Roman Catholics admit that the New Testament is the only infallible record of apostolic teaching we have from the first century. 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura by Dave Armstrong No belief is more central to Protestantism than sola Scriptura, which says the Bible is the only infallible, authoritative source of Christian faith and practice. (Sola scriptura is one of them.) And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. When they died, however, there was no longer a living apostolic authority since only those who were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ could have apostolic authority (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor. For Jesus declared: “This is how all [men] will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). But oral teachings of the apostles were not called “inspired” or “unbreakable” or the equivalent, unless they were recorded as Scripture. So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. 22:29). You can buy that book here to read all 100. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. The fact that apostles sometimes referred to “traditions” they gave orally as authoritative in no way diminishes the Protestant argument for sola Scriptura. Finally, to borrow a phrase from St. Paul, the Bible constantly warns us “not to go beyond what is written” (1 Cor. Sola scriptura: A Blueprint for Anarchy. Luther stated, "The pulpit is the throne for the word of God." Sola Scriptura: The Bible Does Not State a Preference for Oral Tradition. There are many more that we didn’t point out. As convincing as these arguments may seem to a devout Catholic, they are devoid of substance. "There are 30,000 denominations that use sola Scriptura. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. This powerful new book contains just that Biblical arguments. Finally, Kreeft’s argument wrongly assumes that the Bible was produced by the Roman Catholic church. Kreeft’s argument that sola Scriptura violates the principle of causality is invalid for one fundamental reason: it is based on a false assumption. This being the case, Kreeft’s argument that the cause must be equal to its effect (or greater) fails. But that is not what oral tradition gives. 13:3; Mark 4:2, 33; 6:34; Luke 11:53; 24:15–16, 25–27; John 16:12; 20:30; 21:25; Acts 1:2–3). It begs the question, however, for Roman Catholics to claim that this supports their belief that the church of Rome still has infallible authority outside the Bible today. To claim that the apostles did not write down all God’s revelation to them is to claim that they were not obedient to their prophetic commission not to subtract a word from what God revealed to them. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Speaking of Sola Scriptura, by Kevin Allen and Fr. 4:4, 7, 10). 15:3, 6). If a Lutheran (Missouri Synod) pastor started asserting that the Eucharist and baptism were purely symbolic, he would be in big trouble, since confessional, orthodox Lutheranism holds to the Real Presence—consubstantiation—and baptismal regeneration. Indeed, to assume that oral traditions of the apostles, not written in the Bible, are necessary to interpret what is written in the Bible under inspiration is to argue that the uninspired is more clear than the inspired. Covenants and Sacred Tradition are perpetually binding. It is also self-defeating, for if sola scriptura were true, it would have to be explicitly spelled out in Scripture itself. Catholics understand the difference between authoritative and infallible, since they make the same distinction with regard to noninfallible statements made by the Pope and infallible ex cathedra (“from the seat” of Peter) ones. Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons … If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed. It is only reasonable to infer that God would preserve what He inspired. They kept discovering the Law and their God again and again, and (in their better moments) cooperated with God’s revival of their hearts and behavior. 4:6).11 This kind of exhortation is found throughout Scripture. To help see this I will. Posted by Jim. The Catholic use of 3 John to prove the superiority of oral tradition is a classic example of taking a text out of context. For prophets were not infallible in everything they said, but only when giving God’s revelation to which they were not to add or from which they were not to subtract a word. It even has a fancy Latin name — “sola scriptura.” It’s time for Catholics to stop being beaten up with the Fundamentalists’ favorite question. That is, all apostolic tradition (teaching) on faith and practice is in the New Testament. Third, Kreeft’s argument wrongly assumes that there was apostolic succession (see Part Four, next issue). He answered them, “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?”