How can Protestants correct errors without some reference to objective truths? They cannot possibly know they are not simply accepting new errors. Don't appeal to the Bible on me now. There are a zillion different interpretations by Protestants, and you've already granted that every believer may simply look at the Bible and come away from it with whatever he will.
Where is the Holy Ghost confirming the Church in all truth (John 14) in this scheme you propose?
The scriptures are the objective final authority for Protestants.
Truth proclaimed orally has no edge over truth proclaimed in writing. Both are subject to mis-interpetation.
However, truth proclaimed in writing is, at least, verifiable, from one point in time to another.
Even if I am not sure that I am interpreting a written teaching correctly (and the Holy Spirit will act at this point to teach truth to the receptive heart), ... at least I know that the actual teachings themselves have not changed.
True, I can ascertain the consistency of tradition as well, but to do so ... I still have no choice but to look to the writtn record of such (bringing in yet more risk of incorrect interpretation).
So, ... if I am going to do this (place my faith in the written record) anyway, I may as well go all the way back to the recorded words of God, Himself.
Please allow me to add to this posting ...
The scriptures are the objective final authority for Protestants.
Truth proclaimed orally has no edge over truth proclaimed in writing. Both are subject to mis-interpetation.
However, truth proclaimed in writing is, at least, verifiable, from one point in time to another.
Even if I am not sure that I am interpreting a written teaching correctly (and the Holy Spirit will act at this point to teach truth to the receptive heart), ... at least I know that the actual teachings themselves have not changed.
True, I can ascertain the consistency of tradition as well, but to do so ... I still have no choice but to look to the writtn record of such (bringing in yet more risk of incorrect interpretation).
So, ... if I am going to do this (place my faith in the written record) anyway, I may as well go all the way back to the recorded words of God, Himself, which He, Himself, will help me to interpret.