Right. When
@Cathode shows his contempt for us 'Bible alone' folk (of which I am one), what profit is there for further discussion?
Foundational to Protestantism:
"The Bible is a plain book. It is intelligible by the people. And they have the right, and are bound to read and interpret it for themselves;
so that their faith may rest on the testimony of the Scriptures, and not on that of the Church. Such is the doctrine of Protestants on this subject....."
Perspicuity of the Scriptures. The Right of Private Judgment
by Charles Hodge
I have contempt for the error that divides us, not for the brethren in error, who I consider brothers in Christ none the less, and all the more if they are prepared to contest for their love of Him.
15 “if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3
Now, ask a Bible alone Protestant what he believes is the pillar and foundation of Truth is.
“ There is only one “ he will say, “ The Scripture alone “.
Yet strangely when we read the Scripture itself, it says that the Church is the “pillar and foundation of the truth “.
Ask a Catholic what the “ pillar and foundation of the truth “ is. And he will say “ The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, it is infallible, founded by Christ on the Apostles and guided in all Truth, “. This lines up with what scripture says of the Church, pillar and foundation of the truth, and in other scripture, guided in all truth. It’s saying the Church is infallible in other words.
Do we need anything else a part from the Scriptures?
Bible alone protestant will say “ No, everything we need is in the Scriptures, we need no other authority over us but the Word of God in Scripture “ Am I not correct? Is this a fair representation?
Yet Scripture says.
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.“
Ask a Catholic if we need anything else a part from the Scriptures.
He will say “ We need the elders and overseers of the Church who are infallibly guided to interpret God’s word and explain its meaning to us as Christ’s Apostolic Shepherds guided in all Truth. We must obey and submit to them because they watch over our souls “.
Who in practice is Scriptural here?
Do these scriptures demonstrate “ Me and my bible and me “, far from it.
The Apostles appointed bishops like Timothy and Titus to succeed them.
“ Teach and reprove with all Authority, let no one despise you “
So if Timothy and Titus was your overseer, they had complete Apostolic Authority over you, and you would obey and submit to their teaching because they watched over your souls.
You weren’t free to pick up scripture and interpret your own doctrines from it, there was a lineage of appointed Apostolic men with Authority to teach you the true interpretations of the Word.
Men outside this Apostolic lineage are unapproved and have no authority to teach and reprove anyone.