. Why Is Sola Scriptura Unreasonable?Protestants believe the Bible is the only source for determining Christian truth. One, the fact that Scripture, without tradition, is said to be “God-breathed” (theopnuestos) and thus by it believers are “competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. Thus, he appears to take for granted that which many Protestants have the hardest time grasping and accepting. In point of fact, Protestants seem to do about as well as Catholics on unanimity of essential doctrines with only an infallible Bible and no infallible interpreters of it! The fact is that they do not have an infallible record from the first century on which to base such a decision. Instead, I hope to see you soon when we can talk face to face” (3 John 13). It expands upon what we know from Scripture, and though it is not inspired like the Bible, its truths are every bit as revealed and infallible. We are going to use the definition given by Wikipedia. It simply means that it is not explicitly contained within the letter of the Bible, though it might well be in harmony with it. Kreeft’s argument that sola Scriptura violates the principle of causality is invalid for one fundamental reason: it is based on a false assumption. There is a direct parallel with the religious traditions of Judaism that grew up around (and obscured, even negated) the Scriptures and the Christian traditions that have grown up around (and obscured, even negated) the Scriptures since the first century. The full PDF may be viewed by following the link below the excerpt. The Bible has perspicuity apart from any traditions to help us understand it. Rather, it provides an unreliable oral tradition as opposed to an infallible written one. A Compelling Argument AGAINST Sola Scriptura? All of this makes it clear that God intended from the very beginning that His revelation be preserved in Scripture, not in extrabiblical tradition. 31:26). Likewise, it is possible that sola Scriptura could be a necessary logical deduction from what is taught in Scripture. This does not necessarily mean that everything the apostles ever taught is in the New Testament, any more than everything Jesus said is there (cf. That a tradition is extra-biblical does not mean that it is non-biblical or unbiblical or contrary to the Bible. Indeed, it is not plausible that He would have allowed succeeding generations to struggle and even fight over precisely where this alleged extrabiblical revelation is to be found. Moses certainly gave definitive interpretation of doctrine, as did the priesthood in Israel. The Catholic Church, too, has parameters of orthodoxy beyond which a Catholic may not go. “Not in the Bible” does NOT mean “anti-biblical”. The apostles were living authorities, but not everything they said was infallible. 1st. I just couldn’t resist reposting this article by Father John Whiteford, who happens to be an Eastern Orthodox priest. First, this wrongly implies that all denominationalism is scandalous. That's why Catholic Answers has published the book 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura by well-known apologist Dave Armstrong. Anti-Sola Scriptura Arguments Refuted: "David A. Barrett's book, World Christian … In his sermon in the upper room (Acts 2) and in other recorded sermons, St. Peter gives an authoritative New Covenant interpretation of salvation history, interpreting the Old Testament messianically and “Christianly.” It was binding and equally authoritative and inspired before it became “inscripturated” because it was from an apostle. She refused to hear any counter-argument; she refused to apply the same standards to Rome she was applying to the Bible and Protestant churches. 8:1) and to “inscribe it in a record; that it may be in future days an eternal witness” (30:8). "Sola Scriptura is an invention of 16th century Protestants." All church traditions, creeds, and teachings must be in unity with the teachings of scripture as the divinely inspired Word of God. Fact is they MUST fight this notion of Sola Scriptura simply because it is their enemy! It’s the support of friends like you that enables CRI to to post new articles on subjects of interest and continue our weekly podcast. Sola Scriptura could hardly be stated more emphatically. This it does in a number of ways. Sola scriptura, often noted as the formal cause of the Reformation, the doctrine that the Scriptures are the unique, final, magisterial authority for the Christian faith and the Christian life and, in that sense, alone was crucial to the process of Luther’s Reformation breakthrough, particularly in the years 1518–21.4 When he declared at Worms that his conscience was captive to the Word of God, he was only repeating in public what he had begun to say in correspondence and what he had been implying at Leipzig in 1519. These two “solas” are known, respectively, as the formal and material causes of the Reformation. It should be noted that all Christian groups have some traditions, whether or not they acknowledge it. Dear fellow Catholics and separated brethren: I need your help. Thus, all Christian groups, not just the Catholic Church, employ tradition to shape and curb the way their followers interpret Scripture. Christians confronted with such arguments should keep the following points in mind: Christians have never been without the Scriptures as their rule of faith. Of course, none of these are a prohibition on future revelations. But they do apply to the point of difference between Protestants and Catholics, namely, whether there are any authoritative normative revelations outside those revealed to apostles and prophets and inscripturated in the Bible. That 1 Tim 3:15 quote is a great Catholic “counter-quote” to 2 Tim 3:16-17, which Protestants usually use to make the Sola Scriptura argument. 