[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

--- Just go to Scripture and find out what GOD says. --- That's good, but there are dangers to that approach, according to the Bible.

His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures , to their own destruction.

This is why Jesus didn't leave us with a book, but with a Church.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; --Jesus

"if he won't listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector." --Jesus ...which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

Where does JESUS give similar TEACHING AUTHORITY to Scripture? Jesus gives the Apostles the power to "bind and loose," ie, ultimate/final ecclesial authority. And the Apostles occupied the OFFICE of bishop.

[kinsman redeemer]

which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures , to their own destruction.

hmmmm...

[ealgeone]

It is written.......

[Elsie]

<>"if he won't listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector." --Jesus ...which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

Just can NOT get away from the stuff you've been warned about; can you?

---

STA apparently CHOOSES to give a false imprssion every time he writes:

 

"If he will not listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector." --Jesus

 

 

---

Matthew 18:15-17 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) 

¹⁵ But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.

¹⁶ And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.

¹⁷ And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.

[Elsie]

...which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

That worked out REALLY well with ROME's 7 churches in Asia that the angel told John to write to.