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.
---
Follow me on Twitter, Like Answering Protestants on Facebook, Add Answering Protestants to your Circles on Google+, and Subscribe to my YouTube apologetic videos.
---
Why do some minions have two eyes while a few only one eye????
"...they are protestant and when all is said and done we are Catholic and never the twain shall meet."I will assume from here out that you are not a Christian.
bad, bad, bad...
bad assumption, based on bad information and bad conclusions...
and definitely NOT a Christian thing to say to anyone.
wow..
ADMG
Same thing don'tcha think? (definitely NOT a Christian thing to say )
Catholics seem to want to separate themselves from Christians.
Rather, you have proven you know nothing about what the word even means. Let me help:
You said, "It seems to me that it must sadden Him that Protestants make such a big deal of rejecting all those gifts." You are making a blanket statement that all Protestants reject all God's gifts and make a big deal out of doing so and it saddens God because they do. Turn that around, and:
"It seems to me that it must sadden God that Catholics make such a big deal of rejecting all those gifts." ...Would you call that a prejudiced or bigoted statement to say ALL Catholics do something that saddens God?
I'm giving you a chance to gain back some credibility among right-thinking people. Will you take it?
Dang those pesky rules about making it personal!
Basically all protestants are doing is calling god (referring to the prot god, not Catholic God) an impotent liar.
--Mormon restoration of Sermon on Curmorah
Soon; all will be revealed...
Dang those who suffer from low T.
Rules do NOT prevent pointing out ERROR, only timidity does.
If one claims to find it, then it behooves them to warn others.
"There's a big boulder, located in the eastbound lane, at milemarker 97.4" is a LOT more useful than "While traveling today, I saw some debris in the road."
Basically all Catholic teaching does is to call Joseph (referring to the husband of Catholic Mary, not PROTESTant Mary) an impotent,frustrated man.
Protestants that can READ and UNDERSTAND, realize than Joseph and Mary had many children that are MENTIONED (but not named) in Scripture.
Some appear badder than others...
To: verga
That is with out a doubt the stupidest analogy I have every heard. I will pray for you.
Beats hearing a vile condescending, "I will pray for you." 339 posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2014 1:43:32 PM by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
|
To: Elsie; verga
Beats hearing a vile condescending, "I will pray for you."
And the fact he didn't address anything I pointed out was just a bonus. |
elsie's response: Oh look there is a chicken over there.
Not interested.
AMDG
Important to remember they are protestants ‘who doth protest too much’ - it is why they are called ‘protestant’.
Also those who you may challenge may feel strong in their personal faith, so your attempt to explain our faith will be resisted just as much as you resist their decidedly protestant arguments.
I never expect to change a hardened heart, but there are many who are in real need, some who may be very close to you who you can effect - so look for real need and an open heart to spend time on.
AMDG
There are two reasons I am here. The second is to answer the questions the lurkers don't ask, by countering the prot lies.
We’ll good luck with that.
AMDG
Your words are wise; the Spirit of God is blowing whithersover He wills looking for broken and contrite hearts. hardened hearts are tragic and almost unbearably sad. Let it never be our own, as it is written:
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
“Same thing don’tcha think? (definitely NOT a Christian thing to say ). Catholics seem to want to separate themselves from Christians. “
They’ve bought into the bogus Peter as First Pope Theory and look down on those who belong to Christ that are not part of their church. Whatever. In the end, it hampers obedience to the Savior.
God knows those who are His. I’ve no doubt that many Catholics will be in heaven, despite the works doctrines and pagan additions. Many will not. I’ve equally no doubt that the same principle applies to Baptists and every other Christian group.
“Not everyone who says,...”
Indeed, one way to prevent hardening your own heart would be regular attendance at Mass for Catholics and church services for Protestants.
The Lord speaks to each of us in His own way and place - His house where two or more gathered in His Name is often overlooked as a source of personal inspiration.
Another way is expanding our prayer to include meditation on Christ’s life and/or a Sriptural passage (lectio divinia), quiet contemplation to actually listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to us and by putting our faith into action by doing.
Yes indeed no one can ever stop learning or we are going backwards in our faith.
For the Greater Glory of God
You said: “Theyve bought into the bogus Peter as First Pope Theory .”
It understandable how you would think that ‘it would be a buy in’ however we accept Peter as the first Pope as a sign of our faith - an immense difference.
Believe what you want.
AMDG
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.