In time, the original followers/Followers of Jesus were labeled Christians, a derogatory term.
The Apostles, the followers, none of these had written scriptures. Eventually, scriptures were written.
Over hundreds of years leading to the labels, Protestants+Anabaptists, there were a number of Catholic monks+priests that meticulously READ and TRANSLATED scriptures .. arriving at conclusions that differed from what had become Catholic teachings. they noticed .. “But it says this.”
The Catholic Church did not want the Bible in the hands and languages of the masses.
(From what i can tell, i’m not sure this has entirely changed.) i’m unsure.
The climax of these different views, based on personal reading+study by devout monks+priests eventually resulted in the dramatic Reformation.
1500’s Protestants and Anabaptists did not appear out of nowhere.
Moveable type probably was the mechanism that determined timing of the dramatic, violent climax.
But there’s more than the Bible. The elusive “more.”
Reading alone guarantees nothing. The Holy Spirit determines outcomes. Without the blessing of the Holy Spirit, scriptures are ink on paper. Pray to be touched by the Holy Spirit. When reading, and in all matters.
This confounds intellectuals.
Jesus was not an intellectual. He could have been. Using few words, never parsing words, He is so much more.
Using so few words, He turned the world upside-down.
Thank you, Jesus Christ.
Forgive us our sins.