Who interprets the Scripture that interprets Scripture? Since there cannot be an infinite regress, the buck has to stop at private interpretation somewhere.
If within Protestantism there is no "private interpretation", but only Scripture interpreting Scripture, then why are there 20,000+ contrary interpretations of Scripture within Protestantism?
-A8
20,000+ contrary interpretations
= = =
Forgot one again . . .
20,001+ contrary interpretations. Let's not leave the Romans out--they have abundant examples in their long history.
That's just a nutty slander, A8.
And there is no "infinite regress." It ends in the word of God being rightly divided by men of faith. It does not end in men of faith rightly dividing the word of God.
That's a big difference.
"...The authority (of Scripture) is found in the sovereign God Himself. The God who "breathed out" the words through human writers stands behind every statement, every doctrine, every promise and every command written in the Scripture..."
It is all there. God's will is not so difficult to discern that we need massive overlays of men and magisteriums to interpret it and dispense it, as if it could be bartered away for a price.
"Buy the truth, and sell it not" -- Proverbs 23:23
There aren't. That's just something Catholics want to believe and make them feel that having other men interpret for them, is better than a holy priesthood made up of believers.
I am no expert, but I do think a lot of what you are calling contrary interpretations are actually doctrines of men. Many denominations have their own traditions that are handed down. Doesn't mean that someone actually is really searching scripture, which I do believe interprets itself. This has been my experience in various Churches anyway.