Replies

Bkaycee: What Sola scriptura is not.

First of all, it is not a claim that the Bible contains all knowledge. The Bible is not exhaustive in every detail. John 21:25 speaks to the fact that there are many things that Jesus said and did that are not recorded in John, or in fact in any book in the world because the whole books of the world could not contain it. But the Bible does not have to be exhaustive to function as the sole rule of faith for the Church.

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cronos: Do the rest of the sola scriptura adherents agree to this? I’m sorry to put you on the spot, bkay, but I have never heard an SS persoan state this

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Works for me. God gave us enough in Scripture to lead us to faith. and live a life of faith.

God’s word is true and the gold standard by which we compare everything else to find out if IT is true or not. If it doesn’t line up with what revealed Scripture shows, it should be rejected as not from God.

That does not allow for the mentality of... *Well, it isn’t mentioned in Scripture therefore it’s true because we said so*, like Mary’s alleged immaculate conception or her assumption, or praying to saints, or purgatory, or any number of other Catholic doctrines and teachings.

There’s plenty of truth in the Bible for us to deal with that will keep any person busy the rest of their lives without adding to it things that are of no consequence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible IS enough, contrary to the thinking and teaching of the Catholic church.

Agree.

IMO, Faith is important even in this aspect. Faith that the All Knowing, All Loving God gave us EVERYTHING HE knows we need in HIS WORD. He created us, knows how the human mind thinks/act and has given us a taste of it in both the OT and NT.

Just one example amongst thousands in God’s inspired Word -Peter - He showed us how taking our eyes off of Jesus/The Living Word we stumble. Peter had faith to walk on the water when Jesus was there - actually, Peter was walking on The Word - then he took His eyes off of Jesus/The Living Word. Looking anywhere else but HIS WORD for help or guidance will lead one to stumble. It’s all about Jesus, it’s all about HIS Word.

It’s all about what Jesus DID at the Cross. It’s already finished. Our salvation is complete in what HE DID and we can do NOTHING else to achieve our salvation but accept His Gift already given. Then He gave us the HS as Our Teacher and Comforter. He did it All, He gave it ALL. And that’s the GOOD NEWS!

HIS WORD has it ALL. Anything added is saying Jesus/The Living Word is not enough and deception will follow. And taking one’s eyes off of His Word will cause one to stumble. Both warned about in HIS Word.

Everything God wants us to know, HE preserved through His Word. Some say man tampered with it - again, they are saying God isn’t big enough to preserve HIS OWN WORD. It’s goes right to the heart of one who says such a thing - their God isn’t big enough. MY GOD IS!! Thank you JESUS!

BKAYCEE: What Sola scriptura is not: First of all, it is not a claim that the Bible contains all knowledge. The Bible is not exhaustive in every detail. John 21:25 speaks to the fact that there are many things that Jesus said and did that are not recorded in John, or in fact in any book in the world because the whole books of the world could not contain it. But the Bible does not have to be exhaustive to function as the sole rule of faith for the Church.

CRONOS: Do the rest of the sola scriptura adherents agree to this? I’m sorry to put you on the spot, bkay, but I have never heard an SS persoan state this

METMOM: Works for me. God gave us enough in Scripture to lead us to faith. and live a life of faith.

Amen! Every word of God is pure and accomplishes all that God intends which is to bring His family out of the darkness of sin and estrangement and into the light of the righteousness and glory of Jesus Christ. The above understanding by bkaycee is part of the orthodox and historic DEFINITION of Sola Scriptura.

Cronos, your surprise at that fact simply shows that Roman Catholics do not understand what they criticize.

THE FIVE SOLAS OF THE REFORMATION

Sola Scriptura: The Scripture Alone is the Standard
The doctrine that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority was the "Formal Principle" of the Reformation. In 1521 at the historic interrogation of Luther at the Diet of Worms, he declared his conscience to be captive to the Word of God saying, "Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons -- for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another -- I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word."
Similarly, the Belgic Confession stated, "We believe that [the] holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein...Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures nor ought we to consider custom or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God... Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule" (VII).
As the Scripture says,
Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law....I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name....You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (Psalm 119:18; Psalm 138:2; II Tim. 3:14-17)...

The holy Scriptures do not teach the correct way to hook up a PlayStation 3 so you don't mess up your Netflix account, nor how to put on eyeliner so it's natural-looking because neither of those things is necessary for men to understand the Good News of their redemption by Christ's merciful work on the cross.

All that is necessary for that blessed assurance is found in the Bible, made knowable through the free gift of new eyes and new ears given by the Holy Spirit who "abides with them forever."

Thank you for your response. But then, if you say "God’s word is true and the gold standard by which we compare everything else to find out if IT is true or not. If it doesn’t line up with what revealed Scripture shows, it should be rejected as not from God." --> all the points you said do NOT contradict scripture. The Church says that if anything is said to be Holy Tradition and it contradicts scripture it is false, it is not Holy Tradition (which does not contradict scripture). The IC, assumption, do not contradict scripture. Again, during the mass, when we request saints, the words are "Saint pray FOR us". For purgatory, Church teaching is that it is not know if it is a place, a time or whatever, it's just that we ask ourselves, what happens to those who die out of a state of grace? like aborted babies? We don't know, so we call that state as "purgatory".

Works for me. God gave us enough in Scripture to lead us to faith. and live a life of faith.

There’s plenty of truth in the Bible for us to deal with that will keep any person busy the rest of their lives without adding to it things that are of no consequence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible IS enough, contrary to the thinking and teaching of the Catholic church.

I AGREE.

THX.