[nobdysfool]

But these are historical detail. The important thing to our understanding is that according to the scripture the Holy Ghost was sent to the Church first and that Church has a hierarcical structure, which Peter designed under the guidance of the Holy Ghost to perpetuate herself. The notion that men should arrive at their understanding of the scripture privately is nowhere to be seen in the New Testament, and is in fact warned against.

*sigh* the old "keep 'em ignorant and stupid, and dependent on the clergy" argument. Things would be a lot easier for the RC's if that were still the case....Too bad the Proddies had to go and make the bible available in every language, so men could read it for themselves....

[jo kus]

Scripture was available in a common language.

You ever hear of the Latin Vulgate? Also, there were "common" languages of the bible (besides Latin) before the Reformation.

The Church had problems with HERETICS printing Bibles because they had a habit of putting their own words into the Sacred Scriptures, like Luther's German version that added "alone" to Romans 3:28 - totally unacceptable to the defender of the deposit of the faith of the Apostles. Tynadale was even worse. Is it a wonder that the Church would condemn such people?

Regards

[annalex]

Yes, the New Testament, as well as the instruction to interpret it, comes from the clergy.