Catholics, and some Protestants, sadly to say, will argue that the "church fathers" are a criteria for judging orthodoxy. But, this is no criteria and should be rejected, and that for several reasons. The church fathers were not all agreed on many Bible teachings.
Many Protestants have also erred when they have said that "the early church is our standard." Yet, even the early church was not perfect in doctrinal understanding. Most of the new testament epistles were written to correct errors among the early church. The letters Christ personally dictated to the apostle John and sent to the seven churches of Asia Minor (Revelation chapters two and three) also show this to be true. Most of those churches had very serious errors, errors which later became incorporated into the Catholic church.
I listened to a debate today where Catholic apologist Trent Horn asked a Protestant to show him a text of scripture where sola scriptura was advocated. Sad to say, this Protestant did not offer any. Well, let me do so.
"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8: 7 nkjv)
"Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." (Acts 17: 11 nkjv)
"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." (I Peter 4: 11 nkjv)
"Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other." (I Cor. 4: 6 nkjv)
These verses say that the written word of God is the only rule for faith.
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