Book 2, Chapter 8
Now, in regard to the canonical Scriptures, he must follow the judgment of the greater number of catholic churches; and among these, of course, a high place must be given to such as have been thought worthy to be the seat of an apostle and to receive epistles. Accordingly, among the canonical Scriptures he will judge according to the following standard: to prefer those that are received by all the catholic churches to those which some do not receive. Among those, again, which are not received by all, he will prefer such as have the sanction of the greater number and those of greater authority, to such as are held by the smaller number and those of less authority. If, however, he shall find that some books are held by the greater number of churches, and others by the churches of greater authority (though this is not a very likely thing to happen), I think that in such a case the authority on the two sides is to be looked upon as equal.
Book 3, Chapter 2
But when proper words make Scripture ambiguous, we must see in the first place that there is nothing wrong in our punctuation or pronunciation. Accordingly, if, when attention is given to the passage, it shall appear to be uncertain in what way it ought to be punctuated or pronounced, let the reader consult the rule of faith which he has gathered from the plainer passages of Scripture, and from the authority of the Church, and of which I treated at sufficient length when I was speaking in the first book about things.
In book two of On Christian Doctrine, Augustine is talking about the specifics of which books are canon. His list is actually similar to the Catholic church of today (it may be exact – I have not compared that closely). But the weight of selection is placed on the quantity of churches and others with greater authority (having been a seat of an apostle and received epistles). Moving forward into book three this morning we look at “ambiguous” Scripture and rely on the same authority of the Church. Yet, we will be prone to select the church which we think and feel is best (right in our own eyes) and not necessarily truth. There are plenty in each area that would agree with that which we think and feel is best. And if you do not find one, well you can just as easily create your own without any true authority.
This just seems like an impossible impasse. Yes, I realize impossible is implied in the word impasse but it sounds more definitive with the word impossible in place.
Book 3, Chapter 1 – The man who fears God seeks diligently in Holy Scripture for knowledge of His will.
I need to make note of this. Authority…