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 isnt 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 isnt 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 Councils 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 Shakespeares explanation of it.
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Thank you for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!
What a beautiful and appropriate Scripture, dear brother in Christ!
“I totally agree, as any student of history would. “
A great many students of history affirm the meaning of Sola Scriptura and reject Sola Ecclesia.
The above article claims "The biggest fallacy of Protestantism is that it trusts the Church to write, compile, canonize, spread + preserve the Bible."
That is a false statement for me because I trust God for all those things and give Him the glory for their being done.
Indeed, it does not surprise me at all that a group of Christians were able to itemize a canon. We know God's words when we hear them.
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. - John 8:47
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. - John 10:4
Amen.
LOL! If that were true, you wouldn't even post ANY comments! Sounds like you missed out on the verse BEFORE that one.
What you offer is neither pearls nor holy and we aren't dogs or pigs!
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
Also He is making stuff up about the drinking that occurs at KoC meetings as well as priests not being members of the KoC. Not all are but there are quite a few.
As far as Richard Bennett: Please explain to me how this man who claims to be a priest knew so little about the Letter to the Ephesians or the Letter to the Romans.
I spent 3 years in the seminary as a lay person and we were required to take classes on both the OT and NT. Students for the Priesthood and Deaconate programs were require to take classes on the entire Bible.
How about listening to these. Scott Hahn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW-qX6DgcPw
Peter Kreeft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO2NGGmWBQo
KJV used mostly the Received Text. NIV uses the Critical Text. Most modern Bibles also include footnotes to DSS references.
You need to read a bit more secular history, rather than your biased sources. Feel free to have the last word.
The last word would be....Present your sources and another last word will come about. I notice you hardly keep that promise of the "last word.":)
One of those students was evidently not the Apostle Paul.
"And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." - I Corinthians 4:6
And ...
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Scripture uses the absolute. It's EVERY good work, which thus defines Scripture as entirely sufficient to rule and guide our faith. It's not most good works, or ones for which God's word is somehow not good enough.
Absolutes are of course common in Scripture, such as Hebrews 10:10, which refutes the notion of purgatory by noting Christ's sacrifice once for ALL, or Romans 3:23, which notes that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Bless your day!
Whatever. You obviously know more than he does. Since you have it all figured out, don’t waste your time.
I’m not going to continue going back and forth. For the sake of your soul I hope you truly know Christ, the tried stone, the only sure foundation. If you don’t know Him, the Bible promises that your refuge of lies, whatever uncertain and false foundation you have put your hope in, will be washed away and you will stand in judgment according to the terms of strict justice, a more terrifying promise I cannot imagine.
“Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.”
—Isaiah 28:17
One more time I’ll point you toward the gospel.
The Gospel Discerned and Defined
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=81901181950
Unmasking the False Gospel
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1010665821
I don't know about drinking at KC meetings. I've never been to a KC meeting. But on my graduation night I was partying with some Italian Catholics and we ran out of booze. They called a KC official and he opened up the KC Hall "stash" and it was like a liquor store. I don't say that to poke them. I don't care if they drink. Or when they drink. I certainly don't judge them for that. But the preponderance of evidence from my eyewitness experience suggests they do some drinking there, whether before, during or after their meeting I don't know (or care).
You MUST be a PROTESTant; for no one explained it to you.
(Did they???)
Do you use the front or the back or your hand to deliver these?
Then it's lesson time; yet again!
However; his grasp of adequacy is flaccid.
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