Editing Sola scriptura (section)

==Notes==
{{notelist|35em|refs=
{{efn|name="Schaff quote"|text=Schaff describes these earlier theologians as "reformers before the Reformation", and says of Wesel, for instance:{{sfn|Schaff|1998|pp=550–552}} {{blockquote|John Ruchrath von Wesel, d. 1481, attacked the hierarchy and indulgences and was charged on his trial with calling in question almost all the distinctive Roman Catholic tenets. He was born in Oberwesel on the Rhine between Mainz and Coblentz. He taught at the University of Erfurt and, in 1458, was chosen its vice-rector. Luther bore testimony to his influence when he said, "I remember how Master John Wesalia ruled the University of Erfurt by his writings through the study of which I also became a master." Leaving Erfurt, he was successively professor in Basel and cathedral preacher in Mainz and Worms.<p>In 1479, Wesel was arraigned for heresy before the Inquisition at Mainz. Among the charges were that the Scriptures are alone a trustworthy source of authority; the names of the predestinate are written in the book of life and cannot be erased by a priestly ban; indulgences do not profit; Christ is not pleased with festivals of fasting, pilgrimages or priestly celibacy; Christ's body can be in the bread without any change of the bread's substance: pope and councils are not to be obeyed if they are out of accord with the Scriptures; he whom God chooses will be saved irrespective of pope and priests, and all who have faith will enjoy as much blessedness as prelates. Wesel also made the distinction between the visible and the invisible Church and defined the Church as the aggregation of all the faithful who are bound together by love—{{lang|la|collectio omnium fidelium caritate copulatorum}}. In his trial, he was accused of having had communication with the Hussites. In matters of historical criticism, he was also in advance of his age, casting doubt upon some of the statements of the Athanasian Creed, abandoning the application of the term Catholic to the Apostles' Creed and pronouncing the addition of the filioque clause—and from the Son—unwarranted. The doctrines of indulgences and the fund of merit he pronounced unscriptural and pious frauds. The elect are saved wholly through the grace of God—{{lang|la|sola Dei gratia salvantur electi}}.</p>}} Schaff sums up the three: {{blockquote|These three German theologians, Goch, Wesel and Wessel, were quietly searching after the marks of the true Church and the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone. Without knowing it, they were standing on the threshold of the Reformation.|author=Philip Schaff |title="Doctrinal Reformers" |source=''History of the Christian Church: The Middle Ages, A.D. 1294–1517'' }}  }}
{{efn|name="namely"|text=Namely, Mathison cited:
* Robert A. Sungenis, author of ''Not by Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura'' (Santa Barbara: Queenship Publishing Co., 1997)
* Mark Shea, author of ''By What Authority?'' (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1996)
* Clark Carlton, ''The Way: What Every Protestant Should Know About the Catholic Church'' (Salisbury, Massachusetts: Regina Orthodox Press, 1997)
* [[Patrick Madrid]] (editor), ''Surprised by Truth'' (San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994)
* [[Scott Hahn]] and Kimberley Hahn, ''Rome, Sweet Home'' (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993)
* David Currie, ''Born Fundamentalist. Born Again Catholic'' (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993
* and Peter Gilquist (editor), ''Coming Home: Why Protestant Clergy Are Becoming Orthodox'' (Ben Lomond, California: Conciliar Press, 1992).}}
}}