First, gnostics were NOT just people who knew something special that made their present and future state different from someone who did not know. If that were true, then ALL Christians must be gnostics, since we know something that saves us in this life and the next!
Luther didn’t invent sola scriptura. The early church knew and practiced it, which is why scripture was cited to refute heretics and justify theology. The early councils were concerned with making theology align with scripture.
Indeed, that is why they were forced to deal with canon - so they would know what was reliable for doctrine.
Rome rejected sola scriptura, since it left no way for the Bishop of Rome to become ‘Vicar of Christ’.
There are ample ‘Protestant’ denominations that reject sola scriptura, which is why we have Lutherans promoting homosexuality. You cannot find a liberal protestant church that ACCEPTS sola scriptura!
Among those that accept it, the doctrinal divisions are few. Free Will vs Predestination. Allow infant baptism, or not. Perhaps debate about speaking in tongues.
Beyond that, I can’t think of much.
“”First, gnostics were NOT just people who knew something special that made their present and future state different from someone who did not know. If that were true, then ALL Christians must be gnostics, since we know something that saves us in this life and the next!””
In order to be in error a belief must disagree from an original belief agreed upon by the early Christians. You believe the Bible is the word of God because the early Christians tell you it is since there are no autographed original copies.,thus you agree with the early Church and not in error.
“”Luther didn’t invent sola scriptura. The early church knew and practiced it””
LOL! The early Church relied on tradition and the Church along with Scripture,not solo Scripture.They were in full unity in Eucharist being Christ truly present amongst other things
Here is what some of them had to say that refutes solo-Scripture..
“I believe that this practice comes from apostolic tradition, just as so many other practices NOT FOUND IN THEIR WRITINGS nor in the councils of their successors, but which, because they are kept by the whole Church everywhere, are believed to have been commended and handed down by the Apostles themselves.”
St. Augustine, Baptism 1,12,20, 400 A.D.
“But what is also to the point, let us note that the very TRADITION, teaching and faith of the CATHOLIC CHURCH from the beginning, WHICH THE LORD GAVE, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian.”
St. Athanasius, Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1,28, 359 A.D.
“In like manner let everyone respect the deacons as they would respect Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the Bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters as the Council of GOD and college of Apostles. Without these, it cannot be called a Church-.Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d 110” Letter to the Trallians 3:1
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or by our letter. From this it is clear that they did not hand down everything by letter, but there was much also that was not written. Like that which was written, the unwritten too is worthy of belief. So let us regard the tradition of the Church as worthy of belief. Is it a tradition? Seek no further.”Saint John Chrysostom Homilies on the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians 4:2, 398-404 A.D..
Scripture itself says not everything is in the Bible alone...
“Many other signs also Jesus worked in the sight of His disciples, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GOD, and that believing you may have life in His Name.” John 20:30-31