And the alternative? Word of mouth transmission? You realize one of the reason the filique (sp) was put into the Nicene creed was because in the West, there were no copies of the council canons. The Gallic bishops had no idea that they shouldn't just modify the creed to combat a local heresy.
Trusting in an infallible church is great in theory, but leads to some interesting results when one half no longer speaks the same language, or even can speak the language, of the other half. That, more than the filiquoe, was the reason for the schism between East and West. It got to the point that if a common clergyman from Rome and one from Constantinople, each believing in the infallible unchangeable tradition of the Church, met to discuss theology, they had a heck of a time doing it. Neither one could speak, or understand, the others language. Heck, you get that now.
Now, as for what a good Sola Scriptura Christian should do, it does get complicated. The basics are agreed on (who Jesus is, and such) but beyond that everyone, and the Orthodox and Catholics included, pick and choose. Or perhaps a better way would be put more emphasis on certain areas. Such has been the case throughout history since the time of the Apostles. The amazing thing is not how much we differ, it is that we are as alike as we are.
Didn't mean to be rude in my last post. I have had three coffees, two teas, and am trying to keep part of the plant running. Might have been to flippant in that post.
Christ's method of course. :)
A visible Church with the keys of authority.
Now, as for what a good Sola Scriptura Christian should do, it does get complicated.
Impossible in practice, I'd say. Each would have to re-do the process of the canon, translation, interpretation and so. This just doesn't happen. They choose another authority. Based on some discrimination of course, but it is impossible to re-check the whole of scripture and doctrine, each person, each time.
Word of mouth transmission?
Words are but one aspect of communication, judgement and one aspect of the Word of God. But in the a large degree, yes. This is what we mean when we, and you, say the Creed: "Apostolic Church". From the Apostles to us in an unbroken line.