Eastern Orthodox: The Bible is not the absolute and final authority; it is subject to the interpretation of EO church tradition that include councils, the writings of the saints, and other sources.
Sola Scriptura is a very interesting subject. How did today's Bible come into being. Is there a verse somewhere that says, 'Genesis, Numbers ..... the gospels, the epistles.... are inspired? No!
The first “Canon” was the Muratorian Canon, which was compiled in AD 170. The Muratorian Canon included all of the New Testament books except Hebrews, James, and 3 John. In AD 363, the Council of Laodicea stated that only the Old Testament (along with one book of the Apocrypha) and 26 books of the New Testament (everything but Revelation) were canonical and to be read in the churches. The Council of Hippo (AD 393) and the Council of Carthage (AD 397) also affirmed the same 27 books as authoritative.
Who made up these church councils? They were made up of early church bishops who relied on the Holy Spirit and dare I say it, tradition, to determine what books were inspired by the Holy Spirit and those not.
So, I would say we have a conundrum. Today's canon was not determined by the bible but by the belief of a council of bishops. Also, it was not a once (one council) and done thing. Multiple successive councils are responsible for identifying the books that make up today's bible.
>>So, I would say we have a conundrum. Today’s canon was not determined by the bible but by the belief of a council of bishops. Also, it was not a once (one council) and done thing. Multiple successive councils are responsible for identifying the books that make up today’s bible.
All who profess to be Christians except those in the Catholic and Orthodox churches MUST refute your entire post in order to adhere to their two fundamental doctrines of Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura.