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You would think the Reformers would have picked up where the early church was in doctrine and in faith that Christ left it in, and yet we have so much disunity in the Protestant denominations. So why cant they all come together on beliefs and what was from Christ?

Quote from: Hobie on Fri Jul 17, 2026 - 19:26:57You would think the Reformers would have picked up where the early church was in doctrine and in faith that Christ left it in, and yet we have so much disunity in the Protestant denominations. So why cant they all come together on beliefs and what was from Christ?

The first century reformation restored sola scriptura just like any whenever two or three are gathered  together under sola scriptura  . there must be differences his eternal kingdom does not come by observing the temporal dying.

There must be disunity. He is the spirit of peace 

I can think of a least two reasons. First, as the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures increased among a great many more people, different people began to identify different forms of apostasy which had taken hold within the Roman church. Which they began to address, which of course led to their excommunication from the church of Rome. Those who identified these apostasies developed large followings. Unfortunately creating several different denominations, as they often did not agree with each other, and or refused to continue the reformation in accordance with the teachings of Holy Scripture any further than those reforms introduced by the reformer they had followed. Human pride getting in the way of the unrestricted advance of the Reformers via Sola Scriptura. 

The second of course, was the evil one moving in and capitalizing upon such disagreement and division, unto creating as many different and bickering denominations as he could possibly inspire. Unto as much confusion and chaos he could produce concerning professed Christianity. Obscuring the truth as far as possible, by making it so hard to find among som many differing professed "Christian faiths". These events bringing about the following prophecy of New Testament Holy Scripture.

2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Quote from: Amo on Sat Jul 18, 2026 - 12:21:37I can think of a least two reasons. First, as the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures increased among a great many more people, different people began to identify different forms of apostasy which had taken hold within the Roman church. Which they began to address, which of course led to their excommunication from the church of Rome. Those who identified these apostasies developed large followings. Unfortunately creating several different denominations, as they often did not agree with each other, and or refused to continue the reformation in accordance with the teachings of Holy Scripture any further than those reforms introduced by the reformer they had followed. Human pride getting in the way of the unrestricted advance of the Reformers via Sola Scriptura. 

The second of course, was the evil one moving in and capitalizing upon such disagreement and division, unto creating as many different and bickering denominations as he could possibly inspire. Unto as much confusion and chaos he could produce concerning professed Christianity. Obscuring the truth as far as possible, by making it so hard to find among som many differing professed "Christian faiths". These events bringing about the following prophecy of New Testament Holy Scripture.

2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI-JWKs2sE8

While the above video is about the developments which led to the formation of one denomination in particular, it does also go through quite a bit of history addressing why their are so many denominations which all claim one book as their ultimate authority.

Quote from: Hobie on Fri Jul 17, 2026 - 19:26:57You would think the Reformers would have picked up where the early church was in doctrine and in faith that Christ left it in, and yet we have so much disunity in the Protestant denominations. So why cant they all come together on beliefs and what was from Christ?

Much of the NT, particularly that following the gospels and Acts, deals with the problems leading to the disunity that developed almost from day one. That is true also concerning much of the writings of the Early Church Fathers.

Quote from: 4WD on Mon Jul 27, 2026 - 03:31:17Much of the NT, particularly that following the gospels and Acts, deals with the problems leading to the disunity that developed almost from day one. That is true also concerning much of the writings of the Early Church Fathers.

That would seem to be when things began to run astray during the first-century Reformation recorded in Scripture.

The New Testament itself records the rise of false teachers false apostles while the apostles were still living. The warnings are part of the inspired record.

I would distinguish between the early church fathers and the first-century bride of Christ.

The bride of Christ did not begin with the post-apostolic fathers. She began with God's people of faith long before Pentecost.

Abel, the apostle  the first righteous martyr, is an early example of that living faith (Hebrews 11:4).

Different foundations produce different outcomes.

Christ's foundation is His written Word, tested by Scripture interpreting Scripture. Later writings may be valuable historically, but they are not the foundation of the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

As Jesus said: "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9 KJV)