I disagree. Surprised? The "point" is that the truth Jesus taught to his disciples and Apostles was passed down to those who also committed their lives to following Christ and his teachings. These teachings WERE written down in what became known as the Bible - a collection of the sacred writings recognized as coming from the Holy Spirit. I think what you are trying to insist, but which is really NOT the reason, is that these writings were impossible to comprehend without someone "interpreting" them. This is what is "unworkable".
Did the writers of Scripture compose their texts using a special, secret code or did they write down the very words Jesus told them and which he had promised the Holy Spirit to bring back to their remembrance? People came to saving faith in Jesus Christ based upon the words they heard him speak and which the disciples also spoke. It was immaterial whether or not someone could read the words for themselves after the teachings were enscripturated - they heard the word of truth and they believed because the words had power - the power of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit opened their eyes and hearts and they received the truth. That exact same truth is preserved in Holy Scripture. What we have today - that God ensured we still have - is those same words of truth. Granted, they are in our own modern language (some for better, some for worse) but we CAN know the gospel of our salvation just as those in the first century did and we have the same calling to receive these words and believe the truth. Does God use other believers to preach the gospel? Absolutely! But, even if men failed to speak, the truth would still be heard. You cannot limit God.
The authority cannot be the Church ABOVE the Scriptures since they are the same words the Apostles have spoken. It would be as though the Apostles were speaking directly to them and they were to obey that which was written to them. I think it is a facade to say the Church is the supreme authority. The Church is certainly SUPPOSED to be the upholder and supporter of the truth, but the truth is truth regardless if the Church is faithful to it or not. It doesn't change. Truth is absolute. What is unworkable is presuming the authority Jesus gave directly to his Apostles was something they could transfer to successive leaders. They can certainly hand down the truth and expect those they anointed to be faithful to keep it and hand down to those they lay hands upon, but there was NOT an automatic or presumptive authority inherent in subsequent men. Without the truth, they were no more authoritative than those who taught heresy even if they were ordained by an Apostle. It is the truth that remains the authority. The truth as recorded in Holy Scripture.
No, they are unworkable in bringing about a unity of Christian doctrine: "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
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