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What is doesn’t teach is that which is NOT found anywhere in Scripture and that is that the written Scripture is the only way one can teach, rebuke, correct or instruct. Also, that it is not the only way one can know of salvation.

But that’s a caricature of Sola Scriptura. No one who understands it would teach it that way. Much of this debate is wasted gumming away at the edges because we aren’t talking about the same sufficiency Lets take another look at Paul’s admonition to Timothy:

2Tim 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We know that the Pharisees’ lack of comprehension was not some lack in the word of God. If they wouldn’t believe the law and the prophets concerning Christ, they wouldn’t accept a resurrection either. They did not have the Holy Spirit. They’d rather blaspheme the Holy Spirit than listen to Him. The fault was in them, not Scripture.

But we do know that for the man of God, who by definition DOES have the Holy Spirit, and is receptive to Him, Paul is recommending Timothy use Scripture as his primary resource for gaining 1) wisdom unto salvation, 2) doctrine, 3) proof of error, 4) for correction of faults, and 5) the cultivation of righteousness. In fact, so “adequate” is this one resource that Paul says it can make a man of God completely ready for any aspect of the Christian life.

So here’s the crux of the matter: If the Scriptures can completely equip the man of God, so that he is both wise to the way of salvation in Christ, and able to do everything a believer needs to do, and he can do this with God’s word, then by extension whatever may be learned about God outside of God’s word is either A) already expressed IN God’s word as well, or else 2) is not necessary either to salvation or to fully equipping the man of God for all righteousness.

Therefore, if some modern group of people comes along who claim to speak for God, we are duty bound to compare their teaching with the known revelation. If a discrepancy appears, who’s word should we accept? Those who merely claim to speak for God? Or the God-breathed words of Scripture?

Gal 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Here Paul is adamant that no one should modify the basics of the Gospel he had already delivered to the Galatians. Even if the purveyor of allegedly new or hidden information was an angel from Heaven, they were to reject that teaching. Why? Because it didn’t exactly match Apostolic teaching, which as Paul says, was not of his own invention, but by direct revelation from Christ. And here’s the thing. He expected them to pick up on the discrepancy ON THEIR OWN. He was surprised they had fallen into deception so quickly. They had the pattern of divine revelation on the matter, and did not use it to protect themselves from false teachers.

And Paul, in laying down that pattern again, only this time in writing, says nothing uniquely Roman Catholic. The Gospel presented in Galatians is the same one taught in every Gospel preaching church across the entire globe, that rule-keeping can’t save anyone, only real repentance from sin and sincere faith in the crucified and risen Christ.

I must go to bed now.

Peace,

Another thoughtful response which is much appreciated.

However, I find that there is some discrepancy in what you write.

The first part of the quote from Timothy does not support SS since it is speaking directly of the OT and not the NT which did not exist at the time. It was to the OT that the Apostles appealed as a means of confirming Jesus to be the Christ and that with that knowledge, one may be made wise to the salvation which is from Jesus.

In the Greek, the word used to describe Scripture is not sufficient, but profitable which are two different things.
This merely speaks to the inerrant nature of Scripture and does not declare that it is only by Scripture that one may be know the Truths of God.

Then we must consider exactly what are the good works for which the man of God is made fit.

Since Jesus tells us that only God is good, we know that if Scripture speaks of good works, it must be speaking of thing of God. Therefore, the good works for which we can be completely made fit, must be the things which God calls us to do.

Now, this letter was written to Timothy who was converted to Christianity by St. Paul. A Jew because of his mother he knew the OT. St. Paul is giving a kind of pep talk to Timothy since he was not always with Paul who seems to be assuring Timothy that he is capable of doing what God has called him to do.

So to recap, this verse has Paul telling Timothy that he can trust his knowledge of Jesus based on what he knows from Scripture but if we look just a little before this verse we see that Paul precedes this verse with this...

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,

So, St. Paul is saying here, remember what I HAVE TAUGHT you and trust also in Scripture. IOW, trust both oral teaching and the written word.

*******So here’s the crux of the matter: If the Scriptures can completely equip the man of God, so that he is both wise to the way of salvation in Christ, and able to do everything a believer needs to do, and he can do this with God’s word, then by extension whatever may be learned about God outside of God’s word is either A) already expressed IN God’s word as well, or else 2) is not necessary either to salvation or to fully equipping the man of God for all righteousness. *****

I’m sorry, but that passage says that one can be wise, it does not say that one can know all things. There is a difference. One can be wise, knowledgeable and able to judge. There is not claim to the exclusivity of Scripture. I just showed you how Paul calls on him to remember what he, Paul, had taught him.