4:4, 7, 10) over 90 times, stressing the importance of the written word of God. Sola Scriptura contends the latter is preferable. I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4:2). When Jesus rebuked the Jewish leaders it was not because they did not follow the traditions but because they did not “understand the Scriptures” (Matt. 3:16-17, emphasis added) supports the doctrine of sola Scriptura. The only infallible authority that succeeded the apostles was their infallible apostolic writings, that is, the New Testament. If a Baptist pastor or theologian adopted a belief in infant baptism, he would be told that he doesn’t see the clear evidence of Scripture for an adult, believer’s baptism, and would probably soon be out of a job—and so on. Therefore, it is not legitimate to appeal to any oral revelation in New Testament times as proof that nonbiblical infallible authority is in existence today. Thank you for your help. As soon as the apostles died, however, it became imperative for the written record of their infallible teaching to be available. Sola Scriptura, the formal principle of the Protestant Reformation, is essential to genuine Christianity, for it declares that the Bible is the inspired word of God, the church’s only rule of faith and practice. When, however, we compare the differences with orthodox Catholics and orthodox Protestants or with all Catholics and all Protestants on the more essential doctrines, there is no significant edge for Catholicism. Luke 10:7); second, it is inconsistent to argue that God-breathed writings in the Old Testament are sufficient, but the inspired writings of the New Testament are not. Tradition is an inevitable reality for all Christians. Hence, their enemy is Christ! Paul assumed that his passed-down tradition was binding and therefore infallible. Indeed, since Catholic scholars make a comparison between the Old Testament high priesthood and the Roman Catholic papacy, this would seem to be a very good analogy. Before we make arguments refuting Sola Scriptura, it would be best to define it as many people have defined it in different ways. Jesus used this phrase three times when appealing to Scripture as the final authority in His dispute with Satan (Matt. Or am I trying to please men? This leads to another important point. John 20:30; 21:25). Indeed, John closed the last words of the Bible with the same exhortation, declaring: “I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life…” (Rev. Yet it is not. What is apostolic will always be harmonious with biblical teachings, since the truths Jesus taught the apostles and the truths recorded in Scripture proceed from the same body of God’s revelation. Two Highly Illogical Arguments for Sola Scriptura. However, they do not seem to appreciate the significance of this fact as it bears on the Protestant argument for sola Scriptura. First, it is not necessary to claim that these oral teachings were inspired or infallible, only that they were authoritative. Further, it is unreasonable to insist that words of the apostles that were not written down are more clear than the ones they did write. The Reformation principle of sola scriptura (lit. So, however authoritative the apostles were by their office, only their inscripturated words are inspired and infallible (2 Tim. However, there is a whole set of practical presuppositions that the doctrine of sola scriptura makes, every one of which provides not just an argument against the doctrine, but a fatal blow to it. 2 Thessalonians 3:14: If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 2 Tim. I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you. What it does mean is that all apostolic teaching that God deemed necessary for the faith and practice (morals) of the church was preserved (2 Tim. You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men” (cf. This powerful new book contains just that — Biblical arguments. What the Catholic must prove, and cannot, is that the God who deemed it so important for the faith and morals of the faithful to inspire the inscripturation of 27 books of apostolic teaching would have left out some important revelation in these books. Sola Scripturais the i… 10:6). In fact, God determined the canon by inspiring these books and no others. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. Kreeft’s argument that the first generation of Christians did not have the New Testament, only the church to teach them, overlooks several basic facts. It should be noted that all Christian groups have … 11:2) and “stand fast in them” (2 Thess. It is true that the New Testament speaks of following the “traditions” (=teachings) of the apostles, whether oral or written. Scripture is self-authentication, clear to the rational reader, it own interpreter, and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine. Authoritative interpretation of the Law was required in ancient Israel. It matters not that Catholics believe that the teaching Magisterium later claims to pronounce some extrabiblical tradition as infallibly true. As for all the claims the Catholic church makes regarding their argument that "Sola Scriptura… Romans 16:17: Take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. It was a foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation held by the Reformers, who taught that authentication of Scripture is governed by the discernible excellence of the text as well as the personal witness of the Holy Spirit to the heart of each man. The rule of faith of the Roman Catholic Church, therefore, is rightly Scripture and Tradition together. 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