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Surpassing Sola Scriptura
Answering Protestants ^ | 31 March 2014 | Matthew Olson

Posted on 03/31/2014 5:45:28 PM PDT by matthewrobertolson

“[The Church] does not, in the conventional phrase, believe what the Bible says, for the simple reason that the Bible does not say anything. You cannot put a book in the witness-box and ask it what it really means.” – G. K. Chesterton

Sola Scriptura is the Protestant doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Under it, only doctrines that are found directly within the Bible or are drawn indirectly from it by simple reasoning are allowed. (See material vs. formal sufficiency & perspicuity.)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 is the primary passage used to defend this view, which always boggles my mind. Perhaps I need spectacles, but I do not see an “Only” at the beginning of this verse. The Church teaches (as Scripture teaches) that all Scripture is valuable. She does not, however, turn it into an idol.

Some Protestants also claim to honor other authorities, like the Church – but do they really? In a short written debate with a Protestant professor, he said, “Sola Scriptura does not even claim that there is no other authority besides the Bible; it maintains that the Bible is alone (sola) as the only infallible authority.” Some apologists concede this position, but I see no reason to, and so I responded, “The practical effect [of Sola Scriptura] is that it denies the authoritativeness of any other authority – making that authority not an authority at all.” The professor quickly changed the topic.

Sacred Tradition (capital ‘T’) is, obviously, a stumbling block for many, but it is perfectly reasonable. Not everything of relevance could fit within the Bible (John 20:30-31, John 21:25). This is evidenced by the elaborations of the Church Fathers, as well as the decrees of the Councils. And much of this has been written and can therefore even qualify as (extra canon) Scripture! Anyway, all Scripture must be interpreted “according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church” (Origen).

Pope Francis noted, “Sacred Scripture is the written testimony of the divine Word, the canonical memory that attests to the event of Revelation. However, the Word of God precedes the Bible and surpasses it. That is why the center of our faith isn’t just a book, but a salvation history and above all a person, Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh.” (cf. CCC #108). All teaching is valuable – God is not limited to a book compiled by His Bride. On this point, the Bible is like a wedding album shared by two spouses: the husband, typically, arranges and provides for everything, while his wife fills in the details – but still, at the end of the day, it does not sum up their whole marriage.

Another great blow to Sola Scriptura is that the Bible did not put itself together, and it does not list the books that belong within it. It took the Jews thousands of years to decide on the Tanakh (their canon) and, even then, “Hellenistic” Jews preferred the Septuagint! The only reason that we know which books comprise the Testaments is that the Church has informed us. If the Church, as Her own entity, is not infallible on such doctrine, then the Bible cannot be trusted.

Many Protestants also allude that absolute truth can only be found within the Bible. If I throw an apple up into the air, it will fall. Where is that in the Bible? Of course, one could quickly retort with the idea that the Bible only necessarily contains the absolute moral truth necessary for salvation. But many Protestants do not actually believe that – just look at the large crowds of literal creationists! To be clear, the Bible is not guaranteed to be totally historically or scientifically inerrant in a literal sense. “Inerrancy extends to what the biblical writers intend to teach, not necessarily to what they assume or presuppose or what isn’t integral to what they assert.” [Catholic Answers] And if a Protestant would like to say otherwise, he must prove his position from the Bible – which he cannot do, at least not to any definite degree. Even natural law, which exists outside of the Bible, does not encompass such. Leaders like Ken Ham could be defeated with these points.

I just cannot help but despise this great heresy of Sola Scriptura, the implication of which is that the Bride of Christ does not know Her Husband.

I love the Second Vatican Council’s statement on all of this: “[T]he task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it presents for belief as divinely revealed.” (Dei Verbum)

Let us put it this way: only trusting the Bible without the Church would be like loving “Romeo and Juliet” and hating Shakespeare’s explanation of it.

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church-and-fallacies


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; General Discusssion; Theology
KEYWORDS: bible; christian; god; jesus
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To: Salvation

What’s the next verse say? There’s your answer.


121 posted on 03/31/2014 8:19:40 PM PDT by ealgeone (obama, borderof)
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To: Salvation
Why do you say I present false information when the Catholic Church was there long before Luther?

you said you supported everything that was said in post #2...That post was removed by the moderator so I can not reference it...

122 posted on 03/31/2014 8:20:10 PM PDT by Iscool (Ya mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailer park...)
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To: CynicalBear
Both Protestants and Catholics employ chairs or pews that worshippers sit on. Does that make Protestants guilty of every transgression Catholics are accused of?

And how was it that the New Testament canon was determined?

123 posted on 03/31/2014 8:20:37 PM PDT by aposiopetic
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To: Salvation

Why do you lie when you say the protestant wing of Christianity started with Luther? It branched then but the roots are the same.


124 posted on 03/31/2014 8:20:55 PM PDT by DManA
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To: philly-d-kidder
Hmmm, where have I seen words like that before? OH, I remember!

“As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.” (Jer.44:16-17)

>> Just as the 3 wise men all gave Jesus in Bethlehem Gifts worthy of a King.His Mom was the Queen Mother..who birthed Gods son.<<

Luke 11:27And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Nay rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Matthew 12:47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

125 posted on 03/31/2014 8:21:43 PM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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To: Alamo-Girl

great.

so just underline the words in that text that say “the Bible alone” please.

