Over the next several days I will be publishing a series of posts on the Five Solas. The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers' basic beliefs and emphasis in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. "Sola" means "alone". These five points represent a remarkably precise and enduring summary of the Christian faith.While most Christians will agree with these points in principle, I’ve noticed that many aren’t able to argue for the accuracy of them using Scripture. For example, the first Sola we will explore is Sola Scriptura or “Scripture Alone.” Most Christians will agree that the Bible is our only source of authority and other sacred writings (such as the Book of Mormon), Church traditions, or men’s opinions are all subservient to the Bible. Yet how many Christians are able to defend this view of Scripture using only Scripture? It would be the height of hypocrisy to insist the Bible is the final source of authority if the Bible itself does not make that claim!
The most obvious passage dealing with the idea of Sola Scriptura could be nothing else than 2 Timothy 3:15-17:
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
>That the Scriptures are given by God.
>That the Scriptures are inerrant (how else could all Scripture be profitable?)
>That Scripture alone is able to make us “wise unto salvation”
>That with just the Scriptures we may be perfect and “thoroughly furnished unto all good works”
That single passage stands on its own merit and little more needs to be discussed. However, some groups may claim to agree with the above passage but at the same time will say that they have some other revelation in addition to the Scripture. If that is true, then it isn’t Scripture alone – it’s Scripture plus some other revelation.
Some groups, for example, claim that they hold either traditions or teachings that must be read, followed, or understood before a follower can correctly understand the Bible. For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are renowned for their “Bible study” groups. They print Bible study material such as the Watch Tower magazine which they claim is necessary to correctly understand the Scriptures. The organization actually discourages members from reading the Bible independently of the supporting material which they provide.
For people who believe that such instruction is necessary to correctly understand the Bible, I direct you to 2 Peter 1:20:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.There is no secret understanding of Scripture. The Bible says what it means – plainly. There ordinary understanding of a passage is the correct one and no other material is necessary to discover some other meaning. If someone claims that a passage means something other than what an ordinary reading reveals, great care should be taken to not let such a person deceive you (2 Corinthians 11:3-5).
Another claim held by some groups is to have additional Scriptures. The Mormons, for example, claim to have a companion to the Bible, The Book of Mormon. To them I would say that the cannon of Scripture is closed. Nothing more can be added or taken from the Scriptures. Consider Revelation 22:18-19:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.The Scriptures alone are our revelation from God. No other man or book can have revelation which contradicts the Scripture. The Bible alone is sufficient and everything the God wanted to know about Him is contained therein.
Further reading:
When Paul wrote 2 Tim there was no New Testament. In fact, the only "Scripture" was the Old Testament... Most of passages in the new testament were quoting the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament.
ReplyDeleteDoes that verse in 2 Tim say that the Bible is the ONLY source of our Christian faith?
Also, please read two verses up...
Take a look here: Eph 2:19-22
Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Does it say the foundation is the Bible? or the Apostles...?
Finally, what has been the outcome of Sola Scriptura? Unity? Harmony? Hardly. Instead, we have countless Christian sects producing all sorts of doctrines to fit their needs.
Example: Salvation
1. Baptist believe in once saved always saved
2. Assembly of God believe one can lose their salvation
3. Calvinist believe that a person has no free-will and is elected before they are born to either eternal salvation or eternal damnation
4. Some Pentecostals believe a person must speak in tongues in order to be saved
5. Still others believe that one must be baptized in the name of Jesus ONLY.
Tell me, who is right? #3? or #1? Who decides who is right? You? Me? or a guy name Steve?
I also have a blog, would love your opinion and insights, please visit http://www.edailymissal.org.
Take Care.
- Michael
The verse in 2 Tim you quote as a no brainier as suspect for the following reasons:
ReplyDelete1. Does that verse say ONLY. The Bible ONLY can provide everything needed for our Christian Faith? Does that verse say that? Really?
2. Please read two verses up. Read the entire section in context, not just a small specific part.
3. What has been the fruits of Sola Scriptura? Harmony? Peace? Like mindedness? Quite the opposite, instead we have all sorts of Christian sects who can't even agree on the basic doctrine of salvation.
4. Example:
a. Baptist believe in once saved always saved
b. Assembly of God believe one can lose their salvation
c. Calvinist believe that a person has no free-will and is elected before they are born to either eternal salvation or eternal damnation
d. Some Pentecostals believe a person must speak in tongues in order to be saved
e. Still others believe that one must be baptized in the name of Jesus ONLY.
Who is right? e? or a? Who decides, you? Me? Or a guy named Steve?
5. What did the first Christian do before there was a Bible?
6. Do you know when the Bible was compiled? Does the Bible have a table of contents? Who compiled the Bible?
7. Did Jesus tell his apostles to go and write a book, or did he tell them to go and Preach?
8. Is there any historical evidence that when the Bible was compiled that the people who complied it said it would become the Sole Source of all things Christian?
8. Read: Eph 2:19-22
Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
What is the foundation? The Apostles and prophets and Christ as the Capstone. Where is the Bible in that list?
9. I've also got a blog, would love your insights and opinion, http://www.edailymissal.org
10. STRONGLY urge you to review (you seem like a seeker of truth) this link: http://www.geocities.com/militantis/solascriptura.html
Take care!