact infallible (because it was affirmed by an infallible definition from Trent).
I admit, the concept of retroactive infallibility is certainly interesting!

If Hippo and Carthage were infallible, as determined by Trent, why did:
  1. No one consider Hippo or Carthage infallible for 1200 years?
  2. Why wasn’t the entire Eastern Church excommunicated for holding to a different canon?
  3. Why weren’t individual Catholics who differed in their opinions on the canon of Hippo and Carthage, such as Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Jerome, Pope Gregory, Cardinal Cajetan, Cardinal Jimenez, as well as a number of others, considered anathema either in the first 1200 years after Hippo and Carthage, as well as during and after Trent?
  4. Why does the actual canon list of Trent differ from Hippo and Carthage in at least one book?
  5. Why doesn’t Trent, if it had the North African synods in mind when it laid out its list of the canonical books, not even reference those same synods in its canons and decrees?
 
I admit, the concept of retroactive infallibility is certainly interesting!

If Hippo and Carthage were infallible, as determined by Trent, why did:
  1. No one consider Hippo or Carthage infallible for 1200 years?
Where’s your proof no one considered them infallible?
  1. Why wasn’t the entire Eastern Church excommunicated for holding to a different canon?
Wouldn’t they be considered excommunicated in a sense?
  1. Why weren’t individual Catholics who differed in their opinions on the canon of Hippo and Carthage, such as Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Jerome, Pope Gregory, Cardinal Cajetan, Cardinal Jimenez, as well as a number of others, considered anathema either in the first 1200 years after Hippo and Carthage, as well as during and after Trent?
Because they didn’t usurp the Church’s authority with their own and they did ultimately yield to the Catholic Church.
  1. Why does the actual canon list of Trent differ from Hippo and Carthage in at least one book?
Not sure. Which one?
  1. Why doesn’t Trent, if it had the North African synods in mind when it laid out its list of the canonical books, not even reference those same synods in its canons and decrees?
Don’t know. Maybe someone else here does and could jump in.
 
Actually, Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the Apostles into all truth, not an institutional hierarchy.
It makes no sense to give infallibility to Apostles, but not to the entire Church. An infallibility that ends with 12 men is the ecclesiastical equivalent of no infallibility at all.
Where do we find that truth today? In the Scriptures, which were written by those whom the Holy Spirit guided into the truth.
And here you acknowledge that it was not just Apostles who were guided by the HS into infallibility. You include those inspired writers, such as the author of Hebrews, who may not have been Apostles.

Not to mention, the Scriptures need to be interpreted. If no infallible interpreter exists, we are left with chaos and confusion–as is evident by the tens of thousands of Christian denominations.

Now, thanks to a lack of an infallible authority, there are those who use the Scriptures to proclaim that baptism is an ordinance, not a sacrament. It needs to be done in a river, by immersion. And it needs to be done in adulthood.

But, wait! There’s those who say the Scriptures declare that it’s not a sacrament, not an ordinance, must be done in a pool and by sprinkling and at the age of reason.

:eek:
 
Hippo and Carthage were infallible, as determined by Trent, why did:
  1. No one consider Hippo or Carthage infallible for 1200 years?
Who is no one and when and where was it not considered infallible for 1200 years?
  1. Why wasn’t the entire Eastern Church excommunicated for holding to a different canon?
Excommunicated? When and where was the entire Eastern Church excommunicated? By whom?
  1. Why weren’t individual Catholics who differed in their opinions on the canon of Hippo and Carthage, such as Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Jerome, Pope Gregory, Cardinal Cajetan, Cardinal Jimenez, as well as a number of others, considered anathema either in the first 1200 years after Hippo and Carthage, as well as during and after Trent?
When has the church taught when one gives an opinion, excommunication is the end result? Did the any of the above men add or remove books or give an entire separate canon and ratify it?
  1. Why does the actual canon list of Trent differ from Hippo and Carthage in at least one book?
Which book?
  1. Why doesn’t Trent, if it had the North African synods in mind when it laid out its list of the canonical books, not even reference those same synods in its canons and decrees?
I did not know it required references to those same synods?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Augsburg1530
Actually, Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the Apostles into all truth, not an institutional hierarchy.
And why do you separate the 12 from Christ Mystical Body? Christ founded a Church,not two separate entities: 12 men with guided by the HS & and a fallible church.
Quote:
Where do we find that truth today? In the Scriptures, which were written by those whom the Holy Spirit guided into the truth.
And the Church Christ founded and not scripture alone. Scripture is also very clear two entities contain the full Truth: God and His Church.
 
