@yorgom
@starcluster
Here is a point to emphasize: the church did not create the apostolic teaching; the apostolic teaching created the church!!!!
The teachings of the apostles in the New Testament were intended to be our final authority
In the New Testament, we find no authority for celibate priests as leaders of the local church, nor is there for penance or confession to a priest as a pre-requisite for the forgiveness of certain sins, or for purgatory as a place after death that cleanses sins that Jesus’ blood does not cover
So we can see the apostlic writing were there as a final authority!!!
This understanding of the apostles’ teaching also helps me with other questions I brought up in the beginning of this post.
The traditions of the Orthodox Church (many of which are rooted in the 400s and which have many similarities to the teachings of Roman Catholicism) too are subject to the teaching of the apostles
Those that are not in step with the New Testament must be rejected
What about the Koran?
Its writings are from the 600s, yet its adherents claim that its teachings on biblical matters are more accurate than biblical teachings where they differ.
Yet, since the New Testament contains the authoritative teaching given to us from Jesus himself, everything the Koran says is subject to the higher truth of the apostles.
As one example, the Koran says Jesus did not die on the cross.
Yet, the writings of the apostles say that he did die on the cross and by doing that, he took away my sins
What about the sacred texts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? According to Latter-Day Saints, divine revelation was given to Joseph Smith in the late 1800s (e.g., the Book of Mormon was given to him by an angel). But the teachings of the Latter-Day Saints contradict core teachings of the New Testament, including its teaching that Jesus was a created being, with Lucifer as one of his many spirit brothers (Doctrine & Covenants 76:25-27; 93:21)
Because these teachings are contrary to the New Testament, we cannot accept them.
The point should be clear.
The New Testament is the teaching of the apostles and our final authority.
And if Rome brings new teachings about God like Nicea and the trinity for one example,we can test them by the spostlic writing of the new testament, and see the two conflict with each other
SO each individual has to make the choice,believe Rome or the scriptures???
