Wow - too bad for all those early Christians, especially those who were martyred before the “Scripture Alone” was written and compiled, those who were unable to read or who could not afford a scarce handwritten document. Guess it was just bad timing for them, huh?
Of course you are being facetious here for effect, but do you understand that the Scriptures are the WRITTEN form of Almighty God's revealed truth? Whether or not someone could read or have a personal copy of the Scriptures that were in the process of being written and compiled, the truth didn't change....it never does. The same verbal teachings that were first preached by Jesus as well as the further revelation the Apostles and disciples were given once Christ ascended to heaven have been recorded and preserved and passed down to us today. God's word will never pass away.
The Scriptures have authority because they are the very words of God. Holy men of God spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit - they didn't write from their own imaginings or interpretation. By writing these words down, the Holy Spirit ensured that all may know what God wants us to know and believe for all time. If someone hears the gospel and believes or another reads the gospel and believes it is the SAME word of God. No human organization could be in authority over God's word but all are to be in submission to the word of God and what it teaches. This truth has been acknowledged and taught from the start of Christianity.
“Wow - too bad for all those early Christians, especially those who were martyred before the “Scripture Alone” was written and compiled, those who were unable to read or who could not afford a scarce handwritten document. Guess it was just bad timing for them, huh?”
2/3 of Scripture was written and circulated before Christ was born.
The NT Scriptures were written, widely shared among the early churches, and preached.
You did not need to own Scripture to hear it and come to saving faith.
Most people with ears can hear, but not all.
I think I read that in a Book somewhere...
Acts 17:2-3 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Having a copy of Scripture and being able to read it are not necessary to be saved.
That's why God gave the church preachers, teachers, and evangelists, that they might go about and share the word.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
And verbal proclamation of Scripture is NOT *tradition*, no matter how much Catholics want to twist the meaning of that word.
Oh PLEASE.
You have to be able to come up with a better argument than THAT, especially after we defined what sola scriptura REALLY means upthread.