For the Greater Glory of God


126 posted on 03/31/2014 8:22:00 PM PDT by LurkingSince'98 (Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam = FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD)
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To: philly-d-kidder
There is no Longer a formal Protest with LUTHER a Document was signed 15 years ago by Catholic Church & Lutherans.

Lib Lutherans + Catholics. Catholic Catechism shows the doc was obfuscation. Nothing new.

127 posted on 03/31/2014 8:22:47 PM PDT by xone
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To: LurkingSince'98
Your search is as irrelevant as trying to find the word "Trinity" in Scripture. And yet these verses make that doctrine clear, at least to me:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. - Isa 9:6

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. - Romans 8:9

God's Name is I AM.
128 posted on 03/31/2014 8:23:06 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: LurkingSince'98; Alamo-Girl
>> Sorry, I am looking for words “the Bible alone” - you know “Sola Scrptura”<<

Find the word “trinity”.

129 posted on 03/31/2014 8:23:20 PM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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To: Iscool

The Apostles spoke Greek..The educated and trading language .... Hebrew was a dying Language The Catholic CHURCH The Only Church at The Time .......from 70-90 AD Jews & Catholics shared the same Old testament when it was Finalized in 70 AD.

The Apostles writings only referenced the Catholic version Today. I could show you 20 passages in the New testament that refer to Passages in the Catholic Greek Version but Protestant removed those 7 Books accepting the hebrew Version Only. The Old testament is fulfilled in the new testament. How can it be fulfilled if the Books it refers to were removed 16 centuries later? Who Gave Luther the authority to Change the word of GOD?


130 posted on 03/31/2014 8:23:30 PM PDT by philly-d-kidder (AB-Sheen"The truth is the truth if nobody believes it,a lie is still a lie, everybody believes it")
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To: CynicalBear

LOLOL - we thought of the same thing.


131 posted on 03/31/2014 8:24:03 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Salvation; DManA

Not to mention the fact that Jesus sent them the Spirit of Truth to guide them and disclose what is to COME.

…John: 16:13”But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14”He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15”All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.…

It is obvious from this passage that there were things that Jesus had not yet taught His Apostles.


132 posted on 03/31/2014 8:24:38 PM PDT by Jvette
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To: ealgeone
LOL! For once I know more than a Protestant! There is no 'next' verse!

John, chapter 21

 

Conclusion.

24It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,* and we know that his testimony is true.n

25There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.


133 posted on 03/31/2014 8:25:09 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Iscool

instead of that pablum;just give me ANY original text that says “the Bible alone” SOLA SCRIPTURA” please.

AMDG


134 posted on 03/31/2014 8:25:12 PM PDT by LurkingSince'98 (Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam = FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD)
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To: ealgeone
>>If what this kid is saying about the historical literacy of the Bible then how can we take the Bible at its word?<<

Not one historical fact from scripture has been shown to be in error. In fact, many who have tried have become believers.

135 posted on 03/31/2014 8:25:34 PM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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To: philly-d-kidder

“God needed a Sinless vessel as in Mary to be the Vessel to process the Incarnation...”

Actually, He did not. Nor was she sinless. Nor does God ever say she was.

‘remember Gabriel Proclaimed HAIL Mary Full of Grace...’

Grace, the unmerited favor of God, based not on Mary, but on the Grace God showed by choosing to use her to bear His Son.

“It is her sinless Nature that made her Unique.”

No. Not in God’s Word either. Not to mention she was not sinless. She needed a Savior.

“Jesus was the King of the Universe his Mother was designated Queen..”

Not by God.

“Please don’t mock & belittle Mary.”

Please don’t exalt this dear sister above where God placed her.

“God the Father chose her to be the mother of his son our Lord Jesus Christ. He Chose Mary how can you Look down on her disparagingly.”

Accurately valuing her according to God’s Word is never disparaging. It is truthful.

“Just as the 3 wise men all gave Jesus in Bethlehem Gifts worthy of a King.His Mom was the Queen Mother..who birthed Gods son.”

Again, not a queen.

“Later Jesus performed his 1st Public Miracle at CANA on the wishes of His Mother.. her Command was “Do as he Says... he obediently did as she requested.”

Mary instructed the servants to obey her Son. Her Son chose to perform a miracle. She doesn’t command Him, nor manipulate him.

You have posted a large collection of fallacies that are not found in Scripture.


136 posted on 03/31/2014 8:25:54 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: Iscool

I’m wrinkling my brow on that one. I have no idea what you are talking about.


137 posted on 03/31/2014 8:26:11 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: philly-d-kidder
St Iraenius of Antioch was recruited by John The Apostle and made 3 of 5 pilgrimages with Peter...

Catholic tales don't count...You'll have to come up with some evidence for that...And I know you can't...

138 posted on 03/31/2014 8:27:26 PM PDT by Iscool (Ya mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailer park...)
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To: CynicalBear

Oh I agree with the accuracy of the Bible.... The kid posting this doesn’t.


139 posted on 03/31/2014 8:28:12 PM PDT by ealgeone (obama, borderof)
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To: Jvette

Or there are things in Scripture whose meanings were locked until the proper time.


140 posted on 03/31/2014 8:28:18 PM PDT by DManA
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