When anyone begins a commentary on Scripture, doctrine or dogma they must diverge from actual Scripture and begin to present their own thoughts and those of others. If all you want is an exchange of Scripture verses or a Protestant echo chamber you are in the wrong forum.
The one pervasive common feature is the almost horrifying reaction to Sola Scriptura as if it were the Devils Brew.
There is a pervasive Protestant myth expressed in these threads that Scripture and Tradition are mutually exclusive, and that Catholics, having accepted Tradition have entirely forsaken Scripture. The Church teaches; "CCC133 - The Church "forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful... to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."
Jesus spoke to a largely unlearned group. He spoke simply. He spoke in parables. He didn't tell the people that salvation was out of their grasp because it's just too hard!
Why do so many believe that illiterate means stupid and that anyone with the ability to Google a subject is somehow more intelligent? The peoples of the first century spent a lot more time in actual prayer, worship and contemplation than all but a few in this century. They also had a very solid foundation in Scripture and Rabbinic tradition derived from their culture. Nuance, subtlety, and idiomatic context were not foreign to them.
Any church, group or person that declares the Bible is insufficient to find salvation is trying either to make a dollar or vying for some influence over people.”
Conversely, Catholics see anyone attempting to restrict the Word of God to a dead letter or legal document has a completely different agenda than the Truth.
The Truth shall set you free and not some self declared infallible institution that once presided over inquisitions.
And now we have come full circle. How can you deny the ability to interpret Scripture to the Episcopacy of the Catholic, while claiming it for yourself? How can you rely on pastors, preachers, Reformers, Protestant authors and lecturers while mocking Catholics for relying on their versions of the same thing?
I think it very unfortunate that too many Protestants and Catholics allow our beliefs in the Revealed Word to divide us and be a source of contention. We all who call ourselves Christians are called to love one another. Peace be to you.
>> “Jesus spoke to a largely unlearned group. He spoke simply. He spoke in parables...” <<
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Actually, Jesus was speaking to the very most learned scholars on Earth when he was speaking in parables: The Pharisees and Saducees. He spoke in parables specifically because “it is not given for them to understand.”
IOW, he was hiding his truth from them deliberately, because the Father had called for them to be spiritually blinded until the time of fullness of the gentiles. (see Romans 10 and 11)