[RobbyS]

I don't accept a dichotomy between Rome and "the Word of God." If one like Dr. Luther arrives at a point where he does reject Rome he is not as, Luther claimed, free but simply loose from certain restraints. But men like Luther who seek certainly at all costs always move from one authority to another. He thought he had found it in scholarship, which gave definite meaning to the text of Scripture. Not bishops but biblical scholars were the magisterium. The modern Protestant does not think this but believes that the meaning of the text is obvious to anyone--scholar or dunce-- who reads it. Yes, one should read the Bible prayerfully and hope that the Holy Spirit will help him discern its meaning. But almost always, it seems, we come up with nothing original. We accept what we have heard from this person or that which, after we put our personal stamp on it, we call it the truth. In short, we depend on other persons. The Catholic Church does NOT teach, although some Catholics may pretend to, that we have mathematical certainly, can have perfect knowledge. What we do have is that certainty that the Church is a society founded by Christ and that he will save us as members from the consequences of our imperfect knowledge.

[daniel1212]

There is indeed a vast and evident dichotomy, and I find it spiritually grievous that you seem to be convinced that one cannot discern truth 9or confirm what men teach) from the Scriptures alone, and that i must be some follower of Luther or whoever. But i honestly realize that until one is truly born again the Bible seems more or less a rather nebulous book.

When faced with a doctrine like the Divinity of Christ i examine it (and opposing views) myself in the light of Scripture, and let that convince me. http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/DEITYofCHRIST.html.

While commentaries of proven faithful men are helpful, i do not not wholly trust them, but the Word of god must itself convince me.

Did Paul go around quoting various authorities for substantiation for what he taught? (Acts 17:2) “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”

How do you think the Bereans were convinced that what the apostles taught? (Acts 17:11) “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

This, like miracles, is riskier if your goal is basically unity by passively acceptance, but it is Biblical and the way to Biblical unity.