BTW, the argument is between "the Bible in the hands of the individual Christian believer" versus "the Bible as understood by the church whose corporate memory and institutional continuity goes back to the Apostles". Nobody in the discussion is positing an authority superior to the Scriptures, so that's just a red herring.
But that wasn't my point in posting, as I believe I've already explained.
What you believe is up to you. I was pointing out that Hanegraaf’s self-appointed “Bible Answer Man” title didn’t make sense in view of his own theology, not yours or mine.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yes. The Gospel according to Minister X has always been in direct conflict with the bedrock Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Not to mention the fact that numerous scriptural verses are given various interpretations by the multitude of Protestant denominations.
It was no red herring. My response was to your assertion that: If the Bible in the hands of the individual believer is the final authority, of what use is a "Bible Answer Man"? His own theology denied that his "ministry" had any purpose! Your implication was pretty clear that Hanegraaff couldn't be the "Bible Answer Man" if his authority is the same as any other individual's who has a Bible in his hands. What you seem to have missed is that not everyone has studied the Bible extensively which was why his call-in radio show was designed to answer questions listeners had about the Bible and the Christian faith. I listened to his program infrequently when we were living in N.C. and when I did I didn't think his answers were unfounded. Most of his callers expressed appreciation for his studied responses. There were times when I and some callers did not agree with him and challenged him and from what I remember - like I said, I didn't listen to him all that often - he came across as set in his ways and closed to any correction using Scripture. Even then, he did not assert he was in authority over Scripture, just an authority with the Scriptures. No one denies that there are such things as disputable matters, but that doesn't change the fact that God's word - BECAUSE IT IS God's word - is the ultimate authority.
I'm glad to hear you agree that the Scriptures are the superior authority based upon their origin (inspiration of the Holy Spirit). It is common for Roman Catholics on this forum to assert the traditions and the magisterium of the Roman Catholic church are equal to the authority of the Scriptures. This was and continues to be a major sticking point of disagreement between Catholics, non-Catholic Christians and the Orthodox.