2: 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; F5 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. A. 1: 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time F4 by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Meaning:
Part A. The origin of scripture is from God through God inspired men.
Part B. False prophets and teachers in the church era will have some evil effect.
As you can see, this also does NOT say that an individual Christian cannot be guided by the Holy Spirit to understand God's scripture.
Did you ever finish downloading e-sword?
"As you can see, this also does NOT say that an individual Christian cannot be guided by the Holy Spirit to understand God's scripture."
Padre, what assurance is there, when one hears any random Christian interpret the bible, that it is the Holy Spirit and not a demon which is doing the guiding? The people in ECUSA and other apostate branches of Anglicanism seem quite convinced that what appears to the likes of you and me to be the Zeitgeist guiding them is indeed the Holy Spirit.
Indeed one can be guided by the Holy Ghost, as well as by a demon. There is no assurance of truth outside of the Church with is the very foundation of truth, but that is not saying that everything arrived at privately is necessarily false. Like someone pointed out to me on this thread, I{, or most Catholics do not run to Catechism for every verse either, -- we just read what's written, -- so our reading and interpretation are private at some stage. The difference is that if I interpret the scripture incorrectly, I will take correction from the Church, and one who celebrates his schism will not, anbd so he will perish.