Surpassing Sola Scriptura

Answering Protestants ^ | 31 March 2014 | Matthew Olson

[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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[Elsie]

A great many students of history affirm the meaning of Sola Scriptura and reject Sola Ecclesia.

They are just dumb!

--Catholic_Wannabe_Dude(Come to Mary's waiting arms...)

[Elsie]

You hypocrite...

He's merely a LITERATE insulter; doncha know.

[BipolarBob]

I’ll let you two throw the big words around. I’m just a simple pirate. I’m disinclined to acquiesce to word games. ))))

[Elsie]

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.

Good question; but why should a non-Catholic have to answer it?

[Elsie]

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.

Good question; but why am I now tempted to post FACTS about some of YOUR bad popes again?

[Elsie]

I will add you to the list of those that presume to be Christian and pray that you become one.

And I'll pray that you'll be on the Publican list when you die.

[Elsie]

Which PROVES you ain't so much litterant!

AAAARgh!

[daniel1212]

They called a KC official and he opened up the KC Hall "stash" and it was like a liquor store.

If i does not go on at the formal meetings, it certainly does at the informal "meetings" at KoC halls. Then you have the White Horse Inn which i know little about.

[xone]

It is a well known quote, which any literate person knows.

It sure is around here, but like most things it is quoted out of context by Catholics to try and make a point. If one uses it, they should use it in context. But since the context is injurious to the Catholic cause, the context isn't posted, or a 'dead' link is used. No surprise, as any literate person following these threads understands.

[.45 Long Colt]

I have known of Kreeft and Hahn for a long time. I’ve listened to Hahn debate. I have no need to listen to anything either has to say today. They have nothing to offer me.

See, I know that I know Christ. I know that regardless of whatever list you devise, my name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in eternity past. I know I am safe and secure in Christ. He is my wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

[CynicalBear]

Well, I’m sure you are just the person to explain in detail just what it does mean then. I’ll wait for you detailed explanation. Surely you don’t expect anyone to take your word without documentation do you?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

x

[Salvation]

World data over time:

	1970	1975	1985	1995	2000	2005	2013
Total priests	419,728	404,783	403,480	404,750	405,178	406,411	412,236
Diocesan priests	270,924	259,331	253,319	262,418	265,781	269,762	277,009
Religious priests	148,804	145,452	150,161	142,332	139,397	136,649	135,227
Diocesan priestly ordinations	4,622	4,140	4,822	6,444	6,814	6,614	6,863
Graduate-level seminarians	--	--	43,476	54,154	55,968	58,538	58,140
Permanent deacons	309	2,686	12,541	22,390	27,824	33,391	39,564
Religious brothers	79,408	70,388	65,208	59,515	55,057	54,708	54,665
Religious sisters	1,004,304	968,526	917,432	837,961	801,185	760,529	721,935
Parishes	191,398	200,116	212,021	220,077	218,196	217,616	221,055
Without a resident priest pastor	39,431	46,074	55,343	60,705	55,729	52,509	49,172
Where a bishop has entrusted the pastoral care of the parish to a deacon or some other person (e.g., a religious sister, religious brother, or other lay person)	na	na	1,635	3,278	3,373	3,122	2,537
Catholic population	653.6m	709.6m	852.0m	989.4m	1.045b	1.115b	1.196b
Percent of world population	18%	17%	18%	17%	17%	17%	17%
Catholic elementary schools	89,112	79,424	78,160	85,043	89,457	91,480	92,847
Students in Catholic elementary schools	20.396m	19.584m	22.390m	25.246m	26.097m	28.084m	31.151m
Catholic secondary schools	25,552	27,542	30,404	33,349	35,559	39,096	43,591
Students in Catholic secondary schools	7.667m	9.522m	12.066m	13.232m	14.027m	16.232m	17.794m
Notes on International Mass Attendance

 

[CynicalBear]

Anyone that wants some truth about that supposed successor of Peter may find the article here of interest. It seems the whole Catholic Church “lineage” is based on false and unsubstantiated claims.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"Catholic population 1.196b "

Salvation, Does your number include Catholics who never attend or participate?

For example, Belgium? Did you count them?

"Over 75% of Belgians are Roman Catholic.[2] However, as elsewhere in North West Europe, secularisation has hit hard in Belgium; Sunday church attendance has dropped well below 10% as per latest research such as from the "Centrum voor politicologie" of the Catholic University Leuven.[3] Although sources are quoting different figures between 4 and 9%, a church attendance of 6% in 2009 seems to be the most likely figure. Sources are quoting a drop in attendance of 0,5% yearly and in 1998 (the last year during which mass attendance was measured), attendance was just above 11%.

Belgium Catholicism

Total Population Belgium: 11.14 million
Total Catholics in Belgium at 75% of population: 8,355,000
Total Actual Belgian Catholics that represents the 10% claimed attendance: 835,500
Total Fake Belgian Catholics: 7.5 Million

Does your number of roman catholics include these 7.5 million CINO AWOL members who NEVER go??

That's just one country...

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"It seems the whole Catholic Church “lineage” is based on false and unsubstantiated claims. "

Humans prefer a sanitized story to believe.

[CynicalBear]

>>Humans prefer a sanitized story to believe.<<

And from what I’ve seen all too many who don’t long for truth at all costs will glom onto most anything that allows them to feel good about what they want to believe. It seems facts and truth matter not to them.

[LurkingSince'98]

thanks Salvation for the World data!

When I grow up I want to make posts with nice columns too!

Lurking’

AMDG