The Protestant Scriptural Dilemma in 6 Easy Steps

1. Protestants use the New Testament canon decided and compiled by figures such as St. Athanasius of Alexandria (the first author in history to list the books of the New Testament as we have them today), St. Irenaeus of Lyons (the first author in history to specifically delineate the fourfold Gospel), and Tertullian of Carthage (the first author in history to use the phrase "New Testament" to refer to a collection of writings).


2. The basis upon which these individuals and others decided and compiled the New Testament canon was the contents of the Faith they held. It was assumed that as the Church held the Apostolic Faith, anything that disagreed with this Faith was not Apostolic; this was the standard used in sorting the Apostolic writings (which now make up the New Testament) from forgeries (such as the Gnostic writings). For an example of this process, see Eusebius of Caesarea's Church History, book 6, chapter 12.


3. The Faith which these deciders and compilers of the New Testament canon held is significantly different from that held by Protestants (of nearly any strain) today. Differences include, but are not limited to: the nature of salvation, the means by which salvation is accomplished, the nature and composition of Christ, the nature and composition of the Godhead, the effective action of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the meaning of the incarnation of Christ, the proper means of service to God, etc.


4. Protestants, then, must (and more often than not do) hold that the Faith of the deciders and compilers of Scripture was in error.


5. Error produces further error; error cannot produce truth and certainly not perfection.


6. The New Testament used by Protestants must, having its sources in error, be in error. Protestants are found to blaspheme the Word of God.