And why do you separate the 12 from Christ Mystical Body? Christ founded a Church,not two separate entities: 12 men with guided by the HS & and a fallible church.

And the Church Christ founded and not scripture alone. Scripture is also very clear two entities contain the full Truth: God and His Church.
Exceptionally good points. Its a uniquely protestant perspective that the church is seperate from scripture. They seem to think the “church” is just christians as a whole and not the church as an institution which is exactly what scripture describes
 
Exceptionally good points. Its a uniquely protestant perspective that the church is seperate from scripture. They seem to think the “church” is just christians as a whole and not the church as an institution which is exactly what scripture describes
Unfortunately my friend,many will never soften their hearts to comprehend. I always tell me adult confirmation students, the heart and mind is like a parachute: It has to open in order to be successful.
 
Unfortunately my friend,many will never soften their hearts to comprehend. I always tell me adult confirmation students, the heart and mind is like a parachute: It has to open in order to be successful.
I have been on other non catholic forum sites and many there have very hard hearts. We must pray fervently.

Thats a great analogy
 
Where’s your proof no one considered them infallible?
Being that canon law determines a council to only be infallible if it is ecumenical and called by the Pope, why would anyone have considered them infallible when they didn’t meet the criteria? The councils only had authority within the North African churches to which they had oversight. Trent no where says that the regional councils were infallible.
Wouldn’t they be considered excommunicated in a sense?
600 years after the fact, with the Great Schism. What about the intervening years? If Hippo and Carthage had universal authority, why was it acceptable for the Eastern Church as well as various Catholic bishops to disagree with its conclusions on the canon?
Because they didn’t usurp the Church’s authority with their own and they did ultimately yield to the Catholic Church.
How is disagreeing with Hippo and Carthage yielding to their authority?
 
Excommunicated? When and where was the entire Eastern Church excommunicated? By whom?
By no one, that’s my point. If Hippo and Carthage were infallible councils, then why wasn’t anyone excommunicated for disagreeing with them on the canon?

Can you please show me any Catholic source that states, officially, that Hippo and Carthage were infallible?
When has the church taught when one gives an opinion, excommunication is the end result? Did the any of the above men add or remove books or give an entire separate canon and ratify it?
Considering the vitriol by Catholic apologists towards Luther’s view on the deuterocanon, one would think it’s the end result. “Luther removed books from the Bible! And we don’t care that a whole host of Catholics held his same opinion!”
Which book?
1 Esdras. Referred to by Trent as 3rd Esdras.
 
It makes no sense to give infallibility to Apostles, but not to the entire Church. An infallibility that ends with 12 men is the ecclesiastical equivalent of no infallibility at all.
Does it equally not make sense that the Apostles were given the gifts of healing lepers, and raising the dead to life if the Church doesn’t have the ability to do the same?
 
Exceptionally good points. Its a uniquely protestant perspective that the church is seperate from scripture. They seem to think the “church” is just christians as a whole and not the church as an institution which is exactly what scripture describes
Can you point out in Scripture where the term church is applied exclusively to the hierarchy to the exclusion of Christians in general?
 
Can you point out in Scripture where the term church is applied exclusively to the hierarchy to the exclusion of Christians in general?
First of all, no where in scripture does it say only the hiearchy is the church. Whatever gave you that funny idea? Did Jesus grant all Christians in general the same authority as the 12?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicea325
Excommunicated? When and where was the entire Eastern Church excommunicated? By whom?
By no one, that’s my point. If Hippo and Carthage were infallible councils, then why wasn’t anyone excommunicated for disagreeing with them on the canon?
First of all, do you understand excommunication? Not all offenses are worthy of excommunication in the Church’s eyes. This is similar to the civil law where penalties are dispensed according to the severity of the crime.
Can you please show me any Catholic source that states, officially, that Hippo and Carthage were infallible?
Do you understand infallibility and when it is applicable? Papal infallibility is one which is generally misunderstood by those outside the Church.

