Geoffrey Bromiley, Ph.D.: "Thomas Cranmer: Theologian," ch. 3,

2. Scripture and Tradition, 12-21. Bromiley points out the similarity of Cranmer with Luther and Zwingli on the supremacy of the Canonical Scriptures. Erasmus, Greek lectureships, and the Lutheran controversies prompted Cranmer to the sources. “Then he, considering what great controversy was in matters of religion (not only trifles, but in the chiefest articles of our salvation), ben himself to try out the truth herein; and, forasmuch as he perceived that he could just judge indifferently in so weighty matters without the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures (before he were infected with any man’s opinions or errors), he applied his whole study three years to the said Scriptures.” (12). This was itself revolutionary for the university as Dr. Cranmer became a degree-examiner in theology, requiring thorough knowledge of the Bible. This led to a review of the “supposed prerogatives of the Papacy (13). His Confutation of Unwritten Verities, substantially Cranmer’s but with a preface and conclusion by an editor, shows Cranmer’s view of the supremacy of the Scriptures—in utter accordance with patristic authors—Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Jerome, Athanasius, Basic and others including, “for good measure,” Anslem, Aquinas, and Scotus (16). Bromiley gives an overview of the Confutation. Bromiley then drifts around on adiaphora, historicism, and inerrancy a wee bit too breezily and unwarrantedly, but we press onwards.