i accept your admonition on being inflammatory.
ss- it’s not Biblical, see 2 Thessalonians and the Church has always followed the Apostolic Tradition. even Lutherans do, there is no Scripture commanding infant baptism, yet Lutherans correctly practice it, because the Church received this teaching from the Apostles.
sf - the hang up is the “sola” no where does the Bible use faith alone, in fact James specifically contradicts this doctrine. even Luther saw this and wanted James tossed from the canon!
c- not quite sure on the history of this one, but “This is My Body” means just that.
the reformation was nothing less than a doctrinal revolution, every doctrine was open to question and the result is utter confusion. the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion!
i am very well versed in Catholic doctrine and the authority of the Scriptures. what is not allowed is everyone being their own authority, this is found no where in the Bible.
oLofob wrote:
“ss- it’s not Biblical, see 2 Thessalonians and the Church has always followed the Apostolic Tradition.” Yes, I am quite familiar with 2 Thessalonians. There is no conflict here. The teaching of the apostles did not contravene the written word of God before or after its writing. That is the nature of divine teaching, the Word of God. It does not change, on which subject there is ample testimony in the Scriptures themselves. And remember, we are not talking about a slogan, whether understood rightly or not, we are talking about the normative authority of Scripture. Let me put it plainly, Scripture stands above tradition, any tradition. Tradition is validated by Scripture, not the other way around. That is the bottom line on sola scriptura.
Regarding infant baptism. Really? Let’s start a little more basically than that. Does Scripture command baptism? Of all nations? Interestingly, that phrase from Matthew 28:19 is the same phrase as is found in Matthew 25:32, the words of the same author, Matthew, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Who is indicated by the phrase in Matthew 25:32? Just adults? Or all people? You see, the command to baptize all nations includes all. Can you show Scripture that exempts infants and children? If not, the Scriptures command infant baptism. End of argument. And that is why the early practiced it, and the Lutherans agreed with the Scriptures and the fathers.
So, all of the other passages, and they are numerous, are to be understood in the light of a single passage in James? Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to assume that the James passage should be read in the light of many, many others? Even Luther recognized that later in his life. Read James rightly, in the context of the whole of the Scriptures. There is no contradiction. James’ point is simply that faith and works go together. Of course they do. Works follow faith, or the faith is not genuine. But we are not saved by works, but by faith, as the sainted Ambrose said clearly on many occasions beside the one cited in my tagline.
oLofob also wrote:
“the reformation was nothing less than a doctrinal revolution, every doctrine was open to question and the result is utter confusion. the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion!”
Every doctrine was open to question? I think not. Have you actually read anything from the Reformers? Followed the argumentation? Read the contemporaneous Roman responses? I am skeptical on the basis of what you write.
I am familiar with Catholic doctrine as well. And, yes, you are quite right that everyone being their own own authority is forbidden. But that is not what we are talking about, no matter what the devotees of your other 30,000 denominations may think. God is the Author of the Scriptures. God is the Interpreter of the Scriptures. Scripture interprets Scripture. That is drawing closer to the real meaning of “sola scriptura” than the bowdlerized phrase that is bandied about so easily here.