Who argued that the papacy should not hold supreme authority due to the potential for error?

• A. Martin Luther
• B. William of Ockham
• C. John Calvin
• D. Charles Finney

Answer: (B)

William of Ockham argued that the papacy should not hold supreme authority due to the potential for error. Ockham, a medieval scholar and Franciscan friar, is well-known for his philosophical principle known as Occam's razor, which advocates for simplicity in explanations and theories. He applied this principle to the authority of the Church, suggesting that relying on the papacy as the ultimate authority could lead to errors, particularly when it comes to the interpretation of Scripture and doctrine. Ockham emphasized the importance of individual reasoning and the potential for human fallibility, which were radical ideas at a time when the Church's authority was largely unchallenged.

The other figures listed had different perspectives. Martin Luther, for example, critiqued the Church’s practices and doctrines, particularly the sale of indulgences, but did not focus on the theme of papal error in the same analytical manner as Ockham. John Calvin offered reformative theological insights and established a distinct form of governance within the Church, but he accepted a certain level of church authority. Charles Finney, as a proponent of revivalism in the 19th century, emphasized individual conversion and the immediacy of personal faith rather than engaging in theological critiques regarding papal