Posted on 03/31/2014 5:45:28 PM PDT by matthewrobertolson
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.)“[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
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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****There is TRUTH in the Bible (we both believe this).****
Thank you for that:)
Yes, I do believe that the Catholic Church is the guardian of Truth and that the Holy Spirit revealed that truth to me.
When it comes to Scripture it is important to note that the Church does not definitively define every single chapter and verse. It is not unusual for Catholics to have very different understandings of the same verse. What is important is that one’s understanding does not contradict essential doctrine.
I am participating in a Bible class in my parish and it is fascinating to hear what jumps out to different people or what they “get” out of a passage. Anyone who reads the Bible knows that one can read the same verses several times and each time see something new revealed.
And praising God for both situations.
why would that be?
Don't know, I surely don't, but I suppose Catholics could dig him up and burn what is left of him, they've done it to others. If Luther cared, he would probably like that.
Don’t get so fascinated with the vessel that you miss the water.
The Council of Florence was AFTER the east/west split that happened when the Orthodox broke away from Rome over Rome's novel and unscriptural doctrines of Papal infallibility, supremacy, purgatory, Immaculate Conception and a few others.
The Reformation reiterated and rejected some of these SAME errors of Rome. It sounds like it is Roman Catholicism who is "lacerating" the body of Christ by her insistence on heretical doctrines and her presumed supremacy over the very word of God. Not much has changed in a thousand years! The TRUE body of Christ will never be divided.
Hmmm. NO word “church” in that verse as the Catholic Church would have us believe. It’s “assembly” as in “assembly” of believers. Jesus said wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them.
Besides, even the Catholic Church admits it was the confession that Peter made.
424 Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' On the rock of this faith confessed by St. Peter, Christ built his Church. "To preach. . . the unsearchable riches of Christ"
See my post to DmanA
Nothing like feasting on the rotten fruit of the religious forums at free republic.
Peace to you my friend.
Yeah it is Popes Bishops and Priest....
How many Miracles do you want to hear about?
I will take you one better how about a DEAD Priest since 19th Century St John Vianney Relic 2010 I Brought Relic around Diocese. a Lady who worked in Cafeteriaat Villa Maria Academy in Malvern Pa asked what was in Box I had I explained it was a relic of St John Vianney. She Kissed the relic and had a Private Prayer asking Gods Intervention to her intention.
10 Days later she wrote me My Husband had a Recurrence of cancer. We found it came back aggressively the day before I met you. We Prayed to SJV that Night asking if he would ask Gods Intervention.
The next morning we went to Hospital for MRI to see the extent of Cancer in his Body and set baseline. I was concerned after 6 Hours they hadn’t met with us to discuss treatment strategy..They Finally came to us and declared Him Cancer FREE. A Miracle..
I have witness Fr Jose Maniyangat a healing Priest Prayed for an 11 yr old Girl who Broke her arm in 4 places on a friday morning was put in a cast and Monday Morning when the xrayed her to see what size pins she need they Found her arm was Miraculously Healed.
Read about Padre PIO and Norristown Pa.Miracle..He had the stigmata too.
Read St Faustina and Divine mercy..
Back in that time I proudly would have been a Donatist instead of a Catholic...A few of the Donatists turned over their scriptures instead of being murdered and tortured but most of them chose to die instead of give up their scriptures...
What's funny is you guys always claim there weren't any scriptures but that is what the Donatists were known for, having an abundance of scriptures...
Their biggest crime however was their refusal to bow down to the Catholic religion...You bet, I would have been one of those heretical Donatists...
And you want to compare David and Solomon with your line of popes??? What a laugh...
Where in Scripture — which I regard as authoritative, and I gather you do as well — is the list of the books that make up Scripture?
Josh McDowell?
And to you as well.
My God is Almighty amongst other things, I wasn't mocking Him, I was mocking the idea of a god that 'needed' something. Sounds more like some pagan idol. In that regard I'm following Elijah's example.
Nutso...Mary was chosen because she WAS a sinner...God didn't need anyone for Jesus to appear to be a human...But he needed a sinner so Jesus could have a sin nature...He needed the sin nature so he could experience the temptation that sinners go thru...
If you guys would just sit down and read a bible, you'd have some sense of what God wanted us to know...
I’m not going down that rabbit hole with you. It’s meaningless tripe. It is God who preserved His word for us today. The Catholic Church corrupted what was in the Greek manuscripts which have been proven. If taking the credit from God and giving it to the Catholic organization makes you somehow feel good go for it. But don’t expect others to fall for that tripe and blasphemy.
If you’d take the time to read a bible you’d know that Jesus Christ is the Word...The scripture is the word...
I have an Evangelical Friend and she says she doesn’t need to be Baptized. All The Apostles and Jesus were Baptized entire Families from the Youngest to the oldest were Baptized. Somehow as an associated reform Presbyterian or a Non Denominational Calvary Church it’s not necessary..
The Catholic Church Has Apostolic Succession...it’s dogma as Promised By Christ is always Correct it has 20 centuries interpreting the Bible it Formulated during 3 centuries of Discussion. Christ Promised Peter..He would never lie.. to his Catholic Apostles.
How wonderful your magic charm performed voodoo healing. Thrilling.
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