Quote:
When has the church taught when one gives an opinion, excommunication is the end result? Did the any of the above men add or remove books or give an entire separate canon and ratify it?
Considering the vitriol by Catholic apologists towards Luther’s view on the deuterocanon, one would think it’s the end result. “Luther removed books from the Bible! And we don’t care that a whole host of Catholics held his same opinion!”
Sorry,but it was more than Luther’s issue with the canon.

Quote:
Which book?
1 Esdras. Referred to by Trent as 3rd Esdras
Although not belonging to the Canon of the Sacred Scriptures, this book is usually found, ne prorsus intereat, in an appendix to the editions of the Vulgate**. It is made up almost entirely from materials existing in canonical books. **The following scheme will show sufficiently the contents and point out the canonical parallels:

•III Esdras, i and 2 Chronicles 35, 36 — History of the Kingdom of Juda from the great Passover of Josias to the Captivity.
•III Esdras, ii, 1-15 (Greek text, 14) and I Esdras, i — Cyrus’s decree. Return of Sassabasar.
•III Esdras, ii, 16 (Gr. 15)-31 (Gr. 25) and I Esdras, iv, 6-24 — Opposition to the rebuilding of the Temple.
•III Esdras, iii, 1-v, 6 — Original portion. Story of the three pages. Return of Zorobabel.
•III Esdras, v, 7-46 (Gr. 45) and I Esdras, ii — List of those returning with Zorobabel.
•III Esdras, v, 47 (Gr. 46)-73 (Gr. 70) and I Esdras, iii, 1-iv, 5 — Altar of holocausts. Foundation of the Temple laid. Opposition.
•III Esdras, vi, vii and I Esdras, v, vi — Completion of the Temple.
•III Esdras, viii, 1-ix, 36 and I Esdras, vii-x — Return of Esdras.
•III Esdras, ix, 37-56 (Gr. 55) and II Esdras, vii, 73-viii, 12 — Reading of the Law by Esdras.
 
Does it equally not make sense that the Apostles were given the gifts of healing lepers, and raising the dead to life if the Church doesn’t have the ability to do the same?
This is a fair point, Augsburg.

However, it seems quite reasonable to allow a few men (apostles) to heal miraculously during the incipient days of the Church. And then to leave this charism to evanescence.

Yet, it seems quite un-reasonable to allow a few men (apostles) to preach infallibly during the incipient days of the Church but then to allow to charism to fall into disrepute…why?

The fruit of that would be seen in…well, we need not imagine what would happen. It exists already in the obscenity of the tens of thousands of Christian denominations that have not availed themselves of the charism of infallibility. :eek:
 
Actually, Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the Apostles into all truth, not an institutional hierarchy. Where do we find that truth today? In the Scriptures, which were written by those whom the Holy Spirit guided into the truth. One could, of course, argue that this truth was handed on via tradition and on face value, I do not disagree with that. What I disagree with is that that tradition, in content, is different than what we have in the apostolic writings. If something is being taught as coming from the apostles, which cannot find any support in the Scriptures, then how do I know it came from the Apostles, and hence, from the Holy Spirit?

Essentially, that is all sola Scriptura is as a practice; making sure that the doctrine we proclaim is consistent with Scripture.
You do not believe that the holy spirit still guides Jesus’ church to all truth; you believe that stopped once the bible was codified in the 4th century - correct?

You believe the HS is still present but the HS no longer guides Jesus’ church to truth, leaving Jesus’ church, comprised of all fallible leaders, with an infallible bible, but without the guidance of the HS, to help Jesus’ church leaders discern the truths found in the bible, which of course have been interpreted in different ways by many leaders who have felt it necessary to start their own churches to disseminate what they believe are the correctly interpreted truths found in the bible - which has lead to the huge fracture in Jesus’ Mystical Body?

Is that about right?
 
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