“I figured that was the verse you kept pressing for. If we don’t agree on that, then we cannot agree on Purgatory. That is not part of your Sacred Scripture. It is a part of mine and that of the Catholic Church.”
I wondered if there was any verse outside the Apocrypha that you believe teaches this doctrine. I know of none. I take it from that statement that you know of none.
“The Reformers came along, and went sola scriptura, and threw out the tradition, interpretation, and part of the Scripture of the Roman Catholic Church. “
Actually, tradition is very important to Biblical Christianity. It doesn’t outrank the authority of God-Inspired Scripture.
“Why then, did they not band together, and become one church?”
All Christian local churches are united around the core truths.
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity
Augustine of Hippo
“Does one Protestant church conform to the interpretations of the others?”
Only on essentials.
“Are they united amongst themselves, other than in disagreement with Catholicism?”
Sure, on essentials.
“Which, then, carries the correct interpretation of Scripture, among those reformed churches? How do you reconcile the differences in their ideas and interpretations?”
Vast portions of Scripture can be interpreted in more than one way. Fortunately, these are not the essentials of salvation, Christian maturity nor the nature and Character of God.
Typically, if a church wanders from the Scriptures, they pervert truth and remaining churches no longer associate with them. They tend to die eventually, as you would expect.
That's interesting to read. Honestly, the fact that the Church honors sacred tradition has very often been criticized in forum. Also, the Church Fathers have been used against us as a contradiction.
Tell me, what do you think of Paul's verse from Colossians? What are the essentials you speak of? Thanks!