[Nosterrex]

The problem is that there is a difference between apostolic consecration and apostolic succession of doctrine. The history of the church is replete with those that have received apostolic consecration but have been clearly heretical. The axiom is that every church father is a heretic. Councils have not only erred, but they are often been contradictory. None of these is going to guarantee the truth of the Gospel. The extreme view that every Christian has the authority to read and to interpret the Scriptures for himself does nothing more than produce countless sects. The best view is that the interpretation of the Scriptures is the work of the ENTIRE church, past and present.

[Cronos]

Councils have not only erred, but they are often been contradictory

I don't know enough to say that's a completely wrong statement, so do you have examples of this, please?

The best view is that the interpretation of the Scriptures is the work of the ENTIRE church, past and present.

I like that..