Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura: The Protestant doctrine which states:

1. The Bible is all we need.
2. All Christian truth is in the Bible.

Sola Scriptura is the foundation of many Protestant denominations. But Sola Scriptura has problems.

1. The apostles did not teach it.
2. The Bible does not teach it.
3. The Early Church Fathers did not teach it.
4. Sola Scriptura was heresy until the Protestant Reformation.
5. Sola Scriptura requires the use of circular reasoning. It assumes the conclusion.

Sola Scriptura assumes truths outside of the Bible which contradicts Sola Scriptura.

• The list of books in the Bible (the canon) is not in the Bible.
• The rules for determining the canon is not in the Bible.
• Sola Scriptura is not in the Bible.

Side-effects of Sola Scriptura.

• Protestant teachers contradict each other.
• Protestant teaching contradicts the Bible.
• Protestants don't agree how to interpret the Bible.
• Sola Scriptura provides a justification for claiming that Christ's Church failed.
• Protestant doctrines are not stated in the Bible.
• Denominational bylaws and distinctives are not in the Bible.
• Protestant doctrines have developed over time.
• There is disunity among those who accept Sola Scriptura.
• Not all topics are in the Bible.

The Bible contradicts Sola Scriptura:

The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Tim 3:15)

It is the church which is the pillar of truth, not the Bible.

The Protestant Reformers were in error to devise the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Sola Scriptura had already been condemned as early as 108 AD.

I heard some saying, If I do not find it in the ancient Scriptures, I will not believe the Gospel.

The Epistle to the Philadelphians, Chap. 8

The Alternative

There is only one alternative to Sola Scriptura. The question is, "What is the final authority for Christian truth, doctrine, faith, and moral teaching?" The answer: The teaching magisterium of the Catholic Church, which teaches:

• The Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God. It contains truth and is free from error, but must be interpreted by the Catholic Church to guarantee correct interpretation. Not all truths are in the Bible.
• The only path to salvation is through Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. There is no salvation outside of His sacrifice on the cross.
• We are saved by faith which works, because faith without works is dead faith. (James 2:17)

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John Shepard

© Copyright 2007

email: js16@northforest.org

http://www.northforest.org/summary/SolaScriptura.html

Revised: Sept 30, 2005